Dear Charlotte

Dear Charlotte,

Hi sweet girl... it's Mommy.  I know I'm not usually the one to update this blog we keep for you, but I just felt like I had to tell you some things while they were still fresh in my mind. 

I know you know something is going on, because you have been much more active these past two days.  You might have heard Daddy and me crying off and on.  We're both very sad because your Nana left us for her new home in heaven yesterday morning.  She was the most amazing woman and was so excited to become your grandma.  Seeing you grow up was one of her biggest wishes.  You may never be able to understand how much she loved you already, but trust us when we say it was a lot. 

We found out we were expecting you the day after she was diagnosed with lymphoma.  You gave her so much to fight for these past six months and have already been a tremendous blessing to us all.  She got to see you slowly growing in my tummy, and you kicked her hand pretty hard about a month ago while she rested it on my belly.  She loved every new development you experienced.  Your Pop would read her our blog updates as she went through treatments to kill her cancer, and she really enjoyed the way Daddy's writing would make her laugh and cry.  She told me many times that she could not wait to see you and Daddy together.  She knew he would be the best dad.  She was the one that raised him to be so loving, caring, and forgiving. 

Daddy and I are sad for many reasons, but one of the biggest reasons is that you and she will never get the chance to meet here on earth.  It breaks our hearts that you will never get to hear her sweet laugh or see her wonderful smile.  She gave the best hugs, too.  She was also willing to listen to anyone's problems and gave great advice.  Despite Nana being unable to be here for you physically, we truly believe that you have just received the best guardian angel.  Please know that she will always be listening when you need someone to talk to...  The same thing goes for your future brothers/sisters and cousins.

Our stories about her will be poor substitutions for the real thing, but we will do our very best to tell you all about her one day.  We hope you have lots of questions and guide us in the right direction.  We may need help from time-to-time.  Right now, it seems impossible that I'm even writing these words to you, but I hope that time helps heal the hurt that this family feels today.

As I said in the beginning of this post, you have been moving around like crazy in my belly since yesterday morning.  I'm sure you sense my pain, but I can't help but wonder if it's because your Nana is tickling you from heaven.  I hope it's the latter...

Goodnight my sweet, sweet girl.

Love you forever,

Mommy

3rd Trimester!!

This pregnancy is flying by!  We have now entered our third trimester and are starting to get very anxious.  I am nervous that Sara is going to be one of those women who gives birth to their child in the toilet during a routine #2 (maybe I have been watching too much tv).  We had an appointment with our doctor yesterday and heard her heartbeat again (in the 150 bpm range). Sara was measuring at 26/27 weeks. Part of the appointment yesterday was for Sara to drink a sugary beverage to be tested for Gestational Diabetes. We should know those results by tomorrow.  We have been to two birthing classes now and are starting to feel a little more prepared for the big day(We have yet to bring up our natural child birth plan to our doctor, but will bring it up soon...).


In other news, it has been wonderful to have my parents so close at St. Francis hospital in Indy.  We are confident that Mom (or Nana as she will soon be known) has the best doctors, and Sara and I love getting to see them everyday.  She is right in the middle of chemo and radiation treatments.  Her positive attitude is contagious, and I know that she is going to come out of this ok (she has to for Charlotte).


Charlotte is getting big!  We crack up each night at 10pm when Charlotte decides to go crazy and try to kick her way out of the womb.  Our focus is now shifting to her bedroom and making sure that we are prepared to bring her home.  We love Sam and Laney like our children already, and we can't wait to introduce Charlotte to them.  I am sure there will be many good photo opportunities.


Here is what has been happening with Ms. Charlotte...


Week 26: Her ears are becoming more sensitive which means Sara needs to start watching her language.  Her lungs are developing now, and she is breathing in and out.  This will prepare her to take her first gulp of air when she enters the world.  She is weighing in at a whopping 1 2/3 pounds at this point and is apparently still extremely gassy (well at least Sara keeps blaming her gas on her.)

Week 27:  During this week Charlotte is nearing the 2 pound mark and is 14.5 inches long.  I selfishly want her as chubby as possible so that boys don't start asking her out.  She is sleeping and waking at regular intervals (wakes up at 10pm every night)!  Charlotte's brain is developing rapidly now (if she got my smarts, it's probably close to being done developing).

Here are the pictures of Proud Mama in weeks 26 & 27...

We love you guys, talk to you soon!

Love,

Josh, Sara, & Charlotte