Kelsie Jayne

Wow. She is here. Let me just say that this birth was a tad more eventful than the last two. Here are some details...

Kelsie Jayne Patterson was born on May 31, 2006. She was 20 1/4 inches long and 6 lbs 13 oz. She has a fair amount of blond hair and blue eyes. Mom was amazing during the delivery and felt no pain (Thank you Epidural). What a difference seven years makes. When Kyle was born, they thought you needed to stop the epidural close to the end, so that Jennifer had enough feeling to push. This time the doctor let the medicine flow, so she pushed and felt nothing.

I'll give you both a second to recover. My head is spinning a little just typing it...

Anyway, Kelsie is beautiful. She has ten fingers, ten toes and all the parts seem to be in the right place. Well, all but one.

As Kelsie emerged, our doctor pointed out something called an omphalacele (ohm-faa-lo-seal). Basically, part of her intestine was sticking out through the umbilical cord. It was about the size of a golf ball. This is not normal. We learned that they are not dangerous (at least in her case) and that omphalaceles need to be repaired by a surgical procedure. We also learned that it could have been much worse. Many kids with these types of birth defects have all of their intestines or other organs protuding. (Again...head spinning) We are actually very fortunate.

Remember, she is about 40 minutes old when we learn she needs surgery. Now, for those who do not know, we live in Abilene (for now). It was not comforting to learn that there is not one person in that city who can fix this problem. She has to be flown to Fort Worth. Immediately.

This is not something you want to hear 45 minutes after giving birth.

But, it was what it was. Kelsie and I hopped aboard "Teddy Bear Air" and flew to Cook Children's Hospital in Fort Worth. We got there when she was about six hours old. That to me, is amazing in itself. Once we were there, the nurses and doctors poked, prodded and actually reduced the defect so that it was as big as a raisin. Dr. Sidebottom (you can't make that up) told me that she would most likely have surgery on Friday, but otherwise, she was healthy.

Well, to make a long story short (too late), Kelsie's surgery wasn't until Monday, she got Jaundice (awesome) and had an IV in her head. What a great weekend for her, huh? Anyway, Monday's surgery was quick, easy and painless and the doctor said she is as good as new. She is eating like a horse and everything seems to be working. We should get to go home tomorrow (Thursday the 8th).

What have we learned? God is good. We already knew that, but he proved it once again. He has given us more than we could ever want. He worked through the doctors, nurses, our parents, friends and extended family, who were just amazing this past week. My wife is the greatest woman in the world. She had a baby on Wednesday and rode to Fort Worth less than 2 hours later. She has been unbelievable this week. Cayce and Kyle have been spectacular children during this ordeal. They can't wait to have their baby sister home.

And why not...Isn't she beautiful??