My jumbled thoughts on this special day...

Eight years ago, on this very day, at 7:30pm, I gave birth to my first born monkey...
I became an official Mommy...


My water broke at 1:30am, 4 weeks before she was supposed to join us! It took me by complete surprise. As the matter of fact, I thought for a second that I peed my pants. But quickly realized that wasn't the case since I had just gone potty two seconds before. Chris was down stairs on the couch, fast asleep, in front of the TV.
I called down, "Chris"
He said, "yeah?"
I replied, "My water broke."
He FLEW up the stairs! I don't think his feet even touched the ground.
He said, "Are you sure? Maybe you peed your pants."


I packed a bag. Chris finished the nursery. I showered. Chris showered. I tried to sleep but the contractions were coming on very fast. Off to the hospital we went. We called Nana. She came. I labored ALL DAY! I hated the Nubane. I LOVED the Epidural.

Finally at 7:30pm my first baby girl was born and placed on my chest. She had already captured my heart and was now laying on it.
Only for a minute though. I said, "Is her breathing ok?" The nurse said, "I better take her over the warmer."
I called over to Chris who was by her side and said, "What's her name? She doesn't have a name!" Chris said, "She looks like a Katelyn Irene."
A few moments later they came over to let me know that she was having a hard time breathing so they were taking her to the NICU.
I was scared. Chris went with her. He came back a while later to tell me she weighed in at 8lbs 1ounce and is 20inches long. I didn't believe it, she was a month early, I told him to go check again. He did, he was right, she was a BIG preemie. They brought me a Polaroid picture of my new baby. I was full of LOVE for her!
She had fluid in her lungs but was doing well. She didn't need too much intervention but they wanted to keep a close eye on her. She spent the night in the NICU. She didn't know how to suck and was spoon fed formula.
She joined me in my room the next day and I held her close constantly. I LOVED her already!

Katelyn is already 8 years old. She is one of the most amazing, smart, kind, sweet, loving, helpful, empathetic, and terrific children I have ever met.

She is thoughtful and kind beyond her years. She has welcomed 1 sister and 2 brothers into the family and is the BEST big sister there is.

I am so proud, so blessed, so lucky, so thrilled that this little girl is my daughter.

That SHE made me a MOM, eight years ago today.

Happy Birthday Katelyn!!!