HARPER ELIZBETH

Miss Harper has arrived.
She came out screaming in the littlest voice imaginable.
Those lungs, they sure do work.
She is a itty bitty for sure.
17 inches long.
5 pounds 3 ounces but has only a few ounces so far.
It isn't the 5 pounds that makes her seem so small.
17 inches is just tiny.
Newborn diapers swallow her.
She is in preemie clothing.
But the girl eats like a champ.
She nurses better than HG did the first few weeks.
We are giving sensitive formula after each nursing for low blood sugar and body temp.
My milk must be coming in because she refused it twice today.
Yesterday, she was still taking 20 mls after each nursing.


Our NICU stay was short and sweet, thank goodness.
We were prepared for a 7-10 day stay.
I honestly don't think you could ever prepared yourself for the NICU.
I think she shocked everyone.
They did whisk her away from the OR but we were warned of that.
The husband got to go with her and snap some pictures.
I was sewn up and wheeled into recovery.
I will say that my C section was much more painful this time.
The Spinal took longer to work.
I felt everything except the actual cutting.
I should have taken all the morphine.
Lesson learned.
I was so high after having HG, bad high.
My Spinal lasted a long time as well.
This time, I was asking for pain medicine in recovery.
A C Section is one of the strangest things you will ever have to go through.
Totally worth it and all the gas in the shoulder/lungs and tears shed from that.
I am doing much better today.
Much better.
I haven't had any pain medicine in about 12 hours so thinking about asking for some.
Harper is just the sweetest little thing.
The doctors are more than pleased with her progress.
We will all get to go home as a family, including my 3 year old Princess.
Something we never dreamed of when we arrived 5 weeks ago today.

Still in the recovery bed, my wonderful nurse took me to NICU.
I got to hold Harper and nurse her for the first time.
Not holding your child right after delivery or in recovery is hard.
Much harder than I ever imagined.
To of our surprise, she latched on.
I was told not to push it that is might take some time.
Her itty bitty mouth found what she wanted.

Proud daddy.

Trying to raise blood sugar.

Being monitored.

Notice how dark it was in there?

Kisses for Harper before they took her away.

See that balloon thing above me?

The Dr's and nurses were so amazing to me.

I was shivering, freezing and the spinal made me shake even more.

They ordered a bear hug.

This blew hot air on me the whole time.

I was so thankful.

The blankets swallow her.

Honestly, I love the hospital blankets because they stretch so much.

Cleaning her up after pulling her out.

We are a late term preemie, praise the Lord!!

Her little rash is clearing up.

Sleeping baby.

Trying out a pacifier.

Tuesday

What a day and it is only noon.
Why do people call and say mean things?
It is just something I will never understand.
Ever.
I can't decide if some people just enjoy being mean or if it is just their human nature to be that way.
Like maybe they don't realize that they are doing it.
Maybe they don't realize just how hateful they are being.
I want to believe that.
I want to believe that bad.
It is just hard.
I believe everyone is born with a good clean heart, it is how we live our lives that changes that.
Sometimes I just wonder if people got lost along the way and that is all they know.
Goodness, that just has to be a life of misery.
I just wish they would keep to themselves because I assure them, everyone will survive with out their opinion.
Ugh, frustration over.
Life isn't meant to be fair.
I know God won't give us something we can't handle.
But I sure wish he would help those lost people along the way.
I shouldn't be shedding tears today.
Today should be a happy day.


This as my view this morning.
They were picking up someone.
Hailey Grace loves to sit at the window watching for the helicopter.
Sometimes it comes.
Sometimes it doesn't.
It was fairly early this morning.


These beautiful flowers are helping my spirits today.
I know I posted a picture of them already but my goodness, they are such a beauty.

Tomorrow is our big day.

Prayers would be amazing.

We are asking for no visitors until we get Harper situated.

Could be a quick process, could be a long process.

We're praying for quick.

Their plan is to whisk her away from the OR and into the NICU.

There they will monitor and see how she is doing.

Many 35 weekers do perfectly well.

We're hoping she only spends a week or ten days.

Or three days if we are lucky.

She is going to be small according to the doctors.

I'm guessing (hoping) she is 5 pounds 4 ounces.

I'm okay with that size.

5 weeks before my due date, 5 pounds is good.

HG was 6 pounds 11 ounces at 36 weeks 3 days and was projected close to 9 at 40 weeks.

We just have to take all precautions since she hasn't been getting all her nutrients.

The nurses and doctors have also mentioned it would be best for no visitors until she is situated.

Less stress on everyone and they don't have to worry about hurting feelings.

It is hard to believe that one day shy of five weeks in lovely Baylor, our baby girl is going to be born.

FIVE WEEKS.

Amazing.

No one thought we would make it.

I am looking forward to meeting her.

I know the husband is so excited about meeting her as well.

There is just something about Dads and their daughters.

BUT I CAN NOT WAIT UNTIL HAILEY GRACE MEETS HER SISTER.

Oh I love that sisterly bond.

We promise to text/email/facebook/blog lots of pictures though.

A little more sunshine

We are missing this girl.

A little Sunshine

A little sunshine during all this gloomy but much neded rain.
My sweet cousins (more like Aunt/Uncle to me) sent me these beautiful Sunflowers.
Who doesn't love them?
So fallish too. Nothing to report right now.
Still waiting on my scan.
They are running an hour late.
I'm starved.
I haven't had my shot since 4 o'clock Saturday.
Craziness.

Videos continued..

Videos

These videos are more for us.

I am clearing out my lovely broken, cracked and beaten up cell phone.

HG is super excited about her new hand me down.

I must like to take videos sideways.

Whoops.

Sorry if the video posts bore you.

Big Sister practice

HG got some big sister practice today with sweet little Jona.
Jona belongs to Cassie, my sister's good friend.
She is ADORABLE.
Pure cuteness.
HG is so loving and caring, I know she will be a great big sister.
At least until it is time to share her clothes.