Another big day!

This is from Katie's first doctor's visit. Katie didn't have to get any shots on this visit, but she cried because the doctor cauterized her belly button (where the umbilical cord had fallen off). (A big thanks to Aunt Brenda, Patty, Judean, & Christina for the carseat!). :)

Katie's first visit to meet her Grandpa Don (Kevin's dad). She looks so little in his arms!
Kevin with her Uncle Daniel (he's holding her) and Uncle Jon. Uncle Daniel is a fantastic soccer player & basketball player (although Kevin says he SHOULD be playing football because he's good at that too). Between him & Kevin, Katie should have no trouble on the soccer field! Uncle Jon is a sweet guy. He can teach Katie to watch all the good kids videos. :)Grandma Cathy (Kevin's stepmom) and Uncle Jon with Katie and me.

Cathy & Don have been very good to us - Cathy is one of the most thoughtful people I know. She always remembers birthdays and special occasions (I hope Katie can be more like her than me in that sense). Don is super smart and I hope Katie got more of his mathematical abilities than mine!

Who let the blogs out?

Ugh, who can believe it? Five days old and already a remote hog!

Katie & Daddy - it's nice to know SOME people in the house can get a tan.
Aunt Amy is so awesome to come over and help me out with stuff on the weekends. Katie loves her Aunt Amy and misses her when she's gone.
This just makes me laugh. It seems impossible that someone so tiny can yawn SO big!

Baby's first bath!

To be honest, it's her SECOND bath since they gave her a bath at the hospital - but it's her first bath since being home with us. :) I am just going to admit it - I was too scared to give her a bath, so my mom did it. Poor baby SCREAMED the whole time - and yes, we got it on video to show at her 18th birthday. :)
Grandpa Roger & Katie. He actually did get to see her before she left the hospital, but she fussed at that time (because I took her out of the bili-blanket that she loved for him to hold her). You'll notice she's wearing a blue, puppy themed outfit. My mom & Aunt April make a point of NOT buying pink, girly stuff. We appreciate it AND the pink, girly stuff too. :)

Going home

Finally on day 4, the pediatrician said Katie's jaundice had dropped enough that she could go home (thank goodness!). Kevin still wasn't feeling good, so he brought me breakfast and laid on the bed in my room until they said we could leave. It's too bad you can't really see Katie's face, because even though she's so young, you can see that she holds her mouth just like Kevin does when she's sleeping.

All dressed to go home! My mom got her ready in this cutie pink dress from Kevin's mom. The bonnet she's wearing in this pic is one my Grandma Thelma made. It's made from a handkerchief; the tradition is that the baby is supposed to wear it home from the hospital when they're born, then carry it in their wedding later. Katie didn't get to wear it home because it was SO windy that day. We were afraid her head would be cold.
Miss Katie - check out the socks (from my mom). They look like little ballet slippers. :)
So the hat doesn't match the dress (in style, I mean), but it's warm. Kevin, however, would tell you that Ohio State items match ANY outfit. :)
Finally home! I was trying to cut the bands off her wrist & ankle without cutting her, which was terrifying. I did manage to NOT cut her. lol

Katie - Day 3

Even though the title of this post is "Day 3" it really is the events of day 2 going into day 3 at the hospital. We found out on day 2 that Katie had jaundice (although day 2 in the hospital for me was just past Katie's 24 hours of life outside the womb, lol). The pediatrician was concerned because her bilirubin level was really high for her being so young (she should have been in the 40th percentile at 24 hours old, but was in the 95th percentile. By the numbers, she should have been around a 4 at 24 hours old, but was an 11). They took her out of my room on the evening of day 2 and kept her under the ultraviolet lights until some time the next day, when they switched her to the bili-blanket where she stayed until the morning of day 4 when we were finally able to go home (I saw "we" because Miami Valley Hospital was pretty great to allow me to stay in a free room with her on the night of day 3, after I was discharged. Katie was in the free room with me; the nursing staff just came in periodically to check her and draw blood).

