The house is quiet. Maddie is at my parents. Arnie is sleeping on the couch (his choice - he could have slept in Maddie or Olivia’s beds). Why couldn’t he sleep in his bed? Because Livvy Lou is sleeping on Arnie’s side of the bed next to me. I need her close to me tonight so I can watch her sleep, listen to her breathe. I am not sure I’m going to sleep tonight and he wanted to sleep so he chose to sleep elsewhere. Poor Arnie…

Today was a great day. We went to Church and the girls looked stunning all dressed up … including gloves and easter bonnets. (Pictures coming tomorrow). Father Steve gave Olivia a special blessing after Mass. Our dear friend Darleen (mom to Maddie’s best friend Katie) gave me a book called “Someday” which made everyone who has read it cry. She also gave us some holy water to use while Olivia is in the hospital.

The girls ate candy from 12PM until about 8PM. Nothing was a “no” today. Just fun and enjoyment for them. We had Arnie’s parents and his aunt and uncle over for appetizers and a ham (because we really enjoy the apps and always fill up on them and never end up eating a meal). After they left Arnie’s coworker from Advo / Valassis dropped by with two large pans of lasagna and a pan of beef stew along with cards from Arnie’s coworkers and two HUGE bags for the girls. Playdoh, markers, crayons, movies … she did a great job picking out stuff for them. And the girls were SO appreciative which was so nice to see ;).

After we headed to my parents to drop Maddie off and have “dessert”. I say “dessert” because we were all stuffed to the brim. Tante (Aunt Adrienne), Auntie, the boys and my parents were there. Diana called to wish Olivia well and Olivia showed off her spanish to my dad by talking to Diana on the phone in spanish.

We headed home after my mom and Heidi started tearing up which made ME tear up … the kids broke the ice when either Maddie or Christopher said “Oh geez, here come the tears”. We came home and Olivia spent some time eating MORE candy and playing with her new legos. Then she got to take her last bath for a while. She stayed up until almost 10PM and I thought I was going to have to send her to her room to sleep when I looked over and she was passed out.

So how am I?? OK … I’m ok. I have a moment or two when I freak out but overall I’m ok. I’m just focusing on how she’s going to be so amazing after surgery - to see PINK nose and fingers and toes. Especially fingers which are almost always purple. So I’m focusing on pink and not on the fact that we have to leave for the hospital in 6 hours and I’m still awake. Pink Toes. Pink Fingers. Pink rosy cheeks. And to be able to get on with our lives and move on and not have this surgery hanging over our heads. To be able to say “sure, I can volunteer to help out with that” and not have to think “unless it’s around the time of Olivia’s surgery”.

So on that note, I’ll leave you dreaming of pink toes and fingers and noses. And I’ll be updating a lot tomorrow I’m sure while we wait. So dream of Olivia and say prayers that she flies through the next 18 hours and tomorrow night we’re living the dream of pink toes…