Happy Thanksgiving!

Cade and I had a great Thanksgiving weekend! We have so much to be grateful for during this time. This year was our turn to go down to Arizona and spend Thanksgiving with Cade's family. However, with Emma in the hospital, that wasn't possible. So Grandma and Grandpa Close came here to spend it with us and see Emma! It was so fun to have them here and they were so happy to be able to see and hold their first grandchild. We spent a lot of time at the hospital!

Doesn't grandma look so great! Emma had fun being held by her. We finally got her to wake up enough to show grandma her beautiful eyes and fun expressions.


This is Emma's new bed (well, she's been in it for about a week). She is over 4 and 1/2 pounds and is able to keep her own body temperature just fine! We are so happy she is growing so great now!


We did have fun doing other activities besides going to the hospital. We went to A Christmas Carol in 3D and had a blast. Don't we look so stylish?



Things I am especially grateful for this season:
1. Family and friends and their support and love
2. The power of prayer
3. The peace and comfort I get from priesthood blessings
4. Life itself...it is so precious

Two weeks old and growing!

Emma is a little trooper. She is doing really well. The nurse told me today that she weighs 3 lbs 14 oz...only a couple ounces and she's 4 lbs! That is very exciting, especially because babies generally lose weight in the first week or two and then start gaining after that. She is doing better with breast feeding, but is still trying to get the hang of it. She is completely off of her IV's which is great...it means that she is getting all of her feedings through the gavage tube and breast feeding. The better she continues to nurse, the less she will need with the tube and the sooner she gets to come home with us! (This is her name tag by her bed. No, Mom...it's not a fat ballerina :)).

This is the bed she's been in the last week. The nurses just say it's a much better bed for her to grow because it keeps the heat in real well and it remains quiet so she can get good sleep.

She does have an oxygen tube to help her a little. They say she'll probably get off that soon, but whatever she needs to keep her growing and healthy! I'm so grateful for amazing medical care and nurses.

This is the scale we use now to weigh her before and after feedings. The goal is that she gains enough weight after nursing that she doesn't need anymore through the tube. We are happy that Emma is growing and still healthy! We can't wait to bring her home!

"Sugar and Spice and Everything Nice"

My Mom and sisters threw me a baby shower. It was supposed to happen the day after I got admitted into the hospital. Needless to say, it couldn't happen that day anymore and so it was postponed. It was kind of late notice, so I'm happy with how many family and friends came and the way it turned out!

The amazing ladies who put on the shower...

The theme was so cute and they did such a good job making everything look so great! The invitations, decorations, food and everything was amazing!




This little lamby is Cade's all time favorite thing we have gotten for Emma...pretty sure he thinks it's his :).

My Mom hand sewed a quilt that turned out beautiful! She spent SO much time and effort on it and I love that she did that for me and Emma!


My lovely sisters whom I love...Need I say anything more? :)

Cute Little Emma...one week down!

Our first family pictures! You can see that Daddy works so hard...he definitely isn't getting enough sleep. We love our little girl and can't get enough of visiting her! I go for a couple hours every day and then Cade and I go every night together. Emma is doing really well. She has been breathing on her own now since day three. Her heart, lungs, brain, everything is really healthy. She does have to be under the lights for jaundice, but she is doing very well. Just needs to keep growing and getting bigger! It may take a while, but we are happy she is healthy and doing well!



This is what she looks like when she is under the lights. Much cuter without the head gear :).


She LOVES her pacifier. The nurse was impressed with how well she could suck for her age. I got to nurse her for the first time today. It was great!

She loves her pacifier SO much she even sleeps ON it...


Yep, she's probably going to be a daddy's girl. She loves when daddy holds her.


Grandma Bleak's first time holding her.

She is finally here!

Emma Bentley Close
November 3, 2009 7:40 a.m.
3 lbs 6 oz
Cute as can be :)

After a long time waiting...little Emma is finally with us! We are so happy we made it to 34 weeks. She will be spending some time in the NICU, although we are not sure exactly how long.

I had to have a C-section and I was very nervous that morning. I couldn't get my body to calm down and stop shaking. I was so grateful that I had such a wonderful husband by my side to tell me everything was going to be okay.








She is so adorable and we are so excited to have her in our lives!

Update on Me and Emma...

Emma will be born Tuesday morning (Nov. 3rd)! I went in for an ultrasound this last Thursday and my fluid levels were low. Then they measured Emma again (last time they measured her was 2 1/2 weeks ago), and she measured in at 3 lbs 2 oz which means she hasn't been growing as she should be. So on Tuesday I will be 34 weeks and they will perform a C-section that morning. We were hoping it wouldn't have to be a C-section, but with how little she is, it is much safer to not put her little body and heart through that trauma because most babies that little can't handle the contractions. Cade and I are grateful we made it to 34 weeks because the doctor's have said multiple times that babies at that week do a lot better! Because she is so little, she will have to spend some time in the NICU. How long she will be in there is unknown, so we'll continue to take things one day at a time. We are excited to be parents soon! Thank you again for the continued support and prayers by each of you! Cade and I truly appreciate it!

Top 10 signs you've been in the hospital TOO long:

1. You dream you're a fugitive, escaping from the hospital
2. You've memorized the weekly menu
3. You know each nurse by name, but some don't recognize you
4. You catch up on and repeat all the Cosby Show & Full House episodes you missed as a kid
5. You've seen the weather from the window change from summer to fall to winter
6. You've memorized the same daily speech from all 5 doctors
7. You haven't missed a day in your journal for 3 weeks
8. You have time to google Halloween costume ideas for your husband
9. The flowers & helium balloons die before you are out
10.You have time to make lists like this!