Zoe Mei and Thailand pictures

hilarious attempt at family picture
daily iv's at the hospital to fight the infection
Precious Zoe Mei
Grammy, Pops, and their two Alford granddaughters
me and my two daughters :)
"The girls" pre Zoe.

my little ballerina
Our new family of four

the road to recovery

When I went to my post natal and wound check up appointment on Monday I was surprised by a bad diagnosis. My incision had become infected and would need to be cleaned every day. I would also need to be treated with iv antibiotics on a daily basis. To clean the wound my doctor opened the top layer of the wound by ripping out the stitches and pulling it apart. Yuck and holy pain!!!!! She then cleaned it and left it open with a bandage so that it could drain. I then had to get an iv port in my left hand for my daily antibiotic doses. It is now Thursday, and this week has been filled with so much exhaustion and emotions I sometimes haven't been able to see straight. Getting poked and prodded, finding the antibiotics weren't working, discussing possibilities of not being able to breast feed because of harmful antibiotics, getting good news that the antibiotics are working, watching Zoe grow and thrive like the perfect little champ that she is..... It has all been so overwhelming- the pain, the lack of sleep, the answered prayers regarding Zoe's passport, Bailey's struggle with having a new sister, being away from my husband.... However through it all God has proven himself faithful again and again. Being reminded in God's Word that he is absolutely sovereign and in control has given me so much peace. My parents have been a tremendous help and encouragement. I could not have gotten through this week without them. Thank you to all of you who have been praying for me. I do see a light at the end of this tunnel. God is faithful.

Zoe fresh from the womb

I now have two daughters

Oh the bliss of healthy perfect babies. I'm recovering from major surgery, my insides are all jumbled up and not really working, I'm struggling through the bodily changes that happen when a precious new life takes her nutrition from you about every two to three hours- but I'm in heaven. What a privilege it is to be a mom, to look at a new face and find the similarities there from you and your husband and also wonder at the differences. What kind of personality will this little one have? Will she be like her sister? My heart is overflowing with gratitude to God for these blessings, but here are some of my favorite moments from these first three and half days of Zoe's life:

~Zoe Mei- perfect, beautiful, precious in ever way- already living up to her name "Beautiful Life"

~Bailey's absolute wonder and adoration of her sister. She constantly kisses her, strokes her, and says, "Beautiful".

~If you ask Bailey what her sister's name is she says either: "Baby Doll", "Baby Sister", or "Amanika". I have no idea where she got Amanika, but it's pretty funny. Every once in a while she will say "Zoe", but she hasn't quite gotten that down yet.

~Watching Chris hold and love on his new little girl.

~Watching Chris and Bailey bond in a whole new way. Chris has been staying at the Juniper Tree with Bailey every night while my mom has stayed here with me in the hospital. Daddy and daughter are having a blast and love spending this special time with each other.

~Having my mom here not only for the birth of Zoe, but also to stay with me in the hospital. She has been a tremendous help, and I don't know what I would do without her!

~Having my dad here to just help with everything from playing with Bailey to holding Zoe. It is such a blessing!

Thank you to all of you who have been praying for us. God is so good.

Scrubbing In, Bailey and Zoey, and Zoey's Arrival

More Zoe Mei!

Zoe Mei!