Leah’s surgery is in roughly ELEVEN HOURS.

The past few days have been a nice combination of crazy and calm. Leah had lots of visits from friends and family, and missed out on seeing other friends and family because people keep getting sick. Very sad. Get better, people! On Monday and Tuesday we had visits from Gran and a few friends. Wednesday we saw another friend, and Grandma Barbie and Grandpa Bill brought Grandpa Mannie to visit. Grandpa Bill helped Mommy Mandy give BabyBug a bath. That turned into an adventure when it was discovered – as Grandpa Bill carried the bathtub from the crib to the sink to spill it out – that the plug in the bottom of the bathtub was not in place. Need the floor mopped? Not anymore!

Later on Wednesday, cousins Beth and Erin came to visit and Erin serenaded a knocked-out BabyBug by playing some songs on the guitar. Whew! But that’s not all! Last night, Leah met one of her cousins (in Georgia!) on Skype, and this afternoon Leah met her great-uncle (Grandma Barbie’s brother) and great-aunt on Facetime. They live in New York! BabyBug has friends and family all over the place! <3

So that’s the crazy. Today was the calm – we had NO visitors at all. Well – no visitors except for the nursies and staff who came around this afternoon to “reverse trick-or-treat,” a.k.a. to dress up and bring candy to the kids (and parents). If you thought the giraffe outfit was Leah’s Halloween costume, you clearly have not met us yet. Oh no. Just scroll down.

In other random news:

– Leah is one step closer to surgery this evening; they inserted the IVs about two hours ago. They called somebody up from NICU to do it because her veins are SO FREAKING TINY. She got that from Mommy as well. She is sound asleep now – they wore her out!

– It is confirmed that Leah has her Grandma Barbie’s eyebrows. I just thought you would like to know. I am just starting to see a little bit of me in her, too. Up to now I’ve only been able to see Grandpa Bill and Aunti Staci. And a little bit of Mommy Mandy in the nose.

– On a more serious note… Once again we have been blown away by people’s generosity and kindheartedness. We learned that an email went out earlier today to the community at our family’s old temple, and for the whole day we’ve seen donations coming in on the GoFundMe page. We are so grateful for people’s generosity and willingness to help out in difficult times. I try not to spend too much time on the blog harping on financials, but I’ll say that it hasn’t been easy dealing with the stress of lost income, unexpected expenses, and a whole host of other factors to worry about going forward (not least being Leah’s care once we get home). I don’t know how we can adequately express how much your contributions have helped us these past few months – financially, mentally, emotionally. You haven’t just kept us afloat – you have kept us sane and in one piece, and have allowed us to focus our energies on our little girl. We can’t thank you all enough for that. But we’ll try.

– Regarding tomorrow’s surgery: They will take her down to the OR around noon. The procedure could be anywhere from three to five hours. We won’t know until tomorrow. There is a lot we won’t know until tomorrow. We will do our best to keep you posted. In the mean time, thank you, dear blog readers, for keeping me distracted tonight while my wife and baby sleep. Trying not to be a nervous wreck.

Behold: Photos!

Yeah, this happened. The PICU nurse leader was kind enough to indulge my eccentric request and allowed us to put Leah in an isolette so we could take this picture and show you how our little Bug has grown! Look at her chubby-chub thighs!!! Remember those chicken-legs of summer days past?

“Um, Mama? I’m a big girl now. What is this about?”

Our toesies, however, are still pretty tiny.

A preview of our new Halloween outfit. “Mama, it’s not Halloween yet! You’re SO SILLY!”

Have you ever seen such a look of scorn on an infant? This is probably after the skirt-pants went on.

Yep. More scorn. “Mama. Really? Really?”

AIR KISSIES!

“OMG, please tell me I’m not going to be seeeeeen in this skiiiiirt!”

“I guess the leg warmers aren’t so bad!”

“Oh hai, guys! It’s Halloween MONTH!”

