Kate and Carey + 1!

First off, about us.... We are in the hospital with Nola again - by now anyone who reads this blog has probably seen it on facebook or heard through the grapevine! But she somehow contracted a bacterial infection that got around her immune system and into her blood stream. Poor babe has been poked and prodded way too many times... she's on her third IV of the week and we're praying it stays in as long as possible to prevent any more needle sticks of her tiny little veins. She has several days left of a 10 day course of IV antibiotics, so we'll be spending the majority of next week at Columbus Regional on the peds hall. The nurses are great and we've been showered with more love and care (and goodies!) than we know what to do with... pretty sure I'm going to gain ten pounds from all the delicious snacks that keep being delivered (that combined with the fact that I'm confined with her to a tiny hall and hospital room, so not much exercise is happening!). Anyway, things are as good as could be expected, and we're just thankful that the she manifested symptoms so early in the infection. We caught it early and now just to have to make sure it's completely out of her system before we can go home. So that's what's going on with us... I'm emailing out updates every few days (as we have anything to share) so let me know if you'd like to be on that list!

On a happier note -- I have new images to share!

Carey and Kate are some good friends of ours from church, and they sweetly asked if I'd take some photographs of them and their precious daughter, Charlotte! Charlotte and Nola are buddies in the nursery, and Nola has been pointing at the screen when she's seen me editing these pictures! Without further ado, meet this adorable family of three!

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One Year

Sweet Nola Hope,

I can hardly believe that you have been in my arms for a year already! When Daddy and I decided it was about time to have a baby, we knew that we would enjoy being parents. But we could never have imagined how wonderful you would be! Your sweet grins, your ginormous blue eyes, your giggles, your funny little grunts and squeals -- all of these things fill our hearts with overflowing joy!

You have changed our lives and taught us so much already... and we're just getting started! I had hoped before you were born that I would be diligent about writing you letters as you grew, recording funny things you did or the things you were learning. Alas - I quickly learned that you keep me VERY busy and I never did stop to write much down over the past year. So hopefully we will instead have a tradition of birthday letters.

Your stats:

Weight: I think you weigh about 20 pounds - we go to the doctor soon, so I'll verify that in a few weeks.

Height/Length: Again, coming soon!

Teeth: You have three and more coming!

Words: None yet, but lots of mamamamama and dadadadada. You do understand some words, however - eat, more, Nola, kitty, doggy, dada/mama (I think, at least!).

Walking: Not quite yet, but you're almost there. You love to cruise around the room holding on to whatever you can grab, but sometimes I think you know crawling is simply faster right now. You also really enjoy being carried in your sling (below) or riding in your "strolla" (as Daddy calls it).

Sweet things about you:

• When I say "face bump" you gently lean your head towards mine until our foreheads bump and then smile.
• You also think it's really funny to take your pacifier out of your mouth and put it in my mouth or daddy's (and then steal it back and repeat as long as we'll let you).
• You LOVE cheerios and puffs and screech and squeal repeatedly for more whenever you eat them all off your tray (you have yet to sign for more, despite our concerted efforts to teach this to you). (ETA - now you've learned which cabinet we keep them in and point at it when we're in the kitchen, saying "eh?" over and over, smart girl!)
• You much prefer to be fed than to feed yourself (though today you showed more interest in holding the spoon yourself). You're eating: baby food (fruits) and roasted/steamed veggies, yogurt, cheese, cheerios/puffs, bread, peanut butter and often a taste of whatever we're eating for supper. You still nurse three times a day, but you're less and less interested in that, except first thing in the morning after you get up.
• You love looking at books and flipping the pages (thought you usually skip a few in the process) - especially books that have textures inside (fur, fabric, etc.). Your favorite toy right now is your "cookie jar" which has a lid that you take off and put back on while emptying and reloading the "cookies" (plastic shapes). You also really like the bugs that Gran and Papa got you for your birthday.
• You mostly enjoy bath time, especially now that we got you a big girl bathtub and some bath toys. Yesterday you actually cried when I got you out to get dressed for church!
• You like being "chased" whether crawling or in Daddy's or my arms - if someone's saying "I'm gonna get you" in a sing-song voice, you're in.
• You're great at pointing at things - and if someone points at you, you usually point back and smile.

 There are so many little snippets of memory that I want to record from this first year: your hilarious "halloween eyes" (thankfully captured on video!); the first time you smiled (which made all the sleepless nights instantly worth it); your strong grip on my finger as a newborn; the way your little fingers would knead against my side as I nursed you; rocking, rocking, rocking late at night in our dark and cozy house; singing you Christmas carols because those were the only songs I could think of I was so tired; walking you through the dark house in the middle of the night, looking out the windows on a silent and moonlit snowy world outside - feeling complete peace with you snuggled in my arms, and grateful for the roof over our heads keeping us warm; our first Christmas morning together - piling into our bed and enjoying being a family; Daddy and I overjoyed at your first giggles (well, all your giggles); Daddy's reactions to your stinky diapers; seeing you discover new flavors (like chocolate cake on your birthday this weekend!)...

