birth announcement-- Katherine Anna (Katie) is here!

[octmom]

(Edited to remove pictures)

Just popping in to share our good news. Katherine Anna (Katie) was born last Thursday, March 2 at 10:52 a.m. She surprised us all by coming a month early (my due date was April 1) and ignored our plans to meet her when I was scheduled for a c/s on March 21. I think this is probably only the beginning of many surprises this little girl has in store for us. :) Katie weighed 6 pounds, 15.5 ounces and measured 19.75 inches at birth. Since her big brother was overdue and weighed in at 10 pounds, 5.5 ounces at birth, we are still getting used to the idea of having a tiny baby in our house.

Big brother Sean is not sure what to make of his little sister yet. He definitely checks out where she is when he comes into the room and has expressed interest in holding her, though it seems he wants to hold her in her carseat. He is learning the concept of taking turns and has tugged at my heartstrings when he has asked for "Sean's turn," while I am holding Katie.

Because she is a preemie and has a case of jaundice, Katie is very sleepy most of the time. She's had weigh-ins and heel sticks nearly every day this week and we were prepared to have her re-admitted to the hospital on Wednesday for intense phototherapy. (We were sitting in the car in the hospital parking lot waiting for the call on my cell phone about her bilirubin levels.) It turned out that her bilirubin levels were within a range that we could treat her at home with a bili-blanket, so she was hooked up to one from 4:30 pm on Wednesday until 10 am this morning. Our biggest struggle is getting her to eat since she is so sleepy most of the time. I am nursing and pumping and we are offering an ounce of pumped milk in a bottle after she nurses. I am keeping my fingers crossed that this will pass and that she will become a champion nurser like her brother was as she gets a little older.

I'm attempting to attach a few pics of my dark-haired beauty and one of her very happy big brother when he came to see us at the hospital on the day Katie was born.

(Edited to remove pictures)


Jerilyn
DS, Sean 10/03
DD, Katie 3/06

"Baby makes days shorter, nights longer, home happier, and love stronger."

[aliceinwonderland]

Oooh, sweet pics! Welcome Katie!!

Jerilyn, she looks VERY alert!!And Sean, what a sweetheart!!

You have some gorgeous kids there :) Rest up (as much as you can) mama!

[Roleysmom]

She IS a beauty and your big boy is something special too! Congratulations on the arrival of Katie!

Paula
Mom to Roley Julia, January '02

[mommyj_2]

Congralutations!
Your DCs are adorable.

[brittone2]

Welcome Katie, and congratulations to Jerilyn and family!!

Katie is absolutely adorable! I love the pic of her sleeping...she looks so blissfully content :) She has a beautiful complection too!

Sean looks like he's glowing :) He's a charmer!!

I'm so glad that Katie gets to stay at home for her phototherapy...that must be a huge relief.

[s_gosney]

Jerilyn, she is beautiful! And Sean looks so happy. I'm sorry you're having those heartstring tugging moments though. I know that has to be hard. I'm glad to hear Katie didn't have to be re-admitted and I'll be hoping and praying for you all that she'll get more alert and able to nurse more soon. Take care!

[murpheyblue]

Congratulations Jerilyn! Wow, a month early! She's a beauty as is her big brother. Enjoy your bundle of joy!

[Sillygirl]

Congratulations Jerilyn! I am so thrilled for you and your daughter is just beautiful. Isn't it wonderful that Sean is so excited to be a big brother?

Beautiful baby girl with a beautiful name. . . ;-)

[g-mama]

Jerilyn,

She is absolutely gorgeous and Sean is a cutie pie himself! Hope the jaundice clears up quickly. Enjoy your new little bundle of joy. Thanks for sharing the pics.


~Kristen

Paolo 11-00
Benjamin 8-03
Marco 12-05

[mmaimp]

Welcome Katie! She is beautiful!!

[newbelly2002]

Congrats on the new little bundle! She looks precious as does big brother. A month early? Wow. Now that took you by surprise I bet!

Hope the babymoon continues to be a blissful peaceful time.
Paula
Mama to Dante, 8/02
And 2 sweet peas in an April pod

[mudder17]

Wow, what a wonderful surprise! :) She's beautiful and so alert, especially for a preemie, but even for a full-term baby. Sean looks very happy and proud to be the older brother.

