Tuesday update...The boys are home!!!!!

Sorry about yesterday's post getting messed up...fixed now!!!

First, Richard & I survived our first night at home! Not much sleep, but so glad to be home! It just takes getting in the groove again...it will come!

This morning we went to the hospital to get her bilirubin level tested...Got results this afternoon....down to 13.4!!! Yeah! So after aggressively nursing & using bilibed last nite, it worked. She looks even better today! We go to the dr. tomorrow to check weight, etc.

Mom came & stayed with me all day...I even got to take 2 naps! :) It's amazing what 1.5 hours of sleep will do!

During lunch, Katie got her first ride in her swing! She loved it!

After much anticipation, the boys came home tonite. Grandmama & Grandad brought dinner to us as well and delivered the boys! I am so glad they are home, but it will be a transition! New life to get used to...they sure do love their sis though! They could hardly contain themselves to get their hands on her (after using hand sanitizer of course)....

Watching out the window....

Grandmama even got a brief turn...

It is so great to have all 3 of my kids here at home. The boys are so sweet with her...here are a few of those moments:

After dinner, Beth & kids came up so we could order uniforms for school. Hayley had to have her turn & was making faces with Katie Jane....

Kinsey discovered the M&M costume...what a hoot!



Good day and so glad to have my whole family under one roof.

God is good!


Mandy

Coming Home!

After much waiting, we got to come home! Her bilirubin score this AM was 15.2! So it had gone down again. Her weight had maintained at 7"14", so Dr. Pat let us come home. But we had to get the bili-bed for home and keep her on it as much as possible.




Richard was supposed to work today, but got a surprise email from his boss that he didn't have to come in! YEAH! So glad that he was able to be there to bring her home with me! Who says this girl doesn't already have her daddy wrapped around his finger!?!?

This is her first dress...a Ralph Lauren with teddy bears! Very sweet! She looked adorable!
Especially after being in just a diaper for past 24 hours plus...

Mandy & Katie...what a pair! I LOVE having a little girl!

During ride home, her head flopped to side...surprise, surprise...love this car seat too...present from Richard's parents. THANKS!

Once we got home, it was back to the bili-bed. Doesn't she look like a little alien baby?!?! So funny...


We have to return to the hospital tomorrow morning to have Katie Jane's blood drawn for another bilirubin test. We are praying so hard that it will be below the doctor's goal of 12 and that she won't have to be on the bed anymore, but can have "normal" life at home!

The boys return home tomorrow...they are still in Loganville...getting good grandparent time in before school starts...they have been swimming, watching TV, riding bikes, etc. so I don't think they miss us at all! Just kidding...my house is empty without them!

Thanks for checking in! Lots of love, Mandy for the Seiglers...

Sunday...

Well, since we thought we were going home Sunday, we got to have our "steak dinner"...though mine was pasta & Richard's was salmon. It is a St. Mary's tradition to give a nice dinner to the new parents...so we shared a sort of peaceful lunch between Katie's cries on the bili-bed and the boys in & out from lunch downstairs with Pop.

Richard's dad came and got the boys later in the afternoon. Upon their exit, our friends Carl and Karen came from Cumming. Karen & I were in grad school together. Kirsten is their 3 month old baby girl & we expect Katie and Kirsten to be good friends too!

PRAY FOR CARL...he is having valve-replacement surgery this week!! Yes, that means open heart surgery! It is a scary time, so pray for peace & that all will go well!

Here is me, Katie & Karen.

Results...

Her bilirubin level has gone down...to 15.5 & she has maintained her weight today...so it looks like we will go home tomorrow! YEAH!

Thanks for your prayers...

Mandy

Saturday & Sunday Update/PRAYER REQUEST

More brother time...this time with her eyes open! Two happy boys to hold their sis!

Tommy held her and sang "Rockabye Baby" to her. He then proceeded to tell her that she wouldn't really fall & that she wasn't really in a cradle because he was holding her and even if she did fall, it'd only be one inch.

Life talks with Pop Pop's Princess....


PRAYER REQUST FOR SUNDAY AM....

