So much to update! Oh my, how time flies!!!

Well, it has been a very long time since I've updated. Obviously, I'm not still pregnant. :) I was induced on December 21st at 2am and we welcomed Sydney Violet Kelly on December 22nd at 2:10am (a little over 24 hours after being induced). It was definitely an experience of a lifetime! The most joyful part was seeing Sydney for the first time. She was born at 6 pounds, 10 ounces and 19.75 inches long. We were discharged home on Christmas Eve and we were blessed to be able to have Christmas at home with her.

Unfortunately, Sydney's jaundice got worse and she was readmitted to the hospital on Christmas night. She was treated under the bilirubin lights and sent home the next day. The jaundice eventually went away.

The first few weeks of her life were definitely challenging, trying to adjust to "life with baby". I was so thankful that Kyle was able to take off of work for a couple of weeks to help out. He is such a great dad. We were also fortunate to have Kyle's parents here for her birth and the week following and my parents here the week of New Year's. Both sets of parents were great in keeping us fed and the house cleaned. My mom was a rock star, helping me with nighttime and daytime feedings, diaper changings, and allowing me to get things done around the house and some rest while Kyle was back at work.

Sydney was having a pretty difficult time during her feedings and would spit up a lot and cry and arch her back. She would not let us lay her on her back to sleep or if she did, it was only because she was too exhausted to fight us. She always did quite well in her swing and her car seat (because she was sitting upright). Kyle and I just thought it was possibly colic and we just thought that we would have to deal with it. After a routine checkup with Syd's pediatrician, he was sure she had reflux. He gave us a prescription for Zantac and although Syd HATES the taste of it, it has worked like a charm! She is a much happier baby now.

Sydney unfortunately got pretty sick when she was 5 weeks old and upon bringing her to the pediatrician, they discovered that she had RSV. She was admitted to the hospital again and we spent 6 days there while they observed and treated her symptoms. Poor little girl was miserable. She had difficulty breathing and a lot of congestion causing her to cough a lot then choke because her little body wasn't strong enough to cough up the mucus on her own. She wasn't eating well, so she was on IVs the whole time. They kept having to suction her nose and mouth with this long scary thing....I cringed every time they did it to her because she would scream so loudly. We are finally home now and she is doing VERY well. She still has a lingering cough, but nothing like it was.

My 29th birthday was February 3rd and we didn't do anything to celebrate. I was sick (probably from the same viral infection that Sydney had) and I also had a pretty bad eye infection. It was so bad that I was embarrassed to be seen in public! I am feeling better now and my eye is healing nicely.

I have been fortunate enough to be home with Sydney and plan to go back to work on February 15th. We plan to have Sydney in daycare two days a week - Mondays and Thursdays - as these are the days that I'm planning to work. I'm hoping that Sydney doesn't get sick again, but that's the chance you take when you place your child in daycare. Hopefully if she does get sick, it won't be as bad as when she has RSV. She's probably the only child we know that has been hospitalized twice since her birth before 6 weeks of age. Oh well, it will be a great story to tell her when she's older.

I am currently working on getting the prep work done so that we can have Sydney baptized in Louisiana in late spring. Hopefully it will all go smoothly.

Here are a bunch of pictures from the first couple of weeks of Sydney's life. The very last photo is from 2/6/10. Sydney is now a little over 10 pounds and around 23 inches long. She is such a blessing to our little family. We can't wait to watch her grow.

Thanks to everyone for the thoughts, prayers, generosity, and continued support through this entire experience. We are so thankful to have such a wonderful support system! We hope and pray that all of you are doing great!!!

Love,

K&K&Syd