You, my little girl were expected in this world on March 11, 2013. You were stubborn and didn't want to meet your loving family. Your Daddy was anxious every time I got up to go the bathroom at night, expecting me to get back into bed and say that my water broke. He didn't get much sleep the last few weeks and neither did I.
You were constantly in my right ribs, always poking them and giving me a lot of pain. We waited ever so patiently for your arrival. There was much anticipation from everyone, family, members at the gym, everyone in the community. We waited a long time for you. It was quite the journey in order for you to arrive. There was a lot of heartache and tears, but we trusted God that he would bless us with you, and he was ever so faithful.
You finally made your arrival at 11pm on March 21, 2013. It was a long day for mom and dad. We checked into the hospital at 7am and spent the day trying to get mommy's body to give you up. After mom got some pain medication, you didn't like it very much and your heart-rate dropped and would not stabilize again. The nurses called the doctor and we made the decision to do a C-section. You entered this world as a perfectly stubborn little girl, we all joked that you were a diva already. We heard your cry and said a prayer of thanks to God for giving us you.
The first hours of your life outside the womb were busy ones. A lot of people came to meet you that night. Both of your grandparents, Auntie Gina and Uncle Adam, and Auntie Laura. They were all very excited for you to arrive. Daddy and I were up till 3 in the morning, after everyone left Daddy crashed because he was sick with a cold and was exhausted from the excitement of the day. I ordered some food because I was so hungry, I hadn't eaten all day.
The next few days were busy with visitors and little sleep. We sent you to the nursery during the evening so we could get some sleep. The nurses would bring you in every 3 hours so I could feed you. There were so many people who came to visit you while we were in the hospital. Great-grandma B, Great Aunt Linda, Great Aunt Debbie and Nicholas, Cousin Noelle, Great Aunt Carol, Auntie Krystin, Uncle Eric with Caden and Ethan, Auntie Naomi and Zach, Anna, honorary Grandpa Dale, Kevin, Maria and Benjamin, Uncle Kyle, and Uncle Nathan. You were spoiled those first few days with everyone holding you.
We came home on the Monday after you were born. Uncle Adam met us with Rory at home so we had some help when we brought you home so she wouldn't go crazy on you. Mommy cried the whole way home. Daddy was worried about getting you home safe and sound. We settled in as a family and had some visitors come by and drop off food. You slept most of the time, Rory was trying to figure out what to do with you and who you were. We all went to bed early because we had a busy day planned for you on Tuesday.
Tuesday morning we left to go down to Children's Hospital in New Berlin because Dr. Goetz heard a heart murmur on Sunday night and wanted to get it checked out. After much worry, tears and tests you were given a clean bill of health. We were so happy I cried the whole way home. Daddy then had his own doctors appointment he had to go to. After he arrived home we had to run out for your follow up doctor appointment with Dr. Goetz, you were a champ and had gained all the weight you had lost since birth. Since we had such a busy day you had a melt down in the car on the way home and wouldn't stop crying until I fed you.
Wednesday we went to get some newborn photos of you. I will treasure them for the rest of my life. We also had pictures taken on Thursday, I will treasure all the pictures taken through this whole journey, especially the ones from the hospital. Friday we finally had a slow day. We spent the day on the couch as a family relaxing and watching you sleep. That same day you had your first blow-out diaper, you pooped through the outfit you were wearing. Saturday we also spent the day relaxing. That day brought lots of challenges, you threw up all over me and your blanket, which prompted me to change and do a load of laundry. Later that day I was changing you and you weren't quite done filling your diaper, just as I went to put on a new diaper you pooped all over mommy and then peed everywhere. We had to throw both blankets and a pillow back into the washer to get them cleaned again. You were quite the riot that day, we couldn't believe what was coming out of you, we couldn't stop laughing.
You are sleeping well at night, mostly in 4 hour stretches. You know your days from nights, and spend an hour awake after each feeding. You like to sleep on my chest and smile a lot. You do not like baths. We are adjusting to each others schedule, me more adjusting to you. You feed about one or two times a night. I am sleeping well in between feedings but they are not long in between feedings.
We got word from your pediatrician that you are a carrier for cystic fibrosis and we needed to go down to Children's for a sweat test. We were blindsided by this news because we had no idea that at least one of us was a carrier. It was a full day for us. we went down there early, you cried through the whole test until I could hold you. You tested just above the normal, which tells us you will most likely have problems with respiratory infections, but you are healthy. Because you tested just above normal we had to run back down there to draw your blood so they could run a full genetic screening on you to make sure there was nothing else wrong, those tests came back negative. We are blessed with a healthy little girl! I wake up everyday amazed knowing you are mine and we don't have to give you back to someone. We are so lucky, and love you very much!
