She's Home!

After a month in the NICU, Annie finally came home Sunday afternoon to a warm reception from her Grandparents and big brother Josiah. She's been eating and sleeping really well, and got a clean bill of health from the pediatrician today! We're just enjoying our first Christmas with two kids!

dedication photo

Dedication

Tonight was the long-awaited parent/child dedication at our church. Usually people dedicate infants, but our adoption agency asks that we wait until the adoption is finalized (Dec. 9th) for the dedication.

Although we could have dedicated both Josiah and Annica, we decided that it should be Josiah's special night. And special it was! J was dressed in his "special" outfit that Amy bought for his finalization hearing, and both sets of grandparents as well as my sister and Amy's sister (and their respective husbands) were able to come. The church had reserved some front-row seats for the families, and they called us us and prayed over each one of the four families dedicating their children.

Now everyone says that J is so laid back and they never hear him make a sound. However just before they caled us up, Josiah sees his buddy Augustine in the row behind us. For some reason, he got really wound up! We got up in front of the church, and J was reachng for the lights, trying to grab the mic from the pastor, and interrupting with bursts of high-pitched screeching. Maybe some people thought it was distracting, but I thought it was hillarious! I couldn't stop laughing.

Pictures to follow . . .

Annie Laughs

My favorite photo from our visit with Annie yesterday.

It's Official

Josiah's finalization hearing went really well this morning! Amy bought him some snazzy new clothes for his courtroom appearance, and all said and done, it took about 15 minutes! I took the witness stand and testified about where we both worked, lived and that we'd procide an adequate home for Josiah, to which we both agree. I know he was always ours, but it's nice hat the state now recognizes him and my child!

Birthday Visit

Today is my 33rd birthday. I can think of no better gift than holding my baby girl! The attending physicians told us that her ultrasounds came back normal! We were concerned because the umbilical cord only had one blood vessel instead of two, and they thought she might only have one kidney, but she's got both. She's looking really good and eating 11cc of food (up from 3cc just two days ago!) At midnight tonight, she'll be up to 14cc!

They told us that she's really stable, and that she could graduate from the Level III NICU to the Level II "Close Observation" nursery any time. She was born at 3lbs. 9oz. and is down a bit to 3lbs. 6oz. today (which is normal). When she reached 4.5 lbs and eats, breathes and voides well, she'll come home. We're still looking at January, but I'm eternally optimistic about having Annie home for Christmas!

Renovation

BEFORE

AFTER

There's No Place Like Home!

Amy was discharged from the hospital today and was able to come home. After sleeping in hospital guerneys (and chairs for me) there was nothing better in the whole world! We gathered our things, signed a million papers and got ready to leave.

We visited Annie in the NICU just before we left. She was sleeping on her stomach with her legs tucked in underneath her, all wrapped in a blanket. She looked just like an Anne Geddes photo. She's breathing well, starting to feed, and in generally strong and happy. We took turns holding her; I'd offer her my finger and she'd instantly wrap her whole hand around it! She made these soft, cooing crying sounds that sounded like a newborn puppy; they absolutely melt my heart.

Leaving the hospital today without her was one of the hardest things we've had to do. But we trust that she's receiving the best care possible, and when she's ready, she'll come home. I know we'll visit her every day, but I can't help feeling like our family is incomplete without her.

This experience had brought us closer than we've ever been. It's required us to deal with pain and emotions the likes of which we've never experienced. But through it all, it made us stronger, because we realized new potential and strengths in both of us that will help us in this new exciting phase of life. And we wouldn't have made it without the fervent prayers of all of you and our church family, so thank you so much for lifting us up!

Annica Grace

Meet our dear sweet Annica Grace, born December 1st, 2008 at 12:08am.  Annica weighed in at 3lbs 9oz.  She was born at 31 weeks, a full two months before Amy's Feb. 2 due date, so when Amy went into pre-term labor, she was transferred by helicopter to Temple University Hospital, known for their Level III Neonatal Intensive Care unit.  While there are man concerns about premature babies, Annica seems to be doing very well; she's even breathing on her own!

Thank you for all your prayers and support.  We certainly didn't expect her so early, but we're so excited that she's here!