Sarah Katherine is Still being CUTE

My super sweet, super cute 3 year old is handling the big adjustments really well.  She is being a little momma for Charlotte Anne, but she does still find time in her busy day to be super cute!  These pic's are some from the past two Sunday's of her being really pumped about each outfit (all girl through and through!).  I love that the black dress picture has her ready for a party - heels, purse, necklace, keys, and her very own giant cup - wait she's not allowed at that kind of party!  Gotta watch this one. :)  She's so stinkin' cute!

Shower at Choir

 Last Wednesday our amazing friends at choir threw us a diaper, wipes, and formula shower.  It was so wonderful to see everyone!  The food was fabulous, the gifts were such a blessing, and the company was great.  Plus a great friend from choir (who is also a NICU nurse) watched the girls - you don't get a better person to keep the kiddos than that. :)  We are so humbled and thankful for all that was done for us and truly felt all the prayers for our family.  We look forward to raising our girls in our church and see them singing praises to God in their own little choirs.

 

 

Our Heroes!

Last week we went to visit the crew that responded to our 911 call back on April 5th.  These guys were so wonderful through everything, they really took great care of me!  From the time they got to the house and saw the scary sight from the hemorrhaging, to while we were riding in the ambulance, to when we got to the hospital - they were so great and calm.  It really helped to make me think maybe everything could be ok.  Once we got to the labor and delivery floor they wouldn't leave until they know Charlotte Anne was going to be fine.  We even got a follow up call from the chief to be sure things were still ok the next morning.  You just don't get that kind of treatment everywhere!  We are so blessed and thankful to live in the town we do where the people are so caring.  God bless you guys, we will be keeping touch so you see the miracle you help make happen!!!

Going to Church

This was our second Sunday to load up and head to church, but last week was too hectic to remember to take pictures.  It was so great to get back to church since I've been out since before Easter.  We took Charlotte Anne in her seat with a blanket and did our best to keep her in a protective bubble!  (We don't even get to her due date until this Friday, so we are trying to keep her fairly isolated until then.)  All went well both weeks and little miss stayed perfectly on schedule.  It was so great to get back in the swing of things and see all the people that did so much for us.  Truly the body of Christ!

 

Baby Shower for Charlotte Anne

This past Saturday some fabulous ladies threw a baby shower for Charlotte Anne.  It was so great to get together with friends and for my Aunt Kathy to come to town to meet everyone.  Thank you so much for the love shown to me and my baby girl!

Visit from Mimommy and G'daddy

Last week my parents came to visit and my mom was able to meet Charlotte Anne for the first time.  She had to have knee surgery the Wednesday before we had Charlotte Anne on Friday, so she has been recouping and was able to travel last week.  It was love at first sight for sure!  Charlotte Anne enjoyed time with her grandparents and so did SK!  We were even treated to G'daddy grilling for us one night - come back any time. :)  

Mother's Day Fun with Sarah Katherine

Through all of the excitement and focus on Charlotte Anne, Sarah Katherine has done really well.  Not only has a new baby come into the house, but mommy was gone for 3 weeks, and life is just starting to get back to "normal".  Most kids would use this opportunity to really show their hiney, but my big girl has been great.  I'm not saying she hasn't pushed the line several times, but I'm so impressed with how she got through all of this with grace.

The weekend after we got home from the hospital, I wanted to go have some special SK and mommy time.  We went to Chick-Fil-A for ice cream and then to the park to play.  This crazy kid was at the park for maybe 10 minutes and she asked to come home.  She wanted to go see her baby sister!  Who would have thought a baby sister would be more fun than the playground?!

Well, Sarah Katherine's school had a special breakfast for moms and kids to come and enjoy together.  It was so much fun to go see SK in her element with all her friends and teachers.  She is such a social butterfly!  When a friend would get to the party she would immediately ask if she could go say hi to them all.  Here is a picture of us all dressed up and ready to go to the party...

1st Days at Home with Charlotte Anne

Thankfully David's mom - Nana - was able to come and stay with us our first week home.  She took great care of all of us and it was great to have her here with us.  Charlotte Anne and Sarah Katherine got lots of snuggle time and Nana even let David and I have a night out for my birthday "date".  

While we were out Nana surprised us with some precious pictures of the little ladies together - super sweet!

