Joys & Blessings : Heart Birthday

It's Vivian's heart birthday today.  Three years ago we handed our little baby over for open heart surgery, not knowing what would come of it. 

I don't think we could have imagined three years down the road, eating heart shaped grilled cheese sandwiches dipped in tomato soup at dinner with our chatty little girl ("Sam likes soup, too.  She likes to dip her grilled cheese sandwich in it.  Megan likes soup, too.  I miss Monrovia.  I miss..."  and on and on...).

 Today I am thankful that our daughter was born in a time when her complex heart defect could be corrected with surgery.  I'm thankful that Viv's surgeon pioneered correcting her heart condition in one surgery instead of several.  I'm thankful that the weight and worry of those hard days has led to so many good things.

 I'm thankful for our spunky, expressive, loving, (even whiny) kid with her tomato soup and chocolate frosting stained shirt whose unbridled enthusiasm makes life really fun.

Happy 3rd Heart Birthday, Sweet Viv.