sweet charlotte is in surgery now.

Charlotte Grace checked into Children's Hospital today at 9am to prepare for her surgery technically called "Posterier Vault Reconstruction".   We have known since her two month appointment that this surgery was pending until she reached the 'perfect age' to have this corrective surgery performed.  She will be 8 months old in a week.  Basically, Charlotte's skull fused prematurely and her lack of a "soft spot" was one of the tell-tale signs.  With the "cranial synostosis along her sagittal suture" her little head can only grow length-wise and not round.  The surgery will remove the fused areas.  They will also remove part of her skull, remodel it, and then put it back.  This will allow her sweet little head to grow properly and allow plenty of room for what we believe is an exceptionally amazing brain.  Supposedly this happens to one in every 2000 babies... if that is the case, I do not know enough babies. And supposedly, babies respond remarkably well.  Today will be the hardest... on everybody.

This blog spot is for people who want to know more details about Charlotte and her family today... and we covet your prayers.  THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRAYERS.

We got to talk with her plastic surgeon, Dr. Jason Miller, about 11:30am and Hannah kissed her little girl and followed the little cart to the elevator with tears on her face at about 11:45am for the surgery. Dr. Miller will be assisted by neurosurgeon Dr. Mark Puccioni during the procedure. We just received word that they officially started the procedure about 12:45pm.

 Mother Rabbit thought she would share some photos with you from this morning while Baby Girl is in her surgery.

 When we arrived they were quick to check Charlotte's vitals
and draw some more blood.  Good to go.

 Do you like my hospital gown?

 Grandma Bunny got to cuddle with some bunny while we waited for the doctor.

Daddy was on the scene to provide some loving too.

Charlotte to blessed to have Grandpa Greg and Fiona, Auntie Jan Dobesh and Grandma Jane all at the hospital for loving on Charlotte - and Hannah! Aunt Abby is on her way from Minneapolis too.  In fact I told Dr. Miller "there are people who flew in from all over the country for this surgery in the waiting room... really." 

 This is the shape of the incision that will be made on little Pookie's head.  We asked the doctor to prepare us for how she would look after the procedure.  She will have a head wrap bandage that won't come off until Sunday.   We were very happy to hear that Dr. Miller will be the one taking it off on Easter Sunday! He said that sometimes the babies eyes are swollen shut, but let's pray that they won't be.  There will be swelling in the back of the head.

 Little cuddle time this morning... important for both people in this photo.

 The baby girl fell asleep for almost 45 minutes. Such a blessing since she couldn't eat.  She was bright-eyed and rested when the doctor arrived.

In her rolling cart bed ready to go... Aunt Abby gave Charlotte this new blabla doll for the surgery. We named her Daisy. At least she gets to go with Charlotte.

See you soon pookie...

Both girls were so brave.

 

Thank you for PRAYING. We can feel it. It matters. We need it.

free time?

Upon waking this morning Mike and I shared some banter about what our Saturday activities might look like on this sunny, snowy, promising day.  Then Mike made a comment that went something like this:  "I thought when we finished the house projects that I would have more free time on my hands... and I just don't see it."

I have been smiling about this all day.  Free Time?  Who is he kidding?  "Free Time" has to be won / fought for / grabbed / taken by force / scheduled and guarded.  Nothing is free.  There certainly aren't going to be pockets of time left over at the end of the day - unless you planned it that way.

I guard my "free time" with a vengeance.  I believe it is a part of mental health.

I think the same principle applies to money.  There will never just be $ left at the end of the month unless you guard it with a vengeance.   Free time and extra money are commodities to be treasured.  The point is: Be on your guard.  There are useless things in your life that are working to put a drain on both.

the 4 hour rule. it's worth repeating.

The Four Hour Rule is simply this: When you (or someone you love) throws up, you must wait four hours to eat or drink again.  Simple.  But genius.  The lining of the stomach takes four hours to heal.  When someone throws up, check the clock and write down the time exactly.  Tell the victim they can have a little drink in exactly four hours - not a minute sooner.  (I have tried cheating at 3 hours and 45 minutes with disastrous results.)

This is tricky because after one throws up, they are very thirsty and crave a drink of something.  DO NOT GIVE IN.  Unless you like doing laundry and cleaning up partially digested food.

When I hear someone say "My daughter threw up all night and I cleaned the sheets five times" I want to say it was your own fault for not following the 4 Hour Rule.  As a rule, people do not keep throwing up after their stomach has emptied.  They throw up again after you put something else in it.

Sharing the 4 Hour Rule might be the nicest thing you could do for your friends in this season of sickness.

when in doubt, reach out.

When we hear that someone we know is in a hard, hard place it is often a struggle to know what to do or say... The thing to remember is to do something.

