I woke up this morning at 5:30 hearing my sister call out. It must have been one of those God moments, because my niece Adalynn Rose Poteet arrived today at 6:03! She weighs 7 lbs 13 oz and 19 inches long. I drove up from the beach to see her today. While I was walking up to the hospital, Pam (my beach buddy) called me to tell me that the remaining buried turtles were hatching!! I had to call the Turtle Patrol and alert them because a crowd was gathering to watch it. How cool that the turtle eggs that I buried were "born" today. I met my niece and she is beautiful.  I purchased a pink smocked dress and a peal bracelet for her.  She is so small!  It was a bittersweet moment to finally hold her. It's hard when no one remembers that three years ago on this date, I was in an operating room and my last pregnancy was being taken from my body so that I could live.  She will have no idea of all this, and I pray she never has to endure fertlity issues.  I took lots of pictures (some with her wearing pink heelies). I think I am doing ok with it all...it hits me in waves, some more crushing than others. How I wish it wasn't such a struggle to have children....holding a baby just makes my heart yearn for another. I really appreciate all your prayers...I am trying to be a proud auntie!

My sister had a spinal headache after her epidural and we went back to the hospital that evening because she was not feeling well. I was supposed to go to my girlfriends big "Ash Bash" but given the circumstances I needed to be with my family. My parents would not be able to watch my kids anyway. We didn't get home until after 10:30 and there was no way I could have made it. It's hard when you want to be at two places at the same time. But I know my friends are understanding and I will get to see them as often as possible! And given the circumstances I don't know if I would have been great company....my emotions are a mess!

I am going to be grateful for these moments.....the next few days will be hard....my sister is in labor now and looks like she'll deliver tonight or tomorrow...the 15th. The 15th....the day they performed surgery and took my tube and last baby out 3 years ago...and now this. Looking back her first born was born on a date close my first loss too Ouch...still hurts after all this time.....I guess that is why I haven't been able to purchase a baby gift for this little one yet. I am happy for her.....but I guess the loss lingers made me put it off.

I've been blessed to turtle sit for loggerhead nests over the past week. I was able to dig and excavate one nest last night and retrieve several 13 baby turtles from the hard sand that would not have made it and 5 more that were literally hatching out of their shells as I took them out. One little turtle did not make it and was partially out of its shell. This week marks the last time I was pregnant three years ago....on the 15th I found out my pregnancy was ectopic. I was overwhelmed with emotion last night that I was part of this incredible experience and watch these little ones make it and how much they have to go through just to survive. I really feel God had me there as this has lifted my heart during a time marked with sadness. And for this I am grateful!