What a day..

So today was Hallie's surgery day. After 2 ENT visits, several conversations with our amazing pediatrician, and 2 sleep studies I finally was convinced it was ok to put my baby under and get her tonsils and adnoids (still not really sure what those are..) removed. She's been gasping at night and I guess her oxygen level dropped to 73% while she slept, NOT a good thing. I've been so nervous for the past couple of weeks while we waited then last night Hayden gave her a blessing and I felt better... that is until we got into the hospital at 6:30 this morning. The nerves kicked in and I apparently was like a mama bear protecting her young. Hayden works in the OR and has wonderful friends there who took extra time and care with us. I however apparently had daggers for any health care person who may possibly give my child any sort of pain... (Sorry friends :) )

Hallie was the bravest little girl in the world. They pricked her finger and she sat still. They squeezed out the blood and she sat still. We walked into the room and chatted, yup she was fine. But as soon as she need to change out of her beloved piggy jammies all Hades broke loose. Luckily they let her keep them on and bi-pass the hospital ones.

The next broken heart was when they had to take her to surgery.. I dreaded that from the get go. She doesn't go to nursery she doesn't go to grandparents very well still so you can imagine... Luckily Hayden got to take her back, yes she still screamed for me with out-streched arms and crocodile tears. I smiled and said I would see her soon, they turned the corner and I broke down. I can't even type this from remembering, I think I'm the biggest wimp in the world, but WOW that was hard. I'm just SOOOO grateful Hayden got to take her. When he got back to the room he said she was fine after she turned the corner so that helped me calm down. I guess he got to hold her and give her the oxygen mask with the anesthesia medicine in it until she fell asleep. The anesthesiologist commented on how she seemed to have a hard time breathing and Hayden said that was the problem, she gasped and couldn't breath at night. The anesthesiologist said he had to give her "positive pressure" to basically force some air down the tube in her throat to help her get the oxygen she needed.

The surgery took about 15 -20 minutes. Hayden snuck out to check on some things and our friend texted to say that Hallie was out of surgery. I was kinda freaking out because I didn't know where Hayden was! Then a scrub nurse friend that was in the surgery came in to show me Hallie's tonsils.... they were HUGE, about the size of a black walnut!! She said that Hallie's tonsils were a good size for an adult! Thank goodness we got them out! It was so nice to know we did the right thing, especially since she was fine. The nurse also said she saw Hayden, he was with Hallie in recovery. A couple of minutes later he carried her into the room, tear stained and disoriented. She kept complaining of hurting and having ouchie's. That was the worst. We had to give her medicine and of course my tears were a-flowin. I simply can't handle Hallie having any kind of pain. I had no idea that the IV was so painful too, she REALLY hated having it in. We finally got to go home though and she calmed down a little.

So our day has consisted of convincing her to take a drink ever couple of minutes, crying through medicine, mickey mouse clubhouse and princess movies, and a million popsicles. She's also been a complete mama's girl and doesn't ever want me to leave the room. I get to just hold her and giver her kisses, I'm kinda loving that part. :) I just like knowing I can comfort her when she needs it. Hayden's been awesome; running around getting popsicles and different blankets and animals that she wants. He's truly so amazing and we're so lucky he's ours :) We're all pretty worn out, but I'm so happy we did the surgery.

Cute/Sad stuff - "Mommy why was I sick?" ie why did you take me to the doctor, I felt fine!
"I'm full of movies" -yes that was several hours of the day
Tight Tight hug - "mommy, I love you.... SO much!"
"Mommy I need a snuggle." Then she pulled me over on to her and held on for dear life. (she laid down the whole day minus 10 minutes of thinking she was better after the medicine kicked in and then she crashed)
"that medicine makes me tired and a little bit sad. And then I feel better and it makes me all worn out."
"mommy when you were a little girl did you take medicine like that kind?" ME - "ya, sweetie" Hallie - "was it ok or was it pretty yucky... mine is pretty yucky."

