Please Pray for Kate

Hello Friends & Family,
As some of you are aware we have had a rough couple of months with Kate and now we are reaching out to you for prayer. Since our ER visit on Thanksgiving weekend Kate has been sick and we are not sure what is going on. She has had pneumonia and constant fever among many other things. It always seems to get better and then a couple of days later it will come back starting with a fever. We are not sure what to think about all this and are just reaching out to you all for prayer. We pray that our precious little girl will be healed totally of whatever is ailing her. I will say that through all of this she has remained a true joy. She is a blessing and we are so proud to be her parents. I am so sorry to all of you who I have not gotten to spend time with. I have missed birthdays, births of good friends children, baby showers for dear friends among many other things. I am sure that each one of you understand the position that I am in and as soon as we get Kate back on track I will get in touch with each one of you to catch up. Kyle and I are trying to hang on and it has not been easy with the two businesses and the girls. So please keep us in your prayers as well. We need strength to keep going each day. We love each and everyone of you and thank you for keeping our family in your prayers.

Polka Dot Obsession

We have a polka dot obsession going on in our house. Kate is wearing the newest shipment from Grammy and Gee of Margery Ellen and she has never gotten more compliments. Kate was laying in our bed while we were getting ready to go out and Abbie crawled up beside her. Abbie loves snuggling up to her little sister, kissing her, and making her laugh. We just love seeing them interact. Kate is getting a little personality and loves to smile now. We even have her cooing.

Kate Update

We came home from the hospital last Friday and have been adjusting ever since. Abbie has been fantastic but you forget how much a baby needs at first. (Especially from mom) Upon leaving the hospital we brought home a billy blanket for Kate's jaundice and she has been on it ever since. We have been going every day to get her blood drawn to determine if she is getting better. At first her levels went up but now they look as though they are coming down. We go again today to see how she is doing so please keep her in your prayers. We are so blessed with the birth of Kate and am happy that Abbie has adjusted well. I will get in touch with everyone next week when I get back on my feet. Thank you to everyone who has shown us such love and support this past week. Kyle and I have been blown away by every ones generosity.

Here She Is!

We are so proud to announce the birth of our second little girl, Katherine Elizabeth Hartmann. "Kate" She was born on September 17, 2008 at 6:08 am. 7 pounds 3 oz, 20 inches long After her much awaited arrival she came into the world very quickly. So quickly that the midwife didn't have a chance to get into the room. She is a delight just like her big sister and has been nothing but a joy. Abbie is adjusting great with the addition of Kate to our family; she loves giving her kisses and helping to rock her cradle. Besides a little bit of Jaundice, Kate is doing great with eating and sleeping well. More to come...

Child Abuse

"GO NOLES!"

Still Walking

Thursday of last week Kyle, Abbie and I all went to the OB for another check up. In anticipation of another big baby we had Rachael (the mid-wife that delivered Abbie) strip my membranes. *Sorry if this is to much info for some of you. We then all trek home in hopes of little Kate's arrival. I could not get my walking outfit on soon enough. So at 5pm Thursday afternoon I left the house with my cell phone, i-pod and a bottle of water. I thought surely this long walk in the Florida heat would get things going. I walked every hill I could find in our neighborhood and blasted music by Beck, The Connells and Miles Davis. After a hour of this I marched home with some irregular contractions and a lot of sweat. Later that night Mom and my Aunt Barbara (who is in town to help with Abbie while we are at the hospital) came over for dinner. We were all so hopeful and even after dinner Kyle and I went for another walk. However, nothing happened. Well it is Monday morning and after 7 long walks, 50 laps in the pool and a full moon no Kate yet. I swear my children like to stay put and all the help in the world doesn't get them out of there. For all the wise tales, none of them WORK! I have tried: Primrose Oil, Raspberry Tea (4 times a Day), Sex, long walks, laps in the pool, Eggplant Parmesan, Foot Message, walking under the full moon, walking pulling Abbie in the Radio Flyer and many other things but nothing yet. I know Kate will not stay put forever but it sure feels that way now. I tell you I feel as though I might loose my mind waiting for her to come and my house can not get any cleaner or more organized. I think I am even going to start scrap booking to pass the time and as most of you know... I DON'T SCRAPBOOK. I will keep you posted as to Kate's arrival. Pray it's soon!

Uh-Oh!

Tuesday night we wake up at 1:30am to Abbie saying Uh-Oh Daddy, Uh-Oh. And we discover that she has thrown up in her big girl bed. Uh-Oh is right! After cleaning it up and getting everybody settled down again Kyle sleeps with Abbie that night to help her with her sickness so I will not get sick. So what happens. 2 Days later I find myself in the hospital throwing up with her virus. So much for precautions. I tell you, if it is not one thing it is another and when it rains it pours. Wow! What a week. God bless my mom who comes over at 1:30 in the morning to watch Abbie while we trek to the hospital and God Bless Kyle who stays up with me all night through my sickness and in the hospital. After a night in the hospital and a day in bed I feel much better but boy oh boy am I ready to just have a baby and feel like myself again. Pray this child comes soon or I might loose my mind. (ha.ha)