Vance Tales

It has officially been 2 months since I’ve written anything. That is a good indication at how busy a baby will make you. Katie is about 7.5 weeks old right now and is a pure joy. Right now she is in the floor playing and cooing and just being cute. I love being home with her throughout the week and can not imagine having to send her to daycare. I ended up having to have a c-section and then had a fever of 102 while I was in the hospital. For that reason I had to have a ton of antibiotics through an IV (I had the IV inserted 4 or 5 different times–I lost count) before I could go home. We were in the hospital for 3 days. Katie was and is beautiful. She was born with a head full of dark hair. She was 6 lbs. 10 oz. and 19.5 inches long.  Now she is probably somewhere a little over 9 lbs. and has chubby cheeks and is finally starting to get some rolls on her legs. Last night she went 6 hours between feedings and I was so thankful for the sleep. The days when I was only getting an hour at a time are still too fresh in my memory. I have to be honest and say that she has not been the easiest baby so far or maybe it is just that I don’t know any better. She has a very sensitive stomach and we have recently switched to formula and bottles completely and it seems to be helping some. She cries a lot because her stomach hurts. Everyone keeps telling me it will get better and it is, but it is horrible to watch your baby suffer and not be able to do anything for her. We have dealt with a bad diaper rash that we think was caused my all the antibiotics I had to have when she was born. She was allergic to vitamin drops we gave her and broke out in whelps. That was scary. Despite all her difficulties she is precious and Matt and I can not imagine our lives without her.  So far we have traveled to Olive Branch to visit my grandparents and we are considering another trip to Missouri to see the other set. Today we had her baby dedication at church. It is so nice to have a church willing to join us as we raise Katie to know Christ and His wonderful love and sacrifice for us. Mine and Matt’s main wish/want for Katie’s life is that she will one day believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross for her sins, that she will call him Lord of her life and that she will devote her life to following His will for her.  Thank you to everyone who has been praying for us as we take this wonderful journey. We are so grateful. Love you all…

Well, as of tomorrow we will have only 1 week until Katie Elise Vance will be here. I am being induced on August 20. We have to be at the hospital at 4:00 a.m. to get the process started. Good thing Matt and I are morning people!

We are as ready as we’ll ever be, I guess. The other night Matt made me smile. His eyes got really big and he said, “I need the Cliff’s Notes on how to take care of a baby!” Ha! I thought that was so cute. I told him I didn’t think they made those and that he’d just have to figure it out as we go.

We had 2 showers. One was hosted by 2 of my friends from church and the other by my nurses at work. They were both wonderful and Katie has received so many nice things. We have most of everything washed and put away. Our bags for the hospital are packed. We’re just waiting now.

I’m still working. Matt and I have been blessed so much that I will be able to stay home and keep Katie instead of putting her in daycare. So…my replacement started in our department on Monday and I plan on working until right before Katie’s born in order to train her.

I have been able to rest some in the afternoons when I get home, but by the time night rolls around I can’t sleep! I think it must be God’s way of preparing me for the multiple night time feedings that I will have with Katie.

Thanks to everyone for their concern, love and thoughtfulness. We’ll let you know when she’s here!