One Year Ago - Finley's Second Day

(December 6, 2007)
A year ago today Finley was hanging out in the NICU, and I was still recovering. I was finally able to be released from the recovery area after bugging a few nurses that I wanted to go see my baby, and was able to get up and walk around for the first time after having what felt like a million wires removed. My first priority was to make it to the NICU to see my little girl for the first time since she was born, and I can't describe the feeling that came with seeing that tiny little girl all hooked up to the machines. She was so peaceful and getting the rest that she needed to grow. We weren't able to hold Finley yet, and the nurses showed us how to calm Finley down by holding her feet and her head gently with our hands instead of stroking her back or head. We made lots of trips that day while still in the hospital at all hours of the day. We were transporting bottles that I was pumping over and over again, and just really wanted to see her any chance that we got. It was very odd staying in a room after having a newborn with no newborn there with us. We couldn't walk up the long hallway to the NICU fast enough each time we wanted to get there. :)

Jumpy Castle Fun!

Yesterday was Finley's first birthday, so the 4 of us headed for some fun yesterday afternoon at Extreme Fun, where we recently had Bryson's 3rd birthday. We love this place, and the kids love it too! The kids jumped around a bit, and Mike and I did some tricks of our own too :)

Happy First Birthday, Finley!

(December 5, 2007)
Today was the day that Finley entered our lives and we had made it to 33 weeks 6 days. She was so tiny and fragile. She came out screaming and looking just as precious as ever with a lot of strawberry-blond hair, and that we weren't expecting. I remember being shocked when they said she had some red hair, and remember even looking at Mike to see if he was agreeing with the nurse on that, and boy does she now! She was born at 1:02 p.m. at 4 lbs. 12 oz. and was beautiful! They took her away to the NICU along with Mike as I was finished up in surgery. They took me to a recovery room and Mike came in a bit later with pictures on the camera for me to see. I couldn't wait to get to see her with my own eyes. It was torture to not have her with me. I cannot believe how much has come with this first year of Finley's life, and how quickly it has passed us. I don't remember it going this fast with Bryson. She brings so much joy into our house! We have learned that she is a serious little soul, but does love to laugh, and can give one of the best smiles we've ever seen. She loves to dance, and will do that one on command. She has got some rhythm! She loves her brother, and she loves jewelry, just like a girl should. :) We have made a video to capture the first year of her life on this special day. Just click on the link below, and enjoy! :)

Santa Picture

Today we went to visit Santa at the mall. Bryson was excited to see him and liked him a lot, but was very shy and quiet. When Santa asked him what he wanted for Christmas he told him he wanted a big green car. He's been saying this for the past few days and showing us the size of his hand when he says it, so we will try to fulfill this 'big' green car wish of his, from Santa of course. Finley was not liking Santa. I think the picture is so great! Bryson looks a little stunned and Finley is just trying to get the heck out of there!

One Year Ago - The Day Before Finley's Arrival

(December 4, 2007)
One year ago today I got the second steroid shot to help improve Finley's lungs before being born early. Mike took Bryson to preschool in the morning and got some things together before heading to the hospital to stay with me for the night. Granna picked Bryson up from school and started their few days together here at home. In the evening when Mike and I were both at the hospital, they came to take us on a tour of the NICU to prepare us and answer questions we might have. We were both overwhelmed, and realized this night that we would have Finley the next day and were headed into the unknown of how she would do in the outside world before she was supposed to be here. We knew she'd be around 4 1/2 pounds from the ultrasound we had earlier in the week, and that she would be on the 'bigger' end in the NICU, but we still didn't know what to expect. We took one last picture of Finley in my stomach the night before delivery before getting some rest.

Playdate in the park

Today we had a playdate to celebrate Finley's first birthday (on Friday) with our local friends. It was a playdate with cupcakes at the park. The weather was great for a bit until the cold front started to blow in, but the kids had fun! I didn't take too many pictures, but here are the few that I did get!





Bryson with his friends, Tyler and Blake.

One Year Ago - Hospital Entrance

(December 3, 2007)
It has been one year now since the roller coaster of Finley's life started to play out. We'll do quite a few posts over the next few weeks to recap our journey that we started with Finley, and the fun that we have with her today. One year ago today I was pregnant at 33 weeks 4 days, and was told to go to the hospital because my kidneys weren't holding up so well, and I was spilling too much protein in my urine, which was affecting me and baby. My OB told me to go the hospital for a steroid shot, because they would be taking Finley out early, and the steroid shots I would have over 2 days prior to delivery would help improve her lungs since she was going to be a preemie. He wanted me in the hospital for those shots as soon as possible so that we could deliver Finley on the morning of Dec. 5th, the sooner the better for my body, and for the health of Finley. I remember Mike coming home from work early, and the 3 of us headed to the hospital thinking I was just going in for a shot and would be heading home that night. My OB didn't say anything about staying the night, and it didn't even cross my mind during the frazzled thoughts I had of being told I'd be having a preemie within a few days. We got to the hospital, they took me back and started hooking me up to monitors and gave me the first of a series of two steroid shots that I'd be getting 24 hours apart, and Bryson and Mike walked around the hospital waiting for me to finish up. I asked the nurse when they thought I might be done as I started to wonder since it seemed to be no rush to get things done in any hurry. The nurse called my OB, and what do you know? I was staying for good until this precious little one would be born. Mike and Bryson headed home while I got checked into my new room for the next few days. Mike dropped Bryson off at home with Papa and packed a bag for me and headed back to the hospital to drop it off. He headed back and spent the night at home with Bryson that night, and we waited to see what the next day would bring.