Saturday, December 6, 2008

thursday=)

hi baby=)

you are coming home thursday=) i couldn't think of an appropriate lead-in to something that is such a big deal, so i just wrote it. but you can't even imagine how my stomach feels (butterflies and flip-flopping) as i think about it! this is our second night staying with you in the hospital. they have you sleep with us in a big private bedroom so we can practice taking care of you by ourselves with all your bells and whistles. you're pretty complicated, my sweet=) making mommy and daddy smarter and smarter by the day. so last night was kinda funny-you slept all night but your ventilator alarms went off literally every 5 or 10 minutes. the alarms were set to be super sensitive so even when you would stretch or cough for a split second it would start beeping at us. and you would sleep through it all. =) we, however, did not! no big deal-the alarm settings got changed today so hopefully tonight all 3 of us will get more sleep.

daddy and i have both changed your trach by ourselves now. no fun for any of us! we have to remind ourselves how we really are helping you or we wouldn't be able to do it. everyone says it will become second nature soon. i can't wait for that-hopefully it will get easier for you too. you're hilarious when it comes to breastfeeding. completely hit or miss. sunday you breastfed like a champion again. then for 3 days you wouldn't at all, then on thursday you randomly started wanting to again...point being i can't figure out any rhyme or reason to it. maybe you just are showing us who's the boss=) i stress out a lot less about it now-we get to take you home with an NG tube so i'll be able to feed you one way or another. so many people keep telling us how babies do so much better once they get home, so i'm just hoping that includes how you eat. you are helping me learn to be patient, sweet girl=)

so yesterday was much fun with you in our room. you and i laid on the bed and read books-our favorite right now is called Gossie and it's about a gosling who wears bright red boots. we've been reading it to you for about a month now and it's the coolest thing to see how you've changed-when we first got it you might would look at the book or you might not, you'd usually get distracted by your mobile with the monkey and frog and bird (they remain your favorite toys), but now you'll actually look at the pictures while i'm reading the words on the pages. you're growing up sweet one=) then you were falling asleep and i snuggled with you and scooched my head up next to yours and smushed your forehead in my cheek. i had one of those super dramatic revelation-type moments looking at you and thinking about how you are me and daddy put into a little person. how you were the little sweet thing moving around in my belly-did i ever tell you how when i was pregnant i would count your hiccups when i was trying to go to sleep at night? i looked back at the 3D ultrasound pictures and found the profile one that looked just like your daddy. i tried to see if you looked like that now. i didn't really decide if you do or not, but i think i was just realizing the magnitude of the whole journey we've been on. i know it's not even close to being over, but you're about to be home. i can't believe we get to have you there. maybe i haven't been able to really comprehend that you are ours, but bringing you home i think will probably help make it feel more true. this is what i'm looking forward to the most right now: saturday we are going to put you in your little baby swing in the living room and let you watch us decorate the christmas tree. i think you'll love it because here in the hospital you're always turning your head to see the monitor screens where the bright lights are. we have a huge window that looks out over our front yard and street-there are big trees that make a canopy over the road and i love it. and i can't wait to hold you up next to the window and let you see what outside looks like. you are so cute with new things. we put you in a baby bathtub last week and you were so funny. the first few seconds you were in the water your eyes and mouth opened really wide, and then you realized it was ok and you might even like it, and you settled in and kicked your feet around in the water. it's the most fun to watch my sweet girl discovering her world.

are you ready for this next step? i think i am. i'm so excited, but appropriately terrified i think. a healthy fear, i like to call it=) i am so proud to be your mommy. even though we'll be lugging around so much equipment to make the smallest errands, i can't wait to pack everything up just to go 2 miles down the road to your pediatrician's office. they've been waiting to meet you, and i can't wait to show you off. i love you sweet girl. i just looked over at your crib and saw you sleeping on your side with your yellow and white duck outfit on. and your ever-faithful mr monkey smiling as he hangs from the mobile above your feet. you will miss those guys, won't you?? =) i'll make sure to take lots of pictures of you with him.

mommy

this is you reaching for mr monkey=)


you and daddy hanging out on the big bed



"rooming in"-quite the process

this sign on the door made me happy=)



your first big-girl bath=)

29 comments:

Margaret said...

