Dear Baby Girl,

In just a few short hours, you will be here! I'm supposed to be asleep, but even with a strong sleeping pill, my brain is up and ready to go. I went to bed with such butterflies in my stomach, but woke really quite calm, and dare I say it, with a bit of excitement! There have been so many nerves going on with this pregnancy....and legitimate reasons to worry. From where we spent a month + believing you likely had Turner Syndrome, then a month later, now knowing that you were super healthy, but that there was the strong likelihood that we had a rare placental complication that could make your entrance very scary and even deadly if not treated carefully. That complication was verified, but wow, have we been blessed with doctors who watched this so carefully and are following all the precautions to a T. I joke about how being the 5th child, you were determined to not be forgotten, and not forgotten will you be! I may have even called you our "Drama Queen" from time to time.

You and I have now been kickin' it in the hospital together for the past 3 weeks. Leading up to coming, I was sad and scared and would often wake up in the middle of the night panicking. I was overwhelmed and nervous about being away from your dad and siblings for so long. Especially over Christmas. There have been plenty of emotional times since being here, and I've mostly let those tears out to your Daddy, your Aunt Ginger, and a few lucky nurses. Everyone has been so sweet and understanding.  Without a doubt, relying on Heavenly Father has helped me through this process tremendously. In moments of sadness, I have felt strong impressions of my Savior's love knowing that he has felt these same emotions and knows just what I'm going through. There is much comfort in that. Not to mention the overwhelming love and support I have felt from friends and family. Your Grandma Sherie and Grandpa Richard (Momoo & Dadoo) have basically sacrificed a month of their lives to come hold down the fort and run the show back home with your siblings during the hours Daddy is at work. It's been a draining task for them all. We are all often just in survival mode and can't expect much else. And man have we been blessed with good friends. I have had so many friends reaching out to me at times to the point where it's been a touch exhausting. Turns out that's a good problem to have because it's really what's kept me sane. We are loved, Baby Girl!!

Each morning, we are hooked up to a monitor to check your beautiful heart rate and it has been perfect every time. You kick like crazy and I really kind of love it. The rest of the day, my vitals are checked over and over again, and many days are met with lots of pokes and needles...shots to develop your lungs and new IVs every few days to make sure we're ready to go in case of an emergency. I'm not allowed off the floor without a chaperone (in fear of something rupturing), so getting outside the hospital doors is a rare occasion. I've taken a couple walks outside in the parking lot but that's about as much fresh air as I've gotten. The nurses here are all pretty fantastic and we have all become good buddies. I've even really bonded with the cute cleaning ladies.

Today there is a whole lot of snow happening outside, and your siblings are praying for a snow day at school. Or in Reese's words, "I want it to be a snow day in the morning, then for it to all melt in the afternoon so we can come see the baby." That really would be the perfect plan! ;) Coming to see you is going to all be so interesting too. We really have no idea if they will be peering at you through the NICU nursery windows or if you'll be up in my room in their arms. We all know what they're hoping for! We are so hopeful that we'll be able to take you home this weekend, but there is also a big chance that you could be spending your fair share of time here in the NICU. Doctors have said to plan on 1-3 weeks and to be pleasantly surprised with none. We'll know more in a couple hours.

In a couple hours!!! This day is here!! This has really been a wild ride, and along with all the nerves, we are so happy for our journey to begin with our last little family member. Love you, sweet girl! See you soon!!