More than half your life...

Yesterday was a major milestone in our house.  Yesterday marked a year to the date when Sydney went from lucky 24 to our 20 digit girl.  Those that know us, know what an extremely emotional time it was for both of us.  It is unreal that it has been a year.  More than half her life she has had 20 digits rather than 24.  Does not define her anymore.  Wow...I remember the feelings like they were yesterday.  I remember how early we had to be at the hospital.  I remember the smells.  I remember just holding her and thinking that our life will never be the same after this.  I remember how incredibly scared I was.  I remember my parents all being there.  I remember Amanda sitting next to me and keeping me occupied with funny remarks about how weird it was that my mom, my dad and step-mom were all talking like they were best friends.  I remember Jen Flen coming and sitting on the other side of me and how much I needed them.  I remember the gut wrenching feeling when they took her into the operating room and Craig and I had to go to the waiting room.  I remember the praying.  I remember the crying.  I remember explaining what was happening as best I could to Yale and Hayden.  I remember the surgery went over by a half hour, and how I felt just numb until they called our name to go see her.  I remember seeing her little body in that big hospital bed.  I remember how they had her strapped down.  I remember then telling me I can feed her formula when she wakes up and giving me the smallest little bottle.  I remember laughing after she finished it in about 2.2 seconds and telling them we would probably need a couple more of those little bottles.  I remember seeing the wraps on her legs and arms.  I remember thinking, she is the bravest little girl I have ever met.  I remember when my family was allowed in.  I remember after only an hour or two, them telling us we could go home.  I remember how scared I was to tend to her at home.  I remember being so scared about how much pain she was in.  I remember getting her dressed.  I remember driving her home.  I remember setting her on our bed to rest in her boppy and how Innocent she looked.  I remember my family coming over in the afternoon and her being up and happy.  I remember the dressings coming off the second day and frantically calling Craig to come home to help me and my mom to fix it.  I remember seeing the incisions for the first time and thinking they looked like Frankenstein.  I remember how happy I was to get the bandages off her.  What I remember the most is the feeling of relief that our big ordeal was finally over.  It was a full 9 months of the craziest of emotions and we made it through the other side.  I love you little girl more than you ever know. 

Sydney Adele Ward... You are an amazing, beautiful, smart little girl and are the absolute loves of momma and dadda's life. 

A daughter will hold your hand only for a little while,  but will hold your heart for a lifetime!!!