Ann Reese Grote was born on Jan. 18, 2010 at 12:07 at Saint Vincent's hospital. She was 7 pounds and 15 ounces and 20 1/2 inches long. Travis actually guessed her weight in our pool. Too bad for him that we didn't bet money! It was a VERY easy labor and delivery. I was very blessed to not have a crazy long delivery with complications. Those came 4 hours after delivery, though. Ann Reese inhaled fluid when she took her first breath which caused her to have fast breathing. The fast breathing caused her blood sugar to drop because she couldn't eat. She was sent to the NICU around 5. It was the HARDEST thing I've ever had to go through. All moms have a perfect picture of what they think it is all suppose to be like and this was just not it. My poor baby was not healthy enough to stay with us and that was very worrisome. We didn't know what to expect over the next few days, but we did know that our wonderful family and friends were by our side. We got to go see her at 8 that night, and it was very tough to see her there hooked up to monitors and with an IV in her little foot. We were hopeful to get her out in 2 days, but we weren't sure. We got to stay with her in the NICU on Wednesday night thinking we were going to get to take her home on Thursday. On Thursday morning, the doctor came in and said she had to stay due to high levels of jaundice. ARE YOU KIDDING ME?? This devastated me! I had been discharged from the hospital meaning we would have to walk out of there without our baby with us. I had dreamed of when we would be able to bring her home and this was not that day. I must have looked like a crazy person leaving the hospital with emotions flowing. I was so thankful for my mom being at my house to keep me positive and uplifted! 6 days after she went to the NICU, we finally brought home Ann Reese. Me, my mom, Dane, Peggy, and Davey all went to the hospital to get her. Only Davey and I got to go into the NICU to see her, so it was very exciting for our families to see and hold her once she got out of the NICU doors! A lot of tears flowed! It was the best feeling to pick her up without a nurse telling us it was okay. It was also a very sad moment thinking of all the other babies in the NICU that would proabably be there for a very long time and some not even make it out. Davey and I spent a lot of time praying for these little ones and thanking God we had a healthy baby compared to these tiny babies. We went through all the wonderful moments such as showing her all around our house and her precious room. It's been 6 months now (I'm horrible for just getting this written) and life has never been better! I love being a mom and having amazing family support. I love you all!
Our baby girl the first time we saw her in the NICU.
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Thankfully, two days later we finally got to take our baby girl home. It had been 6 full days in the NICU. Honestly, it was the best feeling in the world going to the hospital with my mom, Dane, and Davey to pick her up. We were finally getting to leave the hospital with our baby girl!
Our baby girl the first time we saw her in the NICU. 