KATIE!!!! I am soooooooo excited for you guys!!! I know the three of you are going to be so happy! She will do so great at home with the both of you as her parents. Let me know if you need anything! We all continue to pray for you all!!

E said...

Oh geez, what an amazing miracle! Sweet Katie, I love you with all my heart.

God knew what he was doing when He called you to be a nurse. He knew you'd need the experience for Catherine before you ever did. What a miracle!

Anonymous said...

Woo Hoo! We've been praying she'd be home before Christmas, and this is most certainly before Christmas. Can't wait to see her in person!

KLS said...

She's gorgeous and I'm SO glad she gets to come home!

-Kari M

mommy to Kaden, Brody and angel Ava said...

I am so happy for you guys. It is so great that you will all be home in time for Christmas. You may not believe it now, but you will do great, all of you. The pictures of Catherine are beautiful, she is so beautiful and just looks so happy!!!

Will you guys be having nursing at home??? I read that you are a nurse, but you are going to need a break from doing everything every once in awhile. When we first came home with Kaden we had nursing just about 24/7. We now have a nurse Mon-Thurs for 9 hours. If you do have nursing I want you to know...never be afraid to tell the agency when you do not feel comfortable having a nurse take care of Catherine (it most likely will happen). You are the parents and you have a right to be "picky". Also, although you have nurses if you feel more comfortable doing trach care and Catherine feels more comfortable with you doing trach care then I would recommend you continuing to do it. You might have a nurse or two who feel that they are obligated to do it, but just let them know that you feel more comfortable doing it yourself. (By the way, one thing that we did for Kaden when he was younger, my husband and I did trach care together and made up a song to sing to him while doing it...it seemed to keep him pretty entertained.) I know you guys probably already know this stuff. I am just thinking of things that I wish others would have told us before going home. I do want you to know that you will be amazed at how comfortable you will become at home and taking care of Catherine yourself. She is such an amazing miracle and like you said you are lucky enough to learn from her. I want to leave you with one of my favorite quotes that seems very fitting...

"While we try to teach or children about life, our children teach us what life is all about." (author unknown)

Good luck at home. You all continue to be in my thoughts and prayers. I am so happy for you all. If you ever have questions about ANYTHING please contact me, I would love to help if I can.

Amy

Abby said...

tears of joy are in my eyes. thursday? thursday!!!!! truly amazing. I am thrilled for all of you and can't wait to see pictures of catherine watching you decorate the Christmas tree. I LOVE the bathtub picture.

Dotty said...

This is so amazing, im so very happy for you all!! what a christmas to remember! blessings to you. always!!

carriebc said...

Katie! Yeah!!! How exciting...tell Catherine that we'd love to get her her own mobile just like the one she had at the hospital! Norah loves her frog, on the rain forest swing. (It looks like the rain forest mobile from the pictures?). Anyway, it's on sale at Walmart! Mike and I have been wanting to do something for ya'll but we don't know what...so maybe we can get this mobile for you?? It broke my heart that she'd have to say goodbye to these friends! Anyway...congrats!!! I am so, so, happy for your sweet little family! It's going to feel so cozy at home...I also found some links on getting older babies to breastfeed. One mom stopped breastfeeding almost right away, pumped for 5 months, then one day gave it a shot and the baby took to it right away. You just never know. Let me know if you'd like some of these links, I'm not sure how to best send them to you, facebook, e-mail, etc. =)!=)! Carrie Caudle

thedunns said...

Okay, seriously, tears of complete JOY are running down my cheeks!!!! I am soooooo excited for y'all & I know she'll continue to get better & better at home. I absolutely love the picture of Donnie & Catherine in the big bed together-what a dream come true. There is nothing like snuggling with your sweet baby, is there???? We can't wait to meet her (like everyone else that's heard her story)!!! We love y'all

Unknown said...

