Charlotte's Journey: Charleston visit

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Charleston visit

Charlotte has had a small place, "bubble" on her chest at the bottom of her incision since we came home from Charleston almost 2 years ago. Well, last week Charlotte started complaining that her chest hurt and she would rub the "bubble". Thursday I noticed that it started getting red and I called the Pediatrician. Friday morning we saw our wonderful Pediatrician, Dr. Donna and she called our Cardiologist, Dr. Horne to be on the safe side. Dr. Horne decided that we needed to see a Pediatric Surgeon, so off to Greenville we went for an afternoon appointment and Charlotte was placed on Bactrim and to return the following Wednesday to recheck unless things got worse. Well, over the weekend, the bubble got more red and bigger so I decided to call Dr. Donna instead of Ped's Surgery Monday morning because with surgery looming, I didn't want anything to jeopardize surgery!! Dr. Donna is so AWESOME, and after we talked about things we decided that a call to Dr. Bradley was warranted. I was to wait for a call from Dr. Bradley's office for an appointment this week for him to look at it. Monday evening around 6:30 the phone rings and it is Cathy, Dr. Bradley's Practitioner asking what's going on. After about 2 minutes on the phone it was decided that I would be seen Tuesday in Clinic because Dr. Bradley usually isn't in surgery and he would be able to look at the bubble himself.

Tuesday Morning we are on the road by 8:30 and headed to Charleston as fast as we can. We make it to Charleston after a few stops along the way around 11:30 and straight to clinic we go. After Cathy evaluated the bubble she decided that it needed to be lanced, OUCH!! As it worked out, Dr. Bradley was tied up with a procedure, but it didn't take long for him to finish. Waiting for something so easy is almost as hard as waiting for heart surgery...... I was just as nervous and sweating and not looking forward to my baby being in pain and crying! Dr. Bradley and Cathy decided that lancing it and send off cultures would be a good idea. If cultures are negative, surgery is still a go May 9th. We held her down and it was all over in about 15 minutes. Seems that that little bubble ended up having a bunch of granulated tissue in it. Cathy told me that the culture should be back by Friday and to just keep a check on it, a little antibiotic ointment and it should heal right up.

Tonight, I took the bandage off for good. Charlotte has tried her best to get the tape off and she has managed to get it off almost all the way every time, so I just decided to leave it off. It looks good I guess, but she still want let me touch it. I just pray that the culture comes back negative. With 8 weeks to go before the baby comes, I really am stressed out about getting Charlotte to Charleston for surgery and home, hopefully fully recovered before the baby comes. I have never prayed for any of my babies to be late before, but I have been praying that the Lord makes me wait for 42 weeks:)

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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."