Caroline Rose turns Two

Facebook does this wonderful thing where old photographs you shared will pop up on your computer. I can see how this might cause distress if a photo or video shared can bring up painful reminders of the past.

December 20, 2013. Caroline Rose entered the world. A planned C-Section, four weeks early due to her growth restriction and my previous Cesarean involving a vertical cut through the uterus, thereby compromising its strength to bear any contractions. Four pounds, fourteen ounces of sweetness. She immediately went to the NICU.

Soon after she was born.

One Day Old

 At two days old she suffered a collapsed lung and was placed on a ventilator.

Chest tube and on the ventilator

She was kept sedated as she was grabbing at the vent and her tubes when she would start to awaken.

At five days old (Christmas day) I was finally allowed to hold her in my arms.

A sweet gift, indeed.

At ten days old she was allowed to come home.
 

She has grown rapidly and we have done our best to soak in these great moments.



She didn't walk until she was 18 months, but now is all over the place with her unique gait. (Her left foot turns out, and she walks on the inside of her foot.) This has gotten much better since she started walking as the doctor said it would self-correct.

18 months

Now at two years old Caroline is full of life. She has no negative repercussions of the collapsed lung other than a small scar on her chest.

Caroline loves babies. She has commandeered babies from Maggie for several months.

Stealing babies from Maggie.

 It was with much delight that she received a baby of her own, just the right size for her to carry around, for Christmas. She also received a doll stroller for her baby. At first this gift brought tears as she tried to sit in it herself and we wouldn't let her. Once she understood that she can push her baby she was overjoyed.

Caroline's favorite book right now is: Little Mommy. We read it multiple times a day.

This is the third year I have taken this same picture with Caroline on Christmas day. That first Christmas with her was undeniably hard. She was in the NICU and I was discharged and I had three other girls at home. I couldn't drive and I just wanted us all to be together for Christmas. And now we are, and I am just plain grateful.




She is also a little chatterbox (no surprise here!). She keeps us all laughing with her adorable phrases. She loves dipping anything in ketchup, and the way she pronounces ketchup sounds like "dat-juice". She calls Annie "Ee-ee", Abbey, "Abbey" (easy to pronounce), Maggie, "Mah-mee".

Hess Girls X 4

 Caroline is still very small for her age, but it's truly amazing to see her growth through the years. We are tremendously grateful to the medical staff who cared for her, as well as our regular doctor who sees that she remains healthy.  (Professional Photographs courtesy of Stacy Parmarter Photography)

Happy birthday, sweet Caroline. You are so loved.