HONEY!!! I am so excited for you guys! The best Christmas present anyone could ask for! I love you and can't wait to meet Miss Catherine in January!!!

ilse sears said...

I do believe in miracles now. I was so skeptical all of my life but I do believe in something so wonderful now!! You all represent in me an ever changing life. This is a moment of grace. It is a turning point in all of our lives and Catherine has been the pivot of all. We love you and are blessed by this little angel that is changing so many lives including mine. What a homecoming you will have. That tree outside your front window will be changing in front of her eyes bringing such peace and such love. Aunt Spanish here in Georgia loves you all. Welcome home, little Catherine.

Anonymous said...

Katie, Donnie, I'm at a loss for words! OMG, the excitement! God is GREAT! How wonderful is this? What a Christmas gift. A true miracle in deed! What a happy four month birthday gift for baby Catherine and she does not even realize! Thurs. will be filled with emotion as you say good-bye to one world and walk into another. You guys have so much support and people, family and freinds around you. I hope God blesses me one day to meet you Catherine and Katie, as Dinnie was my professor for a short time! I truly do love you guys and will continue to pray.
You have the best mommy and daddy in the world Catherine!

Anonymous said...

By the way Catherine, you are the cutiest chubby baby i have EVER seen! LOVE U!

Emilie Smith said...

OH MY GOSH!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm so stinkin' excited!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I love that she is coming home in between Thanksgiving and Christmas...so much to be thankful for, but the best Christmas present EVER!!! This is awesome! Praise the Lord!

Dewberry Discourse said...

Donnie and Katie, Dennis and Susan were Donnie's youth pastors at one time. We have been following Catherine's blog and praying so hard!! Our own daughter, Heather, gave birth to a little boy who is still on a apnea monitor--so we have become very tuned in to babes with various problems. Katie and Donnie, you are so stong--Catherine will flourish under your care. We love you guys, Dennis and Susan Dewberry

Megan said...

Oh how wonderful!  What a sweet answer to prayer.

Anonymous said...

Oh my goodness! This is so amazing! A week or so ago I went back to the beginning of your blog and re-read all the letters, and just to see the progress, from heart-break to hope, just the miracle of it all.....

I'm so incredibly happy for you and Donnie. And Catherine is going to LOVE being at home where she belongs. The angels are dancing in heaven over this one! A million praises to Jesus!! And thanks for adding the pictures- she's simply beautiful and already growing so fast!

Kathy Davis said...