Just watching you figure out the world - how to roll over, sit up, crawl, pull up, and soon - walk. It is so much fun to watch you grow, Nola. Your life brings joy to those around you - even strangers who laugh at your silly faces and always comment on your beautiful eyes.

I pray that the sweetness in your spirit continues to grow as you do - that the Lord will mold your heart into a compassionate one that is full of the knowledge of His grace towards you, that you will be a worshiper of the King, and that you will always know how loved you are, both by your Heavenly Father and your parents here on earth.

Looking forward to all this next year of your life has in store for us, my love. Happy 1st Birthday!

Love,

Mama & Daddy  

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Update on Nola - 10/15

Just a quick update in between feedings...

Nola gained 2.3 ounces on Wednesday (GREAT), and then lost about 1/2 an ounce on Thursday (okay). However, on Thursday, we stopped doing supplemental feedings through her feeding tube (feeding her an additional 20 cc's of milk after she nursed) and exclusively nursed - so losing 15 grams isn't too bad.

She had three of her blood-oxygen desaturation episodes between midnight and 8am this morning (she had only had one in the previous 24 hours). We haven't talked to the doctor yet today, so not sure what his take is on that.

Overall, she's doing better. I had hoped that we might get to move to the next stage in the going-home process today, but it's not looking too promising. That's okay though - I know the Lord has the perfect timing for when we get to go home together, and I'm happy to wait on that.

Other than that, nothing to really report. My mom is headed back to Columbus today, so would appreciate prayers for her safe travel. It'll be great to have "Gran" back with us, and I know our poor cats will be happy to have some company at home again - though I'm sure the Burkes (especially Hannah) have been spending lots of time cuddling with them. haha :)

Thanks for the continued prayers and support... Off to feed my baby girl! :)

-Bobby and Emmeline

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Nola Hope McWilliams

An email update on our sweet baby, Nola Hope, that I sent out two nights ago (I think - the days are all running together!):


Hi everyone!

I wanted to send an update email about Nola. For those of you who haven't heard, Nola Hope McWilliams was born on Saturday, 10/9 at 11:14am. Labor went well - just came three weeks early! I was able to do it without any pain meds (yes, I'm quite proud of that), which is what we wanted - so that all went really smoothly. She was 7lbs. 14 oz. at birth, 19 1/2 inches long, and absolutely beautiful!

(I know Bobby sent an email to a few people - so forgive me if you know some of this already!)
She came out a bit quickly in addition to being early, so she has had some issues. After being with us for about four hours after birth, they took her and put her in the nursery because she was spitting up a lot of amniotic fluid, etc. Put in an IV and feeding tube and hooked her up to a lot of monitors.

She has some problems with her blood-oxygen levels desaturating (meaning there isn't enough oxygen in her blood and she turns a bit blue) as a result of acid reflux issues. Basically, she has the reflux, which shocks her system, which then doesn't recover on its own like most people's (similar to diving into a cold pool - you get a shock, heart slows and then speeds back up -- except hers has a bit of trouble recovering). They won't let her go home until she stops having these desaturation episodes.

I was discharged on Monday, so we've been shuffling back and forth to the hospital to manage her feedings every three hours. Last night they put a feeding tube back in (they initially had this and then took it out because she was eating well), which was a really good thing overall... I didn't want it at first, but it helps a TON as we can get a bit of sleep instead of basically one hour naps a few times a night, and it allows her to eat better and expend fewer calories. She's also lost 10% of her birth weight, which is more than they like to see, so that is another complication.

Things change rapidly - today was a thousand times better than yesterday, both for us and for her. A lot of this she may just grow out of. They did put her on some medicine to help lessen the acid in her tummy, so there's less of a shock when she does have reflux, and that seems to be helping. She only had two episodes today so far (she was having many more than that).

Anyway, I wanted to send an update to y'all. We are so grateful for the care we've received from those of you who have visited, called, texted, brought food, given us a place to stay in between feedings, etc. etc. etc. Despite the difficulties and the scary-ness of all this mess, God has abundantly blessed us in showing us the beauty of good friendships and the people who care about us so much, so THANK YOU a thousand times.

It's unclear when she will be released. There isn't a lot of danger - it's more just a waiting game at this point. They've told us at the earliest, we could hope for this weekend sometime. In the meantime, we would appreciate your continued prayers for endurance and strength, patience with each other and continued trust in the Healer of all - the God who knit her together in my womb and loves her even more than we do.

I have definitely felt the prayers of our loved ones and friends - and seen already how God has used this to pull us together in our marriage and as parents. Baptism by fire! :)

We'll keep you posted - next time it won't be so long, I promise! Thanks again.

-Emmeline and Bobby McW.

PS - more photos are on facebook! :)

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