5.29.09 -- Home From the Hospital

Today we got to bring Aubrey home!!!!

We went to pick Grant up from school on our way home with Aubrey so we could suprise him. He was so happy when he saw her in the car. When we got home he wanted to hold her and here is a photo. She is wearing the outfit that our neighbors gave her from the Little Botique in Baytown. It was so sweet soft and tiny that I could not resist it.

5.27.09

Today I was back to the hospital. We have been making the treck out there at least twice a day and it is starting to get old but they are telling us that we will get to go home by the end of the week!!!! We are working on week three and this is getting really old. We were able to get an appointment with the cleft pallet team at Texas Children's Hospital on Monday so we will be able to find out what her care plan is.

8.25.09 -- Memorial Day

1 Samuel 1:27
For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him

As I am preparing to leave to go to the hospital today this verse came to mind. I hope that I will always remember what a blessing she is and how much we both wanted her and how happy we were when we found out that we were finally pregnant after loosing one baby, and two rounds of fertility, and how happy we were on December 31 when we found out that we were having a little girl.

I pray that I will always treasure the two precious gifts that God has given us and I pray that I will uphold the dedication oath that David and I made before our Church when Grant was born and that I will stand before our Church and make for Aubrey when the time comes.

Many thanks to Cynthia and Amia for the tiny clothes they fit perfect and she has worn them the entire time she has been in the NICU. They fit her so well and they are so soft and comfy for her right now.

5.23.09 -- Mom & Dad's Anniversary

Today is my parents 45 Wedding Anniversary, and I am so proud of them! I think that it is so funny that the way they wanted to celebrate it was up at the hospital with Aubrey. They are both really into this Grandparent thing! She was up to 7,12 today and I never thought I would be so happy about 2 ounces!

Today Rachel, Brian and I went to Best Buy to try to find a way to charge the HD, super duper video camera that David left his technologically obtuse wife to try to operate :-) (No we could not buy the idiot proof one) We selected the one that it took me 30 minuted to figure out how to turn it on. OH Well! I needed inspiration to become more technically savvy and I guess that Kindergarten graduation in a little over a week and Aubrey leaving the hospital will be that motivator!

5.22.09 -- Friday Visit

The Evans family came in from out of town and Rachel and I spent the day together. It was so much fun. She went to the hospital with me and got to see Aubrey. Aubrey really checked her out before deciding that she was ok and taking another nap. It has been SO good getting to see them. We really took it for granted when we got to see them and the Moore's every day. We sure miss our old neighbors but we have been really blessed with some really great neighbors in our new neighborhood.

5.19.09 -- Our 8th Wedding Anniversary

Well 8 years ago today I was the happiest person in the world. I had just promised before God, my family and friends that I would love, honor and cherish David until death do us part. I had no clue that day it would be so soon, as a matter of fact I could not even imagine that day ever happening. It is my first anniversary without him and it is heart wrenching I don't feel like my heart is broken I feel like 1/2 of it was removed. We began dating our senior year in highschool and I knew on our first date that this was the person that God wanted me to be with and there was no doubt in my mind.

HIGH SCHOOL PROM, 1995:

5.17.09 -- Aubrey Visit

We spent LOTS of time at the hospital today and it was WONDERFUL and TIRING. Here is a photo of her in the Blanket that the Roberts gave her (isn't it absoloutely BEAUTIFUL!) and it is the PERFECT size for holding her and keeping her warm in the freezing NICU.

5/16/09 -- First Day Home

Today was my first day home, and I cannot tell you how good I slept in my temperpedic bed last night for the record it beats the heck out of a hospital bed (big surprise). I waited to go to the hospital until mom got home from work because Grant had a little cough. I did not want to send him to the Zoo with the Church because it is so hot and if he started feeling worse he would be stuck there. When mom got home we went to the hospital to see her and she is SOOOO Cute (have I said this before???) and I just sat there and held her I could just inhale her (sorry this is the only way I can describe how good it feels to hold her), I cannot believe that you can love two precious little humans so much.

Today I had an epiphany I realized why God had allowed Aubrey to be special, not that I have questioned him just that it hit me today:

1) I am equipped to handle this. There are so many people out there that could not handle this but I am prepared to face this challenge.

2) Again I have something to focus on that takes me away from focusing on and dwelling on loosing David. I have an additional mission to accomplish now.

3) We live in the City with the hospital that has one of if not the best hospital in the world to have this surgery preformed at.

I realize this is VERY minor compared to what it could have been and I believe that God spared us by making it so minor but it is going to potentially take many Dr. visits and multiple surgeries to correct. This is nothing compared to a severely disabled child and I am in no way comparing the two. I am saying that this is not something that will be corected quickly so I have a long term mission now in addition to caring for a new baby.

I bet our insurance company loves us this year!!!

