Orange Beach, Alabama

DISNEY WORLD!

We took a family trip to Disney World last week!  I will be posting our trip as mostly pictures and in a series of daily posts just like the trip progressed.  I need a little more time to sort through the 1500 photos we took in a matter of 5 days (you read that right...1500 photos!).  Check back next week as the pictures will start on Tuesday!

M-I-C-K-E-Y  M-O-U-S-E...Mickey Mouse!  Mickey Mouse!

And life goes on...

And life goes on...

Today was a B-I-G day.  We were briefly a family of four after Robert was born.  And now we are officially a family of three once more.  

I can once again blog without someone picking apart each and every word I write.  So happy reading!  There is much more to come!

So many things to say...So many things...

Well, maybe this is a good way to start...I am alone. I am not completely alone. I have Thing 1 and Thing 2 with me.all.the.time. And my parents help. My mom has become a staple in my home. It's a good thing. I might have been committed already if not for her help specifically.

I don't know how to explain it...without just saying it. So I guess just make your assumptions and then maybe either you or I will have the nerve to just say it or ask it one day.

How is it going you ask? It's sad. It's awful. It's a million things. I just don't even know the answer anymore. I guess that is why I abandoned the blog for a while. I just didn't know what to say without lying. But I am back. I recently uploaded all of my pictures to my computer and hope to just update you through photos since I can't say it in words.

I know this blog was mostly dedicated to Robert's heart journey so here is a quick update just to get you through until tomorrow...

Robert is doing well (I think). No more ambulance and jet rides to the hospital. He was hospitalized for 11 days in October, but its because he now resides in the "failure to thrive" category. That meaning he is in the under 5% of size for other infants his age. If you remember, Robert was 8 pounds and 10 ounces at birth (a big boy!). So it took a while for him to slowly inch down the size charts. Most recently (December 4th), he was 13 pounds 10 ounces (2%) and 26.5 inches (75th %). Robert was put on a feeding tube in November and is still on the pump most of the day. As for heart surgeries, we are waiting until 20 pounds so we can see what's next. Of course, we have to get to 20 pounds...which is harder than first imagined.

I will updating you with a few more details soon! AND PICTURES!

Picture Recap

Robert's stay in the RNICU at UAB (his first 10 days)...

Check out those sweet lips!

Going home!

The umbilical cord is still hanging on...

Sitting in wait in the ER at USA Children's & Women...

UAB arrives to pick-up Robert...Robert now says he only flies private. (Hahaha!)

And off he goes...

Back at UAB in RNICU...

Big sister, Emerson, and "Bobby"...Dr. Emerson came to try and fix "Bobby"...Thank goodness for insurance...!!!One last family picture before surgery...Phillip giving Robert a finger shake before surgery...Stay strong, little guy!
The nurse and respiratory therapist preparing for transport to the OR...
Robert looked back at us like this the entire walk from the RNICU to the OR...
Our drop-off at the OR. This is where we said our "see ya later's"...In the CICU, following surgery...
A day later, Robert is slowly coming off medications and various tubes being removed...

Robert was moved to the step-down pediatric cardiac unit after 3 days in the CICU...

This is puppy...Our new best friend! :) (A gift from Emerson!)

Incision 1 week later...