Baby Kate

Well, so much for the countdown!!!!!!! Did anyone notice what it said on Wednesday??? Oh, just 37 days!!! Well, it should have said 0. Yes, Kate Hanks surprised and scared us by coming 5 1/2 weeks early on Wed. July 2nd. My water broke at about 6:00pm and it was total panic. I was stuffing stuff in my bag, Justin was calling someone to watch the kids (thanks to Melissa next door and especially to April and Jason!!), and the kids were wondering what was going on. I was in complete panic mode. I know that once my water breaks I go really fast and so we were trying hurrying as fast as possible. We even forgot to pack the camera =(. Luckily my sister Trisha made it in time with her camera, thanks Trish!!!! Anyway, by 9:00pm we had cute Baby Kate. It was really fast and really painful. The doctor barely made it. I jumped from a 7 to a 10 in two contractions and about 5 minutes. It was crazy. And not knowing if we would have a healthy baby was the scariest part. After she was born Justin was with her when they put all the ventilator tubes and everything in her and it scared him to death. I couldn't see any of that, and it's probably a good thing.

When I went to see her the following morning, they had taken her off the ventilator and I was so happy and thankful. That is a huge step and she did it in one night. We are really blessed that she is so healthy. She weighed 4 pounds 14 ounces and was 17.5 inches long. Other than needing to keep her temp. constant by herself, keep her jaundice down, and learn how to eat normally (not through her feeding tube), she is healthy and perfect. She will most likely need to be in the NICU for at least two weeks, maybe three. Let's pray for two!!!

I almost cried the first time I saw her in the incubator with all the tubes and cords and everything. I have totally taken for granted the fact that we were able to take all our other kids home from the hospital with us. Leaving her there was (is) torture. At least we live in a time of doctors, nurses, and technology. And at least we weren't in Colter Bay!!! Thank goodness for those two days we were home!!!



Look how big the binkie is compared to her face. It covers about half of her nose. But she likes it and I think it's cute when she is sucking on it.

Proud Mama!

Proud Daddy. Don't you think she looks even smaller when Justin is holding her??? It's so cute when he is holding her.

Look at that hair!!!! Where in the world did it come from??? It is so darling!

Thank goodness for great kids!!! They have done really well. TJ and Brenden pray for her in every prayer and draw her pictures and ask if they can go see her. Alyssa was pretty jealous at first, but once she got to hold Kate's hand and touch her toes she seemed to lose a lot of it and has done a lot better.

The girls!!!!

TJ's cute pics for Baby Kate. He's so cute!!!

So, there's our story. We now have a baby and no more countdown. Kind of a shocker, but we are adjusting. Thanks again for everyone helping, especially April and Jason for taking our kids for two days. You guys are livesavers!!!! And thanks for all the calls and check-ups by our families. Having a support system makes a world of difference. Thanks so much!!! And thanks in advance for all those who will be needed to help in the coming weeks!!!