Congratulations!


Eileen

http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/candle.gif for Leah
http://www.gynosaur.com/assets/ribbons/ribbon_sapphire_24m.gif

http://tickers.baby-gaga.com/t/catcatcvi20040222_-6_Kaya+is.png
Kaya's a cousin! 10/1/05, 5lb13oz

[jbowman]

Your kids are gorgeous, Jerilyn! I love the pictures!

Congratulations, I'm so happy for you and your family! :) :) :)

[mclianne]

She's beautiful! Good luck with the breastfeeding, hope it goes well for you. Sean looks SO proud. Good job Mama!

Love the name... ;)

[annasmom]

Jerilyn, Congratulations! She is beautiful! And, do not worry too much about the bf'ing. My 32 weeker, 3 1/2 pound Anna became a great nurser after only expressed breast milk for 3 months! I know about sleepy preemies, she will come around! Best of luck to you!

[jd11365]

Wow, it seems like yesterday you announced your pregnancy! Congratulations, she's beautiful!

[wencit]

Oh my goodness! What a nice surprise! Congratulations, Jerilyn. Katie is beautiful, and I hope her bilirubin levels decline quickly.

So happy for you!

[Wife_and_mommy]

Congrats and what awesome pics. Thanks for sharing. :)


Elizabeth
mommy to DD('04) and DS('06)

http://www.gynosaur.com/assets/ribbons/ribbon_gold_12m.gif[/img][/url]

[lovin2shop]

How exciting, what an early surpise! Glad that you are both home doing well. Welcome Katie!

[tarynsmum]

Congratulations!!! She's such a gorgeous baby! Sean's a cutie too!!

~Heather

[psophia17]

Great job, Mama!!! Congratulations to you and your family, and welcome to the world, Katie!

It sounds to me like Miss Katie knew exactly what she was doing all along :)

[calebsmama03]

Congratulations Jerilyn! What a sweet little angel she is :)
Lynne
Mommy to C 3/03
http://www.gynosaur.com/assets/ribbons/ribbon_emerald_18m.gif[/img][/url]
And Miss Purple, 5/05

[lfp2n]

Hi Jerilyn

Wow, congratulations to you all, she is beautiful. I hope the jaundice clears up soon, the bili blanket is such a pain.

Hoping for a viewing soon at the swimming pool! (PS were you and Susie in Delivery at the same time!)

Lucy DD 3/03

[bcky2]

what a cutie! she is so small :) her big brother looks like a happy one. congrats.

[s7714]

She's adorable! Congratulations!

Jennifer
Mommy to
DD 3/03
DD 6/05

Calling fellow BBB SoCal moms...we'd love to meet you!
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/babybargainssocal/

[wendmatt]

Oh Jerilyn she's beautiful. Such huge congratulations to you all, hope she gets the nursing thing down soon.

[american_mama]

Jerilyn, I'm amazed! Wow! I think you're right about your sweetie having surprises up her sleeve. No way does she look less than 7 pounds. I am so, so happy for you. Let me know if there is anything I can do; I was just thinking of you today when talking to a neighbor who is pregnant and I am having a mild case of baby lust, so I'd be happy to help. Congratulations!

[ribbit1019]

Congrats Jerilyn!

She is gorgeous and looks great for being so early! All that hair too!

Hugs to big brother Sean!

Christy
Maddy born 6/9/04
http://lilypie.com/baby2/040609/3/4/0/-5/.png

Jarred born 3/8/06
http://b1.lilypie.com/KH1pm5/.png
Co-Owner Ribbit Baby

Frogs are lucky, they eat what bugs them.

[Corie]

Jerilyn,

Congratulations to you and your family!!

Katie is just gorgeous! I'm loving her full-head
of dark hair!! :)

And, that picture of Sean is just wonderful !! What
a fantastic smile on his face! You can see the
happiness in his eyes! :)

[heidiann]

welcome to the world katie!
your little ones are adorable.

Heidi
Mom to Jillian 10/20/05

[TaChapm]

Congratulations! She is absolutely adorable!

Tara
Mommy to Jackson 11-10-02
Tyler William 6-9-05
OMG!!! Baby #3 Due September 5, 2006!

