Charlotte's Journey: Home bound :)

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Home bound :)

Six days, the longest six says of our lives since out last stay in Charleston (Charlotte's birth) and finally we get the green light to go home. Brian has gone with Charlotte to x-ray and echo and I stayed behind to make a few phone calls. Around 1p.m. the doctor came in and announced that as long as the reports of the x-ray and echo come back normal we get to leave today. I am so ready to get home, back to my children, our life, back to being normal. About an hour later the doctor comes back in and informs me that everything looks good, he is waiting the final report, but we are getting discharged!!! I hug this man, the doctor, and I head straight to the echo department to find Brian and Charlotte. I want to tell them the GREAT news!! Seems that the echo took a little longer that I thought because when I got there, I had to wait about 5 minutes before the door opened. I didn't want to disturb the tech knowing so I just waited. When the door opened, Brian is carrying Charlotte out to the wagon and I just started crying. Brian is all worried and all I can say is "home". I think after a few minutes, Brian finally understood what I was telling him. As we walk down the hall, I finally get it together enough to tell him everything looked good to the doctor and we were being discharged. We get back to the room and I get everything all packed up, Brian takes it to Ronald McDonald House and he packs everything there so that when we are ready to leave all we have to do is put it in the truck. It's probably 1ish by this time and we decide to head to the cafeteria to get lunch because Charlotte is hungry. We wanted to eat somewhere else seeing as we've ate hospital food but o-well. We didn't get back to the room and seated when the nurse walks in with discharge instructions. Brian said, "I knew this would happen". Charlotte ate half my pizza and right as the nurse was finishing up instructions, Charlotte thew up all over herself :( I am about to panic thinking we are going to have to stay. Seems that the wet cough is a little drainage as well and it has made her tummy sick. I am surprised that we are getting to leave but THANK GOD we are out of here!! I am so happy, but I think Charlotte is more excited and happy than I am.

I thought when I laid out her clothes that the shirt I chose was fitting for the occasion. It tells a story that only a heart family would understand. We head back to RMH, pack up the truck and head to the ponderosa. We get home before the girls get there, but we are waiting outside for them. When they get out of the truck, Charlotte runs to the girls and they run to her :) such a sweet sight. It gets a little crazy having everyone together, but I sure have missed the crazy and loud giggles and screams of all of the girls playing together. The sound of laughter is music to my ears. I am so glad to be home, THANK YOU LORD for all your blessings and answered prayers!

Just a little note, there was a little girls names Katherine in the bed beside Charlotte in PCICU. Her parents have just found out that Katherine is in need of a heart transplant. The day we left PCICU, they had found out that Katherine had been approved and placed on the transplant list. Please keep this family in your prayers!! Also, I met another couple that live in Boiling Springs that have a daughter named Kirby. Please keep this family in your prayers as they travel the road of unknown like so many of us.

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Heart Poem

It's a beautiful day up in heaven. Jesus is rounding up his tiniest angels, to go live on earth, and be born. One of the sweetest angels says to Jesus "I don't want to leave, I like it here, and I will miss you". He reassures the scared little angel that everything will be okay, and that he is just going for a visit. He is still not swayed on this idea. So Jesus kneels down, and says, "How about if you leave half of your heart here with me and take the other half with you, will that be okay?" The angel smiles and says, "I guess that will work". But the little angel is still a little scared. He asks,"Will I be okay with only half of my heart?" Jesus replies,"Of course you will, I have other angels there that will help out, and you will be fine." Then Jesus gives the angel more details about his plan. He says "When you are born, your mommy will be scared, so you have to be strong, and when you feel weak just remember that I have the other half of your heart". "Enjoy your time with your family, play and laugh everyday." "And when its time to come back to heaven, I will make your heart whole again. Always remember that you are not broken, just torn between two loves."

THE CHOSEN MOTHERS BY ERMA BOMBECK

Most women become mothers by accident, some by choice, a few by social pressure, and a couple by habit. Did you ever wonder how mothes of children with life threatening illnesses are chosen?

Somehow, I visualize God hovering over Earth selecting His instruments for propagation with great care and deliberation. As He observes, He instructs His angels to make notes in a giant ledger. "Armstrog, Beth, son, patron saint Matthew. Forrest, Marjorie, daughter, patron saint Cecilia. Rutledge, Carrie, twins, patron saint Gerard."

Finally, He passes a name to an angel and says, "Give her a child with cancer." The angel is curious. "Why this one God? She's so happy." "Exactly" smiles God, "Could I give a child with cancer a mother who does not know laughter? That would be cruel."

"But, does she have patience?" asks the angel. "I don't want her to have too much patience or she will drown in a sea of self-pity and despair. Once the shock and resentment wears off, she will handle it." "I watched her today. She has that feeling of self and independence that is so rare and so necessary in a mother. You see, the child I'm going to give her has it's own world. She has to make it live in her world and that's not going to be easy."

"But, Lord, I don't think she believes in you. "No matter, I can fix that. This one is perfect. She has just enough selfishness." The angel gasps- "Selfishness? is that a virtue?"

God nods. "If she can't seperate herself from the child occasionally. she'll never survive. Yes, here is a woman whom I will bless with a child less than perfect. She doesn't realize it yet, but she is to be envied. She will never take anything her child does for granted, She will never consider a single step ordinary. I will permit her to see clearly the things I see.... ignorance, cruelty, prejudice... and allow her to rise above them. "She will never be alone. I will be at her side every minute of every day of her life, because she is doing My work as surely as if she is here by My side." "And what about her patron saint?" asks the angel. His pen poised in mid-air. God smiles, "A mirror will suffice."