DAY AFTER SURGERY

It's me again. Bentley is still in ICU so I am able to post.. it's late and we are exhausted so I am going to make this as quick as possible. She is still doing very well. When we went to see her the first time this morning at 6:30 the first thing her nurse said is "she is so STRONG!" All of her nurses have been amazed with how physically strong she is. She was digging her feet and head into the bed and lifting her botttom and back off the bed.. not a little, but a lot! And yes, she started doing this yesterday.. SAME day as surgery. So when we went in for the first time this moring her nurse was talking about how strong she is, and also informed us Bentley tried to wake and get up 4 times during the night. It was really too early so they would sedate her so she would go back to sleep. But today they mentioned the next time she woke up they would not sedate her.. Bentley's ventilator came out today, and about an hour after she woke up for the first time.. Ryan and I were right there and I have to say it was one of the hardest times of this whole stay. She would try to cry but her voice was horse from the tube.. so she did not sound like herself, she would grab at us, turn her head everywhere, she wanted up, she wanted to be held, and she just wanted some lovin' from mommy (or I think so at least). It broke my heart, really.. I felt so helpless just standing there leaning as close as we (mommy and daddy) could.. holding her hand, talking to her, kissing her.. but it's just not the same. It's not the same at all when you cannot hold your child. OHHH how my heart ached so bad that moment. I just wanted to hold her and make it all better. She also made me smile so big... if you have been following my blog you will know that Bentley LOVES her paci.. well.. we asked the nurse if we could give it to her because we just knew it would comfort her. She gave us the okay so we tried it out.. Bentley spit the paci out, so I just leaned over her bed and held it in my hand. Bentley (tied up arms and all) reached over and took her paci and put it straight in her mouth all by herself! I just loved it. I know this doesn't sound like much, but it is so Bentley and she loves that paci. I just felt so good know she was able to do that herself so soon.. in a way it was her telling me she is okay. I would rub her head and she finally went to sleep. Later today she woke up a second time, this is what we saw when we walked in the room...

Bentley had lifted her leg up way up there.. all by her little self. This is the second time she woke up and stayed up for a little bit. She is something else!

Over all everything has gone well today.. she even got to drink a little pedialyte tonight. She is doing so amazing.. and she even looks so amazing for the day after surgery. She is so beautiful!!! She was a little dehydrated this morning, but that was fixed quickly, this evening she started having a little fever. We were told that this is sometimes expected but they will need to watch it closely, and if it stays or goes up they will begin running test. So please keep the prayers coming.

We are so proud of her. Her strength gives us strength along with God. We could really feel Him here with us yesterday and today. We have a whole different outlook on this journey than we have ever before. God has blessed us in so many ways.. we know this.. and we see this!!

Tonight my parents took the kids to the Houston Astros Baseball Game.. a big thank you to Kristin and her family for sending tickets to our children to have something fun and exciting to do. We appreciate that more than you will ever know! They had a blast, I will post pictures on this soon. Of course you can't go to a ball game without buying some goodies.. my parents bought the kids a couple of things and Bentley got.. a pink Astros baseball with HEARTS all over it. How awesome is that. I know we will cherish this simple little baseball forever, there is so much meaning behind it!! Thank you Kristin!!

Thank you Bonny for sending us a sweet card today! We did get it, and it put a HUGE smile on our faces! That is super sweet of you!

My sisters also suprised us with a visit today.. I am so glad!! They brought Bentley the cutest little bracelet.. and me a necklace that stands for.. BELIEVE!! Perfect. Thank you, I love you both!!