Katie Caroline Brandley-Birth Story

Katie Caroline Brandley

7/12/2020

4:58 a.m.

6 lbs 2 oz

19 1/4 inches

Our sweet Katie girl was born early in the morning on July 12, she was just over 4 weeks early so the whole morning took us by surprise!  Katie's labor started at 3:55 a.m. when I had gotten up to go to the bathroom and my water started leaking.  I went and laid back down in bed to see if contractions would start and sure enough, about 10 minutes later, I had a contraction.  I stayed in a bit of denial and decided to wait to see if more contractions would come, after all, I wasn't even 36 weeks yet!  I couldn't be in labor.  After three contractions I decided, okay, I'm probably actually in labor.  I called my Mom and Dad who were supposed to come be with our kids while we went to the hospital.  Neither of them answered their phones!  I went and woke Louis up and told him I was in labor, he said "really?"  We were both surprised that it was happening so soon!  Since my parents didn't answer their phones Louis called his co-worker Mike to see if he could come sit with our kids.  He said he could so we told him our garage code so he could get in and we headed to the hospital.  Thankfully it was the middle of the night and we could just leave our kids asleep at home for a few minutes. 

My contractions weren't that bad and they weren't too terribly close together yet.  When we got to the hospital they had a couple of nurses at the entrance to take our temperature and give us a mask to wear.  We stopped at the front desk and I gave them my name before the labor and delivery nurse, Megan, came out to take us back.  When we got to the room I changed into a gown and laid on the bed to be checked.  I was at a 7, which for me typically means I'm having a baby in the next 10 minutes.  After being checked I got to have the COVID test done.  It was something I really didn't want to have done while I was in labor, but there I was.  It wasn't as bad as I expected it to be and was done very quickly.  

After the test was done Megan asked if I wanted an epidural.  I told her of course I did, but I didn't know if there'd be time to get it.  She said she'd go call the anesthesiologist and see how quickly he could get here.  Once she left the room contractions all of the sudden were non stop and I could feel the pressure of Katie coming.  I told Louis she was coming and he called out to the hall that the baby was coming.  Megan ran back in the room to help me and had Louis pick up the phone in the room to call the front of the hospital to get another nurse back with us.  He called and passed on the message then came to be by my side as I gave one really long push and Katie was here!  She was born at 4:58 a.m. after just an hour of labor.

The morning was kind of a blur, it seems like it was both longer and shorter than it really was.  There are things I don't remember, the doctor was called at some point, I don't know if it was before or after Katie was born.  I know another nurse eventually came into the room, I'm pretty sure it was at least a minute after Katie was born.  

Katie was able to be laid on my stomach for a minute or so after she was born as Megan and I rubbed her back and tried to help her breath and cry.  She would cry off and on, but it wasn't consistent and her coloring wasn't great.  After Louis cut the cord they took her to the other side of the room to suck her lungs out, give her oxygen, and continue to rub her back to encourage her to breath and cry.  My doctor came and helped deliver the placenta and to check me out.  They ended up giving me a shot to help with my bleeding.  (I can't remember what it is called, but I don't suggest getting it if you have an option!  It made me nauseous for hours and I ended up throwing up on my way into the recovery room)  Once the pediatrician got to the hospital they moved Katie into the nursery to get her some more help.  Louis went with her and I was left alone with just a nurse in the delivery room.  

It was hard not knowing what was going on with Katie, but I knew she was okay.  About an hour after the took Katie I was able to be moved to the recovery room (this is when I threw up) and make a stop at the nursery to see Katie.  She was hooked up to high flow oxygen, a heart rate monitor, and was laying on a warming bed.  She also had an IV set to start giving her antibiotics and fluids.  I was able to hold her and nurse her for a little bit before going into my room to rest.  Louis headed home at this point to go relieve his co-worker and wait for my parents to wake up and see their missed calls.  Funny story:  Louis' co-worker's wife is a nurse and she ended up being called in because of me!  They said "We just had a 'stop and drop' we need you to come in"  She responded with "I know, my husband is watching their other kids!"  

