Dear William, Daniel, Catherine, Michael, and Sarah, (and your parents), (and any future descendants and their parents),

Wow! It has been a long time since I wrote to you last — but, GREAT News! Sarah Grace Kostro has joined our family!!!

Sarah was born on Monday, January 25, 2016 (at 9:29 a.m.; she weighed 6 lbs. 14 oz.; and she was 19.25 inches long). But, with so much DRAMA!

Sarah’s birth was supposed to be “easy” — after all, her parents were experienced (Catherine was born on May 31, 2014); and Sarah (before Sarah’s birth, she was called “Nugget” by her parents) was scheduled to be delivered by Caesarean section (just like Catherine and William were) on June 25.

As the date was coming near, however, the weather forecasts were ominous. A powerful winter storm was coming to the Mid-Atlantic region!

Babcia Krysia and I were planning to arrive in Virginia sometime on Sunday, January 24, so that we could be on hand to welcome Sarah when she was born. But, because of the devastating weather forecasts, Sarah’s parents, Stephanie and Richard, asked us to come early — early meant BEFORE the storm; thus, since the storm was expected on Friday, and throught the weekend, Babcia Krysia and I arrived on Thursday evening. Kasia’s grandparents, William (“Bill”) and Maureen Sanok, were already there.

Richard and Stephanie were eagerly awaiting Sarah’s arrival — everything was ready — a place for Sarah to sleep; all her grandparents ready to help — now, the waiting started.

By Saturday afternoon, the snow had accumulated significantly. In anticipation of the snow, Babcia Krysia and I brought a snow-blower with us — now, Bill and Rich went to work in earnest, clearing the cars and the driveway, so the trip to the hospital could be possible.

During the blizzard, they kept at it — shoveling their hearts out. They did a fantastic job — but, only on the driveway. The street was a disaster — but, Kasia’s and Sarah’s Dad was on the job — the asked the street-clearing crews to make Shenandoah Drive a priority, as Stephanie needed to go to the hospital on Monday morning — to be there by 6:30 am! The City crews were Wonderful! They cleared the street as best they could.

 

 

After all that work, the waiting continued.

Kasia played with her grandparents; and as she did every day before going to sleep, she told her sister how very much she was waiting for her; and gave her a kiss good-night.

 

 

On Monday morning, Richard got up extra early (4 am!) to clear off the snow that was blown onto the cleared driveway. Stephanie and Richard made it to the hospital as scheduled; Bill and Maureen went with them; and Babcia and I stayed with Kasia.

Early that morning, we got a telephone call from Rysiu — he was very upset — Sarah was experiencing difficulties breathing! (apparently suffering from Transient tachypnea of the newborn (TTN), or something similar — [Stephanie: The diagnosis, prognosis and treatment is all similar to what Sarah had; however, we were never given a name for her condition so I can’t be sure it’s exactly the same thing.])

The three of us (Kasia, Babcia Krysia and I) drove to Sibley Memorial Hospital in Washington D.C. Once there, the wait continued. But, good news! Sarah began to stabalize — eventually, we all got the opportunity to meet her (one by one; no adoring crows allowed).

To see photos from that day, go HERE.

The next day (Tuesday), while Stephanie and Sarah remained in the hospital, Kasia was under the care of her grandparents Bill and Maureen. Babcia Krysia and I returned to New Jersey.

Rysio kept the family updated:

Stephanie and Sarah finally came home on Thursday (January 28) — and life continued, with our newest family member making her mark on our family.

Aunts, uncles and cousins got to meet Sarah on February 6 — photos HERE.

Love,

Dziadziuś Paweł.

Back to Annual Albums OR Family Letters

Previous: December 9, 2015 — My faux family

Next: February 18, 2016: Catherine’s Birth