Welcome to our Newest Little Angel!

Sweet EmmaLee,

Welcome to our crazy home! We are so excited to have you officially here in our lives! The past 9 months have definitely had their trials of nausea, varicose veins, heartburn, exhaustion and many other forms of discomfort. And the months and days leading up to your birth were plagued with many different illnesses and trips to San Antonio so that I could be with Grandma Anderson through some of her treatments. I hardly had time to get bored or nest at all during your pregnancy. But, rest assured that we were all happy that you had a relatively uneventful birthday and joined our family healthy and strong! You politely waited until I could be at the hospital for induction day and made your appearance after just a few short pushes. The most complicated part of your birth was that you chose to keep your right hand up on your face as you came out, causing me to tear more and you to bruise a little on your nose and cheek. You came into our family at a strong 8 lbs 6 oz and 20.25 inches, a huge surprise to us all! Still not sure where you were hiding all that weight in there!

Precious EmmaLee Rae, your name was chosen specifically for the hope and joy that you brought. The months leading up to your birth were very emotional and challenging for me and our family. After a fun week in El Paso at Thanksgiving time with family, my mom, your Grandma Anderson, was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia. She immediately began chemotherapy treatments and I spent all the time I could at her bedside and helping out my dad and Uncle Neil in San Antonio. Though Daddy and I tried to have a wonderful Christmas with your sisters, it was difficult not knowing what was going to happen. Once I progressed far enough into my pregnancy and couldn't travel, our lives continued to get complicated. Many days somebody was sick in our home and I was busy trying to finally get things ready for you. Even the day before you were born was spent shampooing and combing headlice out of everyone's hair and washing and cleaning everything in our home. Not a dull moment! With everything going wrong in our lives, we needed something happy. And that was you. Our beautiful Rae of sunshine. Amidst all the storms raging around us, you brought happiness, joy and hope. We still do not know right now what will happen with my mom's illness. We have continued to have more illnesses and other complications. But you continue to bring smiles to those around you and help us remember that despite the tempests raging around us, there is always happiness and hope. I pray that you will always remember that as you go through your life. Satan is getting stronger and there is more sorrow and heartache than ever before. But there is also more joy and hope as well. Let your light shine to those around you and let them see that Rae of sunshine.

Another reason for your name, the inspiration to use it as it is, is from your Great Great Grandpa LeeRay Sorenson. I have fond memories of Grandpa Sorenson. He always had gum hidden in his filing cabinet to give the kids that came to visit. And he had neat handmade wooden toys that he would get out for us to play with. The name Ray or Rae was passed on in several generations after him. Coincidentally, your also have Lee in your name. Also, you have a Great Great Grandpa LeeRoy Matthews and a Great Grandpa Malcolm LeeRoy Matthews. The Lee is found in several names in your ancestry in many Great and valiant examples. I could tell many stories of these amazing people. And I'm sure I will someday. But just know for now that they are looking down on you and are so happy to have you continue their legacy.

Sweet EmmaLee, you have already been back to the hospital since your birth. At 12 days old your eye became very rapidly swollen and began to ooze nasty gunk. It went from me thinking that you had a simple clogged tear duct mid-afternoon to me questioning that more was going on just a few short hours later. As soon as I showed your daddy pictures of your eye, he packed you up and took you to the emergency room (and you should know that your daddy doesn't send y'all to the doctor for anything unless he is confident that a hospitalization is required). Sure enough, you were admitted the moment the doctors saw your eye and they immediately got you started on antibiotics. You spent the next 2 days in the hospital receiving treatment and undergoing testing to make sure the infection hadn't spread to your blood, urine, or spinal fluid. Fortunately, nothing was found. It was determined that you got a small infection while in the birth canal and that you would be just fine with no damage to your eye.

We are so grateful to have you as a part of our family. Your sisters have loved and adored you since the moment they saw you. You are constantly showered with loves and kisses. I have never seen anybody so excited to bring your clean diapers and wipes and throw away your dirty ones. I frequently catch them doting on you with kisses, high pitched voices and every toy imaginable. You have certainly found a special place in all of our hearts. We love you so much!

Love always,
Momma

ps: It took me long enough to get this letter posted that you had your blessing given on Sunday, February 15th. Grandma and Grandpa Dickinson and Uncle Matt came down from Washington, Grandma and Grandpa Anderson and Neil came from San Antonio, Aunt Brittany and Uncle Glenn came from Rexburg, and Uncle Josh and Aunt Ciera came from Waco. We were so blessed to have so much family there for your special day. You looked beautiful in your dress! Unfortunately it was difficult to get a picture with everybody in the group since people had to separate in different directions. But you can trust me that they all were there. Daddy, Grandpa Anderson, Grandpa Dickinson, Uncle Josh, Uncle Glenn and our good friend, Dave Halverson, all stood in the circle as your Daddy blessed you. You were blessed that:
*Heavenly Father knows you and always will. He knows your great potential. You were chosen to come to earth now to share your light with the world. And that Light comes from the Savior. It will be a beacon to those around you.
*You will grow in beauty, knowledge and stature.
*You will come to know the Savior. That will be the most important relationship in your life.
*You are a chosen spirit and He loves you.