As I ran over to her to apologize she ran away from me and went bawling to my parents. I must have hit her and bruised her clear, pale face.

My hand hit something hard, but I was too into the game to notice. One of the neighbor kids was “it” and almost got me, but I ungracefully got away by flailing my arms. I guess I was so caught up in the game that it didn’t really matter to me. I ran around like a chicken with my head cut off while being chased, not watching where I was going. When we got to church my parents were greeted by some neighbors, and my sister and I found some neighbor kids to play with before we had to go inside. Something definitely felt different about that morning. But when I walked outside to the car, the wind didn’t ruffle my golden hair, the air felt more stiff, the sun didn’t shine as bright, and the bird’s songs didn’t sound as pretty. The day started like any other Sunday, we woke up and went to church. She came home with no oxygen, no monitors, no feeding tube, and at a whopping 6 pounds!!! 97 days, multiple spinal and brain taps, a diagnoses of hydrocephalus, a VP shunt surgery, two nearly septic infections, and a whole lot of prayers later their precious miracle came home to the castle. Bad enough that they couldn't tell if she had any brain tissue at all on that side. Brave had a massive brain bleed on her left side, bad enough that if the bleed had been of that degree on both sides they would not have recommended continuing life support. On day three of her tiny life the King and Queen's worlds were turned upside down again, on what is supposed to be one of the most magical times of their life.

But princesses are supposed to make an elaborate entrance right?

I guess she just wanted to grace us with her presence a little bit early, and a very big scare. Their precious princess was born 15 weeks early. The next Wednesday though, a princess was born.

What is the brave princess name