soul friends...

Happy (early) birthday Miracle babies
Tatum and Leighton

CRAZY!

Laura and Lorrie- Love her!

Love these two

This past week, me, my mom, and the kiddos took a road trip to visit our NICU buddies that leave near Knoxville. Leighton and Tatum were born a few days apart- his b-day is the 22nd and Tay's is the 25th. We always try to get together around their birthdays to celebrate. They were in the NICU together and we definitely formed a lifelong bond. They are some of the best people that I know and will always have a huge place in my heart.

Hard to believe that our tiny miracle babies are gonna be 4 this year! Thank God for tiny blessings!

Tatum's first day of Pre-K

Here are just a few pictures of Tay that I took on my moms camera.

Today was Tatum's first day of Pre K. We were there less than an hour and I think it's really more for the parents, but, first day none the less! She played and played with the other kids. She made new friends- but, she didn't know "thems names." She goes on the 13th for her phase in day and then starts going all day on the 18th. I did pretty well today- I'm sure I will be all emotional on the first day that I have to leave her. I have no doubt that she will be fine *tear* without me. She wanted me to just leave her today!

Ahhh... they grow up so fast!

My baby is walking

Let me tell you- I am one proud momma! *tear* JD has been taking a few steps here and there for a few weeks, but,as of today, I would defintely say I have a walker on my hands!!!! After I got him up and fed him, we were sitting in the floor playing. He stood up and walked halfway across the room and lunged into my arms and hugged me. He hasn't stopped walking since then! He is still extremely cautious with his steps and he is still falling/stumbling alot. BUT, he gets back up and starts going again. I think he is as proud of himself as I am.

One reason I am so proud is not only just because he's walking. But, he was preemie. He has beat so many odds set against him. He has done so many things he never should have been able to do- including live....(great... emotional mommy here...) At first, he excelled in meeting his milestones and never was really far behind. Then, he just kinda stopped. He stopped trying to walk and stopped talking. Who knows the reason- I pray it's just a preemie thing and nothing more serious, but, who knows. We are working on language and he is trying so hard- you can tell! But, most words sound like grunts or screams. Our TEIS is going to get us a audiology consult. But now.....

We are walking!!!!! And I am so proud of my sweet Joel David (JD)!!! Love this precious boy!

I think it's kinda ironic....

So.... As most of you all know by now, I am a paranoid and sometimes crazy person! This week, I took Tatum and Conner to the Dr for different reasons, and Conner also needed a weight check. This is how it all went....

Tatum: I took Tay because she had been complaining of her stomach hurting for about 2 weeks. If you remember, she is still battling reflux. We have been on meds for about a year and if we stray from those, it is a very bad and very messy situation! Well, in addition to the stomach aches, she has had runny poop (sorry if TMI- but relevant) and had even vomitted (thank you red dye drink that was drank while mommy and daddy weren't around). SOOOOO- the Dr proceeds to tell me that the meds she had been on for her reflux can sometimes cause loose stools and abdominal cramping (which would also be referred to as runny poop and stomach aches) ARGH! If I had known that, I wouldn't have been so paranoid about the constant complaints! Solution: take her off her meds (plug in crazy look from me here) and see if she still needs them. We will see.... WE are 4 days puke free, but, she is starting to have that refluxy cough and she is gagging alot. UGH, big kid puke is NO fun!


Conner: I took him because he had been hoarse for about 4 days. Wanted to be sure nothing was wrong with him. Well, Dr. S thinks he is probably having some baby reflux, totally normal, especially given the amounts he is eating. Here is what is ironic with him- makes me giggle! I have to take him back again this week for another weight check- know why? Because he gained 1 pound in 6 days- he is getting TOO BIG! I have 2 kids that are too small and now one that is too big!


Laura (ME): My middle finger on my Rt hand had been hurting (well, more like I wanted to cut it off it hurt so bad) and was a pussed up and swollen. I had "doctored" it myself without much success. Jeremy was convinced my finger was gonna rot off- thanks honey for the vote of confidence! Anyways... when I took Tay and JD, I thought, I'll let him look at it and see what he thinks. (our kids Dr is also our Dr) Well, he looks at it, shakes his head and says oh my- that's bad (or something along those lines). Well, apparently, I have some sort of bacterial infection in my finger (really big word that I don't remember). And infection so bad that I had to take a really stong oral antibiotic to treat. Are you ready for the irony here?? The cause of me getting this infection was likely from washing my hands so much! I apparently had a hangnail, and from washing hands or bottles or whatever, got water under my nail from the torn hangnail which just kinda sat there with no where to go and got all bacteria like. I will just have to watch because I don't see how I can cut my handwashing down with all the diapers I change and booties I wipe!


