HISTORY: Isabella was adopted into the Smith family July 18, 2008. She had been born 2-months prematurely, and was 2 months old when we got her. One week later, she suddenly had a breathing crisis and was rushed to the hospital following a traumatic resuscitatation.

This was the begginning of a (now) seven month odyssey. Isabella suffers from Bronchial Displasia, related to premature lungs at birth. Whenever she gets a cold or flu bug, within hours it can become life-threatening.

Between medical incidents, Bella (or "Bellaboo" as Marc calls her) is strong, fat, healthy, robust, smart, active, alert. She is an EASY baby, happy, sleeps well, eats well. However, over 40% of her little life since birth has been spent in the Intensive Care Unit -- with either her Mommy or her Daddy at her side.

July 22, Tuesday: Precious Baby

Isabella is a very easy baby; wakes up and softly cries to eat right on schedule every three hours or so. If we put her on her tummy when she is hungry, she will worm across the bed looking for food, making angry growling noises if something she tries to latch on to does not produce milk, and lifting her head up and looking at me accusingly.. She is a different baby than when we got her, already nearly 8 pounds. We are very grateful to God for giving us such a perfect little girl!