two years ago

8/19/09
Two years ago ..............

two years ago I was pregnant with my 2nd daughter. I was very excited to have my 5th child. I had planned a home birth. I was ready for her to be part of our family. My birth kit had arrived and everything was in place. I was tired of being pregnant and sick of the comments about how big I was and I looked like I was ready to go any day. As ready as my body was my mind knew I still had nearly 2 months to go, I hope to have her in 6 weeks though.

2 years and one day ago on August 18th 2007 I was admitted to the hospital because my water had broken at only 32 weeks. I was in shock and disbelief !! I was in contact with my midwife who told me I was in the best place. they had stopped my labor, but I was on the fence on what I wanted to happen next.

My children we starting school soon. I wanted to meet all the new teachers get pictures of them see them off to the first day of school. I didn't want my baby to be born now. I still wanted my home birth. I hadn't giving up all hope. I asked many questions about holding the baby inside me with a broken water. they told me it was fine and as long as they can keep me from contracting they would keep her inside and as long as there were no signs of infection or distress in the baby. I was hopeful that maybe that would happen, but they told me it doesn't happen often usually the baby come with in a few days to a week. They told me I would stay in the hospital until the baby came. They thought of being stuck there for days or even weeks made me feel sick. I wanted to be with my family but I still hopped I could get to a "safe" point and go home and have my baby. I also thought if she going to be a premature baby I wanted to just get it over with and deal with the hand we been delt so I can be with my other children.

At 4am on August 19th my contractions started back up and there was no stopping my baby now. My midwife headed to the hospital to be with me and help me fight off this staff who couldn't agree how dilated I was. they were also being very stick on how I could move about what I could do treating me like a first time teen mother. My husband was scared that my midwife and I were going to get us kicked out cause we called there bluff as they threaten c/sections and precautions if I didn't lay how they wanted me too, not move and listen to there orders instead my own body.

at 10:47am on August 19th 2007 Emmaleigh Claire was born at only 32 weeks. She was 4lbs 8oz and breathing on her own !!!! I got to see her for a few minutes before she was rushed to the NICU where she spent the next 8 days and I lived a very difficult 8 days.

I was discharged when she was a few days old and that was one of the hardest things I ever had to do was to leave my baby as I went home. It might have been easier if I believed she was sick and needed to be there, but I didn't. I still don't. Yes she was tiny ! She breast feed with in the first few hours of life and did wonderful !! she was young and needed time to be with me and learn how to nurse, but she had Jaundice which a lot of newborn preemie and full term babies have. the hospital didn't have a billi blanket only the lights so I was stuck just watching her and I couldn't hold her, but 30 minutes every 6 hours. That isn't enough time for a new baby to learn how to nurse. Once I called the right people and lit a flame under there butts and I was allowed to do what I knew I need to do she got better at nursing and everything they expected of her to do to go home she did it. No set backs what so ever ! * days after her birth she was sent home. We had some struggles with nursing and her being a preemie but she did wonderful !!

Today is her 2nd birthday !! She is still tiny doesn't look like a 2 year old more like a 1 year old, but she is doing wonderful and still nursing and I feel like even with her rough starts she is going to be a bright little girl who was out to surprise the world with what she can do they way she did when she was born at only 32 weeks doing things most 32 weekers couldn't do and coming so close to death when we learned my placenta was coming detached and waiting the weeks as the doctors had hoped for would have killed her. We feel blessed and lucky to have such a remarkable specially little girl in our life Emmaleigh is our angel !!

Emmaleigh had a wonderful 2nd birthday. She is the youngest of 5 children so doesn't get mom and dad alone much so that was her gift today. while the kids were in school we found a baby sister and took her to the parenting center to play and then out to eat lunch. After the kids got home we went to gran's house had dinner and cake and Emmaleigh loved the cake mix !! She is now passed out as her 2nd Birthday comes to a end and we look forward to her birthday on Sunday !!

Happy Birthday Emmaleigh !!! I love watching you grow and learning and getting to know the little person you are becoming and I so proud of everything you have done to overcome your hard entrance in this world !! I couldn't imagine my life with our you. you have brought so much to our family !

March of Dimes Walk on Emma's behalf

My Family and I would like to reach out to you and tell you how truly grateful we are for the generosity in so many people.

Our march of dimes was a great success. It was a beautiful day. All the kids had a blast. Emmaleigh had a Huge poster with her picture and story on it, which I absolutely love. She got a team ambassador trophy. Emmaleigh wasn't sure what to make of it when her story was told and her name was called to get her trophy as the crowd cheer for what a remarkable baby she is and that she is one of the blessed ones that made it. I was a nice special day for my family where we helped the march of dimes and recognized Emmaleigh, other premature or sick babies. We passed both of our fund raising goals. We are very impressed with help we are able to provide the march of dimes in the fight against babies born premature births like Emmaleigh was.

