September 11: Day +71

Heaveno!

Good day for Bella!

She had a pressure support trial today and did great... again!

Her blood pressure has looked great all day!

They are actually pulling a little fluid off today!

Got to say the highlight of the day was seeing the respiratory therapy educator, Judy, come in on her day off with a home made cap for Bella's breathing tube to be anchored to! She didn't like the seems on the one we put on on Thursday, so she left the hospital, drove to the fabric store, picked out fabric, went home, busted out her sewing machine, and hand made her new cap... in fabulous pink sequin no less! Mind you, Judy admits to not being a seamstress in any way, but there she was Thursday, drawing out the shapes she would need to cut on pieces of paper in Bella's room. THAT is going the EXTRA MILE for your patient! Thank you, Judy!

Behold, the fabulous hat!

After fitting the cap and doing Bella's daily cares, we were invited to a barbeque at our friends Logan and Erin's home in nearby St. Anthony. Mutual friends, Mark and Lisa, came over with their two kids, and another couple that Logan had gone fishing with earlier in the day, Craig and Lisa, and THEIR two kids showed up as well! It was AWESOME. Watching and hearing the PACK of kids running around playing together reminded me of growing up back east and going to family get-togethers and running with the pack all day and evening, getting totally sweaty and tired, not eating enough, but playing till I collapsed in the car ride home.

Sweet memories for Ali in the midst of everything else. Thank you Logan and Erin for providing us with a little normalcy. It felt GREAT.

Remember the boy, Collin, that Ali met at Minnehaha Falls? We have a play date / BBQ at his family's home tomorrow! His mom, Deb and dad Steve have generously invited us over, so that's our fun tomorrow!

Can you see why it really is easy for me to write a gratitude list in the middle of all this? There is just so much to be grateful for.... like s'mores!

Okay. Gotta run. Rounds are at 8:15 tomorrow (I know... on a Sunday!) so I need some rest now. Thank you for all of your encouraging comments last night. They really made us feel better, no mater what happens this week.

P.S. There is officially a TEAM BELLA for the CHOC Walk back home in SoCal. So, follow this LINK and see where it takes you. If you are not in the area to walk, please make a donation to TEAM BELLA on that page as well. Thank all of you who participate. Thanks again to our friend Sara Cooper for setting this up in Bella's name!

God night.