Spring 2012

Our spring was spent at home since Greenlee had been sick.  Swine flu was a major epidemic in Marshall County and our pediatrician, Dr. Kenneth Skelton, gave us strict orders to stay home for 3 MONTHS!!! That was a very long 3 months, but we would have done anything to keep her from getting sick again.  It was a sweet time with my kids.  I was able to stay home from February to August.  Those early baby days are so hard.  The midnight feedings, acid reflux, and the adjustment of an only child to a new sibling.  But, I wouldn't trade those days for the world.

Sick Baby

We brought home our sweet girl and had lots of family and friends to visit.  We were settling in pretty good and finding our new "normal" as a family of four.  On Saturday, when Greenlee was 12 days old, we made our first outing to my parents' house.  I noticed that Greenlee was sleeping more than usual and hadn't eaten much.  I chalked it up to just a normal phase.  The next morning Andy and Jack went to church.  Just after they had left, Greenlee began to cry.  I knew instantly that it was a different cry.  I picked her up and she felt so warm.  I checked her temp. and it was 100.5.  So, I called Andy and he headed home.  Then I called the dr. and he told me to take her straight to the E.R.  Panic set in.  The staff at Marshall South were very kind and they checked her for RSV (which Jack had 3 weeks before), flu, and ear infection. All tests were negative.  We had been there 6 hours when the dr. came in and told us they needed to admit her and do a lumbar puncture (spinal tap).
After the initial fear and heartbreak for the pain our little girl would have to endure, we requested a transfer to Children's Hospital.  It was an agonizing, bumpy ride in the back of an ambulance. We were immediately seen by a doctor.  They performed a lumbar puncture.  My heart died a little.  I'm ashamed to say that I couldn't stay in the room with her.  I really could not bear the heartache.  Andy and Maggee stayed with her.  I'm so glad the Lord gave me a mate that is strong where I'm weak.  We were admitted for 72 hours for a standard antibiotic protocol.  After the 72 hours, we were released.  The doctor said she just had a viral cold.  This experience was one of the scariest in my life.  Not to mention it was horrible on my body, which had just given birth 13 days before.  I'm so thankful that in my scariest, most heart wrenching moments the Lord has sufficient grace for me.  Lesson learned: YOU CAN NEVER BE TOO CAUTIOUS WITH YOUR NEWBORN.  KEEP THEM HOME!

Newborn photos by Mandy Owens

Sweet baby smile

Chubby cheeks

Greenlee Elizabeth Sims

On February 13th, Andy and I were blessed to welcome our sweet baby girl into this world. Greenlee Elizabeth Sims entered this world at 1:16 p.m. She weighed 8lbs. 2oz. and was 20 inches long.

The following is a detailed account of her "birth" day. Proceed with caution...graphic details included.

The nursery all ready for our sweet girl.

 

The white furniture was mine when I was growing up.  I replaced the handles with clear glass handles.

 

Our last night home with Jack before we had Greenlee.

I was scheduled for an induction at 5:00 a.m. on Monday, February 13th. On Sunday night, Jack stayed with Granna and Grandpa while Andy and I went on to Birmingham to spend the night. When we dropped Jack off at my parents, I was overcome with emotion. I had such great excitement about meeting our sweet girl, but such sadness to leave my sweet boy. The reality that this would be the last time we were together as a family of three was overwhelming for me. Andy and I went to Olive Garden and had a delicous dinner and then went to Target to pick up a few things we needed for the hospital. We stayed at the hotel located at St.Vincent's and had a very restless night. The next morning I got up around 3:00, since I wasn't resting anyway, and got ready to go. By 4:45 we left our room and headed to the hospital. We checked in our room at 5:00.
Around 6:30, Dr. Edwards came by and broke my water. I was already dilated 3 1/2-4 cm. (Probably the culprit of my sleepless night.) They started my pitocin and we started waiting.

At about 9:30, the baby started having some heart decelleration so I the pitocin was turned off for a while and I had to wear an oxygen mask. I must admit that I was pretty scared. Thankfully, turning the pitocin off did the trick and her heart rate returned to normal. At 12:20, Dr. Crowe came in and I was complete. She had a c-section at 12:30 so we had to wait about pushing. She called the room at 1:00 and said I could start pushing she was on her way. At 1:10, we stopped and waited on her because THERE SHE WAS!! Dr. Crowe flew in and at 1:16 p.m. our beautiful baby was born.

We were overjoyed and overcome with emotion. She was gorgeous with a head full of DARK hair. She was perfect in every way!

Our fabulous doctor, Dr. Cary Crowe

After Dr. Crowe finished with me, I nursed her for the first time. She nursed like a little pro! Then Andy brought Jack in by himself. She was laying under the heat lamp when he came in. He immediately had to bend down and give her a kiss. The paprazzi, I mean our family came in. They fell in love just like we did. These were some of the sweetest moments in my life.

 



Probably the sweetest moment of my life as a mother. 

I'm Back!

It's been a long *almost* 18 months. I could not have imagined the change in my life after our sweet Greenlee was born. So much joy, happiness, love, and WORK!!! Needless to say, my blog was one thing that was let go. I love to blog. It's a way for me to document our life. I feel so much guilt in the fact that I have lost 18 months of my children's lives. I am going to try to go back and hit the high spots. Hang on...

Stationery card

View the entire collection of cards.

Have you noticed my ticker???

At the top of my blog, I have a LilyPie ticker.  Have you noticed that is says 12 days until our baby girl is due??? We actually have a scheduled induction for next Monday, which is only 8 days away.  If she doesn't come before then, next Monday we will get to meet our sweet Greenlee. We are so excited to see who she'll look like.  My prediction is that she'll be a redhead like me.  Jack goes back and forth about whether he's excited or not. I know he'll love her, but there'll be a lot of change to his little life.  That part makes me sad.  I know in the long run, he'll be so thankful he has a sister.
I've gained a total of 16 lbs. I had a little scare 2 weeks ago with preterm labor.  It was the same night as the Birmingham tornadoes.  We're gonna blame it on the drop in barometric pressure. Since then, I've been uncomfortable but I haven't had any major contractions. 
At 35 weeks, my family gave me a baby shower.  It was very special and I'm so thankful for the love they have for us and for Greenlee.  She now has so many beautiful clothes to wear and things for her room.  Thank you!!!

Christmas Morning 2011

Jack was so excited for Santa to come this year. He had given specific requests for train tracks and tractors-n-wagons (??? we have no idea where this came from). After a busy, busy Christmas Eve. We got Jack in bed kind of late. Santa then spent several hours assembling toys and putting batteries into 897 trains, one of which required a C battery. Thankfully, the Shell was open for Santa to pick up said battery and a crisis was averted. Mrs. Claus didn't hold up too well and began begging Santa to call it a night around 11. Santa then informed Mrs. Claus that it was her duty to be up and help and he didn't have much compassion for a 34 week pregnant woman. :) The next morning was great. Jack had time to open all his gifts and then we were able to go to Church and celebrate our Lord's birth. I love when Christmas is on Sunday. It just seems perfect.

Christmas PJ's



Christmas morning hair :)

 

He finally got his train tracks.

He was so excited about his playdough ice cream shop.

We had to open it ASAP.

 Before church, we tried to get a family picture.  The following ensued...

Maybe a keeper???