She's gotten a lot better as the day has gone on and is thankfully asleep now...I have to keep checking on that fact though because the usual snores and gasps are no longer!!! She's so QUIET! Yup to add to the wimpy I'm sleeping on the floor next to her tonight. Her pain medication will run out around 4 am and I need to be there..

We also planned on taking a picture with her doctors and the room and a picture of the tonsils to make a scrapbook page of it all..., but we were way too stressed and anxious and didn't even think about the camera. Oh well.

Also thanks to everyone for your prayers and concern, she's one lucky girl to have ya'll. We had completely forgotten to eat all day and had amazing friends bring a delicious dinner (thanks Nat!)

Beautiful Girl

So for starters I'm pretty spoiled rotten to be surrounded by a family of amazing photographers. I have the kind of pictures for every little and big event that scrapbookers dream of :) One of these amazing photographers is my sister in law Cat (check out her website here) We did Hallie's newborn pictures with her and now do ones each year around her birthday. So here are some of our favorites from Hallie's 3 year old shoot!

We love our beautiful, happy, sweet, and full of fun little girl!

Happy Birthday Hallie!

I can hardly believe my little baby is 3! She's growing up, somehow I didn't think that would happen... at least not quite so soon:) She is so sweet, incredibly smart, loving, and beautiful. She is my little cutie pie and I love her to pieces!

Hallie is completely into ballet so we had her parties centered around ballet and ballerina's; Hallie was the best ballerina of all, of course!
We gave her the purple tutu she's been talking about for weeks yesterday before her friend party. Of course it was instantly on and has barely been off since :) At the party we colored a ballerina page, played pin the tutu on the ballerina, danced, had a ballet slipper pinata, ring around the rosies (she LOVES ring a round) and of course mini cakes that looked like tutus, and ice cream. The best was that all the little girls wore tutus and had little princess crowns. We added some fairy wings as party favors and the ensemble was complete! Hayden and I stayed up late the night before decorating and making the cakes, so I decided to make my own tutu for the party as well. :) When Hallie found out I had a tutu like hers she was so excited and wanted me to wear it ALL day..lol what could I do right? It helped that I kinda liked being a ballerina with all the girls...


Later that night the Poulson's came over for more of the same and an additional treasure hunt that a ballerina princess hid in our house :) She loved every second! And I must say what great sports everyone was doing ring around the rosies and wearing their princess/king crowns! ;) Tia made an amazing tutu cake with a black leotard that Hallie just loved! When Hayden was cutting it she said, "Daddy why are you cutting my tutu?" She is my little helper with all things pertaining to the kitchen, so naturally we got her a little kitchen set. Several family members added to the fun with homemade aprons, a chef hat, a cake decorating set, and a tea party set! She is in baking heaven! (she of course added the tiara/"crown" herself" ;)

Isn't she an angel!
I relied on Kent for most of the pictures that night, so there will be more to come..;)

Today we woke her up to Happy Birthday and a million hugs and kisses! I think she was surprised it was "still" her birthday. We had to explain that yesterday was like a practice and today was her real birthday..lol It didn't take too much explaining, as soon as she realized there would be more presents she was content. We gave her the kitchen in the morning to give her more time to play with it while we were both home and could sit and enjoy watching her have fun :)

I decided to do lasagna for dinner because it's her favorite so between church and lasagna I attempted a cake as well... It was supposed to be all ruffly and adorable... well it was my first attempt at a "decorative" cake so that's my excuse :) Hallie seemed to like it so I'm satisfied :)
All of my family that's near came and celebrated with us and we had a fabulous night! Here's a bit of the birthday song the video came in half way through with my family's additional ending :)


We ended the night with more playing, hugs, kisses and her birth story. I love telling her all about how loved she has always been and she is the most adorable attentive listener, with little giddy shakes of excitement when she sees how excited we were through the story. I can't say enough what a blessing and what a sweet little girl she is :) We feel so incredibly blessed to have our little Hallie girl and wish there were words that could capture how special and amazing she is and how much we love her. I hope you had an incredible 3rd birthday sweetie pie and we love you!!!!!!!!!