How It All Started...

There is a very important part to our Emry story that I've not shared yet.  This is the part the Nick's parents have played that Kyla didn't have access to when she posted for me and that I wanted to save for it's own posting.  I have to laugh at how it all started!!  My month has been crazy (can you believe that Emry is a month old already?) but all the craziness actually started 2 weeks prior to her arrival :)  It's really all these guys fault... Nick and Glenn... because they were both born on September 11 and since my due date was the 17th, I thought it would be fun to try to have our baby on their birthdays!  That would be 3 generations!! 

Anyway, we knew it was a long shot but thought we'd try a few natural inducers to try to help me out... and nothing worked!  I took herbs, walked (even jogged) took castor oil... you name it and I did it... well almost :)  But God had other plans and our little Emry wanted her own birthday!  So instead of being in the hospital on Nick' s 30th birthday, we met up with his parents (who had Aubryn Keirah and Leif for a couple of days) and celebrated both his and Glenn's birthdays with some good ole' steak.  Suited me just fine! Who wouldn't choose steak over labor :)   We had a wonderful night!!  Here are the pics of our night together. 





Do you see this belly?  This was still 2 weeks out!  And this was the beginning of a 6 week whirlwind.  I had a hard time being patient for Emry to get here but I so clearly see that God had a plan for Emry and it wasn't to be born on her Daddy and Biggie's birthday. It was to stay cozy in my womb for a much needed 2 more weeks in order to get as much development in as possible.  Why do I doubt you God?  Why do I think I need to make my own plans?  I praise you for keeping her safe and for allowing her to grow more before entering our world.  I fully believe that though I waited 2 more weeks to meet her, we were spared 2 more weeks in the NICU.  

So we were at 41 weeks in my pregnancy and still no baby, and we were facing induction.  Glenn and Gwen came to keep the kids and we went to the hospital on Monday night the 22nd. Thankfully I went into labor that night and had Emry with out a full induction Tuesday morning.  It was really nice to have Hunny and Biggie there and not have to scramble for childcare when I went into labor.  They brought the kids to see their new baby sister by about 10 am on Tuesday, right after we had found out about her cleft palate.  It was such a blessing to have them come around us, pray for us and encourage us.  We are thankful for their presence that day.  

After my mom left (Emry was 2 weeks old) we were in limbo about whether or not to go to a conference that we had planned go attend before we knew of Emry's complications.  We waited until after the Dell specialist appointment before we decided that Emry would eat, sleep and poop whether we were in Atlanta or at home.  Also, Hunny and Biggie were glad to spend more time with Aubryn, Keirah and Leif and at that point, though I was ready to see what four would look like... life was easier in Atlanta with one than with all four!  We met up with Hunny, Biggie and Maury to let the older ones go.  Maury got to spend a few precious moments for the first time with her new niece and even got to try the art of feeding her too.

So while we were in Atlanta, the kids celebrated Keirah's 4th birthday with Hunny, Biggie and Mo, ate tacos in the park, roasted marshmallows on the fire pit and had a blast!  We had a great time too and were thankful for the bonding time spent with Emry that we somewhat missed out on in the hospital.  

So now you have the rest of the story... and how it all began... and whose fault it all was :)  So here ends the 6 weeks of chaos and here begins life at home with four as normal... whatever that is... :)  No really, I wanted to share how much of a blessing it has been to have our families here for us, helping us and loving on our children when we felt incapable of handling it all at once.  God, you are such a sweet Daddy to us, showing us what it looks like to love, and to take refuge in you.  May it be that way in our families as well.