Bela Girl

We went to the cardiologist yesterday and had another terrific appointment. Bela showed off her new walking skills to everyone and cried whenever anyone got close to her. That's my Bela.. She was up in weight! :) Her current weight is 18 lbs 11 ounces. Maybe by her 2nd bday she'll be legally turned around in her carseat.. She got to skip the echo because when I got there for her echo I was told she didn't have one. She really did there was just some confusion and by the time it was all figured out, it was late and they let us just skip it... I wasn't complanining, although it always nice to know her heart was seen by her doctors. We go back soon enough tho.. Today was day 2 for Tan's trip.. Feels like much more than that. He's in Brasil.. probably on some beautiful beach soaking up the sun. I'm so happy for him to be there.. he deserves it so much.. nothing makes him as happy as Brasil (besides us :)). I only have (ugh) 9 more days to go. I hope ...

At my baby shower for Bela I got gas cards, gift cards, books to read at the hospital, things that you'd get someone in my situation. I mean.. what do you get someone that isn't sure if the baby will live or not? I also got this shirt.. It is a size 12 month. I don't think I've ever said anything to the person that gave it to me, but getting this shirt meant so much . 12 months! At the time I could only dream and hope that she would someday wear a size 12 month shirt. I hung that shirt in her closet.. it was my hope shirt. The day it fit her was a day of pure joy for me! We went down to the park that day and saw some friends.. I wanted to share the significance of that little shirt she was wearing, share what that REALLY meant. She has worn this shirt many many times over the last few months. She spilled on it and got it dirty, just like she should. And yesterday I just put this shirt away in a box with all the other clothes that Bela has grown out of.. Amazing...

They loved the train ride.. Just got a little nervous going through the tunnel.. Swinging!

Paul Cardall got his HEART today!! It's a day to celebrate in the heart world!!

Waking up to this sweet bundle of pink.. The many looks of Benson. Working on Bensons new batman room: He loves it! Playing in shaving cream At the beach! Bela LOVED it all! hangin out. Eating lots and lots by mouth! Big Ouchy! Diamondbacks benefit game for the Heart Center.. There was a great turnout!

Thursday's cardiology visit was great! For the past year or so we've been watching a leaky valve and the pressure in her aortic arch. For a little while there they were both considered moderate/severe, and there was talk of cath and talk of early surgery (20-24 months). The last few visits is went from moderate/severe to moderate to moderate/mild, and then on Thursday, completley MILD!! Beth asked us what our secret was, and Dr. Pophal said her echo looked fabulous, better than it's ever looked. If you've ever taken your baby in with that nervous pit in your stomach then you know what hearing that feels like! I wanted to take a couple victory laps around the office! I thought there was a good chance an upcoming surgery might be tentatively scheduled for the next couple months, and the thought of having that planned was just making me sick. But Beth told us that there was no way they were going to do anything with Bela looking as good as she does. Her heart just ke...