I realized something this week.

As we get older and our circle of friendship and family expands, we are blessed to have more people to love and enjoy. I am thankful for that. I have also realized that as I've gotten older and more of life's experiences - opportunities, trials, gifts, and tragedies - have been presented to me, there are so many more people in my life that I worry about, pray for, and have reason to rejoice and celebrate for. That includes the unfortunate opportunity to mourn and weep with them too. While overall Lora's birth is a very happy, celebrated occassion, there were a few tense moments when Jodi's health was a huge concern for everyone today.

I became an aunt yesterday. "Baby Lora," as we've been calling her for months, was born via c-section Wednseday morning at about 7:00. 8 pounds, 2 ounces and 20 inches long. She's perfectly healthy and happy to be here. Shortly after my sister-in-law was settled in her room, she went unconscious. Fortunately, my brother-in-law went to check on her before he left to give his daughter her first bath. Jodi had a reaction to the morphine she was given and stopped breathing for a short period of time. Adam and her nurse were unable to wake her, and a code blue was called. Jodi said when she woke up there were about 15 people standing around her bed working on her. The affects of the morphine were counteracted with narcan, and she's going to be fine. It is really too bad that the happy events of the day were overshadowed by so much stress. I hope today was less eventful and that they were able to enjoy getting to know their new little girl. It is such an amazing blessing to have a child, and I'm so happy for them.

We went to the hospital last night to meet Lora. Maddie has been anxiously waiting for this baby since she heard about her. She has watched Jodi's belly grow wondering why she couldn't actually see the baby growing inside her. It's been quite amusing. It was love at first sight last night. Maddie was so gentle and sweet, lightly touching her and watching her facial expressions. She said at one point "Mom, baby Lora is smiling at me!"