Happy Birthday Buddy!

An unexpected delivery

This sweet little baby girl decided to surprise us a week early. We were schedualed for a c section Friday, Nov 4th at 9:30 am. Charlie Jessie Moultrie was born at 4:44 pm Sat, Oct 29th. We were in Salt Lake helping Stace move some of her stuff into her new house when my contractions started. I should say they started the night before at Truck or Treat, but I just thought they were "done too much that day" pains. We went to Sams Club to kill a little time before we met Stace, and to buy Truman a new bed. My mom, Jared, Graham and I started shopping when I had a really bad pain(contraction). I tried to shake it off, and we kept walking. Within the next few minutes I had two more, one that made me sit down on the stairs and one that made an employee there want to use the code for "lady in labor". I really didn't think I was in labor, but my mom and Jared made me nervous enough that we left Graham with Grandma Vickie and headed to the hospital.

My contractions started to calm down, so we stopped at the house to grab a few things. I had no back packed, or anything ready. We threw a few things in a bag, and headed to Ogden Regional. We checked in, and then waited/tracked contractions for the next few hours. My contractions had calmed down quite a bit at this point, and they were having a hard time tracking them. Once we were there, we wanted to have her right then..and then as it went on I started to want to go home. I started to think we would be waiting another week, but the contractions were still there, and so the doc was called.

My whole labor/c section experience wasn't the best last time, so I had prepared myself for the worst. It ended up being SOO much better than the first time. The spinal was much better than the epideral, and everything seemed much smoother. Calvin, the anethesiologist(sp?) was great! He talked me through everything, and really made everything so much better. Jared and Calvin gave me a blessing right before we went into surgery. There are no bad blessings, but this one I truely felt manefested so strongly. Several times throughout the surgery and hospital stay I could feel the calmness of the spirit from that blessing and gained strength from it. It almost felt as if Heavenly Father was saying, Ill take care of things now. It was very special, and I'm so grateful for my wonderful, worthy husband.

Surgery is surgery. Weird, nerve racking, not fun. It took a little while longer than with Graham, and pretty quickly I knew everything was not 100 percent ok with Charlie. They showed her to me for two seconds, and then she went back with the nurses. I kept asking if everything was ok, and people was suffice me and say, "they are working on it". Kathy told me that she was having a little hard time breathing. Jared was trying to make me feel ok, but I could tell from his face that he was worried too. So I'm laying there on the table waiting for this sweet moment with my husband and new baby girl, and it never came. They told me she was going to the NICU to get some help. Jared went with her. I was wheeled to my room, and was alone for the next little bit. Graham and my mom came soon after. I remember feeling worried, confused, and just wanting to know what was going on. Jared was in and out for the next four hours. The next few hours were not the funnest.

Charlie's lungs weren't quite developed yet, and she had a small hole in one of her lungs. The doctor explained that when she took a deep breath, because her lungs werent quite ready, the deep breath created a small hole. It kinda "popped" is how it made sense in my head. She was struggling to breath, but could be seen. She had quite a few visitors that evening. I still hadn't been able to see her. I needed to get the feeling back in my legs, and had to be able to wheel to the NICU. Each time I would try to get up to go see her, I would puke. It was so frustrating. Finally around 3am I got to officially meet her. I was so excited. She had been improving they told me. She had several wires attached to her. I think that was the hardest part..seeing her all hooked up to monitors and the oxegen. She looked so little, fragile, and pretty. It was hard not holding her, but I was grateful to finally see her.

The next couple of days were strange. I felt so much better than with Graham, but we had no baby with us. The second day was the worse for me, I was in a lot of pain, but was/am so glad I didn't have to take those crazy pain meds..they make me crazy. Again, I feel that the blessing Jared had given me helped me through the pain. We spent those days wheeling down to see Charlie, and to feed her. We were so hopeful that we would be able to take her home with us, but it didn't happen. She needed to be off oxegen for x number of hours, and she was having a hard time with this. I was missing Graham so much by day three, that we decided to go home. The closer it got to leaving without her, the worse it got. We just kept thinking that we were going home to be with Graham for his birthday. It helped a little. As the days went on and Charlie got stronger, we were able to hold her, and feed her, and even dress her the last day.

Wednesday was Graham's birthday, and we had quite the day. Charlie again, couldnt' come home with us, which really was a blow because we were sure she would be able to. KC came into town, and I think Graham had a great birthday. We tried to make it that way anyway:)

(one of our favorite nurses, Elise)

The next two days were nerve racking. We kept praying that she would be strong enough to get off the oxegen and be able to come home. Finally on Thursday afternoon she was cleared! It was so exciting going to pick her up. The nurses in the NICU were so great to her, and us. It was so relieving leaving with a healthy baby girl.

Halloween 2011

We managed to get ourselves together enough to get dressed up, and had a great trunk or treat the Friday before Halloween. We have had Grahams costume for over a month. We saw it, and I had to have it. He hasn't been too fond of it, and we had been worried that he wouldn't wear it. We bribed him, and he kept it on all night! He was so cute, and oh so polite while trunk or treating. He would say, "trick or treat", wait, and then say, "thank you". He did such a good job. I waddled along after Jared and him, and was probably the only person who wasn't cold:) Toward the end of the night, I started to feel some tightness and pain in my belly. I thought I had just walked too much, no big deal. We came home, had some pizza, talked about how cute Graham was, and went to bed.

