A very wonderful day, complete with a wagon ride

Today Cora was evaluated by a physical therapist. I was so proud of her! She showed off all her wonderful baby behaviors, like making great eye contact, tracking people, voices and toys. She smiled at me and cooed at the right time. The PT said she is right on track for social interactions, and just a few weeks behind on her movement and coordination. What a clever and talented girl! To have spent so much of her life in a hospital crib, so much time sick and sedated or intubated, and to still keep up with most of the normal baby milestones. I could not have been more proud of her if she'd gotten into Harvard! It may not sound like much, but it was a great moment in a long series of really pathetically terrible ones.

The next wonderful moment happened when Jason got to take Cora on a "field trip," which consisted of a wagon ride through the CVICU unit. I asked this morning during rounds if we could take Cora for an adventure, and although they kind of laughed at me, they eventually said yes. That to start with, we could walk around the unit, and then maybe at some point even outside the unit. This makes me so incredibly happy.

I had to leave to get the other kids, but Jason led the walk with Cora in a red wagon. He said she looked around with curiosity as they strolled through the halls, and then they stopped by a window to soak in the sun. It was a beautiful warm day. A little girl, another patient, even came out of her room to see Cora. I feel so rich and grateful that she got this experience today.

Meanwhile on the home front, Dominic and Cosette, my little antidepressants, did their part to make my day. As soon as I saw them, Cosie told me she loves me so much, and Dom gave me the bear hug of the century. After Cosie went to bed, Dom and I played Buzz Lightyear versus the Evil Emperor Zurg. Then we united forces against all the bad guy figurines and shot them with Nerf shooters until, one by one, they plummeted down to the carpet below. A perfect night where good was victorious.

As usual, Dominic baffles me with his deep intuition and understanding. While I was writing the first part of this blog entry tonight about being proud of Cora, he walked out of his room (where he was supposed to be sleeping) and asked, "mommy, are you proud of me?" I swear, he has proven to me so many times that he is an old soul, that when he says things like that I just smile.

I am so proud of him and his wise, sensitive and sweet natured little self. I am so proud of Cora and how each day she peacefully wins her fight. And I am so proud of Cosie and her fierce, beautiful nature. I love hearing what she has to say to me now that she's found language. Tonight it was, "Let's all drink pink sparkly water!" Yes, I say. Let's.

Because it was a very good day. Everyone was a little bit joyful. Everyone was safe. And I even got to see Jason for a few hours as we passed our kid batons, and went ahead trying to make this crazy life normal, and even happy.