Raelyn Gloria Penter

On Monday, December 19th I went to the doctor for my 26 week check up. Raelyn was measuring at 35 weeks gestation and my placenta was failing. An emergency c-section was required. When Raelyn was born she was only 5 pounds and 4 ounces and considered a "late term preemie". We tried to let her transition in the well baby nursery, but she wasn't strong enough to keep her oxygen levels and body temperature up. After 24 hours they moved her to the NICU and she has been there ever since (tomorrow will be day 5). She is doing very well, but still not eating enough on her own to come home. She has to use a feeding tube for at least half of her feedings. I have been pumping milk for her every 2-3 hours and taking it to the hospital so we haven't had to supplement with any formula.

We are so ready to bring her home and the last few days have been a roller coaster ride. We go back and forth between good reports and bad reports and it definitely gets frustrating at times. It's very difficult to be separated from my baby and only able to hold her 3-4 hours per day while other people get to decide her schedule for the day.

Cam and I are EXHAUSTED!!! We hadn't finished moving out of our old house yet because we thought we still had a whole week left to finish up. Now we are temporarily living with my parents while our new house is being renovated, and Cam is spending every spare minute trying to pack up and clean our old house. We also sqeeze in visits to the NICU every 4 hours.

My family has been AWESOME. They have been keeping Colton full time for us, helping us pack and move, preparing food, driving me to the NICU when Camron can't go, and everything else in between! There is no way we could make it through this season without them.

Lamentations 3:22-24

It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.

We LOVE her so much. She is the most beautiful baby I have ever seen!

Trying to regulate Raelyn's body temp and breathing...

1st time to meet baby sister

Colt was sick so he had to wear a mask

A few family and friends

Then she was off to the NICU. We have had some very discouraging days. Cam and I are both ready to bring her home.

"When a problem arises, whether personal or otherwise, I work to remain conscious of the Spirit of God upon me. If the problem gets bigger than my awareness of the Holy Spirit, I will react to the problem. Living in reaction to the devil gives him too much influence over our lives. We must live as Jesus did - doing what the Father is doing. Living in response to God is far superior than living in reaction to the devil." ~ Bill Johnson