Almost makes you want to laugh, huh?

3 weeks old

Conner is 3 weeks old today! Wow- time is going by quickly! (as I'm sure the next 3 weeks will fly by too since I will be going back to work).

I am still adjusting to being a mommy of 3- 3 LITTLE ONES! 2 in diapers and 1 sassy girl who thinks she's the queen! I must say, it is kinda hard at times, especially since I was on bedrest for almost 18 weeks and wasn't even able to take care of my 2, then I have 3! It seems that everyone needs to eat at the same time, is crying at the same time- and I swear- they all even POOP at the same time!

But, with all the adjustments and some tears (mine and the kids)- I am loving every minute of this! I am loving being a mommy of 3- and while I wouldn't have planned a 3rd baby- I thank God everyday for sending me a 3rd miracle.

I cannot think of anything better in my life than being a mommy!

Oh yeah- JD is starting to walk! He will take about 5 or 6 steps- look at you and laugh and plop himself down and crawl to where he was headed! He can do it though- he is just being stubborn!

Conner Dean Kelly

I am so sorry that I haven't updated my blog in 2 weeks! But, life in the Kelly house is CRAZY! But absolutely wonderful!

As you may remember from my last blog, I had started getting sick again. When I went back to the hospital that night, it was decided that I was likely spiraling into HELLP syndrome again (this is what caused Tatum and JD to be born early). Unfortunately, my bloodwork (mainly the blood clotting ones), wasn't any better and I was unable to be awake during the C-section. Aside from missing Conner's first cries and actually being able to have him brought to me for a visit, it was probably for the best. I was absolutely freaking out- pretty much having a panic attack! In hindsight, I'm kinda embarrasssed (especially since I work with these people), but, I couldn't control the way I was acting! I did feel guilty because Jeremy wasn't able to be in the room, but, the did let him sit outside the door. And, one of the nurses in the OR was a friend of mine and took pictures during and after the surgery.

Conner Dean Kelly was born on May 18th, 2009 @ 6:58 pm. He weighed 6 lbs 0.4 oz and was 19 5/8 inches. He had a head full of Dark Hair! He looked absolutely NOTHING like Tatum or JD!!!!

I spent (well, what is told to me) a long time in surgery. I had lots of scar tissue and and they tied my tubes(yes- this will be the last beautiful Kelly baby!) When I returned to my room, they wheeled me by the nursery to sneak a peek at my baby- I was in love (but, so drugged that I don't think I showed much emotion). After what seemed like forever to me- they brought Conner into my room- it was one of the most wonderful moments of my life- there is nothing like having your baby brought to you- no wires, tubes- NOTHING! Just a precious newborn baby! We were later told by one of the nurses that we were stingy with our baby- never letting the nurses keep him for us! I am stingy! I never had the normal "rooming in with baby" expierience- I wanted him with me ever minute- I wanted to be a normal mommy with a normal baby-

AND BY GOLLY- I HAD WORKED HARD FOR THIS!!!

We are adjusting well- Jeremy and I are having to read the What to expect the first year book because we don't know anything about babies like Conner! I have even called twice already to ask a question about him! We are nervvous first time parents even though we are on our 3rd child! Even the first night, we asked the nurses if we could put clothes on him- and we were saving the diapers for them to weigh! They laughed at us!

(and to those of you reading this who don't have preemies, you will probably think I'm crazy too- but, to all my preemie momma fans- you totally understand!)

There are probably many more details that I should add in this blog, but, due to time- this is all I can do. Having Conner is such a wonderful think- I struggled with it, but, God knew my heart and gave me this child for a reason. He has completed our family-we are beyond blessed to have him here- but, also beyond thankful for it to be OVER!

God answered our prayers and gave us a full term baby!

Hospital visit #2

Well, this is just a quicky! I went back to the hospital this morning becasue I am still feeling awful and just didn't think things were right......... Urine (which visibly looked horrible) and bloodwork were done, Conner looked great on the monitor.

Here's the deal.... They let me come home.... to get my stuff together to come back at 4. My platelets had dropped alot and are pretty sure I have a kidney infection/hydronephrosis/kidney stone/ who knows- junk in my kidneys....

Problem is: My platelets dropping is a huge red flag that something is going on. Could be the first sign that HELLP is repeating. The plan is that Conner will be born tonight or tomorrow. But, I am on blood thinners and as of now, my blood isn't clotting well enough for me to be awake during Conner's birth. I go back at 4 to have all my blood rechecked- and hopefully it will be good enough to stay awake during the surgery. I would hate to miss the cries I have missed with my other two..... So, we are gonna have a baby soon!!!!!