The next day Charlotte Anne had her first bath to prep for her first photo shoot.  As with most babies, this girl does not like being naked or cold.  She did well though, and I must say it was much easier to bath her this time around than with Sarah Katherine.  We were sure we were going to break one of her limbs the whole time!  

Next came the photo shoot for missy's newborn pictures.  I know I am biased, but I think she is totally beautiful!  My plan to find a bow as big as her head was successful. :)

 

 We were all sad for Nana and Papa to go, but we knew we would all be getting together soon for Aunt Becca's graduation.  Can't wait to introduce Charlotte Anne to her Aunts and cousins!

Coming Home with Charlotte Anne

On April 30 we finally got to get our family under one roof!  The night before Charlotte Anne was released from the NICU, David and I stayed in their family room all together.  We all did great - especially Charlotte Anne.  You could set your watch by her - every 4 hours.  NICU was an emotionally tough time, but it did wonders to get bitsy on a schedule, used to noise, and she can get herself to sleep.  We are counting our blessings, however they come.  :)

My Aunt Deb was staying with us, so she was at home to take care of big sister and to welcome us home.

When SK got home from school she was beyond excited to meet her baby sister.  We had her go wash her hands and then introductions were made.  Charlotte Anne slept through it all, but Sarah Katherine was thrilled to see her baby!  

Once SK had a bath and some non-daycare clothes on she got to hold and feed her sister.  She is already so helpful and a great big sis!!!  I'm so excited to see them grow up together.  I am just riding this honeymoon period as long as possible.  I'm sure the fussing will start eventually, but all is great for now!

Our Sweet Charlotte Anne...

Now that it has been a MONTH, I guess it's past time to update on our little precious girl. Above is David and I the night before the big day.  I was 35 weeks along and excited to get little bit here where we could see her.  The stinker flipped completely around the night before delivery, so I was VERY ready to get her out safely to be sure nothing scary happened in there.  Notice my very stylish hospital bed rest wear!  Fifteen days in room 314 went by quickly thanks to all the amazing people helping us!!!

Here are some more pictures from the day of delivery. Things went really smoothly (or as smooth as a C-section can) - up at 5am getting an IV, grandparents arrived for pictures and prayers by 6am, wheeling to the OR by 7am, and Charlotte Anne was here at 7:23am! It is quite different than the other two "regular" birth experiences.

After delivery we got to all be together for about an hour, but Charlotte Anne's blood sugar was low and her breathing was too fast to allow her to eat by mouth, so that meant a trip to the NICU.  It was tough sending her down the hall, but I knew she was in fabulous hands.  She had one day on the IV and her blood sugar stabilized, two days on the heated bed and her temp stabilized, but it took about 5 days for her to really get the eating by mouth thing figured out.  The doctors and nurses said that was typical for a 35 week old kiddo and for us not to worry, a switch would flip one day and she would just figure it out.  They were exactly right - one day she started eating and never looked back!  Unfortunately, on day 3 of her NICU stay, her oxygen and heart rates dropped and required her to stay for 7 more days without any incidents before she was released. That meant mom went home before baby girl.  It was really tough to leave her there, but we are blessed to live nearby and were able to come see her several times a day.  There were a lot of babies that were her neighbors that mom / dad live out of town and weren't able to be there daily.  We truly saw how blessed we are in that NICU.  There were so many babies that had serious battles ahead of them, thank you Lord for our healthy baby girl who just needed to be watched for a bit while she "grew up" a little more.

Charlotte Anne's home for 10 days.  It was a corner, window spot - she's a VIP already!

Our awesome doctor - Dr. Pryszbysz.  She took wonderful care of me through the pregnancy (ultrasounds at EVERY appointment), through the hospital stay, and delivery.  We are so blessed for God to have lead us to the amazing healthcare providers we have seen throughout everything! 

Since germy 3 year olds aren't allowed in NICU, Sarah Katherine met baby sister through pictures the day she was born.  She was so proud that we made a photo book for her to take to school and show EVERYONE - literally everyone, teachers, her class, other classes, anyone that looked at her!

So, from April 5 - April 30, 2012 we set up shop at St. Vincent's Hospital.  Those were 25 crazy days, but what a miracle we have to show from it!  While everything was far from ideal, in the end we have two beautiful daughters, an amazing support system that swooped in and took care of us, and a further perspective of how we are blessed beyond measure.