Yesterday AM the pediatrician on call for our pediatrician came to see KJ & was semi-concerned because her weight had dropped to 7'14" and she had some jaundice. Her bilirubin level was 11.7 which is the high end of normal, so he wanted me to nurse her aggressively which I did. This morning her level was 17, which is worse than yesterday. So she is in phototherapy (which is probably what one needs after having too many pictures taken--just kidding)...see below... there is a special bilirubin light in her bed which she has to stay in all day except to nurse.

Here's your medical lesson of the day: Babies have extra red blood cells for birthing process and as part of post-partum, their bodies break down the cells & the by-product is called bilirubin. So with a higher level, there is cause for concern that the liver is not 100% efficient...

SO, please pray that by 6:00 tonight her levels will be better! They are re-testing her then.

I am GREAT! I really do feel good...of course, still on pain meds, so that helps! I am sad not to go home today, but happy to have one more day to be pampered! :)

It is amazing to have such a super little girl! She is AWESOME!



Thanks for all your love & prayers,
Mandy

Beth came in wanting to know why there was not a picture of her and her mother on the blog, so...

(Just kidding. We love you Beth.)

And so I'm not leaving anyone out, here is James too. ;)

FRIDAY VISITORS

Hayley came with Nana to babysit Friday morning. She was very happy to sit & hold Katie Jane for a while. Richard & Pop were busy at home getting the Princess Room ready for the princess...much cleaning, laundry, assembly to get it all JUST right. Mandy's friend Diane came & cleaned endlessly too! THANK YOU!!

We had many visitors today!! Thanks to you who came to see us & meet Katie! You made our day special! We got all kinds of flowers and gifts. THANK YOU!!

Both brothers were so happy to come back & hold their sis!

Here is a cool picture of Richard, his dad & boys and THE PRINCESS Katie Jane.

Grandmama got her turn too.

Tommy had to have cuddle time with Mommy and Katie. He is excited to be the "Middle Man".

Katie Jane's full name is Katherine Jane. Here is who she is named after...my mom's 1st cousin Kate Holland Martin. Kate's dad was my grandmother's brother. Jane is my grandmother's middle name (& mine & my mom's). So this was such a special moment for Kate to see Katie!

Meet the brothers

Tyler and Tommy got to hold their little sister for the first time. They were so excited! When the other brother was holding her, the brother that wasn't would poke his bottom lip out until he got her again.

Katie's Birthday

Getting ready to leave the house. Everyone is excited!

Mandy and Richard in the room before delivery.

Mandy holds Katie for the first time.

First family photo.

Katie was born today at 1:17 pm. She was 8 lbs. and 8.8 oz., 21 1/4 inches long.

D Day

Delivery, that is...

Bags all packed....

Getting boys cleaned up then it's my turn...

I am SO READY to have this baby girl!

Hard to believe in just 6 short hours (but LONG) I will be holding her...

Much more to come later...promise to post pictures ASAP!!

Thanks for all your love & prayers!
Mandy

Two more days....

AND COUNTING...

Still can't sleep, but I guess that is just preparation for what's to come....

But maybe, just maybe, I'll be so lucky as to get a baby that likes to sleep at night unlike her 2 brothers!

It is so surreal that in 2 days I will have a baby girl! It is exciting, while very strange at the same time.

I had pre-op at the hospital today (yesterday...this is written Tuesday 2:00 AM). I was visualizing that in 2 days my family & friends will fill the waiting area while I am back behind the closed doors having surgery...it is still hard to think about that while the last time I had a c-section it ended with no baby to hold (well, I did hold him, but just his little body). It brings back the grief & loss all over.

Yet God is so good and faithful to His word. While I was in the hospital recovering last time, He gave me a vision of a little girl that I knew would be mine--with black curly hair. So, in His time, I knew she would come. His timing is NOT ours, but perfect nonetheless!!

The other day I looked up the meaning of the name we have chosen for her...

Katherine is derived from Gr. word for "Pure" and Jane is feminine version of John in Hebrew which means "God is gracious". Tell me this is not from God.

Pure is what we are in the blood of Jesus & only His blood can make us clean. I certainly am NOT perfect, but God sees me that way in Him. God has dealt with me on my desire to be perfect in things I do...He has shown me that I don't have to be perfect...just following and trusting Him.

