Hospital Reflections...

There have been so many great things that have happened in the past week, I'm doing my best to write them down.  And so before I forget, there are a few things I wanted to record from Isabelle's first few days in the hospital.

As I talked about earlier, the fact of getting to meet her in the hospital was purely and utterly amazing.  What was to us, icing on the cake, was the 5-star, royal treatment she received from the amazing nurses.  In talking about how we got to meet her, you may recall that there was a whole group of nurses gathered all around her when we arrived.  I do honestly believe that Isabelle was held the entire time she was in the hospital and that the love she received from them will be forever a part of her.

In fact when we left the hospital the nurses presented our Isabelle with gifts.  In addition to the goodies the hospital sends home, the nurses had gone together to get her an outfit that reads, "I love my mommy" and a "My Guardian Angel" plaque to hang above her crib.  The plaque reads,

"O, Angel of God,

my Guardian dear,

To whom God's love

commits me here

Ever this day

be at my side

To light and guard

to rule and guide."

And as I read it my eyes filled with tears and I cried happy tears. I've never given birth to a baby in the hospital and who knows, maybe nurses buy every baby a parting gift.  But as they gave us her gifts and wished us well, I couldn't help but think that they considered her special, and for that I will be forever grateful.  For just as everyone views their children as extra special, we do the same about her (and our boys).  My heart overflowed with complete happiness and I thanked God yet again for all the details he made come to be, to bring this little miracle to me (us).


And another one of my favorite stories from when she was in the hospital was what nurse Rose told me on my second day of visiting her.  When we first met Isabelle, we thought we saw her smile a few times during our visit.  Knowing that at her age (less than 2 days old) babies don't really smile, I thought she must have gas.    When I returned the following day to hold her, nurse Rose came up to me and was doting about how cute, lovable and sweet our baby girl was.  Almost as if Isabelle had heard Rose saying those nice things, she smiled.  Then Rose said, "You know of all the newborn babies I see, I don't know if I've ever met a baby that smiles so much."  Rose continued, " My mom, use to say that when a newborn baby smiles, it is because they can still hear their guardian angel whispering to them from Heaven."  and with that, my eyes filled with tears and I cried happy tears all over again.  I believe Isabelle's guardian angel was watching out for her and every time I see her smile, I can't help but wonder what her guardian angel is saying to her now.

Until next time,
Angie