Happy Six Months and Happy Halloween, my sweet baby!

This weekend has been all about Annabel. Yesterday was her 6 month birthday and tonight she's celebrating Halloween by getting dressed up as the sweetest jack-o-lantern. Oh, we didn't want her to feel left out, so we dressed up, too.

Five More Days Until Halloween!

Nine More Days Until Halloween!

Don't go back to work, daddy!!

Well, today wraps up my week vacation with Annabel. Though it was filled with hospital stays, nursing home visits, and sleepless nights, I still got to spend some wonderful quality time with my vanilla bean. I love you, pumpkin!

Little stinker gets her regular feeding again at 9 tonight. If all goes well, little one and daddy get to come home late tonight. Just thought I would share some pics that I took before the surgery and after in the hospital room during our stay. Thank you so much for the prayers and keep sending them up, please! I will be so happy to see daddy and stinker tonight, no matter how late it is!

This weekend before the surgery: Jack, Lucia and Annabel

Look, Mom! No tube and no tape!

Annabel's NEW favorite binky...vanilla flavored, yum!

update

Oh, what a long day it has been. I spent the night in the hospital with Annabel last night and was up at 5am to prepare for the 7am surgery. We got down to pre-op just after 7 where I met with the anasthesiologist. It's always scary talking to them because they have to tell you about all the risks and the worst-case-scenarios. He stated that there is a risk with our babies that they will not recover well from the sedation and that they will have to remain in ICU on a ventilator. Needless to say, we were very concerned.

Her surgery started at 8:15 and by 9am I was speaking with the surgeon. He said everything went well and that Annabel was very good throughout and he expected her to recover just fine. We were relieved, but just a few minutes later I got a call from the anasthesiologist saying that as he expected she was not breathing like they would like her to so they were going to leave her on the ventilator and put her in ICU. Ugh.

The good news is that after about a half hour she was off the vent and after 4 hours she was back in her hospital room. Momma got to the hospital around 2pm and we've been right by our baby's side since.

She's doing fine and everyone expects a full recovery. Thanks to everyone for the thoughts and prayers. We really appreciate them.

Now it's time to get some rest.

J

Busy week ahead

Mommy, Daddy and Annabel had a busy, but fun weekend. We attended my sister's wedding and got to see friends and family, which is always nice. Annabel had a good time but she has a hectic week ahead of her.

On Monday, we are checking into Cooks Children's Hospital in Ft. Worth for her gastrostomy. We check in at noon tomorrow for an upper GI and then the surgery takes place at 7am on Tuesday. If all goes well and she tolerates her feedings we should be home by Wednesday. We are obviously nervous about this procedure, but we have confidence in the doctor and faith in God that she'll recover just fine from the anesthesia. The best news is that Annabel gets to say good riddance to the ng tube!!!

Also, next week is when Carrie has to return to work :( She'll ease in on a part time basis, but then in 4 weeks she'll resume full time duty. I know that Annabel will miss her mommy and vice versa, but we have found a very reliable sitter for our baby and feel good that all will work out.

Say a prayer for Annabel, please, and I'll post updates later this week to let everyone know how things are going.

J