Welcoming Natalee

 September 29, 2011 7:04 Natalee Taylor Haws was born at 25 weeks and 4 days.  On September 22 at 9:45 p.m. my water broke.  I couldn't believe it!  There were so many memories that came back to me when lost our first baby at 24 weeks.  I was it total shock.  I started thinking how this could happen again.  Wasn't going through this trial once be enough for a life time.  Brit rushed me to the hospital and after being examed by the doctor I was only dilated to a one and not having any contractions.  They quickly started an IV and gave me a medication called Magnesium Sulfate to stop any labor.  They air vac me to Thunderbird Medical Center where they had a level III NICU.  When I was there I learned that they would try to stop me from going into labor and try to keep the baby in the womb as long as Natalee tolerated it.  They gave me a steroid shot that night to help her lungs develop and they would give me a second steroid shot 48 hrs later.  So they wanted me to at minimum keep her in the womb for 48 hrs to get the steroids working for her.  I was on complete bed rest for 1 week in the hospital while they continued to monitor Natalee's heart rate and movements.  On the 8th day of bedrest Natalee's heart rate kept going up to the 170's and then down to about 115.  So they knew she was rolling on her umbilical cord and she was in stress.  At 6:45 the doctor came in and told be that she needed to be delivered.  So I was prepped for a c-section, had a spinal put in and Natalee was born 19 minutes later.  Her Apgars were 7 and 9 which is excellent for a baby being only 25 weeks gestation.  She has the black goggles on since she is having the light therapy for jaundice.

 Our Natalee came but she was still not fully developed, but she was still perfect.  She had ever detail to every body part.  She weighed 1 pound 7 oz and was only 11 1/2" long.  Look at her size of her arm to Brit's wedding ring.  They had to put a breathing tube in her mouth to help assist her while she get enough strength to be able to breath on her own.

 We were very excited that they didn't have the restrictions up at the hospital for young children to come and visit.  Here is Kenadee peeking in at Natalee during her first visit with her new sister.  She kept saying, "She is so tiny."

 Brit was right there with her every step of the way.  He was so excited to help with her diaper changes and even got to hold her for one split second while the nurse was zeroing out her bed scale.  He rubbed that one in!

 So small, but still so perfect.

 On Kenadee's second visit she got to touch her foot. 

 Of course Brylee wanted to touch her too!  She calls her "My baby Nayee".  Too sweet!

She has a lot of blond hair which both my girls had a lot of dark black hair.  Her eyes are not yet open and still have some swelling around them.  Of course she has my nose.  That is one strong gene!  Natalee will continue to be in the hospital until around Christmas time, which is close to her due date.

We have had so many people reach out to us, many phone calls and offering of service to us, and had multiple floral arrangements sent to us.  Thank you for all your love and support and especially for your prayers.  We have seen Natalee make huge strides and we owe it all to the many prayers that have been said for us and to our Heavenly Father and our Savior Jesus Christ. Happy Birthday Natalee.  We will be with you every step of the way, through all your miles stones you make, and through all the ups and downs.  We love you and can't wait to hold you and kiss those cheeks of your. You are our precious girl!