Welcome to the world Rowyn Elise Devine!

Well, our little gift decided she wanted to get out of the womb early. Rowyn Elise Devine was born at 5:29 am on December 6, 2012. She came almost 8 weeks early, so she's currently being monitored in the NICU at Baptist Women's Hospital here in Memphis. She was 3lb 15oz and 16" long at birth.

When we found out we were expecting a baby in late May, we were so excited to be starting our family! We began planning for our baby's arrival in late January, 2013. After initially feeling the usual nausea and tiredness with the pregnancy, I started feeling better and enjoying being pregnant. Each doctor's appointment brought on a little apprehension since this was my first pregnancy, but every time everything checked out perfectly normal. In early September, we found out we were having a little baby girl! We celebrated by going to get ice cream, since sweets were definitely something I was craving. We continued the planning for her arrival with nursery colors and themes and names. In October, we took a 'baby moon' to Siesta Key as one last trip together before the baby. On the trip, we decided on 'Rowyn' for her first name but wern't too sure of her middle name. Either way, the little getaway was a great reprive for both of us before the months ahead. As the third trimester began in November, I was feeling big and pregnant and starting to slow down a little. I kept thinking I only have a few more months, how am I going to make it to late January?!

I've always been a big believer in 'things happen for a reason' in life. On Saturday, December 1st, Chris and I attended a childbirth class at Baptist East where we learned all sorts of new things about labor, delivery and took a tour of the hospital. Little did we know, that all of the information reviewed in the class we would be using just a few days later.

Within the next day or so, I started feeling different and uncomfortable. One day I would be in discomfort, the next day back to normal. I just chalked it up to being in the 'third trimester' and these feelings were normal.

On Thursday morning December 6th at 3:00 a.m. my water broke. I was confused and half asleep when it happened, and even tried falling back asleep afterwards. And then the pains started to come and come quick! After about 30 minutes of walking around my house in and out of contractions, I told Chris to pack a small bag just in case...we needed to get to the hospital. The ride to Baptist East seemed to take forever...I was in the back seat just hoping to get to there in time. I noticed Chris was driving pretty fast, so I was also hoping not to get pulled over either.

Once at the hospital, they admitted me to a small room for assessment. I could barely verbalize the pain through the contractions. The resident doctor was called in and immediately concluded that I was going to have a baby very soon. I couldn't believe it. I was very scared, but he reassured me that everything was going to be ok.

Within a hour, I gave birth to a beautiful baby girl, Rowyn. She was pretty small, just under 4 lbs and 16 inches long. Shortly after she was born, they showed her to me and then took her to the NICU for assessment. I stayed in the delivery room all morning recovering. Rowyn was placed on Oxygen and an IV right away. That afternoon I spent many hours going over everything in my head....I just couldn't believe we had our baby already.

Around 8:00 that evening, we visited her for the first time in the NICU. She was absolutely beautiful! A little red in the face, but just perfect. I was able to hold her for the first time; she was so small in my arms. After a few minutes we placed her back on her small bed and watched her drift in and out of sleep.

We stayed in the hospital for the next three days, recovering and visiting Rowyn. It was apparent that she couldn't go home with us right away, and that she would stay in the NICU for the next several weeks.

Since Rowyn came at 32 weeks, her little lungs weren't fully developed. Thankfully, she didn't have to be put on a ventilator, but she did need some assistance and was on oxygen for about 3 days. She's off of that now and breathing on her own. Also, as with most preemies, Rowyn was jaundiced. Up until today she has been using a light pad that breaks down bilirubin (the stuff that makes their skin yellow). Her yellow color is going away. Rowyn has also needed an IV to keep her "full", but she started taking in milk last night and is able to hold it down. The doctors said that she should be able to start breast feeding in a week or so. I think she should be able to come home shortly thereafter. Today Katie was able to do "kangaroo care", which is skin on skin contact with the baby. She was able to sit with her for about an hour and a half, which was the first time she really got to hold her for any length of time. Rowyn looked so peaceful on her chest....it's amazing.

As far as Katie's side of the birth goes, it was pretty rough. It was a FAST delivery (2 pushes), which sounds good but actually is bad for you. The body normally has time to stretch to make room for the baby, but not this time. So, without going into too many details, I'll just say Katie had a lot of bleeding and the recovery was rough. She received a blood transfusion on Saturday (12/8) and is feeling a little better now. She's still tired, but her hematocrit level has been on the rise. The saving grace is that Rowyn is in excellent hands and has tons of help and love to promote her development. That means that we have time at home for Katie to recover fully. Also, the NICU will get Rowyn on a 4 hour feeding schedule by the time we bring her home (hallelujah!).

So, we're seeing improvements daily and are hopeful that she'll come home sooner than the expected 4-6 weeks. Maybe she'll be home in time for Christmas!

-Katie/Chris