We love baby leg warmers!

“Whatchoo doin’ up there, Mama?”

“NOMNOMNOMNUMMYFINGERS!”

Sweet face

Sweet Sleepy Bug apparently can’t sleep unless she has all of her friends with her.

BabyBug and I started playing a new game the other night: “Smile or Grimace.” It’s pretty fun. Mama won, and by won, I mean got lots of smiles. This, however, is probably a grimace.

Bobblehead Baby practicing neck control!

“Are we done yet?”

I love how such a slight change in position and expression makes all the difference in attitude. In the first picture she looks so disgusted by the outfit and by the second picture she’s like, hand on the hip, knee sticking out, going, “When do I start getting an allowance? Can I wear eye shadow yet? I wanna go to the mall!”

I know this is blurry but I love it SO FREAKING MUCH that I included it anyway.

“Sup, Mama?” Our friend D stopped by for a visit on Monday morning!

“Oh hai, I don’t have enough shirts of my own. I think I’ll have your shirt too.”

“Tada!”

I’MTHEKINGOFTHEWORLD on Mama’s lap.

“Ummmm, Mama, I don’t know how to tell you this, but… I think this lady was already here today.”

“Well hello!” Our friend D’s identical twin sister M came by later in the evening. In case you hadn’t already figured that out.

Nomming on Mommy’s finger during dinner. Tastes like milk!

Our friend Dee came to visit on Tuesday evening. Thank you for bringing more clothes! Leah says, “OH HAI, RUBY’S MOMMY!!! Thanks SO MUCH for getting my Mamas hooked on baby leg warmers! It’s all your fault!”

“Hi, Arleta! I think I’ll melt in your arms. K, thanks. ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ.”

“Hey, Facebook! You need another baby giraffe? Here I am!”

“It’s hard being so cute.”

“Hi world! I’m upside down!”

Two, two, two giraffes in one picture! BabyBug is hypnotized by her friends on the mobile.

The costume you’ve been waiting for. A legitimate, for realz LADYBUG. Costume.

“Oh Mamas, you silly!”

Look at the feet!!!

Look at the antennae!!!

Look how cute!!!

Do ladybugs have tongues?

“SILLY MAMAS UPSIDE DOWN!”

Nope – silly BABY upside down!

She started off sweet and happy, but it didn’t last long.

She just needed to nom on the Mommy Ladybug’s shoulder.

Best family portrait ever?

Smooooooooshy cheeks!

Mommy’s shoulder wasn’t filling enough so she went for Mommy’s cheek.

Mommy decided it was only fair to steal a Leah-cheek in return.

Sleepy LadyBug

Um…. if the Unibomber was a ladybug?

Ladybug with a flower crocheted by Mommy!

Ladybug with a flower and a caterpillar crocheted by Mommy! Plus the jingle-bug!

Ladybug with the flower and the caterpillar crocheted by Mommy, plus the jingle-bug, plus the LadyLoveyBug, plus a MAMA! Whew!

Upside-down baby with, you know, stuff made out of yarn ‘n’ stuff.

Leah just woke up from her nap and doesn’t understand why Mommy now has scary things floating over her head.

Best family portrait ever? Yuh huh.

BIG YAWN right in Mama’s face.

Mama makes a comfortable lounge chair.

I think the Mamas might have been the most excited for Halloween!

Tinkerbell Pants and Halloween leg warmers! We are all about high fashion.

Twinsies.

“Oh hai Mama! I love you!” I love you too, BabyBug!

She was so talkative. I kept getting little coos. She has the sweetest little voice!

We suggested that people post this picture as their Facebook profile pic tomorrow to show support for LeahBug during her surgery. I made a square one after I noticed that people were having trouble with Facebook Mobile. Apparently it thinks it’s Instagram and only allows square profile photos? Who knew? Ah well.

Okay. I should sleep now. Thanks again for giving me something to think about other than sutures and pouches and tension (oh my).