We err on the side of doing nothing when we know we cannot fix it.  We tend to say nothing when we don't know what to say.  Mother Rabbit thinks it is important to learn to push through this fog of indecision and extend yourself with a touch of kindness in some way.  The simpler, the better. Think "touch" rather than talk.    Think "touch" rather than fix.  People don't really need or want words when they are really hurting... Just a hug or a note... Or smile or flower or meal or act of kindness...

When I was going through my divorce, it was such a painful place that I can remember thinking that if someone set a bag of groceries on my porch that contained a package of hot dogs & chips it would have felt like a gourmet meal --- just to not have to think about what we were going to eat for supper.  Or was it special because it meant that someone knew that things were hard for me right then?

This week I heard about a friend who had to bury her first born son.  The news made me feel paralyzed and helpless and cold.  I knew that I couldn't ease her pain or change what happened.  But I could pray for her... and I could tell her that in a simple card.

Let's err on the side of doing too much when we are not sure what to do...  instead of nothing.

give credit where credit is due.

I am about to share a quirky thing about Mother Rabbit...

I will not leave my theater seat until every last credit has run on the big screen.   I enjoy this private "space" to absorb the movie I have just enjoyed.   But more importantly, I feel like I am thanking and honoring the people who labored to make the production a reality by quietly viewing the names on the screen.  It is mind boggling to grasp what a team effort a movie production is.

AND there are often surprises and sweet somethings hidden in the credits for those who wait.  Sometimes there is even an additional movie clip that comes on after the credits run, leaking a hint about a possible sequel to follow.  Sometimes I have been the only one in the theater (with Mike) to see it!

At the very end of the credits for Les Miserables, director Tom Hooper thanked his parents and grandparents (by name in small letters) for introducing him to musicals.  How marvelous.

Next time you go to the movies, stay for the credits.  It can be a sweet treat.

movie favorites.

After coming home from the theater last night, I pulled out my 'favorite movies of all time list' because I wanted to add to it.  Les Miserables is definitely joining the list.   If you have not already seen it, I would recommend you make a plan to view this cinematic masterpiece while it is still in the theaters.  I saw Les Mis on Broadway in NY and I can safely say that in my humble opinion this production was 1000 times better.  (I know that I am comparing apples and oranges, but this story deserves the grandeur that the cinema can provide.)

In the spirit of movie favorites, I would like to present my TOP 40.  I would encourage you to create a list for yourself.  When I moved into my new office space this past year, I made  "favorite things" a theme to surround myself with... and included movie favorites on my shelves.  I enjoy having them close by.  Somehow they seem to exude warmth, comfort, excitement and sweetness.  Please note that my movie favorites are not in a particular order.  Les Miserables will be added when I create the TOP 50 list.

Karen’s Movie Favorites TOP 40

1.        Sense & Sensibility

2.        Pride & Prejudice BBC

3.        Toy Story

4.        Toy Story 2

5.        Toy Story 3

6.        Shawshank Redemption

7.        What About Bob?

8.        Dirty Rotten Scoundrels

9.        You’ve Got Mail

10.      Master & Commander

11.     Driving Miss Daisy

12.     The Notebook

13.     Galaxy Quest

14.     Tootsie

15.     A Good Year

16.     Gladiator

17.     Return of the Pink Panther

18.     P.S. I Love You

19.     Return to Me

20.     Door to Door

21.     First Wives Club

22.     Father of the Bride 1&2

23.     Con Air

24.     The Rock

25.     Crimson Tide

26.     Serendipity

27.     Calamity Jane

28.     State Fair

29.     Bridges of Madison County

30.     About Schmidt

31.     White Christmas

32.     Emma

33.     Dan in Real Life

34.     Last of the Mohicans

35.     A King’s Speech

36.     Lars & The Real Girl

37.     Sleepless in Seattle

38.     Something’s Gotta Give

39.     Thomas Crown Affair

40.    Finding Nemo

hostess gifts.

 

Hostess gifts rock.  Both to give and to receive.   It is just a sweet idea to bring a small gift to your hostess if you are invited for a meal - or for the weekend.  It says in a soft sweet way "I appreciate all the preparations you have made for us."

This past weekend we were blessed to have Abby bring some of her Minneapolis friends home to spend the weekend.   I was reminded of the sweetness of a hostess gift when I was gifted by our darling house guests.  Emily gifted me with her newest note cards, which she designed for Back In The Day Bakery - and a tea towel she designed for the same.  My favorite part is the label which reads "Emily Isabella Designs".  Lisa gifted me with her favorite gardening tool, which I am ecstatic about! A garden knife / scoop with a serrated edge that I can tell is sturdy as the day is long.

Giving a "favorite thing" or something you made is a great place to start.   For favorite thing - think "Oprah's Favorites".  Gift something that you would heartily recommend or do not feel you could live without.  The handmade or genuinely-love-this-myself gifts will give them a personal and loving flavor... and isn't that what gifts are about?