New Year's Eve

I don't know what you did for New Year's Eve this year, but mine was more excitement than I can even handle.
We had a wonderful Christmas celebrating with our families.  This year was particularly exciting because my little sister Brittany and her husband Matt were expecting their first baby in the spring.  There was much baby stuff to be had.  Brittany was 24 weeks and 4 days pregnant on Christmas Day. (See previous post for picture) 

On Thursday, December 30 morning I got an e-mail from her talking about how glad she was that baby boy Hartzler wasn't due until April because they were a long way from ready. 

On Thursday, December 30 evening I got a call from her asking what Braxton Hicks contractions felt like.  Having been plagued by these from about 24 weeks on, I gave her the low down. 

On Friday, December 31 I was having a relatively peaceful day at work when I got a call from my mom around 11 a.m. telling me that was Brittany was in labor.  Like real labor. As in 7 cm dilated, no turning back labor.  Enter panic. 

Get in car. Drive. To Ohio. Panic.

This can't be happening.  This isn't the right month. This isn't the YEAR! This isn't the right trimester. Nothing about this is right. 

I will never ever forget the image of walking into my sister's hospital room and the look of sadness on everyone.  She was as upside as they could reasonably get her, being pumped full of steroids, trying to buy every second that they could of keeping that baby in. The look of defeat on her face is ingrained in my memory.

The day a baby is born is supposed to be the best day of your life.  But this was....panic. Sheer panic.

Unfortunately the hospital in my hometown does not have NICU and she was far too unstable to transport.  We asked several nurses if they had ever delivered a baby this early (25 weeks).  No one answered.

I got there at 6 p.m. Within the hour the doctor announced they were out of time and that the NICU team from Akron Children's Hospital was en route because this was baby was bound and determined to make it out before the ball drop.

Prep for c-section.  Choose name. Wait for emergency team to arrive. Panic.

Watch NICU team roll in. Panic. Panic moves from inside to outside.  Freak out the happy family waiting for their healthy baby to be born.  (Turns out that they had TWO babies born severely premature. Nice placement God.)

7:54 p.m. Enter Evan Charles Hartzler.

Christmas?

Ok so I realize that Christmas was nearly 3 months ago, but unfortunately I never had a chance to get up any pictures. Here are a few quick shots plus a lead in to my next story...

New easel with chalk and magnets and millions of little letters and numbers oh my!

Stockings with Grandma Dyer on Christmas Eve morning

The present labyrinth of my parents' house.

This is a picture of my sister on Christmas Day at 24 weeks pregnant. I realize she's holding a box, but you wouldn't know she was pregnant even without all the crap piled on her lap.