A photo journal of Kaitlyn's first 3 weeks

We meet!

Just out of recovery! Holding Kaitlyn for the first time!

Pictures from the NICU

Little Glow Worm! The light that helped with her jaundice.

Discharge day!!!

Brother Bryce & Sister

Brother Brady & Sister

Aunt Jenna & Kaitlyn

Sweet Baby! Its been hard trying to get a good pic with her eyes open!

Kaitlyn Nicole...Finally, Her Birth Story!!!

My goodness life is crazy with 3 kids! Blogging has definitely had to take a back seat to life! Every time I think I've found a quick second to sit at the computer, something comes up and it is gone. Its all worth it though, I'm loving life. A lot has happened since I wrote last. Kaitlyn's arrival was anxiously awaited for by so many...here is her birth story!

The morning of August 4th came so fast. All 9 months flew by! My C-section was scheduled and Kaitlyn was to be born at 7:30 AM. That morning we headed to the hospital at 4:30. As soon as I got there things got started. There were a few issues with my IV, and my spinal so surgery started a little late, but with little incident Kaitlyn was born at 8:36 AM. There was a whole team of NICU staff standing by waiting to assess her, mostly due to her heart defect (complete AVSD). We knew shortly after birth she would be taken over to Devos Children's Hospital. Blair and I were able to see her for a few minutes and then she was taken up to the NICU.

Our first moment together!

Blair followed Kaitlyn up to the NICU and I went into recovery. The initial assessment from the neonatal team was great. Kaitlyn was holding her own. After an hour or so in recovery they wheeled me upstairs to hold the baby. I was so excited...relieved! My nurses did an excellent job making sure I got up to see her ASAP. It was only for 10 minutes but that's all that I needed. Over the next days I recovered fast. Every extra minute was spent up in the NICU with Kaitlyn. My Mom stayed with me in Grand Rapids and Blair drove back and forth daily to try to provide the boys with a sense of normalcy.

I was discharged on Saturday. My doctor was great. He found a way to keep me in the hospital longer so I could be closer to Kaitlyn. My hospital stay was not bad at all. We had daily visiters which really helped. Kaitlyn was discharged Monday afternoon. She was only there for 6 days. Her biggest issues were feeding, and jaundice. Feeding really wasn't even an issue. They just needed to see that she could do it on her own at a volume that was good for her weight. Did I mention she was 7lbs 15oz. We were shocked, thrilled! Every feeding they increased her intake until she was doing so well she was able to feed on demand. She took to a bottle better than nursing (but we are still working on that, pumping stinks:)). I am just relieved we've avoided feeding tubes. She's doing great! A couple days after bringing her home she already weighed 8lbs 6oz. Her jaundice was treated with a belly blanket, that was pretty neat. It was nice to be able to hold her while she was being treated. She looked like a little glow worm!

Being able to have her home has been great. She quickly learned how much she loves being held, bounced, and cuddled. The first week home we had to go for daily heel pokes to keep tabs on her jaundice. The levels slowly came down. She continues to eat like a champ, and she is awake a little bit more everyday. The boys have adjusted well. They act like she's always been here! Brady just goes about his day like normal, occasionally stopping by to talk to her or give her a kiss. Bryce is mommy's little helper. He wants to hold her, feed her, etc. They both let me know anytime she makes the smallest peep. The dog also is doing well in regards to Kaitlyn, she's very curious about the baby, but I think she is suffering from a broken heart. Unfortunately for her she has had to take her place in line, which is at the end I'm afraid. Poor Koda! All in all we are great. The next 2 weeks are crazy with doctors apts, Preschool and Kindergarten meetings, Katie's first evaluation from Early On, and much more. I can't believe Bryce is starting Preschool, and Brady Kindergarten :( Where does time go?! I'll try not to take so long between posts this next time. There will be a lot to write about!

More Pictures!!!

Finding time to write a post has become a bit difficult! So everyone will have to settle for a few more pictures of our little angel! I promise to post details soon! Things are going really well!

Kaitlyn Pictures

She's Here!

Kaitlyn is here! She was born Tuesday morning weighing 7lbs 15oz, and 19.5 in. She is beautiful and doing well. She is in the NICU, as soon as she is able to feed at the level they want her to she can come home. They up her feedings every 3 hours and so far she has met every challenge. We are hoping to avoid feeding tubes! Other than that things really are going well, I will be discharged tomorrow morning. I am going to stay at the Renucci House connected to the hospital here in Grand Rapids so I won't have to leave her. Thank you for all your thoughts and prayers, especially to those that have made the trip to come visit Kaitlyn and I. I will post pictures real soon!

It's time.....

It's time. In 6 hours we head to the hospital. The last 9 months have flown by. I'm sincerely excited, a smidge nervous but not nearly as bad as 2 weeks ago. All I have to do is pack my bags...I know, nothing like waiting till the last minute. My sweet boys are in bed and we've said our goodbye's. I wonder how much they truly understand. They're just excited to spend tomorrow with their neighbor friends. (Thanks Becky!)

We are taking our laptop so I hope to keep everyone up to date the best I can. Thank you to everyone who has shown their support, said a prayer, and lent so many kind words. It means so much to us to have so many amazing people in our lives.

Please keep praying, and stay tuned for Kaitlyn's birth announcement!!!

Who was I kidding?

I promised myself when I started this blog I would be honest and real, so here I go (bear with me). The baby will be here in 13 days (max). I've spent so much time preparing in every way for the birth; at least all the ways I've known how. Until a few days ago I would have said that I was prepared, a "cool cucumber," ready to meet my little girl! Who was I kidding!

I've held off writing this post hoping these frantic feelings would pass and I would have something positive to say, but that doesn't seem to be happening. To be completely honest, I am "freaking out." Deep down I know these feelings will pass, hopefully before the birth. I thought I was ready. Right now I would do anything to freeze time. I would be willing to stay pregnant forever to keep my little girl safe, to keep her heart from straining, and keep her from going through any struggles and pain. I'm really having a hard time with the unknown. So many things could go right.....or very wrong. Here is a list of some of my many worries. Hopefully writing them out will prove to be therapeutic...

• The delivery...is her heart ready to beat on its own, will she require a lengthy NICU stay? Am I prepared for her to be in the NICU? After delivery the boys never left my side. How do you deal with your baby being sick in another part of the hospital while you are in recovery from a C-section. And then there's the C-section, I haven't even thought about that surgery.
• Feeding...will I be able to nurse her. Will she be strong enough? I've done much reading on breastfeeding a Ds baby with a heart defect. I hope my knowledge will help. I just pray we can avoid all feeding tubes.
• The Boys...my little boys! They are soooo excited about their sister's arrival. I hope it can be as normal as possible. We will be delivering at a nearby hospital 45 minutes from home. The boys will visit often but it will be a difficult time for them. I will stay with Kaitlyn until she can come home, hopefully it will be soon after delivery.
• And then there's the normal stuff...to-do lists, many to-do lists. My energy has plummeted and there is still so much to do. (sigh)

Recently I read a post by Adrienne from Our Unexpected Journey. Her blog has been, as well as many others, such a help to me. She too talks of a "What If" list days before Bennett arrived. It was nice to know I'm not alone. She recommended a book called "Calm my Anxious Heart," by Linda Dillow. I plan on getting the book soon. I am struggling with turning all the unknowns over to God. Hopefully the book will help!

Thank you to everyone for all of your love and support. I know my positive outlook will return soon. God has taken good care of me over the recent months and I'm humbled to know that He will continue to do so.

Proverbs 3: 5-6

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.