Sweet Dreams

We couldn't have been happier to be discharged from Children's the day after Taylor's surgery. After a rough afternoon of not keeping anything down, we decided to leave it for the night and keep her hydrated with just IV fluids. Feeds the next morning went smoothly and there was no more vomiting so we were good to go. I can't even tell you how amazed I continue to be with this little girl. That evening at home she was happy as can be sitting in her chair and playing on her iPad, full of smiles. A day after major surgery, a nasty incision the full length of her ear, and she seemed completely unphased by it all.

Today was a pretty exciting day. We have been talking about Taylor's bed situation for quite a long time. She's four and a half now and still in a crib. She's out of space. When she gets stuck in the slats in the middle of the night, the cries are heartbreaking. It was time for her to get a big girl bed, but a big girl bed is just not safe for her. She's a real mover at night and the detachable bed sides you can buy for toddlers won't hold her. They're not strong enough, long enough, or high enough. After lots of thought and research we decided on a safety bed made for kiddos, youth and adults just like Taylor, made by a company called Beds By George. It's a twin bed, with full sides all the way around it like a crib. Because it's a twin she won't outgrow it. And because it's going to be a forever bed, we made sure it would accommodate her needs, as well as ours, long term. It's a Hi Lo bed (adjustable mattress height) with full articulation (head, foot and knees adjust). And it's fully electric. The door is 40" above the mattress when at its lowest position. At its highest, we can change and dress Taylor without straining our back by reaching down into a crib. The door opens out much like a bi-fold closet door. It's an impressive piece of furniture, beautifully made. The guys from Motion Specialties arrived this morning and worked hard to put it together...

After they were gone I sat in the glider in Taylor's room and called Francis to tell him how amazing it was. And I had a few tears. Not because it made me sad, but because it's so perfect for my girl. I'm so happy that she finally has a proper bed that she'll be comfortable in, can't get stuck in, and will be safe in. How wonderful that one of us can climb in with her on nights that she's unsettled, and lie next to her to read a story before bed. Things that we haven't been able to do until now. Happy tears.

When we put her to bed tonight it was kind of a big deal. In a way it felt like when we brought her home from the NICU and put her into the crib for the first time. Her itty bitty newborn body was lost in the crib, it seemed so huge. Tonight we layed her in this big new bed and she suddenly looked like that itty bitty baby again.

Even though I know she will grow up and fill this big new bed, she will always be my baby.