Day One

We are so grateful for Brooklyn's safe arrival.  She was born this morning, December 10, 2013, at 11:23 am.  She weighed 8 lbs. 11.5 oz and was 20.5" long.  It was such a relief to see her in person and to hear her make some initial crying noises.  I'm not sure why crying ever becomes a bother when it begins as such a welcomed and sought after sound with a new child.

Another welcomed site was her sweet head.  Given our concerns about hydrocephalus, I guess I was expecting it to be even larger than it is.  She just looks so beautiful - several people have agreed she looks like Collin.  I thought right away that she looked like our children and it was just so nice to have her born and not have too many concerns during her first hours of life.

The only treatment she is receiving is some breathing assistance, which does not sound uncommon for a C-Section baby.  Brooklyn came to us a bit early (just over 36 weeks), but she appears to be getting stronger with her breathing over time.

The nurses have been excellent here.  They have served us so well from the time we arrived, through Jenny's operation, and in the NICU, we just couldn't be happier with the care we have received, particularly the care given to our little baby.  It really takes a special soul to be a nurse and I'm grateful at this time for so many dedicated professionals who bless so many lives.

We've also been grateful for the support of family and friends.  Our sister-in-law Alison and Jenny's brother Steve and his wife Barbie spent the first few hours with us, keeping us company, loving Brooklyn, and supporting Jenny.  I looked at Jenny's phone just a bit ago and she had 15 more texts to read through.  We've received so many thoughtful notes, phone calls, and words of encouragement that we could not feel more supported.

I want to thank everyone who has been thinking of us, praying for us, fasting for us, and supporting us over these past few months.  We know your prayers have been heard and we have felt so much support and comfort during this time and we'll never be able to thank you all enough.

Most importantly, Brooklyn appears to be doing well.  The doctors feel they can take time to evaluate her case before acting and we are confident they will make the right decision regarding her treatment.  Her MRI is scheduled for tomorrow at 3:30 pm.  We'll be excited to hear what they recommend after evaluating the results.

Thanks again for all of your support!