5.15.09 -- Going Home

Today I went home from the hospital without my baby. It is amazing how difficult and emotional this is (especially sans husband to calm you down) I cried all the way home, and yet I know that I really want her there in the NICU with the 24/7 nursing staff taking care of her (this is the rational side). I stayed until 10:00 and went to spend time with her before I had them discharge me. Right now all the photos look the same there are only so many photos that you can take in the NICU and they ALL start looking the same. I did get one set of photos that I need to post that were taken after she removed her own feeding tube for the 10,000th time. She keeps ripping it out and they have to put is back, but they typically wait until closer to the next feeding to reinsert it. She is such a little fighter!

5.12.09 -- First Family Photo/Grant Meets Aubrey

Here is our first family photo:



Well today Grant was finally able to meet Miss Aubrey. He was so cute becuase he was so excited!



The little tube in her nose is how they feed her and there are quite a few monitor leads coming out of the end of her blanket that you cannot see in the photo.

I wanted to thank all of you out there with sick babies because all of you have enabled me to look at this as a minor hurdle that is VERY correctable and that it could be so much worse. All of you guys have allowed me to realize how bad it actually could be with the struggles that you are facing. My OBGYN came in today and was so upset, she said why did this have to happen to you, you have been thru so much and you don't deserve any more complications. I was able to tell her that this is SO MUCH better than it could have been and that we were ready to take this challange on also.

5.11.09 -- Aubrey is Here

ONE OF HER FIRST PHOTOS:


IN THE NICU:


Sorry, I originally forgot to add stats:
Weight: 8;2
Length: 18 1/2
Time: 12:32
Date: 5/11/09

Well Aubrey is here, but we have a minor complication and we will once again be asking for prayers. She has a soft pallett cleft pallett and is now in the NICU. This is not what you typically think of, it is not visible from the outside at all, but it will require surgery to correct. She is not eating from the special bottle attachment that they have for this problem so they are having to work with her to try to teach her how to eat and and this was very disapointing but this is a very correctable problem. We live in a city with one of the best medical centers in the world and we have Texas Children's Hospital right here so it looks like we are going to get to take advantage of it. Sorry for the quality it was taken with a BB camera!

5.10.09 -- Mother's Day

Well today is holiday number 2 without the love of my life. The little man that he left me with is absoloutely wonderful. We were at Walmart and he insisted on selecting a dozen roses for me, so we picked them out and brought them home. I only saw one bundle, but they had the fire and ice roses that David always got me (White with the pink to red tips) they are absoloutely beautiful! I miss him so much but lately I have really felt his presence and it has been very comforting. Everywhere I turn there are wonderful memories from every restraunt I go to just about every where I turn. Grant and I are very excited about Aubrey coming on Monday. I have been in hoper mode trying to get everything taken care of before Monday becuase I am not sure how long it is going to take me to be back on my feet after this. Yesterday I was a crazy woman trying to accomplish everything that needed to be done. I believe that we are ready now!

5.8.09 -- Dr Visit/Grant's School Photos

Well today I went to the Dr. and she said see you monday if I don't domino before then. Then I went over to the hospital and registered for Monday and now I have this new super stylish bracelet to wear until then.



Today we got Grant's school photos back and they are cute so I thought I would share. I am so glad that they let you buy the copyright now!!!

5.3.09 -- Door Hangers

I didn't add this to the last post because I wanted to do it's own post. Here are the door hangers/wreaths for the hospital door and the house door. I can't get over how CUTE THEY ARE and I can't wait to see my DAD bring these to the hospital. I have put the 3M hooks in my hospital bag so I can hang both on the door, I even have some extras just in case!!!! I am so excited and I cannot wait to show them off at the hopital.

My Cousin Rose Henson in Buffalo, TX Made this diaper wreath that is SOOO Adorable (it is currently hanging on the Door to Aubrey's room) and I thought it was the neatest idea:









My Great Friend Wende Kelly (she was one of my bridesmaids) from the Spoiled Rotten Girls website made the Feather Boa Wreath for the hospital door (it is currently in the entry way adding FLAIR) I just realized this photo does not do it justice!:








The wreath for the front door of the house to announce our bundle of joy has arrived. (it is currently hanging on the mirror in the dining room so excuse the reflection) FYI the words on the wall are from Hobby Lobby you can order them on the internet but I am an instang gratification kind of person (yes I know that is BAD):

5.3.09 -- Chuck E Cheese with The Kelly Family

Today we met up with Robert & Wende, Maddie and their twin boys Carter & Beau. The kiddos had a great time playing and we had a great time catching up.

I have got to share with you what Robert brought me...When he came up to spend the day with David and I in ICU we were walking down the hall going back to his room and he looked over at me and said Emily you MUST be in heaven because there is a cootie killer (Purell) dispenser ever 10 feet here (we were in the St. Lukes ICU). It is so WONDERFUL to have friends that know how to lighten things up and make you laugh in such a difficult time. It was really neat also because David recognized his voice IMMEDIATELY and responded even while he was sedated. I know he was so glad that Robert came.

Well as a follow up to this conversation he found an industrial catalog and ordered me a professional dispenser and refills as a gift, the bad part is I LOVE IT!