Katie - Day Two

Katie's first professional picture - with a name like Katie Holmes, it's no wonder that she knows to smile when the cameras are around! lol

Amy has a very sweet friend named Katie (who was a HUGE influence in the naming of this Katie), that sent us the blanket in this picture. She had it and a Bible monogrammed with Katie's initials.
Me, feeling somewhat like normal, after I got a shower and put some makeup on! This was JUST before they found out Katie had a high level of jaundice, and shortly after took her away to lay under the ultraviolet lights (she LOVED the little "tanning bed").
Nana and Katie (Kevin's mom). She wasn't able to be with us the day before due to work. She and Kendra (Kevin's sister) have been so good to us, both before Katie's arrival and after. We are very thankful for such wonderful, supportive family!
Aunt Kendra and Cousin Haden with Katie. Kendra is one of the sweetest, kindest people you will ever meet. She is super creative and can do amazing things with a flower bed. I hope Katie inherited some of her creativity and green thumb! Haden is Katie's only cousin (so far!) - he just turned 3 (the same day Katie was due, April 21). He loves his cousin "Kitty" as he calls her.

The story...

Since people have been asking to hear "the story" (i.e., the story of Katie's delivery & birth), I thought I'd post it here for all to read. If you don't want to know the gory details - stop reading now! lol

Kevin & I went to the baby doctor Monday, April 28. Since Katie was due April 21, the doctor had told us that if the baby wasn't here by the next Monday, she'd want to induce (and to be honest, I was pretty tired of being pregnant by then too). So April 28 at 1:30 p.m. the doctor told us to come back to the hospital that night at 9 p.m. to begin the process.

We got there around 9:15 p.m. and got checked in. My mom & sister went with us to the room where I'd deliver, so my mom would know where to go the next day. Kevin & I had already decided that Amy would stay with me that evening, so he could get a good night's sleep and be with me the next night, when the baby was here. Kevin & my mom stayed around long enough to watch the nurse hook up all the monitors and start my I.V. (which hurt like you wouldn't believe - and hey, I can take a needle!), then went on home. Around 10 p.m., the nurse came back to start me on the "gel" that would help soften & dilate the cervix. This wasn't TOO painful, other than the fact that the nurse "had a hard time finding the cervix." After that, I was free to try & get some sleep, but it was tough because any moving at all on my part would cause the fetal heart monitor to lose the baby's heartbeat. Poor Amy was probably MORE uncomfortable, trying to sleep on the chair-cot in the room.

Around 2 a.m., the nurse was back to insert more gel. Again, the gel caused less pain than she did inserting it! lol But that was NOTHING compared to the pain I felt when they started the Pitocin around 6:30 the morning of April 29. At first, it wasn't bad - but progressed VERY quickly to pretty intense contractions. I was still only dilated to a 2, which was too early for the epidural, so I asked the nurse about other pain management options. She said I could have Nubain any time I wanted. Kevin came in around 7:15 a.m. so he and Amy got to sit and watch me try to tough it out, which didn't last long. An hour later, I was done being tough, and asked for the pain meds. The Nubain affected me in a way I never dreamed it would. It was like I could feel it flow through my veins, making me weak and unable to hold my eyes open, so I slept - OTHER than when the contractions hit, because I could still feel every bit of that pain. Amy & Kevin were laughing at me because it was like I'd be dead asleep, wake up in intense pain, and fall dead asleep as soon as the contraction was over. I think this went on for about 2 hours (although you'd have to ask Amy, Kevin, or my mom to be sure) when they decided to give me the epidural, because I was finally dilated to a 4. The epidural was like heaven, because then not only was I sleeping, but I was totally pain free. After that, I didn't really wake up until around 1:30 or 2:00 p.m., and was dilated to 8. While I was sleeping, they catheterized me (twice), broke my water, worked on getting the baby to turn, etc. (I should have mentioned - we knew the baby was head down, but face up. They wanted her to be face down before delivery could happen, otherwise my OB wanted to do a c-section). The funny thing was, I woke up to Kevin's snoring, since he was catching a nap on the chair-cot. lol But I had slept SO deeply, I was CONVINCED it was Wednesday.

