Quick update and proof that Jayda will be a helpful big sister!

Things are great here! I am finally home from the hospital (after 6 long days) and am back to resting in my own bed. Sierra is still in NICU, but she's doing great. She just needs to eat, grow, and maintain her body temp and she should be home in no time. We can't wait to bring her home so we can all be together. It's difficult having one car, one toddler at home, Russ needing to work, me having blood pressure concerns which still make me really REALLY sick, and a baby in NICU...there's just not enough time in the day...yet we realize how blessed we are and wouldn't trade this for the world.

I just wanted to share the below picture of my sweet Jayda Grace. I went downstairs to get something today and when I walked back to my room I found Jayda sitting in my spot with the Breast Pump next to her. She had "hooked herself up" and was watching a movie on my lap top computer. When she saw me she smiled the sweetest little smile you'd ever want to see and said "look mommy, I'm pumping my boobies so I can get some food for my baby sister!" She was so proud of herself. She's so stinkin' cute!!!!!!

She's Here!!!!!!!!!!!!

It is with gratitude to the Lord that we welcome our new little daughter, Sierra Bella, to our family.

Sierra was born Monday night (March 16th) at about 11pm via an emergency c-section that was needed due to Cori having preeclampsia (high blood pressure). When we got to the hospital to have Cori checked out (she had a bad tummy ache, headache, felt like her heart was beating really hard, and was having a lot of contractions) her blood pressure was so high and they were concerned with the immediate risk of stroke or seizure. Her doctor made the call that we had to have the c-section right then to make sure Cori was okay.

Sierra came into the world, even though she was 6 weeks premature, kicking and screaming. It was the most beautiful sound you'd ever want to hear. She weighed in at 5.3lbs and 18 inches long. Although she currently lives in the NICU unit at the hospital, she has not needed any medication or breathing assistance. She eats well, breathes well, sleeps wells, and has been pretty good at maintaining her body temperature. They tell us she is doing fantastic and doesn't need much of anything other than time to grow. They expect her to be in the hospital for the next 3-6 weeks. She looks super tiny to us, but the nurses and doctors say she's a great size for being just under 34 weeks along. She has a little bit of dark hair around the crown of her head and her eyes are still too new to tell what the color will be. She coos at her mama when she's being held and sung to and she grasps her daddy's finger as he feds her. She has already brought us so much happiness in these past few days and we are beyond thankful to have her. She instantly became the love of our lives right along with her big sister, Jayda. We are eternally grateful to Heavenly Father for the gift of her life and her good health. She's our little miracle baby and after a rough pregnancy (and a year of trying to get pregnant to bring her here in the first place) we are all on cloud 9...Although Cori may be on cloud 12 now that her pain medication has finally kicked in!!

Jayda Grace hasn't met her little sister yet, nor will she be able to until Sierra can come home because NICU doesn't allow children under 12 into that area, but she is super excited to be a big sister. Jayda has brought such an unbelievable amount of joy to our lives and we can only imagine how much fun it will be to watch her become a sister, mentor, and friend to Sierra.

We can't thank you all enough for your well wishes, prayers, and help during this stressful, yet blissful time. We love you all and can't wait for you to meet little Sierra Bella!

With love and gratitude,

Russ, Cori, Jayda Grace and Sierra Bella