Tuesday, April 29, 2008

Pics from the last week


We had another fun week with our new addition! We took Annaliese on her first "public appearances" this weekend. We went to church Sunday morning and to my step-brother's wedding on Sunday afternoon. (Congratulations Nathan & Alicha!) Annaliese slept through everything, but she looked beautiful!

Ethan is so cute with her. If she starts to cry from the other room he'll tell me, "Mommy, that sounds like Annaliese. She's talking to us." And then he'll run into her room and say to her, "Coming, Darling. Stop crying, Sweetheart. Be happy, it's a bright, sunny day!" So cute!

Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Sweet Annaliese


Annaliese is such a sweet girl! She is a very easy-going baby that loves to be held. She gets a kick out of Ethan - which is a great thing considering Ethan's overwhelming enthusiasm for her! If we can get her to put the days & nights in proper order, then Mommy will be in great shape! Until then, we are so happy and content, but tired!

Monday, April 14, 2008

Ethan & Annaliese

Tuesday, April 8, 2008

Annaliese is here!


Annaliese was born Wednesday, April 2 at 8:32 p.m. She weighed 7 lbs. 5 oz. and was 18 inches long. She has light brown hair, blue eyes, long eyelashes that curl at the end, delicate lips and long fingers! She is such a sweet girl and we are convinced that she is already smiling at us! Ethan is so excited to be a big brother. He loves to give her kisses and help Mommy & Daddy with her.

We brought her home the first time on Friday and enjoyed a couple of fun days together. Then on Sunday we had a follow-up visit at the hospital to check her bilirubin levels and they were really high. They had us come back again Monday to see if they improved, but unfortunately they were even higher. So, they re-admitted Annaliese - this time to the NICU - for photo light therapy. I think Jaundice is probably the least serious thing the NICU treats and I know we are very fortunate because a lot of babies are in facing much harsher ailments, but it is still very hard being in the NICU seeing your precious child in an incubator with little goggles over her eyes and monitors tracking her vital signs. Thankfully, due to a sympathetic nurse going the extra step for me, we were able to get a private room and I was able to room-in with Annaliese. Annaliese responded really well and very quickly to the therapy and we were released 24-hours later with a very positive prognosis. We will have to return to the lab over the next day or two to make sure we're in the clear, but it looks like this is behind us!

So, we are back home now and really enjoying our time as a family. We are so blessed to have such supportive friends and family that have rallied around us to celebrate Annaliese's birth and also pray for us for her quick recovery.

I'll post more pics in the coming days....and even try to get a little video up.