Paige Barnes

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~Both sets of our parents were able to be there to support us at different times. ~A visit from a facebook /twitter friend! ~Being able to stay at my husband's sister's home while they were out of town. ~A financial gift from a couple dear to us to help us with food and such during the week. ~Dear girlfriends who still had the baby shower originally scheduled on Sunday, even though we couldn't make it. We had sweet gifts to open when we finally got home! ~More dear friends who did some yard work at our house while we were away. ~A dear girlfriend who fed cats and got mail for us while we were gone. ~The nurse at Big Red's school who was a tremendous help in so many ways during the week. ~The countless phone calls, emails, twitter, and facebook posts and encouragement from so many. ~Visits from our pastors and wife and life group friends. ~A visit from my high school best friend! And she brought the best smelling lotion that I have used everyday since! ~Visits from swe...

Mommy finally at home with her babies! Kate in her going home outfit. A dress worn by her cousin and a vintage sweater and bonnet worn by all the girls in daddy's family. Mommy and her babies. They had to test Kate's carseat before we could get her ready to come home. After nine days in the NICU (with WONDERFUL doctors and nurses) we could come home! Praising our sweet Jesus for healing and allowing our family to all be together again. We are looking forward to the midnight feedings and dirty diapers!

Big brother holding little sister for the first time on her 1 week birthday in the NICU! On our 4th day in the NICU they told us that Kate would be moving to the other side which they called Progressive Care. It's like the NICU step-down unit. We were still a little concerned about her eating, but she was keeping her food down and so at this point of our journey we were making sure the food continued to stay down, she was peeing and pooping, and gaining weight. They were still monitoring all of her vital signs and such. She was still losing a little weight, which is normal for babies, and especially since they had not let her eat the first three days of her life. Her IV was out so she was not getting any supplementation. On Thursday, her 1 week birthday, we went in that morning expecting to take her home. But her bilirubin level had gone up and she was back under the blili-lights. We felt as if the wind had been sucked out of us. She would stay under the bili-lights for the nex...

Big Brother can't hold little sister, but he can kiss her! Mommy holding baby Kate in the NICU. Daddy feeding baby Kate, and hoping it will stay down! Kate stayed 4 days in the NICU side. They were constantly monitoring her heart rate, respirations, oxygen level, and temperature. On day two she went down for her tests for her bowels. We had been praying for poop as this would let us know that her bowels were functioning correctly. I even had one friend tell me "I have prayed for many things in my life, but this is my first poop prayer"! I was allowed to accompany the nurse and Kate to radiology, but had to wait in the waiting room during her test. I was told not only did she poop, but she pooped across the room on the radiologist. Yay for baby Kate! Prayers were answered. The neonatologist told us there was no evidence of the Hirschprung's Disease. She was also having trouble on the upper end of her gastrointestinal system - not keeping her food down. The doctor...

Big Brother with little sister before she is transferred to NICU at Huntsville Hospital. Kate just chillin' under the bili-lights. On Sunday, the day we should be taking our new baby home, we were told she would be transferred to the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) at the other hospital here in town. The hospital we delivered at was great, but their nursery was not able to care for her at this point in the journey. We were sent to the Regional NICU at Huntsville Hospital . We can't say enough about the stellar care that our daughter received from the nurses and doctors there. I was able to ride in the ambulance with her and when we arrived we got a crash course about life in the NICU. We were only allowed to see her at certain times and couldn't hold her or even touch her that first day. It was very hard. They had to put her under the bili-lights because her bilirubin level was too high. I was a ball of emotions. I mean, I had just had a baby, and now our sweet baby ...

Mommy holding baby Kate in the Special Care Nursery for the first time since the delivery room. Baby Kate and her little IV. Before this was all over she had an IV in three different places, bless her little heart! We were so proud to welcome our new baby Kate into the world. She started her journey in the nursery with some minor breathing problems because she was born about 4 weeks early. She was then moved to the Special Care Nursery because her abdomen became distended (swollen) and she was not keeping any of her food down. We were allowed to see her when we wanted to, but she wasn't able to come to our room. Big Brother was not allowed to see her except through the nursery window. He was so sad that he couldn't hold baby sister. He loves her so already! They put an IV in her and were not allowing her to eat. We were so worried about our little girl, so the prayers started going up! We knew God had our baby in His mighty hands so we prayed for healing. Now we would jus...

