baby's first easter.

 This was taken right after Charlotte's bandage came off this Easter morning.  Her head looks perfect and round.  (We think it looks like Eleanor's head now... and not just because it is bald.)

Like my Easter dress?  Since Charlotte is only wearing only blankets this weekend,

we decided that this one is her Easter outfit!

The best news is that we just got a glimmer of our little Charlotte! She cracked open her little eyes enough to see and grabbed an Easter egg and shook it. 

A plastic colored egg has never looked so good.

breaking news!

 Just now at 1:30pm on Easter Sunday little Charlotte just took a turn for the better!  She could open her little eyes enough to see and hold an EASTER EGG. She started making her little sounds, playing with her toes (trying to pull all the cords off), and shaking the candy in the little egg.  We are all thrilled to see the first little signs Charlotte feeling better!

And YES, the Easter Bunny aka Mother Rabbit hid eggs in the room (including one money egg!) and the girls had their traditional Easter Egg Hunt.  Abby found the money egg this year.

so much loving care... many helping hands.

 When sweet Charlotte gets uncomfortable and frustrated, her support team jumps into action.

 Justin is on "me-me duty" while mommy sleeps.

 

 Great Grandma Ruth visited yesterday... so did Bella & Evian!

 Aunt Jan was here from Broken Bow.

 So much caring support... It was fun telling the nurse after she asked "Do you all live in Omaha?" and we could answer "No, Grandpa Greg & Fiona flew in from Alabama, Daddy Justin flew in from DC, Aunt Jan drove from Broken Bow, Auntie Abby drove in from Minneapolis - and Mommy, Charlotte & Grandma Bunny live in Oakland."

Baby Girl's little face is still puffy and swollen... but the swelling is starting to go down a

little so that Pookie can open her eyes a little sliver - and she likes that!

resting and healing.

The scene in Room 509 at Children's Hospital today was both sweet and difficult. We got to leave the PICU about noon and move to a regular floor.  Charlotte did a lot of sleeping and it was super sweet to see Hannah curled up in the little bed with Baby Girl. 

It was difficult when Baby Girl tried opening her little eyes which are too puffy and swollen to open.   She rubs them with her little hands in frustration.  They are really swollen and I am sure they feel really tight & uncomfortable.  Please pray for the swelling to subside.

Some good news to share... Charlotte's blood levels moved up high enough on their own so she did not need extra blood.  We are THANKFUL.

Thank you for your continued prayers... and HAPPY EASTER.


I have been reflecting on the fact that because Jesus lives and reigns is the reason that prayer is even an option.  What was accomplished on the cross for us changes everything.  HALLELUIA.

doctor's good report and prayer request.

Charlotte got a good report this morning (as you can read from "Night Nurse Abby"'s account.)  We are excited that Charlotte might get to get off the PICU floor soon.  She will be more comfortable and will have less tubes so that she can he held.  They have not had to give Charlotte any extra blood yet, and about 50% of the time it is necessary.  Please join us in praying that her own little body can rebuild her blood levels with a transfusion. Let's get those little pink cheeks back.

Hannah is a champion nurser as many of you know, and as you can see by looking at little chubby Pookie-Pants.  Got a text from Hannah early this morning that said "Wait until you see how excited Charlotte gets when she gets to nurse.  It honestly kills me."

THANKS FOR YOUR PRAYERS.

the other night nurse... sister love.

 Sweet Abby drove in from Minneapolis and arrived about 9pm to assume the night nurse duties with Hannah.  I got a text from Abby about midnight that said "Everything is good! Hannah is sleeping and I've got my chair next to Charlotte."  Hannah texted me at 2:45am and said "Abby is spoiling me with sleep!"

I had some flashbacks because Abby stayed with Hannah in the hospital overnight when Charlotte was born too.  When she arrived, I headed home to sleep... both times.

"Sisters... sisters... there were never such devoted sisters..."  

Left: Abby  Middle: Emily  Right: Hannah (at just about Charlotte's age)

It is fun to watch sisters extend such deep loving care for each other... Emily would be here too if she could!

tender loving care.

After Charlotte got checked into her PICU room, we made sure that there were caring touches and soothing voices right there to bring some comfort.  She was on morphine to control her pain but got off of it at 2:45am  this morning once she woke up enough to start nursing. Great news.

Kiley and Andy stopped by in the evening and Nurses-Training-Kiley told us what all the numbers on the monitors meant.  She "checked everything out" and gave her approval. Smile. (We loved our night nurses, Jason & Michelle, at Children's by the way.)

The bottom photo of her hand is the only limb that did not have a tube sticking out of it!  She had IV tubes (or something) in both her feet and another tube in her right arm.  They also had a catheter in and a drain on her head wound.  Sweet baby girl...