After some rest I went to see Katie again and they had switched her to a CPAP machine to get her more oxygen.  With that in I wasn't able to nurse her anymore, but I was still able to hold her.  I ended up having a connection with the pediatrician that was on call.  His aunt was in my ward growing up, her and I even share a birthday!  Dr. Capener is a really good doctor and I was very happy he was there because we were able to ask him to help Louis give Katie a blessing.  At this time with COVID-19 still very prevalent in our community they are not letting any visitors into the hospital when you have a baby, so we wouldn't have been able to ask my Dad or someone else to come help with it.  Just before lunch time Louis and Dr. Capener gave Katie a blessing.  It was short and very sweet and a moment I am grateful we were able to have to help Katie get stronger.

The nurse that delivered Katie

The afternoon that Katie was born another baby was brought into the nursery, so we had to start wearing a mask when we went in to be with Katie.  Katie did really well with Louis and me holding her and it increased her oxygen levels.  Late that night she was able to be taken off the CPAP and put back onto the high flow oxygen.  That night was rough getting up every 3 hours to go into the nursery to feed her, I didn't sleep well in between and so I ended up getting very little sleep. 

The next morning came with good news!  They had started weaning her down off of the oxygen and she was mostly on full room air!  Later that day she was able to be taken off of it completely and come be in the room with us.  She still had her IV in, but other than that, she was cord free!  They were having us stay at least 48 hours to hear about her blood cultures, but with how things were progressing it looked like we would be good to go home after those 48 hours and not have any extra time in the hospital.  

Katie is now off of her IV, she has a car seat test to pass and has to get her blood sugar tested one more time, but then we should be good to go home!  For a preemie, this has definitely been the best case scenario.  We are so grateful for all that prayed for us and for her and we are so grateful for the wonderful doctor and nurses that we've had here!  

Logan Phillip Brandley-Birth Story

Friday morning I had a doctor appointment, I was hoping hoping hoping that I would have progressed enough for him to send me over to the hospital to be started. I had been at a 4 and 90% effaced the week before at my appointment. My doctor had mentioned that if I progressed any more he would probably send me to the hospital to be induced so we didn't chance me having the baby at home! That is what got me through that last week! Prayers are answered and I was to a 5 at my appointment! I texted Louis at work and told him to meet me at home and we would head over to the hospital. 

We got to the hospital around noon and got admitted around 12:30. I was group b strep positive so I needed to get 2 rounds of antibiotics given 4 hours apart before the baby was born. With my history of fast labors they decided to hold off on pitocin and just get the antibiotic started for now. I figured since we'd have the time and I'd never had one before, I'd ask about an epidural. The anesthesiologist came and talked to us telling us how everything worked and possible side effects and what not and I decided to go ahead with the epidural. (remember how I tried to get an epidural with Wyatt, but he came too fast?) I got the epidural done right before the pitocin was started just after 2:00. It went really well and it was amazing being able to rest the few hours before Logan arrived. My blood pressure did drop and it affected the baby's heart rate, I was put on oxygen and it did help. I was put on oxygen when I was in labor with Avery as well, and honestly it helps me relax more and helps the labor along. 

Just after 4:00 my doctor came in to check me and I was at a 9. He broke my water at 4:15 and left to fill out some paperwork. With the epidural it was harder to feel when the baby was coming, but we knew it was going to be pretty quick. After a few minutes I could feel the pressure of the baby coming and called the nurse in. Sure enough I was complete and ready to push. My doctor had just started heading out of the hospital and had to be called back. If I hadn't had the epidural, I'm not sure if he would have made it. It was a totally different thing pushing with an epidural compared to pushing unmedicated. I couldn't tell if what I was doing was effective or not. The nurses and doctor were great with coaching me though and after about 10 minutes of pushing (it would have been shorter, but Logan's shoulder got stuck) the baby was here! Born at 4:35, 7 lbs 15 oz, 21 inches long. He was a bit purple, but I was still able to hold him right away while they suctioned him and tried to get him breathing better. They took Logan to help him a bit more and get his coloring looking better. He was brought back to me and I was able to cuddle and nurse him.

We didn't get into the recovery room until about 7 that night so we waited until the day after Logan was born for the kids to come meet their brother.  I was most surprised with how interested and excited Ethan was about meeting him.  Ethan walked in the room first and came right over to me holding Logan to check him out.  The girls were of course excited, Mary said "He's so cute I just can't look at him anymore!"  Wyatt mostly liked exploring the hospital room, but did check Logan out for a little bit.  They all love their little brother though and I know it's going to be lots of fun having him in our family.

This labor/delivery was different from my others in a few ways. I'd never been induced before, I'd never had an epidural, and I've never had a baby in the p.m. all my others have been in the a.m. hour!  We all love Logan and are grateful he came to complete our family.

