January 3, we’ve had Rafael, nurse, for the last few days. He’s kept an especially close eye on her and has introduced Galina/Halia to some tummy time. He’s taken some initiative to meet some developmental needs and give some break time to the back and side contact with the bed. She’s always getting a good nap with her “PT”. January 4, we definitely are noticing how she’s quite the talker now.  Grandpa is very consistent with his love for his princess. All the pictures of “Angel face” according to Grandpa get better everyday.  

January 1, Galina/Halia had a fever today and her heart rate got up to as high as 200 and she cried for the most part of the afternoon.  I’m glad she was in Miami for this day for sure.  I must work tomorrow, but I can’t wait to get back down to see the Galina/Halia.  On top of this, I had to finish up year end paperwork for the upcoming winter league charges.  Once again, I have increased my club’s league participation and am the only club to have teams in every division offered in the CTA day league.  Last year, I received assistance for the billing of the members…

Daddy and mommy couldn’t wait for today! We could spend the nights and days with our angel. She’s 7 months old! We brought down her play station so she could sit up. I wish I could lay down in bed with her and play as she wants to. I used to lie down beside her and we’d both look and play together. I’ve longed for her to sleep on my chest and be warm and happy next to daddy’s beating heart. The staff and hospital are kind and bring her presents.

December 23, Galina/Halia is so happy and making happy playful noises.  It’s true, when Grandpa says this is the first time he’s heard her singing. I really don’t remember Chris Rea and his hit song, Driving Home for Christmas, but I couldn’t help playing it over and over. I cried every time and still do. I see myself driving Alligator Alley either going to see Galina/Halia in Miami or heading back to home. Thank you Chris Rea!

Do you know how hard it is not to hold your baby? For months! December 21, I can finally hold my precious baby girl after a couple months. Between her infection, pacing wires, pacemaker and a cough I got from the winter snow birds, I hadn’t held my baby girl for quite some time. It hurt so much to not hold her. She reached out to be held and I couldn’t. I had to reflect her reach to playing with a toy. I felt so bad like I was neglecting her wants. After all, she loved being in daddy’s arms. For her and me it was torture, but thankfully the…

It’s December 19, I love seeing Galina/Halia play with her legs and toes.  She loves rubbing them against my hands.  She is adorable looking, so lovingly looking at her protector daddy with her eyes. She never blinks. I love the perfect love of looking into each others eyes.  Today, I actually bumped into my second cousin Michael heading to get my regular espresso. His brother, Bobby, and I met in Naples a couple days before and he mentioned Michael would be visiting his fiance Loren. Loren, resident psychologist at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, visited Galina and we had dinner later that evening.

Monday, Galina/Halia is back in the OR and the plastic surgeon is cleaning and checking the tissue.  She’s doing marvelous and seems to pick up the day after the OR. She still resists the anesthesia. After each OR day she sleeps and upon waking up she begins to resume her playful life. God is loving to her. I flower her with gifts to play with. I don’t want her to be bored. I want her to be happy. I wish I could do more. Galina/Halia loves her books.  They have different textures and sounds depending on where she is squeezing it.  December 14, we get a elephant and she has…

December 7-9, I am hosting a special tennis camp with the Dave MacPherson, coach of John Isner and the Bryan brother doubles team, Jimmy Arias, former #5 in the world, and Ellis Fereira, former world doubles #1- and 4-time grand slam doubles champion.  We go to host Sarita O’Sheas’s home, everyone’s having a great time, but I don’t feel right missing the evening with Halia and head back home a little sad that I missed my Halia this evening. Next day however, even while running this exclusive camp, I am down to see my angel.  I’m so happy to see her. She’s the most important thing in my life. 

November 27, the hospital calls me in the morning and Halia had a blood transfusion last night.  Halia is going to OR and they will clean out the excess blood that has developed underneath the wound by making an incision and draining it and they might put on her wound vac.  They have blood on standby, but hemoglobin looks good.  Nastya never misses a beat, she always calls when she is not at hospital morning and at night to check on Halia.  Hi Adrian, can we talk with Halia’s nurse. Code 9722 😊.  The hospital gave her a Winnie the pooh Christmas stuffed animal.  It plays a Christmas song we…

November 8th, my assistant starts tomorrow.  Nurses have said Halia misses me.  She smiled when I arrived, and I melt as I always do.  I don’t ever take her for granted.  We visited till she fell asleep.  I’m glad Nastya is here.  Currently, Halia is vomiting the formula, as they are either feeding her too much or too often.  Now she is on a low-fat formula that tastes worse than the previous formula.  She needs the fat low.  Plastic surgeon can’t close her chest up until there’s no fatty fluid in wound vacuum.  She loves her mobile and I keep putting new attachments to entertain her.  Her external pacemaker is…