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The First Year

Birthday Girl!
Here we are, the eve of Joelle Fern's first birthday and I can't figure out where this first year has gone.  Seems like it was just yesterday that I was in the hospital waiting to see if my 24hr protein levels were fine and I was going home or if I was staying in the hospital longer.  I had even told Bob not to worry about bringing a bag with him when he came back to the hospital because I was sure they would be sending me home.  Instead they came in the room and said, ya your levels aren't good, we're going to start inducing you.  Bob quickly went to the mall to find some "comfy" clothes - not an easy task for a 6' 6" guy... I remember thinking this could take awhile and hoping that was true because part of me really didn't want a baby born on the 13th of the month... silly I know.  At 12:01 AM on March 14th I remember Bob saying, well you made it to the 14th, baby can arrive any time now!

It was a very long night and I am so thankful for the phone calls that helped distract me during the time of, "you have to lay on your back for 45 minutes".  After 3 doses with little progress I was sure we were going to be here awhile.  They gave me a breather to sleep and held off on the 4th dose until 5 AM on March 14th.  Things happened very quickly from that point, beyond comprehension in fact.  And thank goodness for some amazing nurses who did everything they could to get a doctor, any doctor in to our room.  And a huge thank you to the random doctor who happened to be checking on a different patient for answering the page and walking in just in time (in her Sunday church clothes no less) to deliver Joelle with one push shortly after 9 AM.  The doctor in charge of my care arrived about 10 minutes later (I think)...  We were shocked to hear - It's a girl! And our girl name was the one I had started teetering on, but after seeing her we knew that Joelle Fern it was.  Joelle is a name we both really liked and it has some deeper meanings too and Fern after my Grandma (Vonda Fern Hedlund) - the name couldn't be a better fit.

Birthday Cupcake - Just for me!
Joelle's first days were spent in the NIC Nursery and it seemed like forever before we got to hold her.  She was absolutely beautiful and such a blessing.  She reminds us every day to remember every little blessing and that leaving things in God's hands is sometimes the only thing you can do. 

And now that little peanut is quite the character and a little eating machine.  She put away her first birthday cupcake in no time at all!  We enjoyed every minute of it and so appreciate all the family who were able to join us in celebrating her first year with us.  Let the toddler stage begin!

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