NORINE ANN HARRIS is half a year

NORINE ANN IS SIX MONTHS OLD?!?!

Weighing in at just over 13 pounds, is this little cupcake,

Norine Ann Harris!!!

Today marks a half a year of life!! Indeed, this sweetie brings us LIFE!!

She is a diamond! Her eyes sparkle whenever someone smiles her way, especially when that someone is her brother or sister. It is hard to believe that just six months ago Norine made her grand debut. I do not remember telling any details of her birth here on the old blog, so here are a few highlights worthy to share.

First off, I will say in my most honest tone: my pregnancy was the worst EVER. I was very sick EVERY day, until I delivered. I was serving as the Relief Society President in my Ward and this helped keep my mind off the sickness. It was a huge blessing to serve in that way, while waiting for this sweet daughter to come to Earth. Because I was so sick, I really felt like every day was a trial of my endurance. I tried hard not to complain, and much of my strength stemmed from the extreme blessing of carrying a much wanted child, coupled with the gratitude I felt to be with child. Indeed, with the passing of my little nephew Jack, my eyes have grown wider and my heart more tender concerning new life.

We moved to Centerville from Farmington because we wanted another child. I come from a large family of nine, and Tyler from a family of four. Yep, he says po(tay)to and I say po(tah)to!! For me, our Farmington home would have been a tight fit, but a fit no less. For Tyler, our Farmington home topped out at four little ones. In this case and at that time, the Lord saw fit to move us to a larger crib, to house that cinco child we desired. The move in and of itself is a miracle story, where the roots of my faith grow about a million feet strong and deep. But, perhaps I will share that one another day!!

After we were settled in our new home and neighborhood, we began looking forward to adding to our family. But this took longer than I had anticipated. We waited a little over a year and a half until I could positively say, "Hooray, I'm pregnant!!" And thus the sickness settled in quick and strong!!

About a month before I was due the doctor informed me that I had pre-eclampsia and would not make it to my original due date. YES, I was very, very SWOLLEN. But, I was so excited because he had set my induction date for August 6, my Father's birthday. This was especially neat because Norine is named after my Father's mother. So, with an end date in sight, I set to making sure everything was ready to go.

One night towards the end of July, I found myself alone in my closet thanking my Heavenly Father that the end of this pregnancy was so near. I cried and asked Him to forgive me if I didn't endure as well as He would have desired. I sobbed and begged Him for the delivery of a healthy little infant. I expressed my weakness and how I desired to now deliver this child. Well, a couple nights later I prepared for bed and thought I better get a bag ready just in case she comes before the scheduled day. That night I went to bed. I awoke around 1 am with such a tremendous pain, I didn't know what was happening. I knew it wasn't labor pains. I literally crawled to the bathroom and became extremely ill. I could not walk and I could barely get enough breath to wake Tyler. He looked down at me and asked what I was doing on the floor!! I told him I needed to call the doctor right away. I called the doctor and explained to him my symptoms and his response shocked me. He said to get to the labor and delivery right away. He said I had some mean kidney stones. So, off we went. I took my bag just in case, after all I was still one week away from my schedule induction.

We got to the hospital and I couldn't walk. I was so concerned about the baby!! I had to use a wheelchair and I was not happy!! They wheeled me up and began to treat me for the "PAIN". HAHA. Nothing worked!! I was in the most pain I had ever experienced in my life, and this went on for hours and hours. Eleven hours later and the doctor finally came to see me. He was shocked because he thought I was a different patient of his, and became very concerned when he realized it was actually me, not the "other more whining patient, who comes into the ER every other night"...NICE. Well, he decided since the kidney stones had triggered my labor, he would keep me there and we would deliver for the safety of me and the little one.

The kidney stone pain finally left and I began the long labor. Yep, 18 hours of labor. I was exhausted!! There was talk of c-section but I was NOT doing that after all this work!! I asked for a Priesthood blessing from my husband. I will never forget what he said. He said... IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT FOR NORINE TO SAY GOODBYE. Soon after, she did say good bye to all those in Heaven and she made her debut. It was an amazing debut!! Right after she was born there was a loud clap of thunder announcing the arrival of choice little Norine Ann. We are so blessed.

Nora, thank you for saying good bye to your Heavenly friends and saying HELLO to all of us, here on EARTH!! WE LOVE YOU!!!