Fri, 11/24 -- 2 days after

When we spoke to Dr. Reinisch yesterday (we didn't want to bother him on Thanksgiving if we didn't need to so we didn't call him, but he looked up our hotel on the Internet & called us just to make sure Belle was okay) he said we could come by his office at the hospital on Friday to get Belle's netting changed because it was bothering her. It was a little stiff where she had gotten sick on it Wednesday night -- yuck.

Since it was also almost time for the pain pack to be taken off of her tummy (for the site on her lower abdomen where the skin graft was taken from) and it already seemed empty, Dr R also took that off so we wouldn't have to.

Dr. R then recommended a shopping plaza (The Groves) that he thought Belle would like because it has an American Girl Store. However, Belle was a little tired so we decided to first go back to the hotel for a nap. On our way out of the hospital, we met 3 very nice doggies who were just showing-up for work! The biggest one, Bernie, weighs 150+ pounds but is very sweet. They provide Animal Assisted Therapy and were only to happy to pose for pictures with Belle. If you want more info about the dogs their website is http://www.loveon4paws.org/

Belle was asleep in the van before we got back to the hotel, but then was unable to nap. So after a while we decided (even though it was Black Friday) to check out the American Girl Store. Of course as soon as we were back in the van, Belle fell back asleep. Luckily, another Mom had recommended that we take a stroller along, so we put Belle in the stroller when we got to the parking garage for the shopping plaza. We were sure that Belle would wake-up when we got to the American Girl Store, but no, she didn't so we decided to come back after getting some lunch nearby. Belle also slept through most of lunch, but we finally were able to wake her enough to have some lunch, and we then quickly returned to the American Girl Store.

Belle liked the store (and thinks her Aunt Stephanie who collects these dolls needs to go) but since Belle just owns the bitty babies (one baby, and the twin boy & girl), she mostly just wanted to hang-out in the Bitty Baby Room so she could pick-out a couple outfits for her dolls. Dad said she could get 2 outfits, so she had some decisions to make.

I thought the most interesting thing about the store was that there is a hair salon for the dolls right in the store. I wish I had taken a picture of it because it was really amusing seeing all the dolls getting their hair done just like at any other person beauty parlor.