Welcome Lindsay

August 29th -- Welcome, Lindsay Anne. We are glad you are here! You've followed in the rare elusive footsteps of your sisters and come well before your due date (Oct 31). We are so happy to have you with us though, we don't mind too much. Right now you are in the NICU at a hopsital that is about 30 minutes away from the family. Daddy has been really sick too. Mommy's water broke while we were in the ER trying to see what was wrong with Daddy. Apparently, you thought that was too much attention for him. :) Daddy is getting a little better, but he has diverticulitis and is in a lot of pain. He has not come to visit you that much because he cannot be too active or ride in the car too long. He misses you. Mommy comes to see you almost every day. She's missed a couple of days here and there while taking care of big sister Laney. She didn't like missing you, but knows you are well cared for in the NICU.

Yesterday you were three weeks old. We've been so happy because you've been doing so well, but this last day or two has been really hard. You have an infection in your blood and it's been hard on your little body. Your stomach is very swollen and bloated, you've had to stop your feedings (you did not like this one bit!), and you've had several more "spells" than you were having. It has been worrying mommy quite a bit cause she does not like to see you sick when you are already so little, fighting so much. Yesterday, they performed a spinal tap on you to determine if you have a condition called meningitis. We'll find out in several days if that is so, but we don't know yet. We're hopeful you merely have an infection and that several days of antibotics will clear it up and you can get back to eating and sleeping normally. Before all this happened, you had gained a pound and were doing so well they were about to put you in a crib. I guess this is your way of telling us all to slow down and wait until you are ready. That's okay, we'll wait until you're ready. We're so happy to have you here with us, it's okay, we'll wait. Right now, mommy is still coming to visit you every day and gets to hold you for about an hour at a time. This is her favorite because she knows you can hear her, see her and smell her. You know she is there with you and it helps you be not so lonely.

For now, the rest of the family is keeping you in their prayers and will continue to do so. If the veil is still thin where you are, could you say hello to your big sister Taylor Anne and tell her Mommy and Daddy and Laney say hello and that we miss her too? We love you, baby girl and can't wait until you come home to be with us!

Love,

Mommy and Daddy and Laney