Click here to read Avery's birth story

Click here to read Mary's birth story

Click here to read Ethan's birth story

Click here to read Wyatt's birth story

Wyatt Jack Brandley-Birth Story

I always like to get these out early while things are still fresh in my mind.  Our second son Wyatt was born early this morning.  Here's the story:

At 1:27 AM I woke up feeling some pain in my lower abdomen.  I thought I probably just had to go to the bathroom so I got up.  When I stood up there was a gush of fluid!  I thought "well I bet that was my water breaking!"  I headed to the bathroom and a bit more of my fluid came out.  I woke up Louis and told him that I thought my water had broken, but I was going to lay down and see what happened.  He pretty much just rolled over and snored!  At this point in the night we had only been asleep for about 30 minutes so I don't blame him!  I laid down and tried to sleep until some contractions started.  That only lasted about 15 minutes until the contractions started though.  Once I started getting contractions they weren't unbearable, but I knew with my record we should head to the hospital anyway.  We put the last minute things into our bag, got our shoes and  I went in and told my niece Madison that we were heading to the hospital.
We got in the car and headed out!  My favorite thing and something that helps me stay the most calm during labor is watching Louis.  He gets so excited!  On the drive he was speeding a little bit and I kept telling him we're fine.  We're really fine you don't need to speed.  I think he was just too excited though!  He also was singing a made up song about having Wyatt and going to the hospital.  We got to the hospital and stepped into the elevator at 2:15 and got checked in at 2:18.  On the way to the room I was very blunt with my nurse.  "I have very fast labors.  My last two were only 2 and 3 hours long.  I have my second 12 minutes after getting to the hospital and my third an hour after getting to the hospital.  I have never had an epidural and I want one this time so please check me right away and then call the anesthesiologist."  She was so great and told me I deserved to get an epidural this time and she was determined to make that happen!
I got into the room and changed then I was able to get checked.  I was dilated to a 5 and she left to call the anesthesiologist while a second nurse got my info put into the computer and a third nurse got my IV started so we'd be all ready when the anesthesiologist came.
At some point after this I was checked again, I'm not sure how long it was after I was checked the first and I was dilated to a 6.    Then a nurse named Cazlyn came in and let us know that the anesthesiologist was in the building!  I was so excited!  I couldn't believe he was here and I was actually going to get an epidural this time around!  I'm pretty sure I gave Cazlyn a high five and asked if she was serious and that he was really there.  Since the anesthesiologist was in the building they had me sit up on the edge of the bed to get ready for him to come in.  I sat up and they were having me scoot over and that is when I think gravity got me from the 6 I was at five minutes before to a 10 and I could feel Wyatt making his way out!  I told the nurses what was happening and laid down on my side and asked if he really was coming.  Wyatt was indeed coming!  The nurses kept telling me just breathe, don't push!  Well I ignored them and pushed anyway.  I'm sorry the on call doctor wasn't there yet, but Wyatt was coming whether they wanted to be the one to deliver him or not.  It was at this time that I started pushing that Dr. Nelson the anesthesiologist came into the room.  Louis jokingly said "You're late!"  He stayed in the room for the whole 1 or 2 minutes I was pushing.
Wyatt came into this world at 2:50 AM, delivered by the nurse Cazlyn.  He was pink and crying and it was wonderful!  Mary and Ethan were both not crying when they came out so to have a baby be born and cry right away made my heart swell!  Dr. Nelson (the anesthesiologist) came and gave me a hug and said sorry he didn't get there in time and that even if he had gotten there 15 minutes earlier I wouldn't be getting numb until after the baby was here anyway!  So it did all end up working out for the best.
Louis was able to cut the cord for the first time since Avery.  Wyatt was able to be laid on my chest which also hasn't happened since Avery!  It was perfect.  The on call doctor, Dr. Olsen, didn't show up for a long time it seemed.  I think it was 15 minutes after Wyatt was born.  He delivered the placenta and made sure I didn't tear.  Then he was out the door!
Start to finish my labor with Wyatt was 1 hour 20 minutes with only 35 minutes in the hospital before he was born.  Wyatt was 7 lbs 15 oz and 20 1/2 inches long.  He has a decent amount of brown  hair and barely has a Brandley chin dimple at all!  He has been doing well and we have enjoyed cuddling him!
I was so so excited when it seemed like I was finally going to be getting an epidural, but things turned out the way they were supposed to.  For weeks I had been praying and praying that I would be confident in my body and my abilities, that I would be able to handle the things that I would need to, and that I would be able to stay calm.  Heavenly Father answered my prayers.  Throughout the whole labor I was able to stay calm.  With each contraction I would just close my eyes, lean my head back, breathe deeply in through my nose and blow it out through my mouth until the contraction was through.
Later in the day I discovered another blessing from our Heavenly Father.  The night before Wyatt was bor my mother-in-law Annette had asked what to pray for, that the baby should come tonight or the next day etc.  I just told her I was fine with him coming whenever he came.  Later that night though I texted her saying she could pray that I would have confidence in myself and I'd be able to handle what I needed to.  Annette had left her phone in her car, but around 1:30 (aka when I was going into labor) she felt like she should go out and get her phone.  So she listened to that prompting and saw my text and prayed for me at almost the exact moment that my labor was starting.  I am grateful for a loving Heavenly Father and a wonderful mother-in-law who listens to the promptings of the Spirit.

