Bittersweet blessings and beginnings

RafaelSo, I haven’t updated this blog for a while.  I’ve had life going on.  Our daughter, Mae, was born last year prematurely, and she passed away after a month in intensive care. She was doing so well and we are heartbroken.

Cele and I were stunned to find out that I was pregnant during this time.

Our son, Rafael Emre (Rafael meaning God Heals and Emre meaning Brother), was born in February…after 6 months on bed rest.  The birth of our son is bittersweet. It doesn’t make things better, you can not replace one child with another.  We miss our daughter so much and love our son.  I never quite know what to say when people ask if Rafael is our first.  He is not.  He is a blessing, as was our daughter.

Rafael and I returned to Panama in March after going to the states for his birth.  As for blessings, I am blessed to have this business with my husband right now, where we have the flexibility to work and take care of our child at the same time, where our son can grow up in a world perfect for a little explorer – with rivers for swimming, bugs for capturing, and horses for riding.