Fall Fun with the Sharps

Amy, Louis and their girls came to visit us at the lake this weekend. It was so wonderful to see them. There is never a dull moment when you get 4 girls all under the age of 10 together. We just relaxed and enjoyed the beautiful weather. Amy and I took the girls to the pumpkin patch. Audrey Grace is not even 5 months old and has been to the pumpkin patch twice!

Laura Lea, Lucy, Lores and Audrey Grace

(it't hard to get them all looking)

Laura Lea and Ryan

Louis and Ryan went squirrel hunting...poor squirrel's

Laura Lea thought it was so much fun to play in AG's exerscaucer

4 month check up

Audrey Grace had her 4 month check up and shots on Monday, October 11th. She really was a big girl for this horrible experience. We saw our new pediatrician, Dr. Debbie Smith, at the Vicksburg Children's Clinic. We really liked her. She was actually Ryan's pediatrician! Isn't that crazy? She is wonderful and has lots of experience, which makes me feel really good. She said Audrey Grace looks and sounds perfectly healthy. She weighs 17 lbs 9oz and is 27 inches long!! (95th percentile for both) I hope she will continue to be long. Lord knows she is not getting that height from her mom or dad. It has to come from my dad, Daddy Bud.

Audrey Grace had to have her finger pricked too :(. Dr. Smith wanted to be sure her platelet count was normal, given my history. That was the worst part because after the prick the woman squeezed (is that a word?) her finger over and over and over to get enough blood. Atleast the shots are quick.

Not the best picture but you can see her pink camo band-aid from the finger prick.

Pumpkin Patch

Annie, Audrey Grace and I went to Farmer Jim's pumpkin patch in Rolling Fork last weekend. Lynn and Jimbo Newman put on an awesome pumpkin patch experience. They have tons of pumkins in all sizes, 2 corn mazes, sunflowers, baby pool's full of corn for the kids to play in, a mini maze made from bails of hay for the little kids and lots of room to run around and play. You can walk around all in the patch and pick your own pumpkin or you can choose one they have already picked. We took the jogging stroller and went off road thru the patch! It was really HOT, but Audrey Grace got to wear her precious little halloween dress. She behaved perfectly and next year I know she will have a ball running around everywhere.

In the pictures you will notice Audrey Grace was attacked by a misquito or two!

Family Photos

My Grandma and Grandpa sent all of the grandchildren American Flag shirts, so we dressed them all up and had a photo shoot. MiMi and Chuck got to join in on the fun since they were in Columbus visiting for the weekend.

Lores, Audrey Grace, Laura Lea and Lucy

MiMi and Chuck with the grandgirls!

Me and my sweet Mama and sister

4 months old

Audrey Grace turned 4 months old on September 24th! I really cannot believe she is already 4 months old. She is changing and growing everyday. It has been amazing to watch her grow, develop and learn new things. I am staying at home with her right now and it has been so much fun for me to watch and think back on how much she has accomplished in 4 months! I know we have a long way to go and she will continue to amaze me but all of the little accomplishments make me smile.
Audrey Grace started sleeping thru the night when she was 7 weeks old! It took a few weeks to get on a consistent schedule but we have pretty much mastered a schedule. I am still aware this may change anyday since she is still little but for now I am enjoying our scheduled life. She is sleeping thru the night from or 8:30 to 7:30! She usually takes 3 naps a day but sometimes 4. Our day usually consists of reading books (she really does let me read to her), watching baby einstein, playing on the floor and in her exerscaucer, and going for a walk.

She really is a Happy Girl!

GO COLTS!

Playing in her exerscaucer

Reaching for her toys

This is how she wakes up every morning! What a blessing she is to wake up to. She makes everyday so much better.

This is how she comes out of her swaddle. Usually it is her arms but I thought this was funny.

Audrey Grace at 4 months:

She is still talking a lot. She wakes up talking and smiling every morning. Everynight when I put her to bed, I tell her how I can't wait to see her smiling face in the morning because there is no doubt when I go to get her she will have a big smile on her face! She learned how to reach and grab for her toys at 17 weeks and then to roll over at 18 weeks. Rolling over has really made me nervous! She still loves to be swaddled when she sleeps. She likes to watch the dogs and is very intrested in her surrondings. She is constantly looking around from side to side. She has started trying to hold her bottle. I am expecting a tooth any day but I am sure it will be a little longer. She loves to naw on anything.

Labor Day Weekend

My First Boat Ride

I was discharged from the hospital on Sunday and it was boat time! The Rowlands, Jonathan and Leigh and Annie all joined us for a ride on the reservoir. Audrey Grace did great and did not mind wearing her life jacket at all!

Kennedy and Mary Morgan on thier first boat ride

Swimming with the reservoir behind us...Beautiful!

On Monday, we hung out at the Rowlands. John Ryan, Misty and Layton Lee came over too. The big kids played in the pool and Audrey Grace watched. Notice Layton playing with Audrey Grace's toes...so cute.

Laura's Hosptial Visit

Well, we are having yet another adventure. This time it was not such a fun one. I noticed I had 5 red bug bite looking things on my leg Tuesday. I showed them to Ryan but we thought I must have gotten bit by something, espicially since bugs love to bite me. On Thursday I noticed I had 4 bruises on one arm and a few on my legs but really didn't think much about it until a few more popped up. I decided I needed a platelet count done. When I woke up Friday morning I had petechaie all over my legs, from my feet to my thighs. These are small little red dots. The bug bite looking things were just a bigger version. I knew immediatly this was not a good sign. I was able to have a blood count done at my aunt's clinic and found out my platlets were 4,000! YIKES! The normal range is from 150,000-400,000. Most people's run at least in the 200 thousands. You can refer to my pre-delivery post about what all of this means. Anyway, the GI doctor called his hemotology friend and got me in to see her immediatly. I knew exactly what she was going to say and dreaded having to hear it. "I really need to admit you to the hospital"! Not the words you want to hear on the Friday of Labor Day weekend.

We have been house/dog sitting for my aunt and uncle all week. They live right on the reservoir and have a pontoon boat that I have been staring at all week. We were going to have a great weekend on the water in this beautiful weather. HA HA not now! We are stuck in Baptist Hospital in Jackson and I am hooked up to IV's.

Poor Audrey Grace has been lugged around thru all of this. She had to come with me to the doctor because of course I didn't think it would take long. Ryan was on the road and an hour away. Annie was still in school but was able to get to me pretty quick to help. Audrey Grace did really well as we went from each doctor to different labs and waiting rooms. I really hated having her in all of these places. Then we have to drag her into the hospital. Annie did not want to leave me so she was there to help me with AG. Ryan got to us soon after I got admitted.

I had my first night away from Audrey Grace. I wasn't too upset or nervous because she was going to be with her daddy and I know he knows just how to take care of her. They left the hosptial about 5:30 and I prayed she would be sweet for him. You know, nobody can take of your baby like you can!! They did great. He fed her, bathed her and put her to bed with no problems. When I called at 7:15 this morning he had already showered and was giving her her first bottle. Wow! I am not that good! They were back up here to see me by 8:30 am.

I am sure some of you are thinking, I can't believe she is letting her baby hang out at the hospital. I am saying that to myself too. I keep asking the nurses, do you think I am a bad mom? Really though I am on a oncology floor so there really isn't a lot of sickness. Plus how am I supposed to stay away from my 3 1/2 month old. I have been by her side since May 24th.

About to take a nap

She was watching the nurses closely as they gave me medicine in my IV. Maybe we have another medical professional in the making