The delivering nurse

Ethan's birth story, click here
Mary's birth story, click here
Avery's birth story, click here

Ethan Dennis Brandley-Birth Story

Yesterday was a very spiritual day for us.  We welcomed our first son into this world.  Here's the story.

I woke up at 4 in the morning and had a contraction, a few minutes later I had another one!  Sound familiar?  That's how all of my labors have started!  I went up to the bathroom and noticed hmmm, something is trickling out here.  That's never happened to me before.  Is my water leaking?  I was still getting contractions every few minutes, but they weren't very unbearable yet.  I decided to go in and tell Louis what was going on because of how Mary's labor went, who knew how quickly things were going to happen!
I went in and told him and he hopped right out of bed, I could feel his excitement!  While Louis was getting dressed I decided I should probably time a few of the contractions to see about how far apart they were.  They were already 4 minutes apart, but still not very bad.  Louis called his sister Alisha who is watching our girls while we're in the hospital.  I could hear him from upstairs when he said, "It's Hammer time!"  Alisha was confused at first (seeing as it was just after 5 in the morning!) but then hopped out of bed and headed over.
We did not need to speed to the hospital this time, we got there just before 6:00.  We headed in and got situated in a room.  I was frustrated that they were doing things so slowly and didn't check my dilation until we'd been there for half an hour at 6:20.  I was only at 3cm.  At this point the contractions were getting worse, but were still not that bad.  I could talk through them and was able to relax in between contractions really well.  Since I thought my water was leaking they did some kind of test to see if it in fact had.  It came back negative, but I don't really believe they got a true reading on it since it was just trickling and not gushing out.
Over the next 20 minutes things were continuously picking up.  The contractions were getting more painful and closer together.  It was here that I started seriously doubting being able to do this without medication.  At around 6:45 the  contractions were coming one on top of the other and I told Louis I changed my mind, there was no way that I could keep doing this and have the energy I needed.  I most definitely was considering an epidural.  So I asked the nurse Whitney to check me again so I could see if I'd progressed or not and if I wanted to get an epidural.  She checked me and I was now 6cm.  I decided to ask for the epidural because things were just so intense.  Whitney left to call the anesthesiologist shutting the door behind her.
It was at this point that I started feeling some pressure.  I knew what that meant!  Not even thinking about the call button on my bed I started yelling that I needed help and could feel pressure and that the baby was coming!  Yes yelling, those hospital doors are thick and I wanted them to hear me!  A nurse came in, (I never did find out her name, but she held my hand the whole time) and checked me again, I was at 10cm and as she was checking me my water fully broke.  This was at about 6:55, so 10 minutes since I was checked and had been at a 6.
My nurse Whitney came back in as well as a nurse Dawn who was working with Whitney and another 3 or 4 nurses.  They were helping me to breath through the contractions so I wouldn't push while we waited for the on call doctor to come.  With or without me pushing though, baby was coming!  His head came out all on its own and with just one push on my part at 7:00, Ethan was here.  6 pounds 13 ounces and 20 inches long. Whitney is the one that delivered him and Dawn instructed her how to do it.  Very fun fact about this:  Dawn is the nurse that delivered Mary!
Things went so fast that it shocked Ethan a bit and he was pretty purple and not crying.  They moved him to get some oxygen and get cleaned off.  It was a very hectic 5 minutes and I guess I had been hyperventilating (my top lip and hands were numb) so they put me on some oxygen for a few minutes and that helped calm me down.  It was about here when the doctor came in.  He delivered the placenta and left.
A few minutes after the doctor left a nurse brought Ethan over to me.  I was so overwhelmed with love I couldn't hold back the tears.  I snuggled him and snuggled him then he nursed and did a great job.  After I got plenty of cuddles in Louis got his turn to hold his son.  This is always one of the sweetest moments of the day your babies are born.  My favorite moment while Louis was holding Ethan was when he went over to the window and started talking to him about everything we could see outside.
This has so far been the best recovery after a baby!  I feel really great, but am trying to not over do it.  I think the difference is that I didn't tear this time, probably because I didn't have to push the head out, it just came out on its own.  I hope things continue to heal well.
The whole morning was perfect and full of love.  We have so enjoyed the first two days with our little Ethan.  We are so blessed to have him in our family.