The next hour wasn't bad - I still wasn't fully dilated, which was frustrating the two nurses in the room. Amy & Kevin left the hospital so Amy could go home & get a shower, and so Kevin could go to our house to let our dogs out. While they were gone, the nurses were having me push to get the baby down, and my mom was the only one in the room with me. We really didn't know what was going on then, so my mom called Kevin to come back quick, thinking he might be about to miss the delivery. When the nurses decided I wasn't dilated enough to deliver, they took a break. So I chatted with my mom, and she sneaked me some Cheez-It's, :) and I saw my grandma & aunt who had been sitting in the waiting area. Kevin & Amy got back, so my mom walked out with my grandma to visit with other family, which left only Kevin in the room with me when the one nurse decided she'd had enough, and it was time to have the baby...only she didn't tell me, so I just assumed they were trying to get the baby down like before, because I STILL wasn't dilated to a 10. It was around this time that I realized I was able to FEEL certain areas, because the nurse was doing UNSPEAKABLE things to me to allow the baby to come out (which probably saved me from having to have an episiotomy, but still). I couldn't feel the contractions, but I could feel what she was doing, and was able to feel my legs again. I was never scared to deliver the baby, until this moment...when I became fully aware that I was about to deliver the baby, and be able to feel it all. Suddenly, I'm a mess - saying over and over to Kevin "I can't do this...I can't do this!" And suddenly, he's super-husband, saying "yes you can, you'll be fine." The next thing I know, they're calling my OB to come down, and asking me if I want my mom in the room. We had already decided that my mom would be in there, thinking that Kevin might not make it through the gross parts of the delivery, but at that moment, I didn't care WHO was in there. lol Finally though, someone got a "yes" out of me - and my mom made it in the room JUST behind my OB, who was barely there in time to catch the baby. Suddenly, I'm a million tears, just because I was SO relived that the baby was delivered (and p.s. it didn't hurt NEARLY as bad as what that nurse had been doing to me earlier). All I heard was Kevin say "Ten fingers and ten toes!" then they put Katie on my chest. I couldn't see her face, but I could see her little feet that she was kicking in the air. When they carried her to the warming table to clean her up, my OB (and all the nurses in the room) said "look at those cheeks!" lol Only 40 minutes of pushing, and Katie made it into the world at 4:03 p.m.

What I didn't realize until much later that evening, when it was just Katie & me in the hospital - she was totally worth it.

The post you've all been waiting for...

Miss Katie Lauren Holmes joined the family on April 29, 2008 at 4:03 p.m. She weighed 8 lbs, 1 oz., and has blonde hair & blue eyes. We are thrilled she is here! The Lord has truly blessed us with a sweet baby girl! Thank you to everyone for their prayers and well-wishes.

The all new Holmes family

Katie & Daddy (poor guy was sick the day of delivery, and went home to bed after Katie's arrival. He ended up at the doctor's office the next day, and couldn't see Katie without wearing a mask. I felt so sad for him, because those first couple of days were really special).
Grandma Starr - can you tell she's thrilled that Katie finally made her appearance?! (Grandpa Roger was also sick this day. He was at the hospital, but stayed in the waiting area so he wouldn't chance giving Katie what he had).
Proud Aunt Amy - she stayed with me at the hospital the whole night before they induced, only running home to get a shower before Katie arrived. I was so thankful to have her there.

She's an awesome sister - Katie is a lucky girl to have such a wonderful aunt!
Katie & Uncle Drew - Drewbug left work early to get to see Katie.

Let's just hope she doesn't learn to speed like him when it's time for her to drive!

Katie & my Grandma Sowders
Katie & my cousin Ashley

(doesn't Katie look HUGE with Ashley holding her???)
Katie & my aunt April (my mom's sister)
Crib card

Ohio State Football!

We LOVE Ohio State football, and try to get to a game every year (but it's TOUGH to get tickets). This is from the Ohio State/Illinois game 2005 - Ohio State won. :)

Yes, we made the trip to the dreaded rival, Michigan. It turns out they have a nice stadium - but maybe we only thought that because Ohio State beat them that day. :)
We go to a lot of football signings - this is Kevin with Ohio State center, Nick Mangold. He now plays for the Jets.
I always said that if I got to meet this guy, I'd do this pose (I just never assumed I'd be 9 months pregnant when it happened!). He's Ohio State defensive end Vernon Gholston. He was just selected by the NY Jets as the #6 player in the NFL draft. And his arms are massive. Just a pic of the jersey my mom & dad framed for us. It's signed by Santonio Holmes, former Ohio State wide receiver who now plays for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Our girls

Here are some pics of our girls. This is our first dog, Buckeye. She's a collie we got from a rescue shelter in West Virginia.

Me with Buckeye - and no, we are NOT wearing matching bows (it just looks like it!). lol
This is our girl Scarlett. She's a sheltie that we got from a rescue shelter in Michigan.
Buckeye & Scarlett the day of Scarlett's spay surgery. We thought we'd really have to watch Buckeye, thinking she'd be too rough with Scarlett after her surgery, but it was like Buckeye knew she didn't feel good so she took a nap with her.
Both girls playing the back yard.
I love these pics of our girls in the snow from the "near-blizzard" March 2008. While we were happy to have this be the last snow of the season, the dogs were sad because they LOVED playing in it!
Don't mock me for this pic - I was eight months pregnant, with nearly no makeup on, and had just finished shoveling off the deck.