Uncle Jay (Bradley’s brother) & Aunt Donette visited this Saturday and emailed us the following photos. Emma Kate was also thrilled to get a visit from Kaye’s (Alison’s sister) family – Tracy, Jake, and Megan.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It’s in between feedings and I finally have the chance to post more photos of Emma Kate. Sorry it has taken so long. Thanks to all of our friends who have posted tons of nice comments and sent many sweet emails! Emma Kate really feels loved!

Special Care Nursery:

Grandma Kirkland:

Grandpa Kirkland (my parents don’t always wear matching shirts!):

Nana (or is it Mimaw… not sure which she wants to be called):

Papaw Oran:

Black and white… by request (from Nana):

Alison (who is recovering quickly from surgery!) and Emma Kate pose in front of the giraffe:

Southern Regional has a beautiful nursery:

Room 2112…not such a comfortable place to sleep. Why don’t hospitals think about making a comfortable place for husbands? I’d gladly pay extra for a comfy bed! Mom didn’t complain that much, but her bed didn’t look comfortable either!:

Emma Kate, tucked snugly in her carseat, is about to be taken inside her home for the first time by her excited and anxious mom. Poor EK had to sit in this carseat for an hour at the hospital while she was hooked up to monitors to make sure was getting enough oxygen in her blood. And then she had to spend another hour in it for the ride home.:

The beautiful going-home-from-the-hospital outfit was way too big since we weren’t expecting a preemie. Thanks to Erin & Steve for the adorable frog outfit that fits perfectly.:

None of the nurses at the hospital had seen such blonde hair on a baby. I think at least 4 of them stopped by the NICU to see it.

Emma Kate praying…not sure if she praying that her dad quickly learns how to be a father…that she gets food soon… or that she will never have to spend another night in the hospital:

Sometimes she looks big and other times…well, she looks like a little package:

Proud Grandma drove a long way just to spend an hour with Emma Kate:

Yes, we stole the hospital blanket. I suggest you do, too, b/c they’re great for swaddling. The soft, stretchy, pretty ones you buy just don’t work as well:

 

Grandpa is wearing the same shirt he did the last time he saw her!:

 

After a full day at the hospital, Emma Kate was released to go home at about 7PM on August 18. After testing high on a jaundice screening, she had to have blood drawn to get an official reading. Fortunately, it came back low enough that the doctor didn’t make her stay a few more days. I think it’s something we’ll have to monitor for a week or so. Hopefully no more.

I’ll try to upload more photos and videos tomorrow!

Because she was 6 weeks early, Baby Emma Kate got to spend her first 10 hours in the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit), and then moved to the Special Care Nursery (aka Step Down Nursery). About 24 hours after she was born, she had already graduated to the regular nursery with full-term babies. She’s quite the little champ!

All hooked up to monitors:

 

Where did this blonde hair come from?

 

Getting her first physical:

 

The scary looking incubator:

 

Baby’s first feeding – they were expecting to have to put her on a feeding tube, but she was able to eat straight from the bottle right away:

 

Bed #12 in the Special Care Nursery:

 

See a video with her in a cheerleading pose (if you’re wondering, it’s because she was breech and her legs will straighten out in the next couple of days!)

And if you’re a grandparent (those are probably the only ones who care this much!), see a video of her first case of hiccups.

The first case of the hiccups:

Here’s the first time Alison got to hold Emma Kate. Alison was on the way to recovery and Emma Kate was in the NICU.

 (Click to see video)

Here’s a video I shot just after Emma Kate was born. They were setting her up in the NICU.

On a hot August day, after spending 9 days being monitored at the hospital in her mother’s womb, Emma Kate was born into this world. Weighing 5lbs 6oz, she exceeded expectations of a preemie. Already known as the cute blonde around the hospital, Emma Kate is ready to take on the world!

1 minute old: 

 

1 minute 15 seconds old:

 

Emma Kate meets mom and dad:

  

First time being held by mommy:

See the video

 

In daddy’s arms for the first time:

 

And then there were three: