Abigail Grace

made her big debut on Thursday!

I cant believe I am finally an aunt. I mean, I guess I have been since Ken and I got married, we have 2 nieces and a nephew that I absolutely adore, but this time is different.

When Jessica and I were little, we played mommy to our cabbage patch dolls constantly. Even when we werent playing directly with them (which wasnt often), we were always making plans for little Cornelle Heather (her's) and Lucy Marie (mine!)

All I ever dreamt about as a child was growing up to be a mom. And an aunt (and a babysitter, school teacher, and bus driver...can you tell I have always had a "thing" for loving children?) But I digress. I have dreamt about the day my sister would have a baby since long before I ever had my own. And then after having my own, I prayed and prayed that someday she would too.

And so the story begins of sweet little Abby.

Thursday I got a message at work from Rob that Jessica was in labor, that her water had broken, and that they were on their way to a different hospital. (The one that she was supposed to deliver in, the very one where I delivered my own little stinkers, I mean angels, doesnt have a NICU, and since her water broke 6 weeks early they wanted her to transfer to one where the NICU nurses would be waiting by her bedside during delivery to care for the baby) By the time I got there only about an hour and a half later, she had already dilated to 3-4 centimeters! And within another hour she was at 8, and not much later, we were in labor. ("We?" you might be asking? You see, Jessica decided at the last minute that I could stay in the delivery room and as I was watching my sister experience the miracle of birth, I could feel myself holding my breath just as she was while pushing the baby out. My breathing (or lack of) though wasnt helping push a baby out, but that is beside the point. Totally beside the point!)

She did awesome! After only 4 pushes, baby Abby was here and doing great! She had a little trouble catching her first breaths, and had to be rushed to the NICU, but she is doing awesome. Heart is working great, lungs are working great, and so far is eating like a champ!

Jessica is home, catching up on sleep and trying to get the house ready in between visits to the NICU. She is still in shock, but loves this baby like nothing else. (If you are a mother and reading this, I think you know EXACTLY what I am talking about!!)

Because of health risks, I have not been able to spend any time with the 2 of them in the NICU, but I am "patiently" waiting until I can get my hands on the little sweetheart. I am praying so hard everything continues to go well and Jessica can bring our, okay okay her, baby home soon.