I did shed a few tears as we Released the balloons to the babies that weren't so lucky to survived like Emmaleigh. I can't help to think of the babies that were born to early and too sick.

It makes me look down at Emmaleigh and know how grateful I am to have her in our lives and part of our family. My heart still breaks when I think of what we had to go through to just to have her in our lives today, but it was worth the fight to be able to tell a story with a happy ending. I have no doubt without the March of dimes and there research I would be telling a very different story today.

I am thrilled to be part of such a wonderful cause in helping other families to not have to tell a story like Emmaleigh's story. We appreciate all the donations who were given to the March of dimes on Emmaleigh's behalf and we pray that one day all babies get there full nine months, are born healthy, and are as fully of life as our daughter Emmaleigh.


Emmaleigh is truly our miracle baby. She is such a wonderful active happy little girl and I treasure every hug and kiss and even the not so joyous moments. We are so proud of her. Emmaleigh has come so far from when she was born so premature. I couldn't imagine our family without her and I want to thank you for be part of making parents hopes and dreams of having a healthy baby come true. Thank so much for being Part of this !

20 months old

Emmaleigh is now 20 months old. We finally made it to her 18 month check up last month. I know a little late, but better late than never. She is 19 lbs now. I know that sounds small for a going on 2 year old. I knew she was small and I thought the doctor was going to say something about that. He didn't he said she was fine. She looks good and is gaining weight. She is still struggling with the iron, but other than that she is healthy.


As for Emmaleigh's 20 month update. She is running climbing doing a lot of what other 1 year olds are doing. She is a remarkable little girl for being born so early. she is still nursing quite a bit. I don't look at the clock at night or even count the times she wakes up, but it does seem that she is sleeping longer at night. maybe she will hit 20 lbs and sleep though the night before her 2nd birthday.

We are enjoying the spring and looking forward to the summer. We have taken a few trips to the beach. Emma loves the sand. She isn't too sure about the water, but hopefully she will warm up to it soon.

We also got a new big wooden swing set for the boys birthday and she loves it. Emmaleigh is learning to pump her legs.

This last month we have been so busy with preparing for our March of dimes walk. We had a blast We did wonderful we brought in $375 on Emmaleigh's behalf ! We are so proud since our first goal was $250 and our 2nd was $350. WTG Emma !!

19 months old

Miss Emmaleigh Claire is 19 months old. She turned 19 months old on March 19th, which was the day she was admitted to the hospital so I didn't take her official 19 month pictures for obvious reasons. SO I decided spur of the moment to take her picture today. I went in her closet found this dress that is too cute for words I couldn't put it on her and now get pictures. I took her outside. The house is a mess we cleaning for big brother Cameron and Alexander's Birthday party this weekend. It was a bit gloomy and wet. It stormed last night, but I found one dry spot to shoot a few pictures. They came out pretty good if I do say so myself. Emma is now back to her normal self. She looks pretty good for a little girl who was so very sick and admitted to the hospital only a week ago for 3 days. She gained her pound back, but is by means tipping any scales. I'm hoping to see her hit the 20 pound mark soon. She is other wise doing well. starting to talk she said "zack" today. She is still nursing and loving every minute of it as I am as well. Emma's new funnies thing ever is when she wants to nurse she comes to me calling daddies. she calls my breast daddies. Where do they come up with this stuff ? She still calls Darin Daddy and says mam, but she says daddies when she want to nurse. It so funny telling her "here you daddies" I makes us all laugh so hard. She is such a joyful ball of energy and so sweet she pats my back when i pick she up and rubs my arms at night to make sure I'm still close. We are enjoy all these wonderful moments with her.

One daughter up another down ...........

took both girls in to the doctor today. Emmaleigh was in the hospital for 3 days and I was told to follow up with the pedi in a week or less. When I got home From the Hospital I found that my older daughter, Isabella had an ear infection. It was the weekend and not much I could do. So I brought Emmaleigh in for her follow up and took Isabella in to be seen as well. Emmaleigh is doing well. She has gained her lost pound back. Emma kept me running around chasing her down she was all smiles today. The doctor said she looks great ! The c-diff was just very bad luck. Nothing we did could be have seen in coming, just something that happens sometimes, but it's very rare. Emmaleigh is on the up swing. However her nursing like a newborn for 3 days built up my supply. I had to pump to get a little relief and I got almost 2 oz with just a hand pump. I'm sure it will go back to normal soon now that she is eating more solids. I'm glad to report Miss Emma is back to her old self.