Esperando*

*Waiting--it sounds so much prettier, so much more hopeful in Spanish, doesn't it?

We have waited. And we are waiting.

We were at the hospital for five hours before Vivian's surgery started. Thankfully, she was with us that entire time, getting snuggled and rocked. She was nothing short of amazing, given that she hadn't eaten since 5AM this morning. Sleepy times and quiet alert times and even some smiles.

A little before 4:00 the kind-eyed, white bearded anesthesiologist with a lovely accent came to get us. I walked Vivian in my arms over to the entrance of the operating room. Vince and I hugged and kissed our daughter. Told her, "Be strong." And I will not even begin to try and describe what handing her over felt like. There are no words.

I know she is in strong and competent hands. And speaking of strong and competent hands, a nurse practitioner just came to tell us that the surgeon had just been called in. Before getting put under, she said Vivian was calmly looking all around the OR and loved the crinkle of the doctor's mask. That's our baby! She loves the sound of crinkling paper.

It'll probably be 10:00 tonight before we know more. Thank you for your love and good energy. We can feel it.