Haleigh is here

It was Saturday, August 16th when Haleigh surprisingly came into this world. I was scheduled for a c-section on teh 20th but there was no way I could make it that long. I had been having contractions for 2 days and they were starting to get extremely annoying. So after shopping that day and stopping at a church friend's house we went to the hospital to check things out. My contractions were 5 minutes apart and VERY uncomfortable. I went fully expecting them to send me home. In fact after being there for about 2 hours I had called and said we would be home soon to pick Tyler up. Not even 5 minutes later my angel of a nurse came in and said "what would you say if I told you you will see your baby tonite?" "WHAT!" I really didn't believe her and then she proceeded to tell me that I had about an hour until I went to the OR. Oh my gosh! Yeah the tears started flowing and I really was in shock I think. I don't know why I cried. I probably freaked mom out when I called her. But I can't even describe the emotion. I was so excited but at the same time overwhelmed, I couldn't believe I would actually get to hold my baby in just a few short hours. And then the emotions of knowing I would never be pregnant again all overwhelmed me. My nurse thought I was a ticking time bomb (whatever that means) and she didn't think it would be wise to send me home. Praise the Lord! And they didn't waste any time getting me back to the OR for surgery.

So the greatest DR/midwife ever came and comforted me and got me ready for what would happen in the next hour. WOW! It was so crazy but so exciting at the same time.

With Tyler I had a horrible experience and didn't get to see him for a long time after he was born because I was still out. With Haleigh I was able to stay awake for the whole thing and it was INCREDIBLE! I can't even describe how amazing it was to hear her first cries and to see her little body so soon after she was born. How people experience the birth of a child and don't recognize who God is I'm not sure. I can't imagine not giving the glory to Him for the miracle of this precious girl.

So anyway, I called mom and dad. Michael was not able to come to later. Gian was in Texas and Amanda of course in Alaska. Donetta and Jerry brought Tyler up to the room and he really didn't know what to think. Jeff and I were dressed for surgery and he was very interested in the hats. He was used to seeing me hooked up to things because of my weekly NST's but the dress with the hat and daddy being dressed was very interesting to him.

As they wheeled me down the hall a little later for the surgery I could hear Tyler as I exited the room. He was the entertainer for the family while we were in surgery. And big brother was excited when he came back to see mom and baby sister. He didn't know what to think at first because we told him that was his baby sister Haleigh. He looked at my tummy and then looked at her like "how did she get out of there" He was very lovey though. He loved to give her kisses and to look at her every detail. He didn't want to leave her side and did not like it when Jeff took her off of our lap in the bed. He told him to put her back on the bed with us. It was love at first sigh, let's just hope the love lasts for a while and doesn't turn to something else soon.
And yes he thought he was hot stuff when he got to hold her. It was the most precious thing. He was so excited and was mimicking her every move. When she would open her mouth he would open his or if she moved her arms he would move his. He laughed at her and was so engrossed in her. It really could make your heart melt watching them.

I was in recovery for a couple hours so proud grandparents and great grandparents came to get their first peek at their precious new granddaughter and great granddaughter.
Sometimes being at teh hospital got a little boring for Tyler and he had to explore new things. He was a little wild as you can tell trying to climb over the top of the bed. He's my little wild man.

My precious little Freedom Girls came to visit me. These girls are great girls and were some of the first to find out I was pregnant when the came over for a New Year's slumber party. They are fabulous girls and I love every one of them. They are a privilege tot work with at church and in Bible Study and I know they will be awesome mentors and examples for my baby Freedom Girl Haleigh. Two men and a baby once again! Tyler was very curious when they came to check Haleigh's vitals for the final time before we went home. He was interested in everything they did and had to be right there with them. He is a little bit protective already. He wonders what everyone is doing with his baby sister.