What a year. . .

A year ago today, Karen and I were headed to the hospital again. It was the second of our visits due to contractions. They ended up sending us home again hours later. We both swore they we would not go again until things got dramatic. Sure enough 5 days later we found ourselves there again. Things were not all that "dramatic" but Karen was running a slight fever and things just felt "funny" so there we were. They put us in a small triage room and took some blood. We both had convinced ourselves that we had overreacted as we waited for the nurse to return and send us home. I will never forget the site of the nurse walking in with the IV tubing. (A red flag for me, having been around long enough to realize the implications) Karen's white blood cell count was very high and her doctor was contacted. A high white blood cell count in the body is a sign of a systemic reaction battling infection. Appendicitis was suspected, and fear set into my heart. I have done at least a hundred Appendectomy's in the OR, but never had I done one on a 37 week pregnant woman. I was certain that it would be done open and they would just take Emma C-section in the process. They started Karen on an antibiotic and waited for the OB and General Surgeon on call to come on consult. I got restless and paced to floor of our newly assigned delivery suite. Karen must have got sick of me pacing, so she sent me away. I went to the OR, to see my friends and with luck find a general surgeon myself. I found one of my favorite doctors and spilled out me story across the table as they surgical team worked away on an appendix case believe it or not. As I was doing so Karen called and said the OB needed to speak with us both right away. I ran back up stairs! The doctor told us that Karen had a Uterine infection that required us to break her water and get the baby out. So minutes later he did so and a long night was started. Karen's water was broken at 10:04 p.m. and she had an epidural 2 1/2 hours later. I pulled out the bed/chair and we watched the American Idol final, and waited. I was still in my surgical scrubs from my trip down to the OR. At 7:00 Karen was ready to push. I called to OR for Karen's doctor to come up, she delayed surgery and came up to deliver our sweet girl as 8:20 a.m. on May 22, 2008. Karen was beyond amazing through out the whole process! Emma was born sick due to the infection, but and we were not able to have her in the room with us. Due to her state we were only able to touch her for 10 minutes every hour in the level 2 nursery. This was awful for Karen and I as we prayed and prayed. Days pasted and she started to gain strength. We will never forget bringing her into our home for the first time. She arrived home still needed IV medications, and weighing 6 lbs even. So small and fragile. We watched her like a hawk. We were all emotionally drained, and we are both so grateful to this day for all of your love during those days after her birth. Time over this past year has consisted of a lot less sleep, a lot more worry, and most of all a lot of joy. Emma is our little princess. She is a happy little content child with a warm spirit that radiates through her clear blue eyes. I would like to thank Karen for being the best mother possible to our little girl. I attribute Emma's Joy to her mother! Happy Birthday my princess. . .Daddy and Mommy love you beyond every tomorrow.

Mind Control

I am convinced that my child has super hero hearing after dark. I have come to this conclusion because every time I lie down she starts to fuss almost to the second. Are bed is not squeaky, so I think she must hearing a decrease in my respiration rate or something. The sad thing about it all is that it is a trap. . . she baits me. She fains cold or injured to lure me in like a fat kid to a twinkie. Sure enough being one of those kind of kids I take the bait everytime. As soon as I crack the door and she sees me she smiles a smile as if to say. . . HA It is so easy. . . Silly man. . .now come play with me. In reflection, I must admit that I am so scared by her control. Sure her mom controls me but I am used to that. She has tricked me into thinking it was all my idea years ago. I wonder if they have disscussions about it all when I am at work. That would explain why I am the one sent everytime. I bet if I snuck back into our bedroom, I would hear Karen laughing at me a little from beneath the sheets. HA It is so easy. . .etc. OH, wait I must go. . . Emma needs me.

Here are the ever so adorable pictures of my no so little girl . As I said before I just couldn't pick well . . . Emma couldn't pick which one she liked more.

Here is my happy sunshine girl

Look at this sweet little face

These next pictures I wanted to put make them an heirloom by having Emma wear some antique jewelry that has been passed down for four generations. Emma is wearing a round locket that was my grandmothers on my mothers side of my family and a ring on her left thumb that has a little diamond and the letter "L" for my maiden name and my father side of my family. I remember when I was a little girl I would more than often ask to where my mother's locket with our four family pictures in it. I would always feel so special and privilege to try on the locket I felt that it was even more special because it had been loved by ancestors before me. When I was six or seven my mother passed it down to me as a timeless Christmas gift

I love this little profile

the hunt!

Pure Bliss

This is Emma and Her Lamby that uncle Chris gave her for Easter

On Easter morning Emma had a little visit from E. Bunny. Of course, she wasn't sure what all the commotion was about but she enjoyed every bit of the attention and excitement. Emma was so lucky to get Two Easter dresses. ( Okay Okay Emma picked them out herself and I just couldn't say no partially because I never had an Easter Dress so I compensated for both of us) You"ll have to check out the coming up blog of Emma all dressed up for Easter. These are pictures of Emma's First Easter Egg hunt.

Emma with her Bed head of hair

ooo I hear some thing good in their

This blog is brought to you by the letter "D"

Yes, todays blog is brought to by the letter "D" as is in my

Darling. . .
Dearest . . .
Daughter . . .
Delightfully. . .
Dined on . . . the letter
"D"

Yes the letter "D" . I was organizing my scrapbooking supplies in hope that I might see the desk top of my ever so missed crafting table this afternoon, and Emma was delightfully picking through what ever scraps she could find merely only tasting each color she found. Then when my back was turned ever so slightly, she shoved a now drooling, damp, die-cut, of a dusty-blue letter "D" I of course started to retrieve what ever I could get from her mouth but in her rebellion she swallowed all but a tiny scrap of my 2 1/2 inch letter "D". Dagnabit @#*@ I thought well here's to extra fiber in her diet and I though the Dang "D" had taken its course when I could tell it was a little stuck . . . well she wasn't in distress, so what won't come up, must go down with delicous apple juice.

I had to chuckled a little to myself because all I could think of was Seseame Street and Cookie Monster eating the letter "D" which is ever more silly because Emma has to play with her Cookie Monster giggle toy ever time I change her diaper. Today we learned from Seseame Street a lesson we didn't want to learn! "C" is for crazy that's good enough for me! I hope everything goes through Digestive tract Okay

ode to joy

Do you know this Woman?


My wife is funny, genuine, patient, sincere, and just plain good. I miss her when I am away from the house everyday more than she will ever know. She is such a wonderful mother to our child and friend to me. I am never truly at peace until she is at rest. I love her more everyday. Words are weak to discribe my true gratitude and adoration for her. I will love her beyond every tomorrow. She is my JOY.

Laundry Day!

Sometimes things pile up, and we are lucky in such times to have such a great little helper! Who else would give us the chance to refold, as often as our little Emma does!
It is a lot harder to try and take pictures of such as active moving target. All the world is a game for our little one at this point. This is her 9 month Teddy Bear picture, compare and see how much our baby has grown.

The cutest little profile in all the world.
The expression on her face reminds us both of her Grandpa Allred. We love you Grandpa!
Emma will always be our little princess.
The Bluest Eyes. . .