What a good day!

Bailey felt so much better today than she has in such a long time. The documentary people came back to catch up on her progress. They interviewed her and asked her how she feels different now than before she had the Berlin Heart. She said she can breathe easier and it makes her feel better. They were also here to film an echo today and they asked her what this echo was all about. She said that during the echo they were going to turn the Berlin Heart down so that her heart is doing most of the work and see if the pulmonary pressure goes up or if it stays as low as it has been lately and, if it stays the same, that might mean she can go home with her own heart and, if it goes up, that might mean a transplant. You guys should have heard her explaining this to 5 adult men holding video and audio equipment. I just cried. She's incredible how she knows exactly what is going on at all times. Her understanding of everything is completely mature beyond her years. I'm hoping the medication they gave her last night to sleep (with a mild antidepressant) helped a lot because she wasn't nearly as fidgety and anxious as she has been. She smiled a lot today too (and laughed, Cindy!). This might not sound like much, but her friend Taylor Norris burned her a CD of some really cool pop songs, and she's been playing that all evening and even singing along! The singing along part is the cool part for 2 reasons: first, her spirits haven't been up enough to where she feels like singing; and second, her breathing has been pretty shallow and fast since surgery (which is normal for what she's been through) and singing was making her take deeper longer breaths. So, thank you, Taylor! She loves the CD and you're helping her grow stronger.

Oh, we don't know the results of the echo yet. The cardiologist's preliminary result is that when they turned the Berlin Heart down her pulmonary pressure went up "a little". They are going to look at numbers and review everything and talk with us tomorrow. So, we might know tomorrow (or at least have a better idea) which direction we are headed. Pretty unnerving, huh?!

The Child Life people made up a scavenger hunt for Bailey. One of the things on the list is for Bailey's doctor to sing his/her favorite song. Well, Bailey, of course, went after her surgeon Dr. Turrentine (he's the one that scared her and made her cry the first few visits we had with him). Obviously, their relationship has climbed to new levels. He was so embarassed - and this was in front of the camera crew when they were here! He was such a good sport. They joked back and forth over that for a long time and we all laughed hysterically at them. He even tried to pay her off for $100. Her response: "You wouldn't give it to me." She was being tough and holding fast. He left saying he was going home to practice and would be back tomorrow. He whispered under his breath on the way out the door, "The little terrorist." We had such a great time. Can't wait to see what he comes up with. He said he got kicked out of his 4th grade choir and it wasn't for behavioral reasons. Haha!!

They moved us 2 doors down to a bigger room tonight. Bailey didn't need to ride in the bed - she walked. (Can you just feel how proud I am?!) She even sat up in bed by herself several times tonight - she hasn't been able to do that until now. So now she can move around completely by herself - in and out of bed, on her sides, etc. She just made leaps and bounds of progress today. I'm so proud of her.

I miss you Tom, Josie and Rissie!! (Marissa has yet to visit Bailey because she's scared to put on a mask. But we're working on it. I sent one home with her to practice.)

Have a good evening, everyone. I have to go catch the rest of American Idol!

Love, Angie