~*~THURSDAY~*~DECEMBER 11, 2008~*~ WHAT A BEAUTIFUL, MEMORABLE, EXCITING DAY THIS WILL BE! CONGRATULATIONS AND GOD BLESS YOU ALL AS YOU FINALLY BEGIN YOUR JOURNEY TOGETHER, AT HOME, AS A FULL=TIME FAMILY UNIT. AND WHAT BETTER TIME OF THE YEAR, CHRISTMAS TIME. A TIME OF CELEBRATION OF THE BIRTH OF ANOTHER BABY. STARS SHINING BRIGHTLY LEADING THE WAY TO THE MIRACLE BIRTH OF JESUS IN A MANGER. CHRISTMAS TIME FOR CATHERINE, HER MOMMY AND DADDY WILL BE A TIME OF THE BIRTH OF THEIR FAMILY BEING TOGETHER 24/7! NEW BEGINNINGS, OR I SHOULD SAY CONTINUES. THE MIRACLE BIRTHS. BRAVE AND FAITHFUL PARENTS. I AM SO VERY HAPPY FOR YOU ALL, SO, SO HAPPY. TEARS OF JOY WELL UP AS I WRITE THIS, JUST THINKING ABOUT THE THREE OF YOU REALLY BEGINNING YOUR LIVES TOGETHER IN FULL. I KNOW SOME OF IT WILL BE OVERWHELMING AT TIMES BUT DONNIE AND KATIE WILL BE AMAZING, ABLE PARENTS WHO WILL BE READY FOR EVERY STEP, READY TO FULFILL EVERY NEED. AN EXCITING, HAPPY AND BLESSED EVENT COINCINDING WITH ANOTHER BLESSED EVENT. SOMEHOW IT JUST SEEMS PERFECT. OUR PRAYERS FOR YOU ALL WILL CONTINUE OF COURSE, BUT I KNOW OF NO OTHER PARENTS WHO COULD BE MORE PREPARED, MORE FILLED WITH HAPPY ANTICIPATION AND A SENSE OF "FINALLY, OUR BABY GIRL IS COMING HOME". CAN DO, WILL DO. MeMa Fostine's favorite Bible Verse, as I've noted before, "I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHO STRENGTHENS ME" PHIL. 4:13. MeMa Fostine went through several difficult times, the awful car wreck where two sons were injured and she sustained terrible injuries herself, spinal meningitis, the loss of her mother to pancreatic cancer and then soon her sweet daddy followed, but she always remembered that verse. Maybe she wanted it to pass down to her grandchildren and her first great-grandchild, Catherine Marie Davis. Maybe she wanted you all to know and take Faith in that verse. You can do ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST, He will be there to help you and so will His Father. Congratulations on your new beginning, the beginning of your family at home with special memories and discoveries to be made and cherished each day, even with the challenges, you can do it. I know you are happy but I could only imagine just a hint of fear as well. Catherine is strong and she will be doing her part. Do not be afraid for He is with you. Like, I have to tell you that! Ha! Y'all know all this better than me. I'm just so very happy for you. Enjoy your week, it's a big one! With love <3 Aunt Kathy, Jincey & Mitchell

PT said...

YAY!! What a blessing. She's a beautiful girl, Katie!

twinsplusone said...

COngrats!! I understand the mixed emotions and healthy fear...when our Joseph came home from NICU we had feeding tubes in his abdomen, and had to change dressings, etc...ugh. I was scared and still a little angry that he had to come home with tubes... but now 18months later, and baby #3 due any day...I CELEBRATE those days. God is good, and faithful. Praying for you.

Aaron, Katie, Kylie & Ava said...

What an answer to prayers! Even though we do not know each other, I couldn't be happier for your family. What a wonderful early Christmas present to finally be able to bring your beautiful daughter home.

Hannah D said...

I cannot even put it into words how thankful I am to God that you're coming home Catherine! Or how excited I am for your mommy & daddy, and for you too! Awesome. Just flippin' awesome. That's all I can think right now because I'm just so excited for ya'll and I love ya'll so much!

The Stitts said...

Always amazed by Him! What a Christmas this will be...

Blessings,
Beth Stitt

johnson said...

Katie, GOD is AMAZING!! I know you, your husband, and family are so excited to take this big step. My family and I have been praying for you since before Catherine's birth. Even my 5 year old prays for baby Catherine every night. Good luck with this new journey. God is with you!!!

Brooke Hammel said...

BLESS THE LORD! He loves you guys so much!!! He is SO FAITHFUL! YAY!

Mimi's Toes said...

Praise God! This is wonderful news and a Christmas Miracle that she is coming home. Erin has been keeping us informed. I will continue to pray for this beautiful little girl. Jesus loves the little children....

Writeaway said...

This is truly amazing - a miracle before our eyes. God is so faithful. He loves you guys and that precious Catherine! What a journey of faith this has been... and how encouraging to all of us who have prayed so much and believed. He has heard the cries of our hearts - particularly yours! - and answered.

Keep us posted and have a BLESSED Christmas season as we celebrate the birth of the King.... AND Catherine!

Chavonne said...

Congratulations! Also, she is so beautiful and big now! As always, you are all in our thoughts.

AtlantaMama said...

yea!!! We are so happy for yall!!