More Activity

Only a few minutes after Ryan Ludwick left, one of the therapy dogs came around and made Charlotte's day. This is Phoebe, a large poodle. She was really soft, fluffy and sweet. We all enjoyed giving her a good scratch and she made me miss Gracie.

Later, the therapist came in to see if Charlotte was ready to sit up for a little bit. She did so great! This was her sitting up for the first time since surgery.

They got this chair just for her so we could take a spin. After being trapped inside so much the past few days, we headed for the rooftop garden on the 8th floor. Charlotte got very excited when we told her that we were going outside.

This is the beautiful garden. It is so tranquil up there with the view over Forrest Park, the soft breeze, the hum of birds and butterflies fluttering by. There are several fountains, a pond with fish in it and some very beautifully kept flowers. When they created this garden, they knew just what families need to help relieve some of the stress that being in the hospital creates.

Just before the therapist came, Kelly Wooldridge and Amanda, her PT student, stopped by to see Charlotte. The timing was coincidental and they were glad to see her up and about. They also brought her a bag of goodies and activities. She was very happily playing with the toys minutes after we pulled them out of the bag. They also joined us for a few minutes when we took Charlotte outside.

These are some pictures that Chris took of the garden.

Our best attempt at a picture of the three of us. Charlotte isn't looking at the camera, but I find something sweet about the look on her face. She was very happy to be outside.

What we are sitting on looks like a regular bench but it is a swing. If you know Charlotte, you know that was her FAVORITE part!

Wanting to be a big girl, she demanded to sit "by herself" on the swing.

We really didn'g want to go back inside, but had to so Charlotte to eat lunch and sneak a nap in. This picture was her at dinner tonight in between bites. She was acting as if not a thing was bothering her this evening and was her playful, onery self. Surgery, what surgery?

Sitting up again, coloring in the book Kelly brought. I think she is ready to go home! Dr. says tomorrow! We can't wait to sleep in our own beds and to have the quiet of our home. The hospital is such a noisy place, I don't know how anyone gets any sleep! We also had to resume one of Charlotte's blood pressure medications this evening. Without the pain medicine on board, she is up to her regular old tricks, stumping the Dr.'s about why such a cute little girl has high blood pressure?? I hope they figure this one out soon, or maybe that we don't have to be on ALL of the medicine we were before. One can hope can't they?

The Hawns