Introducing: Sophia Grace Ireland

October 8, 2013                                                 

 

Our little Indian papoose

This past fall, we welcomed the fourth sweet gift from God into our home.  She had obviously been with us for nine months prior but on October 8, 2013; little Miss Sophie made a beautiful entrance so that our family could also enjoy her!  She came quick on the day we were scheduled to have an induction anyway so she was right on time and we couldn’t be happier to have her in our lives!  Two boys and two girls…what symmetry, we could claim we are done if that is what God intends for us!  She makes a perfect caboose and fits right in with the rest except she has Matts eyes whereas the other three have mine, so she literally looks totally different from the others.  I can see bits and pieces of both, but I mostly see Daddy Matt shining through, especially compared to his baby pictures.  Enough talking already, here are some pics of those miraculous first few weeks.

These pictures were actually taken 5 days before Sophia arrived and 5 hours before I was being transported via EMS to the hospital with another hemiplegic migraine where I was blind in my left eye, numb and paralyzed in my arms, and had expressive aphasia and confusion so bad I couldn’t remember or say my name, birthday, Matts name or anything else.  I was cared for many of my own coworkers and didn’t even recognize them or my home unit, not to mention I was vomitting incessantly.  It was super scary and by far the worst of these migraines thus far.  I continue to deal with these headaches almost daily which is a big challenge, but the neurological symptoms are not nearly as bad as this crazy one. The headache pain is unbearable and I have just come to the conclusion that God is teaching me empathy for others.  I will always believe my patients when they say they hurt because I now know firsthand just how much pain a human can really be in.  But, that’s a whole other novel and now is not the time to get into it.  I am basically in a holding pattern hoping one of the few medications safe for these type of stroke mimicking migraines will begin to take them away,.  Until then I am at home with my peeps taking it easy.  I always wanted a long maternity leave but certainly not this way!  I have to thank our Heavenly Father for the time with my family though however I feel! 

Now, back to the celebration!

Then the kiddos got to meet her!

That is seriously one swollen mommy!

Lily just can’t wait to “take care” of her.

Sweet girl!

Already a Daddy’s little girl…just like Lily!

Andrew claimed her as his “buddy”

He’s such a baby whisperer!

And of course Miss Fancy Pants!

Ryan was more interested in living up to his T-shirt

ALL TIME SNACK LEADER

None of us were sad to leave the hospital…it was great, but it was time to get back to life!

Not many men can pull of purple, but mine can and quite well if I don’t mind saying so myself.  Now the bag…might be a little much!

HOME SWEET HOME!

We literally had to time the kids so they could all get time with this sweet little one!

Everything they did, they had to do it with the baby.

Sisters…

The Purple Princesses

Making sure Daddy does it right!

Sophie’s first walks

Andrew pushing her…

Lily waiting for us slowpokes…

And the basketball boys…

Our fabulous family spent time with our angels:

Cousin Maddy

Nana

Aunt Amy

Uncle Billy and Aunt Megan (Liam too!)

and don’t forget Grammy and Peepaw

unfortunately Grammy was so busy with the other 3 mini Irelands, she escaped pictures until later on but she was the first to meet her!

Our neighbors/friends past and present came.

Miss Katie

Miss Alana

and Miss Christie

Then we just got to enjoy!  Here we are enjoying God’s greatest blessings…each other!

She smiles all the time!

 

Not much dough ever makes it to the oven…

No one agrees who she looks like…you be the judge:

Ryan

Andrew

Liliana

and of course,

Sophia

They are all so similar yet so different but regardless, they are truly a perfect gift from God and thank him daily for his continued mercy on our little, I mean big family!