God's mercy is something I have also been looking at via the fruit of the Spirit (I am sort of writing a Bible study on that). It is His Mercy that leads us to His love and peace and joy! In Him ALONE do I have the strength to make it! We sang a song Sunday at church that speaks of Him being a strong tower. THAT IS HOW I have made it through these past 4 years + and will make in raising another child. He wants to be who we run to...not just in time of need but to be our everything!

So it is in that strength that I move forward these next couple of days...it is SO amazing that I have an amazing little girl inside of me and can't wait for her to be on the outside!! My prayer for her is that she will be a mighty woman of God. I know God already knows her and has her life planned. I pray that she will know God too and follow His plan for her. I also pray this for my boys all the time!

Tomorrow (oops...today Tuesday) is my last dr's apointment then Mom & I are running a few last errands to pick up the last of the must haves before KJ comes. Tomorrow nite I have my last NST at hospital, but I anticipate that all will be fine! Wed is a pamper day...have a massage, then mani, then pedi...also have to pack for hospital. Thursday have to be at hospital by 11:00 with surgery set for 1:00...

Richard's parents are taking the boys for the day Tuesday! What a joy for them & a blessing for me! :)

Thanks for all your prayers and support!! Mandy

KJ Update

Well, had an ultrasound today (Monday...this is written early Tuesday AM) & ALL BETS ARE OFF!

According to her measurements, she is 8 pounds today!

So, re-post your guess about her birth weight!

All else looks good...she has definitely (duh, you can tell by looking at me) gotten bigger & is running out of room! She is pretty much all balled up...no good face shot today on the u/s...she was facing my back...about all could see was her back & barely the top of her head...did see a leg...no fun pictures!

No dainty little girl either....she's now having a party inside as I type this at 4:41 AM! Still can't sleep...

Mandy

Weekend Update: Tennis, Surprise Party & More!`

Well, it's been a few days since I updated...been busy can't you tell?!? And now I can't sleep, so I am catching up at 4 AM!!!

Tommy was at tennis camp last week. His favorite thing he learned was a little poem to help with his serve: down together, up together, hit, follow through to your shoelace.

Here are some pictures to demonstrate:

He thoroughly enjoyed tennis camp & is really getting good at it! This week he has basketball camp at Athens 1st UMC...that's his first love though!

Another highlight of my week last week was a special graduation lunch/baby shower on Wednesday with the PALS class I have been teaching since January. There were 5 graduates & 4 of them got to come to lunch at RED LOBSTER! We gave them each a certificate showing their completing the computer basics & life skills that I taught them! It has been SUCH A BLESSING to teach these ladies, whom I now consider my friends! God has done SO MUCH in each of them & it has been AWESOME to see!! It is hard to leave & turn them over to another teacher, but they are in good hands! Here is the group shot from our lunch:

Front row: Students Diane, Felicia & Elaine

Back row: Evan Brown (volunteer), Doris Aldrich (WTTW pres), Mary (student), Sue (volunteer), ME and Fran Brown (volunteer).



We had a great lunch & special time. For dessert, the student who couldn't be there had a cake made by her niece...so cute & it was DELICIOUS!!! Here is a picture of me (duh), but it doesn't do justice for the size of my tummy! :)

Friday I spent all day at the Scrapbook Expo in Gwinnett County & had a BLAST! I got there at 10:00 AM & left at 11:30 PM!! So, needless to say, I was WIPED! I got some funny looks and countless comments about baby like "When is that baby due?!?!?". I heard several women's life stories as they asked about the baby...always fun....NOT!

No pictures, sorry....

Saturday was a very RESTFUL day...I did NOTHING! We went Saturday nite to have dinner with Richard's parents to celebrate their 40th Anniversary! Now that is quite an accomplishment! They thought it was just us taking them to dinner, but, little did they know, we'd planned a surprise party! Martha Sue's two sisters & husbands drove up from S. GA/FL. John's brother & his wife was there. Plus Martha Sue's girlfriends (GNOMES, as they call themselves...Girls Night Out Men Excluded) and their husbands were there. They were absolutely flabbergasted! I am so glad that we got to surprise them!!! and make this weekend special as they celebrated 40 years together! WOW!

Well, that's it for now....

More later...

THANKS FOR CHECKING IN!

Mandy