Kate Jillian Barnes October 1, 2009 @ 11:53pm 7 lbs and 18 inches

Big Brother waiting on little sister to be born! Hello, baby Kate! Thursday, October 1st began as any other day in the Barnes household. We were getting daddy ready for work and Big Red ready for school. I had reached the 36 week mark in my pregnancy on Tuesday of that week. Still a little early for baby to come. I noticed a few contractions that morning as I was helping Red to get ready, but since I've been trying not to have this baby for 6 weeks now, I didn't get too concerned. On the way to take the boy, I noticed I was still having them, so I called the hubbs and told him not to head into work just yet. I got back home and we began to time them. They were pretty regular and after a couple of hours, we knew that we should probably call the doctor. He, of course, wanted to see me in his office. We picked up Big Red from school and we were on our way. The doctor said I was definitely in labor so off to the hospital we went. We were excited, but very nervous as the do...

Big Red is enjoying an active soccer season this year. Mommy and Daddy are enjoying watching him. This year he is playing a lot more skillfully and purposefully and that's exciting to watch! While both sets of grandparents live a few hours away, they try to get down for a game as often as possible. Last night Granmama (Cole's mom) was able to come cheer Big Red on. She also brought him a surprise - a shirt that says "I'm the Big Brother". He was very excited as the countdown for Baby Kate's arrival has begun. My doctor said that at this point they would not try to stop the labor. I am still on bedrest because I have been so sick this pregnancy and my body is, in a sense, kind of beat up! But we are comforted to know that the doctor thinks she is ready to come at anytime and would be healthy and strong. Big Red is very excited, as are we, and the rest of the family. So we are taking in our last moments as a family of three, and preparing for the blessedn...

The wonderful ladies of our church threw us a shower this past Sunday. I was having a rough day, and was convinced I would go into labor before the day was out. My mom was too. She sat very close to me at the shower and kept looking at me with "that" look. :) But, baby Kate is still cooking and we got some sweet things at the shower. Thanks to all of you for the sweet party and wonderful gifts. Hugs and blessings! ~Paige

So since my last post a few things have happened. I was working my normal, insanely busy 12 hours in the ER and just so happened to go into pre-term labor. Called the hubbs, who came to pick me up, and we made our way to the hospital where my OB practices (This just happens to be at a different hospital than where I work). Turns out, I have already started dilating and my body was gearing up for labor. Not good at 30 weeks. So, they gave me all sorts of lovely medications to stop the labor, as well as steroids to help the baby grow, should I go ahead and have her. Thankfully, we were able to stop labor, and I was able to go home. But, now I am on bedrest until baby Kate comes. I still have 8 weeks until my due date. That's a long time. So, I am trying to my best to be a good patient. Nurses make the worst patients, sometimes. My husband and son have been fabulous to help out, and I am trying to make the most of my time on bedrest. Mostly working on youth stuff for our ch...

Visit the site of a friend today and wish her well on the recent birth of her baby. Born during the recent typhoons in Asia. Ladies, can you even imagine? But this friend, she is strong! And God is good! Click the icon to go to her site.

I've been so sick this pregnancy that I haven't even taken belly photos. We took tons with the boy. Anyway, the hubbs snapped this one today as I was on my way to my 29 week OB visit. If you look closely, you will notice the smile is forced, as I felt really bad. We will probably induce a week early according to my OB, so that means only 10 weeks to go until we meet baby Kate! Paige

Picking out bedding for a little girl has been so hard! I have found tons that I like. From over-the-top, to custom bedding, to vintage looking, to everything in between. I wanted girly , but not overly pink. I wanted something a little different. And I really wanted something done more classic than over the top. So, after changing my mind a gazillion times, I think we've finally settled on something. We will probably paint the walls a blush pink color. Not too pink, but just a hint of pink. Now I just have to accessorize the room. So much to do! Paige