Christmas 2011 - Christmas in Hospital

Aziza had been home with us for 16 months when Christmas 2011 rolled around.  She was very much a part of our family, and knew just how loved she was.  Having received her tumor diagnosis, subsequent major surgery and a shocking diagnosis of full length tracheal stenosis, we knew all too well how fragile and precious each day was.  This was the time when I wondered if this would be our last Christmas with Aziza.  I had been led to believe that she would likely have a major airway crisis within the year.  Eventually, as my Warrior Princess got bigger and stronger, I let go of the fear that he life was in imminent danger.  Little did we know that the tracheal stenosis would not be the demon that would steal our precious Aziza away from us.  For all that we feared that diagnosis, it would be something far different and far more agressive that would prematurely make this, Christmas 2011, our last Christmas with her.  Despite having grown a bit, she was still able to fit into her Christmas dress from the year before to have some photos taken in mid December.  Just one day after these photos were taken, Aziza fell ill and was hospitalized for weeks with RSV.  This illness, RSV seemed to be a big problem for Aziza in the winters and this was her second major hospitalization for it.  She spent two and a half weeks in a constant care room with large glass doors allowing constant observation from the nurses station.  Although we had hoped to be home in time for Christmas, Aziza was not released from hospital until a few days after Christmas had passed.  I never left her side, and our extended family - minus the children - came to spend Christmas morning and part of Christmas day in her hospital room.  She was happy and on the mend.  Her only visit with Santa happened this year, Christmas 2011, on Christmas morning when Santa came to the constant care unit bearing gifts.  Hit gifts in 2011 were her bathtime baby, piano-xylophone, vibrating pig and rattling bear.