NICU Staff Visit

December 16, 2011

To all the NICU staff, nurses, and doctors,

Thank you for all that you do on a continued basis for your little patients.  Our two children were well taken care of and we are eternally grateful for the work you have done for us and that you do every day.

Sophia Rose (our oldest) was born on April 25^th 2007, six weeks early with hydrops fetalis.  She did not have much a chance to live.  At her birth, she had four doctors working on her. She had chest tubes to drain the fluid that she her body was making. They put a PICC line in and she was intubated.  People in many countries were praying for her. 

Sophia is now a healthy, thriving four year old that has caught up to her peers and is doing well in preschool.  She is fiercely devoted to her own sense of fashion, all things pink, loves books and to be read to. 

Sophia was in the NICU for three weeks.  We cannot thank you for taking such good care of her, and for the constant support that we had every time we went to spend time with Sophia. 

Matthew David was born on September 3, 2009.  He did not want to be outdone by his older sister, so he also spent some time in the NICU.  He was only in the NICU for three days because his lungs were still wet and there was concern of infection.  Our experience during Matthew’s stint in the NICU only furthers our immense gratitude that we have for people like you who work on these children.

 

Matthew is now a two year who likes be himself no matter who the audience is.  He is “all boy” and loves construction vehicles, sports, jumping on our couch, also loves books, and has no fear.  We often find him “reading” in his room early in the morning, and even sometimes after he has been put to bed.

Thank you so much for taking such good care of our children and of us.  We are so grateful for helping us through the most difficult time in our lives, when Sophia was born, and helping us maneuver through the days when we did not know whether she was going to stay with us or go to heaven. 

Thank you, thank you, thank you!! 

Rob, Danielle, Sophia, and Matthew Crandell

Winter fashion trends (according to Sophia)

The weather is changing and it is time to get out the winter clothes.  Since Sophia has a deep (entrenched) sense of style, I thought I would share the upcoming winter fashion trends with you, according to her.

The hot colors and let’s face it the only colors to wear are pink and purple.  You can also mix this up with the only acceptable pattern out there: bright colored stripes.  Every other color is not in fashion this season or any season.  I think these colors are going to hot for quite a while.  You should just throw out everything that does not contain pink or purple. 

As far as pants are concerned:  Jeans and “tight” pants are completely out for the season.  Cozy pants and soft corduroy pants are in (only in the above mentioned colors, of course).  Pants should fit below the belly button and should be long enough to reach the edge of the shoe when standing.  If the pants are any shorter than this within a millimeter of the edge, these pants are unacceptable and should be given away immediately.

Shirts appropriate for the cooler weather are harder to find than you think.  Be careful when you shop.  After trying on several styles of t-shirts on her first clothing shopping trip, Sophia recommends the following tests when looking for a winter t-shirt.

ü  The shirt should not be tight anywhere.  Sophia recommends buying a larger size to prevent this problem. 

ü  The sleeve length should not be any shorter that wrist bone, even when you raise your arms. (Three-quarter sleeves are not an option!!)

ü  When you fully raise your arms, the shirt must be long enough to not go higher than the belly button.  Warning: many shirts do not pass this test!!

ü  Also, layered t-shirts are out.

Winter Dresses.  Although there are many stylish options for this type winter wear, they are out for the season.  Let’s face it; you must wear tights in order to stay warm enough. Sophia cannot recommend any tights because they do not perfectly fit around the toes.  Until Sophia finds a pair tights that are “form-fitting” around the toes, dresses are out for the winter.

Pajamas:  Do not put your summer jammies away just yet.  You can simply wear a cozy (pink or purple) sweatshirt over your summer jammies to maintain the proper warmth when sleeping.

Highlights from the previous seasons:

Heaven is for REAL

The best thing, maybe the only thing to look forward to when I was 7 months pregnant is that I was so close to holding my baby girl.  All the discomfort and lack of sleep was going to be completely worth it when she was in my arms and I could see her.  Well, as you know, I did not get to hold her until she was ten days old.

