We started the day with a trip to the imaging department, for a fluoroscopy to confirm all of her internals are flowing correctly, to prepare for the g-tube surgery on Monday. Was pretty cool watching in real-time as the contrast worked it’s way through her system, with the scanning machine snapping dozens of pictures. Everything looks good, so we are full steam ahead for Monday.

We returned to the room, and started to watch TV, when I decided to try something else – because too much TV isn’t good for anyone. I handed Amber a crayon, and held a coloring book in her lap. And she immediately started coloring! Not just scribbles across the page either – she stayed inside the lines, indicating (to me, anyway) both good vision and good control. She didn’t get very far on her picture before tiring out, but this work of art is going right on the fridge!!

But then, as I’m putting things away, I think I hear Amber breathing roughly, like she did when the breathing tube was removed. I look over, but she doesn’t seem to be struggling at all – when I realize that she is moving her lips and making sounds! I can’t quite make out what she is saying, but she is definitely trying to talk. So I encourage her and tell her I love her, and I ask if she can say “I love you” – AND SHE DOES! Very softly, but more than just a whisper, and very clear. It is pretty hard for her, but she is excited, we are excited, and she does it several more times during the day. This is another major milestone for her!

Then, we cap it all off by taking her for a stroll outside. It’s a beautiful sunny day, about 70°F, and Amber’s Physical Therapist got everything lined up so we could take her out in her wheelie chair for about 40 minutes. To make things even sweeter, her Speech Therapist lined up the permission for us to feed her a popsicle, so we are outside in the sun, eating the best tasting orange popsicle ever, with her brother and sisters, aunt and uncle visiting too. This was a wonderful picture to see.

Lots of beautiful pictures today, surpassed only by the beauty of a few words, delivered by our beautiful Amber. We thank God for letting us experience this beauty today.