What A Day...Ugh.

I woke up this morning at 6:00 to a hungry crying baby who didn't want a bottle.

I loaded up our fancy new syringes instead and reluctantly gave Charley 5 ounces of formula through her NG tube.

30 minutes later she got sick.

Back to sleep.

At 10 we repeated the process but I didn't even offer her a bottle. I decided that she just needs a break. I loaded up my syringes and gave her an NG feed, this time over a longer period of time to hopefully prevent the whole sick thing.

Back to sleep (recovering from heart surgery is hard work and we're napping A LOT!)

About 10 minutes later there was puke again. This time from a dog. Twice. YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME.

Then I heard Charley over the monitor. Puke. OH MY GOSH WHAT IS GOING ON!

Just then Matt called and thank the Lord he was on his way home from work. I was about ready to lose my mind.

The day has slowly gotten better, but having said that, its almost time for another feed. I'm going to try a smaller amount and just see if her poor tummy just needs a little bit of time. (PS...I took a break and fed her...from her bottle....SUCCESS!!!!)

Having said all of this, I really didn't want to blog today. Its 1:30 and I'm still in jammies. I haven't taken a shower and I smell like the stinkiest formula on the planet. The funny thing is, I DON'T CARE. I'm 100% Charley's today and she doesn't care if I'm clean or stinky or losing my mind. She just cares that I'm here.

So I'm blogging....and for good reason. Its Charley's 8 month birthday!

Charley Bear,

You amaze me. Today is your 8 month birthday and I wish that you felt better so that you could enjoy it more. Its hard for Mommy and Daddy to see you feeling so yucky, but we know that it is only temporary and you will be back to your old self soon enough. Its been a long and bumpy road lately, and I'm just floored with how you have bounced back from 2 heart surgeries in only 3 days. We are so proud of you!

In the last month...

-You celebrated your very first Christmas and BOY WERE YOU SPOILED! We even had to leave gifts behind in Omaha because they wouldn't all fit in our car! You got to spend time with your grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins and had so much fun.

-You partied hard on New Years Eve. Ok, so maybe not, but a quiet night at home was the perfect way to ring in 2011. A new year full of new beginnings.

-You braved your 3rd AND 4th heart surgery in the first week of the new year. Baby girl, I wish that I could switch places with you, but I'm not sure I could handle it as gracefully as you do. Yes, its been hard, but you have done so well and have come so far in just a week.

-You LOVE puppies and giggle every time you see them run by. I can't wait for that giggle to find its way back, but for now I'll settle for smiles.

-Thanks to Children's Hospital, you now wear a size 3 diaper. Once you go up a size there is no going back!

-You weigh a WHOPPIN' 15 pounds! I liked hearing the doctors say "at least she has some extra reserve"...we have worked so hard for every single pound and I LOVE those chubby little cheeks and thighs.

-You had an NG tube placed for use at home for the very first time. We have put you through so much, you just needed a little bit of a break to get settled back into "normal" life.

In 8 months you have opened my eyes to a whole new world and I am a better person because of you. MUUUUAAAAHHH!!!!

We love you so much Charley Bear.

No traditional "Chair" pictures today. I don't think that Charley would be too happy with me. We'll get the 8 month ones another day, but for now here are a few grins that I caught this afternoon.

Yes, when you feel sick on your birthday you get to play with highlighters.

Hehe...I love this one!