I went to Seattle recently.  I read a book called Heaven is for REAL.
http://heavenisforreal.net/
It is a non-fiction book about a little boy's journey to heaven and back.  It is a quick read and I read and finished the book to and from Seattle on the plane.  I didn't have much time to process it.

Here goes the processing:

I think the best part about this book for me is that this little boy tells his dad Jesus took care of him and he got to sit on Jesus's lap. While his daddy was desperately praying/raging with God, Jesus was holding his son.   As soon as I read this I knew that Jesus had held Sophia when I could not.  He was caring for my sweet girl when I could not get that close to her.  I am just overwhelmed with His love for my children and His love for me and everyone else.  I cannot fathom how deep and how wide Christ's love is for us but I think I came one small step closer to understanding it.


 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
                                                                                    Romans 5:8


¹⁶ I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, ¹⁷ so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, ¹⁸ may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, ¹⁹ and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
                                                                              Ephesians 3:16-19

Raw thoughts

Baby Showers are an amazing celebration of a beautiful baby to come.  It is time to support the new mother and provide much needed and oh so cute items for the baby.  It is a time to swap stories about how other children were born and what it was like to have the doctor put your child in your arms for the first time.

Why then does it bring up so much pain for me?  I have an amazing birth story to tell with my first but with this amazing story comes with so much pain and right now I cannot seperate the two feelings.  My family baby shower was set for the middle of May.  Sophia was born on April 25th.  I decided to go ahead and go through with the shower even though we did not know what Sophia's future held at that time.  I was amazed that everyone showed up bringing amazing gifts for a child who we did know whether God would keep her here with us or take her heaven.  It was touching yet so painful to open up presents, praying that my little girl would be able to wear that or be able to use that cute towel after a bath.

After the baby shower, I went back to the NICU and told Sophia about all the wonderful things she got.  The many, many dresses that Pam got her to the beautiful crib her Papa made her to the hand made blankets to the much needed diaper pail.

Oh, then there is birth stories.  How I wish, I could have held Sophia like I see it happen on TV!  I finally got to hold my baby girl, ten days later.  It was great and beautiful.  I was in awe that Sophia was such a fighter and I was so, so proud of her. 

The first time I got to hold Sophia!

In Sophia's story, there are incredible moments of joy and there are incredible moments of pain.  Right now those are intertwined.  Yet, I am so incredibly blessed that the Lord decided to let us keep Sophia.  I have an amazing little girl (and little boy too) who is full of love. 

Lord, untangle these so that I may fully rejoice with women and their celebration of their little ones coming into this world.

Sophia's village

It takes a village to raise children.  It definitely takes a village to raise our children with both of us working full time.  Sophia loves her family.  She loves her Cantie Stephanie and the "train cousins".  She loves her cousin Autumn.  With three sets of families, she has three sets of grandparents, three sets of aunts and uncles and three sets of cousins.  They all have a special place in her village.  To me her village seems full but Sophia always has room for more special people in her village.  She loves her Papa Chuck and Grammy Debbe at church and chooses to sit with them more than she sits with us during worship.

I love that Sophia has a special place for each person.  During Christmas, we got a chance to video chat with my brother and his girlfriend.  (They live in NYC.)  At first we were just talking with my brother.  As soon as Sophia got to say hi, she also wanted to say hi to Ms. Ashley too.  Thank you Ashley for coming back on screen twice to say hello to Sophia and us.

We had the privilege of  having our pastor, his wife and their two boys over.  Sophia found room for all of them in her village, especially one of their boys, Spencer.  She wanted Spencer to read the bedtime books to her and graciously did.  Thank you Spencer!

I am amazed at this little girl who has a huge heart to love all these people and make special connections with each one of them.  Each one of her family and friends has a special place and role to fulfill in this village.  Thank you everyone for graciously playing your part and loving my wonderful little girl.