Counting Our Blessings

Erin Gabrielle Baughman was born Thursday, March 23, 1995 weighing 8 lbs 3 ounces and named our little "honeymoon surprise". God's plans not ours prevail. She was prevented and unexpected but Greg was smiling from ear to ear when we discovered she was coming. Her birth was quick and easy. I walked around dilated to 4 cm for a month and was beyond ready for her arrival when she finally made her entrance into the world only 6 days before her due date. She was our fussiest baby as I was convinced I was a negligent mother if she cried! I didn't know how to shower before Greg got home from work. As it turns out, he ended up laid off when she was 4 weeks old so I went back to work until she was nine months old and Greg found two jobs to support our little family. It was challenging for both of us to reverse roles but Greg bonded with his baby girl in a very big way. They are close to this day with a special relationship.

Lauren Ellis Baughman came just 19 months later on November 15, 1996!! It took us both a long time to accept the news this time. Again, we thought we had bases covered to prevent another little surprise but once again, God blessed us with one of the prettiest little babies we've ever seen. She had a full head of dark black hair. Also weighing in at 8 lbs 3 ounces, she had a unique look from birth. She needed her first haircut at 6 weeks to get hair out of her face. She was the most content of our babies as she never cried unless she was hungry. She was our chubbiest baby as she grew her first year. Those baby rolls were adorable. Her toddler years made up for her quiet baby days! She was a real spit fire to say the least! She has spunk to this day!

Makenna Grace Baughman entered the world three weeks early weighing 8 lbs 11 ounces on July 25, 2000. She followed a 17 week miscarriage and was the only baby we planned for. At her 20 week ultra sound, they saw water on her brain and predicted spina bifida. A week later, we discovered we were being blessed with a "perfectly healthy baby girl". Greg, in typical fashion started planning how the girls would all be married on the same day, wearing the same dress, etc.....keep dreaming sweet heart! Just 8 days before her birth, Greg fell 25 feet from a billboard and started a long and painful journey that God has carried us all through in ways we can't even begin to describe. She was always a sweet, although dramatic child. I was so grateful for a laid back, easy baby with all Greg's medical needs along with Erin 5 and Lauren 3.

Kate Ryan Baughman had me in the hospital for preterm labor at 26 weeks and restricted activity for the remainder of the pregnancy. We were so grateful to have made it to just 9 days before her due date and had our smallest baby whom we discovered was a girl in the delivery room. She was born on May 17, 2005 weighing 7 lbs 15 ounces and so sweet. She made a noise that sounded like singing in her first hours. Since she followed the loss of our precious adopted baby boy, Ryan we think God sent her as an extra special blessing. I was being monitored by a high risk specialist throughout the pregnancy and was strongly discouraged from having her but in the end, she was the easiest pregnancy and a miracle I am honored to have been a part of.

Ty David Baughman made an appearance at a time in my life when I thought my plate was sufficiently full and we were complete. Hmmm....sounds like the perfect time for God to shake things up a bit! He also landed me in the hospital at 30 weeks for preterm labor and limited my activity for a few weeks while they monitored if real labor was in fact pending. Nope, just months of regular contractions. It was not fun and at times, neither was I! He made his arrival after finally moving from a posterior position on July 13, 2009 weighing in at impressive 8 lbs 7 ounces. His start was rough. He was in the hospital for 6 days under light therapy for extremely high bilirubin. As those levels tapered off, we discovered he had the blood disorder they monitored me for in my pregnancy with Kate. He needed three blood transfusions and a lot of medical intervention but is perfect today. He makes us smile every day as his personality is developing. He is loud and busy but a lot of fun.