Going Home

They are sending Natalie home today!  She will still need to be on a small amount of oxygen, but otherwise she is doing very well.  Thank you for all your prayers!

Another Day

We have spent another day at the hospital.  Natalie had a bit of a rough night with very fast breathing.  She is doing better today after some albuterol treatments.  She is currently on just 80 mL of oxygen, and the goal is to get her down to 50 mL.  We are grateful that the Lord continues to bless her with healing.  We're hoping that we will be able to all go home tomorrow and be together as a family again.

Update

The doctor came to see Natalie this morning and is glad to see that her condition is stable.  Natalie is still eating well, breathing well, and only has an occasional coughing spell.  However, she is still needing a little extra oxygen to keep her blood/oxygen levels up where they need to be.  Currently she is receiving 200 mL per hour, and the doctor said that she could go home with a portable oxygen tank once she is weaned down to 50 mL per hour.  (When we first brought her in to the hospital she was on a full liter per hour.)  So, we will be here at the hospital for at least another night.

Hubby was teasing me yesterday that I like this hospital a little too much.  I must admit, it isn't so bad.  I'm getting plenty of rest, I have lots of time to snuggle my sweet baby, I have a nice view, and everything is new and clean since the hospital just opened in October.  The best part is picking up the phone to order a meal and having it delivered to my room shortly after.  I would still rather be home though...maybe tomorrow.  Thanks for all your thoughts and prayers!

Sick Baby

We are back in the hospital with little Natalie.  She is doing fine, but she was diagnosed with RSV which can be dangerous for newborns.  She caught what I thought was just a cold from her sister and had a snotty nose on Wednesday.  By Friday, she had developed a nasty cough, so I decided to take her to the doctor just to get her checked.  She tested positive for RSV, and her oxygen levels were very low, particularly while sleeping.  The doctor hooked Natalie up to oxygen right away and asked us to drive her directly to the hospital.  Thankfully, Hubby had just gotten off from work and was able to meet me at the doctor's office.  Since we know Natalie's doctor personally, as well as professionally, she offered to drive our older two girls to be with some friends.

Natalie has a mild case of RSV.  Her lungs are mostly clear, and she has been able to nurse normally.  Hopefully her oxygen levels will come up soon so that we can take her home.  The nurses and doctors have said that day five of the virus is generally the worst, and that is today.  Please pray for Natalie, that God would give her little body the strength to fight this!

We are all doing fine.  We are thankful for the many friends that God has blessed us with here in Colorado.  We have had many offer their help to us as Natalie and I are confined to the hospital.  Hubby has been a big help as well.  He has been going back and forth between the house and the hopspital, taking good care of all his girls.

I will post updates on Natalie's condition.  We would like to take her home, but need to wait on a release from her doctor.    Trusting in Him...

She's Here!

We are so excited to welcome a new member into our family!  Our little "peanut" was born on Monday evening, February 9, 2009, at 10:39 p.m.  She was only three days past her due date, so it almost feels as if she arrived early.  I really thought that she might be two weeks late like her sisters.  Her name is Natalie Jeannine, she weighed 7 pounds, 10.5 ounces, and measured 21 inches long.  Her sisters absolutely adore her!

We are so thankful for this little blessing that God has given into our lives.  We are grateful for the timing of her arrival and the smoothness of the delivery.  The Lord's blessing on her was evident to us.  When we first greeted Natalie, the doctor's jaw nearly hit the floor when she saw that the cord was wrapped around Natalie's neck three times!  The doctor quickly clamped the cord, cut it, and then removed it from her neck.  She later told us that she had never seen a baby delivered with the cord around its neck without heart rate troubles during the delivery.  She also told us that it was very rare to have the cord wrapped around three times.  Thankfully, Natalie is as healthy as can be!

I plan to post a more detailed story of her birth and other details of her as I start to feel better.  Thankfully, she has been sleeping very well so far which is a tremendous blessing to my recovery!

Double Take

Even though I am fully aware that we are still waiting on baby to come, I had to do a double take when I walked into her room and saw this!  The girls are so excited about meeting their sister that they have been playing in her room constantly.  They have had fun helping me set up the room, and pretending to be little mommies.  Pixie asks me nearly every day when sister will be here.  Rosebud has asked me not to have the baby while she is sleeping because she doesn't want to miss it.  They are so sweet!

1 Day(s) to Go!

My Pregnancy ticker says that I am "39 weeks, 6 days pregnant, only 1 days to go!"  While it is exciting to reach my due date, I have a feeling that baby girl will not be complying with her expected arrival.  I had a visit with the doctor today, and it seems that not much is happening.  Hubby has a ticket to the Avalanche game tonight in Denver, so I guess he will probably be able to enjoy the whole game.  *Sigh*  Now I have the privilege of visiting the doctor's office twice a week for non-stress tests until the baby arrives.  Thankfully baby seems to be growing and devloping well, and we are so blessed to welcome her into our family.  More news to come....