Surgery scheduled for January 5, 2009

Well, there you have it. The date we have all been waiting for.

The appt went well. There was a lot of info to absorb. We were really bummed that she will have to wait another 2 1/2 weeks for the pull through. But, we really wanted her Dr to be there during her recovery and not the on call doc. the holidays made it difficult. But, we are happy that we have a date to get this show on the road.

She will be admitted on the morning of the 4th. They want her to be cleaned out...meaning on pedialyte and IV fluids for a day before the surgery. We are expecting her to be in the hospital a few days if all goes well.

As I suspected, she will have to endure other, different, but equally undignified procedures in the months following surgery. I don't know what made me think we would escape what other HD patients go through, I just pretended it wouldn't be so I suppose.

So, we will be taking her to the doctor in Santa Barbara fairly frequently. He will eventually teach me how to do them and we can have less back and forth. I am not looking forward to it.

We also have her birth certificate in our hot little hands. We were able to take care of all of it yesterday. With us in the hospital it didn't get recorded the week after her birth, but it is all taken care of now.

It was a looong day....I appreciate all the calls and texts wishing me a happy birthday. It was a strange birthday to say the least. I opened my gifts late last night. I was more than a little slap happy at that point. We are planning on doing my birthday dinner this weekend as I have been to tired to really enjoy going anywhere.

But, I have to post the pictures from last Saturday...Dean put the light ups on the house and it was frightening to say the least. Every year I think it is the last year I want him to hang them. The first picture so reminds me of Pops (Anyone who knew him will agree, this is a great and funny resemblance to my wonderful father-in-law).

Amanda will upload a few cute pictures of Hollyse from yesterday. Her eyes are the most beautiful blue and in one picture, I think I captured them. So, check back later for them.

Enjoy!