SWEET VICTORY

WHAT'S IN A NAME

Naming Miss Charlotte Rose proved to be much more difficult than one would expect from this name-obsessed mama!  No doubt made more complicated when we found out that we were having a Charlotte and not a Charlie, considering our name list only included BOY names.  Fortunately for all involved, we settled on Charlotte just about 2 weeks before she made her debut.  Rose was another story.  On day 4 post birth and as the birth certificate office was closing, we finally decided.  Patrick and I had 4 middle names to choose from and it may have been as hard, or harder, to decide on than her first name!    Besides adoring the name, Charlotte is actually a family name on my side.  It is my grandmother Theo's sister's name.  Rose is after my grandmother Rosetta and Patrick's grandmother Felicia Rose.  And to us, CHARLOTTE ROSE is the most perfect name for our sweet girl.

Dr. M is pleased overall with her progress.  Our main goal is for her kidneys to work more efficiently as they are the key player in draining excess fluid from her body.  This is IMPERATIVE for a successful chest closure on Monday as well as maintaining stability.  Please pray specifically that her kidneys continue to heal.  

Also on my heart is my sweet "Baby Patrick."  Truly not a baby anymore, but certainly he will always be.  I pray that he knows just how much his Mommy adores him...and how much my heart aches to be with him every day.  I know this is only temporary although it's especially trying given I was on bed rest for so long and it's so hard not having Mommy in her usual capacity.

BIG BROTHER

My sweet Patrick is very excited about "the new baby."  He will proudly show off his own stomach by lifting up his shirt while parading around.  Watch out, because if he's in the mood, he'll scout out friends and family's bellies too!  

When I was admitted to the hospital, he would run to the door and call out, "baby.  babies.  baby?"  It was really the sweetest thing to hear.  So of course, Daddy or Mimi would walk him down to the nursery to see the babies.  Sometimes if one was crying, the nurse would 'comfort' Patrick through the nursery window as she said "it's okay.  the baby is okay."  During my one-time wheelchair "joyride," I chose the nursery route so as to witness my baby visit the other babies and it warmed my heart.  And, someday soon, we'll be taking him to meet his very own baby - his new sister.