Getting cleaned off

He loves his hands by his face, he had a hand by his face when he was born

Getting weighed

Getting to hold Ethan for the first time

My soul had missed his.

Very happy mom and dad with Ethan

Whitney and Dawn with Ethan

Dawn has been a nurse for 16 years and has now delivered 4 babies.

2 of those babies are my babies!

Louis telling Ethan about the world

I let Whitney cuddle with Ethan before we were moved upstairs

This was the first baby she delivered and she said she's sure she'll always remember it!

He had a few very alert moments yesterday

Proud daddy with Ethan

Going home!

If you want to read Mary's birth story, click here
If you want to read Avery's birth story, click here

Mary Olivia Brandley-Birth Story

I want to get this all down while it's still all fresh in my mind!  We will actually start with Thursday night.  At a little before 9:00 I started getting contractions that were roughly 7 minutes apart.  That continued for about 45 minutes and then stopped.  It was a little disappointing, I had gotten my hopes up!  I had an appointment Friday morning and I decided I was going to ask her to strip my membranes if I had progressed any more since last week.  Luckily I had!  The week before I was dilated to a 2.5 and 80% effaced and at my appointment I was at 4cm and 80% effaced.  So she stripped my membranes, it did not hurt at all and wasn't even really uncomfortable.  After my appointment I walked for about an hour and a half and swung on a swing and danced like a crazy women.  That last one was mostly just for fun.  Avery loved it!  Nothing really did anything I don't think.  I was having contractions, but they were not at all regular so I just went on with my day like normal after that.  Louis and I decided to go on a little date since it would most likely be the last weekend without a newborn.  We dropped Avery off with her Uncle Josh and Aunt Megan and we went to see the Avengers (again) then to pick up some Cafe Rio to bring home.  I'm glad we got that last date night with Louis, it was really nice!
At about 11:00 that night my contractions seemed to be getting more intense, but still were very far apart.  We went to sleep close to midnight.  I woke up about 3 times with contractions, but was able to fall back to sleep really quickly and easily.  At 4:00 I decided to get out of bed, I just walked around and checked my e-mail.  My contractions were closer together, but still irregular.  They would come every 7 minutes, then 4 minutes, 5 minutes, 8  minutes, etc.  I didn't really know what to think of that.  During my contractions I did lots of things to relieve the pain.  I squatted and rocked myself back and forth.  I also paced back and forth a lot!  Around 5:15 I got into the shower to see what that would do.  It helped me to relax a lot!  Which is why I think my contractions quickly got to 2 minutes apart after I got out.  I quickly dried my hair and woke Louis up at 5:45 telling him to call his parents (they're staying with Avery while we're in the hospital) and to call Josh to see if he could come stay with Avery.  I kept saying to Louis, "We need to leave!  we need to leave right now!"  Of course I had everything packed, but we were still rushing out of there!  We were pulling out of the house as Josh pulled up.
Louis may have been going about 55 mph on Main St. where the speed limit is 35 mph.  He dropped me off at the front of the hospital and I quickly went in.  Labor and Delivery is on the second floor so I went to the elevator and it quickly opened.  By now I was having constant contractions.  That elevator ride was so long and horrible all by myself!  Once it got to the second floor the doors took forever to open!  At the hospital you have to check in at a window and then they'll buzz you into Labor and Delivery.  I got to the window and I'm sure was acting ridiculous.  I just said to them, "I'm having a baby I don't have my insurance information with me, my husband is coming with it!"  Seriously.  I said "I'm having a baby!"  haha, like they couldn't have guessed that.  All they did was ask my name and then let me in at 6:01.
