It's 9:42 Eastern time and we are sitting up at the hospital. Matt is finally getting to hold Ellie. He worked during the day today and now this is his time. His time just to hold his baby girl and take her in. Every bit of her. I love to watch when Matt holds Ellie. He holds her so close and just loves on her in a way only a dad could. Ellie loves being with her daddy. She did so good tonight when he picked her up and moved her to his chest. Even a week ago, Ellie's vitals would drop a little. She would become agitated. Tonight, she was calm. She knew her daddy was taking her and she was content. Her vitals remained good. She's been awake for a time tonight while he has been holding her. I know I have mentioned this before, but I was blessed to have such a awesome, loving, caring daddy. I could not have asked for or gotten anything better. It's a special relationship that fathers and daughters have. It's different than a mom and her daughter. To see that relationship already have formed with Matt and Ellie, makes me so happy. I can already see this bond between the two of them. I love it. I cherish these moments. Ellie knows when her daddy is there. He calms her in a way that not many can. He told me one time when he was holding her, that if she wanted him to hold her when she was 16 he would do it. I told him she will want you to hold her. Not to take anything away from my husband, but I am 31 and there are still moments when I want my dad to just hold me and hug me. It's something only a dad and daughter can do. It excites me to see this bond between Matt and Ellie continue as she grows older. I know Matt is one happy man right now. Holding Ellie, makes all the pain and frustration of the day go away.
Ellie is doing good today. Her vitals are really really stable and good. She got a bath tonight. It was so cute to see her after she got her hair shampooed. She has Matt's hair!! As Matt says, hopefully it will get thicker not thinner! Ellie is having just her tracheotomy tomorrow. The doctors agreed it would be best just to have the one procedure done, let her get stronger and even more stable and then try to do the chest expander and close her PDA in her heart. Tomorrow is going to bring some changes, but they are for the better. Everyone assures us Ellie is going to be more comfortable. Plus, we will get to see her beautiful little face! At some point we will get to feed her. This is the very very early beginning to getting us on the road to home. One of the doctors told us to expect to be inconvenienced for the next 1-3 years. Matt and I almost in unison said it would not be at all. It's just a small amount of time compared to the overall picture. She's our daughter, nothing is a inconvenience to us. She is worth every precious second. God gave us this beautiful miracle. Everyday with her, is a gift to us from Him.
Thank you all for your prayers everyday and especially tomorrow during her surgery. It is supposed to take place around 1:00 eastern time. However, it can be bumped up or back depending on the schedule for the rest of the surgeries before hers. This is just the beginning of what will be several procedures. We know and feel your prayers are right with us everyday. God is leading and giving strength to us on the beginning of what we feel is the path towards home. It's a slow path, but we know in HIS time, He will lead us there.
Thank you also for your prayers for little Riley. He made it through his heart surgery and is doing well. There have been so many of us out there that have been blessed with these miracles! I know we all would agree we would not take anything for granted. Each day is a gift and oh how we love our gifts!
We will update tomorrow when Ellie is out of surgery.
Love,
Ellie's Mommy
