"Nothing is so strong as gentleness. Nothing is so gentle as real strength."
Frances de Sales

We (finally) gave our son a name. :) We had Simon picked out, but once we saw him we both just knew he was not a Simon. So we've agonized over it the last week or so until it finally clicked. Of course. His name is Isaac. Isaac Toivo Miettinen.

In every way this child is a gift to us--we felt for sure he would be taken away, and then he was spared, and spared again, and again. The biblical story of Abraham being asked to sacrifice his son Isaac, and then having him spared has become very significant and symbolic to us. We are glad to be able to remember this gift every time we say Isaac's name.

Toivo is a Finnish name meaning "hope".

Isaac had his "procedure" late yesterday afternoon to close the open PDA valve near his heart. He did very well during the surgery and the doctors and nurses were pleased with the outcome. While the surgery needed to be done regardless, there is still no guarantee that it will improve his respiratory situation. It will take him a few days to recover and then it's a continued waiting game to see how he responds and recovers. More wait. To shamlessly quote Princess Pride, "I hate wait." :)