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http://bd.lilypie.com/UEZ3m8.png

[kaylinsmommy2]

Awww, Jerilyn, she's just gorgeous! Congratulations!!

Caroline
mommy to Kaylin 6/5/04

http://tickers.baby-gaga.com/t/bunbunadb20040605_-9_Kaylin+is+now.png[/img][/url]

[jk3]

Congratulations! She's beautiful!

Jenn
DS 6/3/03

[barbarhow]

Jerilyn-She is gorgeous. And she sure looks plenty big for an early baby! Sean looks like a happy older brother. Congratulations and thanks for sharing!
Barbara-mom to Jack 3/27/03, a Red Sox fan
and Anna 5/12/05, my little Yankee fan!

[tina-t]

She looks adorable! Congratulations!

[hez]

Congratulations, Jerilyn :) :) :)

Welcome, Katie!!!

[new_mommy25]

Congratulations on your little beauty Jerilyn! She is gorgeous!

[kijip]

Well, I have to love a name like Katie. It is really a versatile name. Kate for tomboys (me as a kid), Katie for personal nickname and then Katherine to get her in the boardroom or Congress or to look nice on the cover of her first book!

Welcome Katie! What a cute set of siblings.

[tarabenet]

Congratulations! She is beautiful and Sean is adorable!

[pb&j]

Congrats, Jerilyn! Katie and Sean are both adorable. :)


-Ry,
mom to Emma, stillborn 11/04/04
and Max, 01/05/06

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http://b1.lilypie.com/aKGqm5/.png[/img] ([img)

[caheinz]

Congrats, Jerilyn!!!!!! (and the whole family!)

She's beautiful -- and Sean looks thrilled to be a big brother!

Still amazed that she snuck out so early, but thrilled to hear that a bili blanket and some pumping are the worst of the troubles! (Hope she perks up soon!)

[tarahsolazy]

Welcome little Katie! We are so glad you've come!

Such a sweet little baby!

[dr mom]

Welcome to the lovely Katie, and congratulations! Sean looks every inch the proud big brother. :)

[zuzu]

Congratulations, Jerilyn! Welcome, Katie.
Her pictures are beautiful, and Sean looks like a proud big brother. :)

Melissa, mom to Sarah (5/03)

[ErinMC]

Congrats Jerilyn! Welcome to Katie. We had similar bilirubin issues when DS was born and it's such a relief when it passes and they become more alert.

Erin

Mom to Chase Feb. 04

http://bd.lilypie.com/EjO1m5/.png

[papal]

Welcome Katie!!!! Congratulations Jerilyn! She is just beautiful!!

[MarisaSF]

Katie and Sean are just precious, Jerilyn. Huge congrats!

[KrisM]

What a cutie! Congratulations!

[starrynight]

Wow congrats!! She is beautiful :).

[RwnMayfair]

Congratulations to you all! And welcome to the world, Katie! :) She's a very pretty girl, and Sean looks very happy. Congratulations again! :)

-Melissa

Taran, November 20, 2003
Elowen, August 20, 2005

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[daisyandacorn]

She's gorgeous! Congratulations!
:) Susan

[Dcclerk]

Congratulations, Jerilyn! Your family is simply gorgeous, and wow, my one-year-old DD is jealous of all Katie's hair! :)

[CiderLogan]

She's gorgeous! Congratulations!!

Jenny
Mom to Julia, 8/03
...and another GIRL due 5/29/06!

[Expecting-girl]

She is just beautiful! Congrats!!

[TraciG]

AHHH congrats, adorable pictures !

[TraciG]

AHHH congrats, adorable pictures !

[buddyleebaby]

Congratulations and welcome to your little sweetie!

[Sarah1]

Congrats Jerilyn! Hope little Katie starts eating like a champ soon. Sounds like you are all adjusting well. :)

[houseof3boys]

Congratulations Jerilyn. I'm sorry I missed the pics, but I have no doubt she is gorgeous. :-)

[Puddy73]

Congratulations, and welcome to Katie!

Jennifer
Mommy to Annabelle 9/08/03 & Finn 10/31/05

"If we couldn't laugh, we would all go insane." - Jimmy Buffett

[mamato1]

Shoot, I missed the pics. I am sure she is just beautiful. Congratulations!

Chris

Mama to Brendan (aka Boomer) 01/04


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