Count it all joy

     At work today, after I commented on a patient's struggles in rehab, my patient made the statement "Count it all joy." I asked her, "Where did you get that saying?" She said, "It's in the bible. No matter how hard it is what you're going through, count it all as joy. I'm still here, and I'm getting better." That comment truly struck me. That is a beautiful way to live your life. That is what David and I aspire to do every day. No matter how hard Charlotte's struggles have been, there is always joy to be found in every day. We have cherished having Charlotte home every day.
     The day after Charlotte came home, we met our pediatrician, Dr. Marshall, who is a resident at the University of Maryland. She is so patient and kind with Charlotte (and her first time, nervous parents). She said she doesn't use the term often, but Charlotte truly is a "miracle baby" given all the challenges Charlotte has had to endure. We looked at each other and immediately knew we wanted her to be Charlotte's pediatrician. We will be following her to Kennedy Krieger when she finishes her residency. We are so lucky to have found such a special pediatrician to care for Charlotte. We have also had appointments with endocrinology, hematology, and her developmental specialist. Charlotte is still meeting all of her milestones! The doctor said that it is amazing how well she is doing given how sick Charlotte has been. We will be very busy parents for a while.
     After being discharged from the hospital for 2 days, Charlotte was re admitted for pneumonia. She had been progressively throwing up more and more food when she came home. As she swallowed some of that food, it went into her lungs. So, Saturday night we went back to the hospital with a temperature of 101. The progressive pediatric unit at the University of Maryland is wonderful. (Even though we hated to be back in the hospital.) It is not an ICU like the NICU. It is more family friendly. The rooms are big. Parents have a place to sleep and are encouraged to stay. It is full of children of all ages. All of the doctors came in to see Charlotte immediately the next morning. They did a chest X-ray and saw some changes in her lungs. The GI doctors think Charlotte has an allergy to normal formula. So, when the NICU doctors tried to switch her from her hypoallergenic formula to regular formula before she discharged, it messed up her stomach. So, the GI doctors have spread out Charlotte's meals over a longer time period to give her belly the chance to get better as she readjusts back to hypoallergenic formula. Now we are home again on antibiotics for pneumonia. Charlotte is so happy at home. She sleeps in her rock and play that plays music. She loves to be held and play on her play mat. She is starting to "talk" so much. Life as a family of three at home is wonderful!