Happy New Year!

My New Year's resolution is to update our blog every Sunday. Hopefully that will satisfy all of those who have been getting on our case as of late. I know Halloween was a long time ago (the last post doesn't count, Jayme's sister Jackie posted that for us) but a lot of things have been going on and our blog just wasn't a priority. I'll try to quickly catch you up and then I'll keep things updated weekly. We spent Thanksgiving up in Astoria with my dad. We had a very nice time and my dad took lots of wonderful pictures of Katarina. On our way home I started bleeding. I bled for two hours so when we got home we went straight to the ER. I had an emergency D&C in which there were a few complications and I ended up with a blood transfusion of four units. We spent the next couple of weeks recovering. We are very grateful that we live so close to family. We received a lot of help from them. Then came Christmas. We spent Christmas Eve with my mom and family and Christmas day with Jayme's family. It was really nice to be with family. From Jayme's parents we got a new camera, partially in an effort to encourage us to take pictures for the blog. I have already put it to good use. I am enjoying being able to take good pictures. Last week we spent a lot of time with Jayme's family, including New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. On the 28th Katarina had her baby blessing at home. Most of our immediate family was able to attend including Jayme's grandfather and his wife. It was a beautiful experience. We love having Katarina as part of our family. She is a happy and healthy child. During our two month check up, the doctor said that she couldn't be any healthier and he was also very impressed with her muscle tone. She is a strong little girl. Now we just need to work on her sleeping skills. For the past little while she she has slept during the day and has been up most of the night. In an effort to have her sleep during the night we have forced her up during the day. It helped for a day or two and now she doesn't sleep at all, except for a cat nap here or there or when she is in some one's arms. Every day is a new adventure.

Merry Christmas

(click to enlarge)

Happy Halloween

Today was my due date, but instead of being in the hospital, or being at home wondering when I would be ready to go to the hospital, and all of the other questions that go with delivery, like, is everything going to be ok? How long will it take? How bad is it going to be? How much weight am I going to loose? Instead of questions like these, Katie, Jayme and I get to hang out at home and pass out candy. This is much better than the alternative.
As a side note, that fateful Tuesday that I got admitted to the hospital with a serious illness, the first thing that the nurses did, before they checked my vitals, or explained what was going on, or even before we were settled into our room, was to give us a little Halloween tee-shirt and a hat. I have to admit, I wasn't really thinking baby at the time, I still had three weeks to go, and I wasn't sure what to think of the gesture, other than the nurses were really excited about babies. Now that three weeks have passed, my child and I are at home and mostly healthy (the cold is still hanging on a little) it is fun to put on the shirt and wish you all a happy Halloween.
P.S. I tried to get a cute one, but it just woundn't be.

Katarina is Here!

Katie was born on October 10th a little after 5:00 pm. She weighed 6 lbs. 13 oz. and was 21 in. long. She also was three weeks early. Virginia went in for her weekly check-up in Stayton on that Tuesday and was admitted to the hospital for preeclampsia. Mom and baby were monitored for a couple of days and Virginia was induced on Thursday evening. Clareese, Virginia's mom, and Peggy and Reed, Jayme's parents, were there to welcome their granddaughter into the world. We were not planning on giving birth in Stayton, but we had problems with our insurance. It was at least an hour drive for everyone that came to visit and help out. We got home on Sunday. Peggy and Reed had been busy at our place bringing over baby stuff because we were not quiet ready for Katie to come, in fact, all we really had was a crib, thanks to my grandma, and a car seat/stroller, which Jayme had quickly ordered on line, and had to pay a bunch extra for a speedy delivery. Katie spent her first week on a billie blanket. She was a bit orange and the blanket helped her body gt rid of old blood cells. Last Friday Katie came down with a little cold. Mommy and Daddy soon got it. We have spent this week and home doing very little, trying to adjust to our new sleep pattern, which really doesn't have much of a pattern at all yet, and trying to get healthy. Katarina is a very pleasant baby. She enjoys being held, eating, having her hands at her face, and visiting with grandparents. She does not like having her temperature taken. We are very happy to have her in our family.