When I got in the door I said "Help!"  I laugh at myself for that now, but it did move things along quicker.  A nurse named Kersha (she was amazing the whole time and really helped me out) brought me into a room and told me to just change into the gown right by the bed.  I just pulled me pants off and pulled the gown on.  I didn't even take the time to take my shirt off.  I just wanted to get checked.  I wasn't fully dilated yet, but very very close.  I never asked or was told where I was at.  My contractions were coming so close together and I kept saying I need to push, I need to push.  They wouldn't let me.  Kersha really helped me with my breathing which was great.  "hee hee hoo. hee hee hoo." it kept me so calm to have someone breathing with me!  I just focused on the breathing and the pain went away!
The on call doctor wasn't there yet, but they kept saying she's running!  Louis wasn't there yet either.  Little did I know they were trying to get him to answer all the insurance questions and blah blah blah at the window.  Finally they got the memo that I was going to be having this baby any minute (from all of the nurses running in to my room) and let him in without having to answer all the questions and filling out all the papers.  Hello!  We could do that later!
So the doctor was "running" and they were trying to keep me from pushing.  Which if you've had a baby you can understand how hard that is.  One of the nurses said they were going to try to set an IV quickly in between contractions, I was not very nice and bluntly asked, "Why?  I'm having this baby any minute!"  They ended up not setting an IV, I'm glad I spoke up.  It was about here when my water broke.  I've never had my water break so that was cool to experience!  I literally stopped and said "was that my water breaking?"  They told me yes.  The nurses hadn't had time to get the monitor on the baby and at this point they were trying to find her heart beat.  They couldn't find one so it went from, "Don't push, it's not time to push," to "Okay Becca we're just kidding you need to push now!"  Thank you!  I already knew that.  The on call doctor still was not there so with a nurse named Dawn helping me deliver, I started pushing.  Two minutes later at 6:13 our little Mary was born.  That's only 12 minutes after I got there.  (The nurses are still now talking about it over 24 hours later)
They swept Mary away, Louis didn't even get to cut the cord, and started sucking out her lungs and nose.  I hadn't heard her cry or whimper and I was getting scared.  I kept asking Louis if she was okay, even though he was still next to me and didn't know any more than I did.  I asked him to say a prayer for Mary and moments later I heard her whimper then let out a big cry.  It felt like at least 2 minutes, but Louis said this all happened within 30 seconds.  I have horrible perception of time during my deliveries.  Like with Avery I swear I was pushing for 20 minutes, but it was only 5 minutes.
The nurses continued to watch over and clean Mary, she scored a 7 and an 8 on the Apgar test.  The doctor (Dr. Smith) came in at this point and helped deliver the placenta that took about 15 minutes, with Avery it just plopped out moments after she was born.  Dr. Smith also stitched me up, I had a 2 degree tear, not too bad thank goodness.  Still sad to me since I didn't tear with Avery.
When they were finally done with Mary, Louis brought her over to me and I got to hold her for the first time. It was wonderful and the crazy crazy morning was made perfect.
She is so sweet, and happy.  She's been a great nurser which isn't surprising, she loves to suck.  When she came out she had little red blisters on her hands from sucking on them.  She is also very alert so far for a newborn.  She will be awake for half an hour to an hour after eating.  She'll just look around taking in this new world.  We sure love our baby Mary and are so glad she is safe here with us!  Now enjoy a bunch of pictures!
P.S. Since people keep asking us, I guess I will clarify that Mary is her first name and Olivia is her middle name.  And we will be calling her Mary not Olivia.  Or else we would have named her Olivia.

This is the last picture I have of me pregnant, it's 5 days before she was born

Getting cleaned off

First time holding Mary, notice I'm still wearing my shirt?

Louis and me with our new addition

Louis helping with Mary's first bath

Avery meeting her new sister, she was commenting on her "shoes" right here

Kisses for baby sister

Our family

Mary and me

Our Avery is so cute and sweet

Avery tried to steal Mary from Papa today

Already a binkie baby because she likes to suck so much!  I was going to try
and avoid binkies for the first little bit, oh well!

So alert and cutest baby ever!

Welcome to the world sweet Mary Olivia!

If you want to read Avery's birth story click here