And still more

So my friends took great care of me and Emma and we made our way home after a few bumps in the road. Like Emma getting jaundice in the hospital (usually doesn't happen that fast) and needing to be put under lights. She looked so much like a super hero with her mask on.

After getting home from the hospital and a few cardiology visits due to a heart murmur, we received the news on October 16th from our friend that Emma in fact had Down syndrome. I will tell you that I held out hope that she did not and I must say that you could have knocked me over when he said those words. I was so not expecting them. I thought all was well. She did not have classic features. Just a few that seemed very mild. But that is what he said. I cried and cried. I blamed myself. I did not want to do this to our daughter. To cause her life to be hard.

I know it has been awhile.... but here is the rest of the story

(I want you all to know that I don't know why but my pictures only show up at the beginning of the post and I can't seem to fix it, I am working on it)

Well I know I said that I would post throughout the last few weeks. But life got the better of me but here I am and I am going to write my heart.

I can tell you that two years ago I was awaiting the delivery of our 5th baby. WOW fifth baby! Still hard to say. Needless to say, Kevin and I were very shocked to find out that we were having a baby in our 40's. But God is in control and so we embraced it gladly. And then to find out that we were expecting our second girl well to say that we were excited is an understatement. I was a little nervous but had all the tests and all looked good. I was a gestational diabetic so I was on insulin but other than that all was good. I did not enjoy the 4 shots a day however.

On the day of Emma's birth, October 12, 2006, we went to the hospital with our oldest daughter, Samantha, to be induced due to the diabetes. The course of induction and labor went well, at least from my standpoint. From my nurses standpoint, my friend Aimee, little difficult with heart tones but still we had a healthy baby girl at 18:07. We had a friend there to check her out who is a pediatrician and he liked what he saw. No problem, sugar issues but from what I could tell all looked well. And then I saw some murmuring from the nurses and could see it in the faces of my friends that they seemed concerned. Baby was pink, screaming, hey that is what I look for when delivering a baby so not sure what the concern was all about. And the I pryed it out of Aimee that there was some concern that Emma was showing some signs of Down Syndrome. Shannon, one of the nurses and a friend, noticed something. Well I was nervous but I was not convinced and one of the neonatologist was not as well. Blood tests were run.

More to come

I can't believe it has almost been two years

Well over the next few weeks I am going to put in words how much the last two years have mean't to me and my family. Lots of things have happened. The birth of another daugther (which is really why I will doing this post) the marriage of another, moving away of said daughter to Virginia. etc etc. As we prepare for Emma's second birthday I wanted to share in pictures and words how this time has changed our family. So stay tuned. You will also see some of my favorite pictures from the last two years as well. (I miss you JoAnne)

this picture is from one of my baby showers. So fun.

Redo

Well here are pictures of our bedroom redo. We painted the walls a soft blue and then purchased a new bed. Actually it is the exact bed that Sam and BJ own. I loved it so much I had to have one. What a deal at J&K Furniture. Then I surrounded Kevin and I with the things we love. Our children! My friend Tamara found the old house windows for me in Williams last year and we put pictures of our kids in the panes. I love it. My life saying is "There is Joy in the Journey" so had it made in vinyl letters and put it on the wall. There is so more to do but we are getting close to our bedroom being the calm place I have always wanted it to be.

Tears in my eyes

I was so excited to hear the speech that Sarah Palin gave last night. And after I watched it I had tears in my eyes and was so glad I spent the 40 minutes to listen and to get to know this lady.

As you can imagine, I have heard alot about this lady but I had to decide for myself. I LOVE HER!!!! She is sassy. And if you know me, I can be sassy but not only that I have a daughter that is pretty sassy (I know sam you got it from me) and one that is proving to become a sassy little girl.

I like her politics. There are a few issues that are near to my heart and it looks as if Sarah Palin and I are kindred spirits when it comes to those issues.

Her beautiful family made me smile. When her young daughter was licking her hand and fixing her little brothers hair. So cute! I know the boyfriend/fiance that was there to support the daughter. And the most beautiful thing of all her sweet little son.

Quoted from Sarah Palin's speech, September 3, 2008, accepting the republican vice presidential nomination. "And in April, my husband Todd and I welcomed our littlest one into the world, a perfectly beautiful baby boy named Trig. From the inside, no family ever seems typical. That's how it is with us. Our family has the same ups and downs as any other ... the same challenges and the same joys. Sometimes even the greatest joys bring challenge. And children with special needs inspire a special love. To the families of special-needs children all across this country, I have a message: For years, you sought to make America a more welcoming place for your sons and daughters. I pledge to you that if we are elected, you will have a friend and advocate in the White House."

I cried last night and I am crying again. Can you see why I would love to have this woman as part of adminstration that will be running this country. I know there are people that don't agree with me and that is ok. We are Americans and we have the opportunity to vote and I highly recommend that you do. But this post is not about your politics this is a post from a mommy who has a "perfectly beautiful" daughter who is thrilled that there might be a woman in office that understands.

Thanks for listening

Tattoo!!!

Well here it is! Chris wanted a tattoo and after a year of waiting and thinking on it and researching he decided to go ahead with it. At least it makes a statement. My question is couldn't you have just bought a cross necklace!! Ah, 19 year olds.

Piggies! these are for my sissy but you all can look!