These other Halloween pictures are from Grandma Marge's party. Graham was a little overwhelmed at her house filled with crazy, dressed up people. He kept hiding and saying, "too tired" when someone would try to talk to him or take his picture. Jared and I could not attend because we were in the hospital with our new baby girl!! Surprise!

Things are about to change.

We are one week away from the arrival of new baby Charlie. It is soooo exciting and we are soooo ready. I have worried and wondered about how the integration would go with Graham since we first found out that we were pregnant. Tonight, as I laid with him in bed, I felt a little, a little sad I guess to be honest. Not sad in a bad way, just sad in a never be just you and me way. Of course we are having Charlie to make Graham's life better. No one wants to be an only child:) He has been the sweetest little boy the last month or so. He has been giving us extra hugs, and snuggling longer. Maybe its in my head, but I know he knows something is going on, somethings are about to change. He knows Charlie is in my belly, and where Sissy's room is. He will see her clothes and say, "oh thats cute mama". He covers me up with a blanket and tells me to lay on the couch or pillow. He is a very good tender. He gets up in the middle of the night lately I think just to lay with his dada whom he loves so much. They are best friends. I'm so grateful that they have each other.

I just love him so much, and hope this adjustment goes ok for him. I hope he doesn't miss his mama, or think that he isn't our world, because he is..he always will be. We will just add another person to all of our worlds.

Ok, I'm getting too emotional just thinking about everything, so I'm going to stop now. Its an unbelievable thing the love you can have for your child. I am so blessed to be your mom Graham, and I will do anything and everything I can to be my best for you. Hang in there these next couple of weeks, everything will be alright.

Charlie's Baby Shower

I really do believe that we live in the greatest neighborhood. Our whole street is mostly full of younger couples, such as ourselves with a few kids. We all have a lot in common, and I love getting together with all of them. Its funny how quickly they have become such great friends. I truely feel like we could rely on them for anything we needed. Last week Tiffany and Beth threw a baby shower for Charlie. I told Tiffany numerous times that is wasn't necessary, and no fuss was needed. She insisted, and it was so much fun! It made me really excited for this little girl arriving in less than three weeks! She was completely spoiled, and got SO many cute things! I didn't take my camera, so I stole these shots from my mama. She and Kate, Grandma Marge, and Pam made it down as well. Beth made the most delicious cupcakes, seriously! Sorry Sweet Tooth Fairy, I'd rather have one of Beth's:) The theme was Cute as a Cupcake, and it was so nice to be out with some of the girls. Thanks everyone for your help and for coming!

The joke(or reality) is that I live in basketball shorts and t-shirts for the entrie 9 months. When I was prego with Graham I think we bought 5 maternity items. I wore three of them to the shower. Everyone was shocked! Even Graham said, "oooh nice mama". Too Funny. Also, whenver I have my hair done, he calls me Katie. Yes, I will be getting dressed and ready a little more often very soon:)

Grandma Vickie made the cutest bird blanket, and owl onsies..all by herself, very crafty!! It will be a change dressing her in pink and dresses as opposed to warm ups and jordan gear. I'm sure she will still get her share of Nike. Its finally starting to feel quite real that there will be a little baby girl here very soon. We can't wait to meet you Charlie!

Halloweenie Roast

We headed up to Paradise while Jared headed to Idaho Falls for a few days. Grandma Marge and Grandma Vickie wanted to take the kids to the annual Halloweenie Roast. This was quite impressive I must say. It gets bigger and better every year. This was my first time attending. Graham LOVED it!! He kept talking about the pumkin train over and over. It is organized and put on for two weeks in October, and is completely free to anyone who wants to come. They have a little village, and two tractor rides, and you can roast hot dogs if you want.

After our fun time there, we headed to Grandma Vickies for her party. She had orange soda, chips, bbq, and donuts. Graham loves playing with River and Autumn. It was a really fun night, and a good way to get up in the Halloween spirit!

Although, Graham did wake up in the middle of the night crying saying, "spider". Hope he forgets about that tonight:)

My Grandma Marge

I took this picture a month or two ago when Grandma Marge came down for a visit. We went to Bed Bath and Beyond, and Graham was her cart pusher. He is a "BIG" help in stores, or exhausting..one of the two. Grandma always makes you feel like you are her favorite, and this is no diffferent with Graham. She still calls him "baby Graham" and comes up to visit whenever we do. Graham loves her, and will hold still for at least a minute to give her a sqeeze. He always wants to honk as we drive past her house, saying "Marge! Marge!" and has recently added the Grandma on to Marge when he says her name. He wants to ride on her 4 wheeler, and see the kitties at her house. Grandma is always telling me to relax, and let him be. "He can't hurt one thing" is something I always here when we are at her house. She thinks I fuss over him too much I'm sure:) When I was sick and pregnant with Graham, she would call to check on me often. I wonder sometimes if having to go through so much to get him here, made him extra special to her. She means so much to me, and I hope Graham knows how blessed he is to have such a special Great Grandma. Love you Grandma Marge.