Eva Joyce is here!

On Thursday, March 31st, 6 pound 15 oz. Eva Joyce made her debut (3 weeks early!) My water broke around 7:45 the night before. After calling Mimi and Cups to come right over and take care of Audrey until Grammy and Boogie could get there, Jeff and I threw a lot of random items in a suitcase and headed for Northside. On the way, we were both frantically calling substitutes for the remainder of the week. Eva was born on the Middle School Fine Arts Day and 4th grade chorus day - so my sub had quite a lot to do her first day! Jeff's group competed in the Southern Star Music Festival just 48 hours after Eva was born -and they won the Sweepstakes! Anyways, back to Eva - here are some pictures of our stay at Northside . . .

Mommy in the labor and delivery room - before the contractions got too bad (or maybe this was after "the epidural man" arrived . . . ???)
Eva's first moments! While she was born 3 weeks early, it was clear in the first moments that her lungs were fully developed and there was nothing to worry about. Her APGAR scores were 8 and 9 - perfect!
After her bath with a sweet little hat and a bow!

First photo with mom and dad!

The first visitors - Unkie Will and Boogie!
And everyone on their smartphones/blackberries. What a world Eva is coming into!
Grammy arrives soon thereafter with Audrey in tow.

Audrey meets Eva for the first time - and our first picture as a family of four!
Audrey gets in on the smartphone action, playing basketball with Daddy.
Grandma and Grandpa made the long trip up from Florida - for the birth of grandchild #9! Impressive!Here's Joyce with her namesake granddaughter!

Here's Eva with her gift from Grandma - a new teddy bear! (rumor has it there's another special teddy bear coming Eva's way, too!)
Thank you Boogie, Unkie Will, Grandma, Grandpa, and Annette and George Mengert for the gorgeous flowers!
Kisses for baby Eva before Audrey leaves for the day.
But not before testing out the hospital bed!

We had a bit of a delay in Eva's homecoming. On Saturday, she became jaundice and had to have phototherapy. Here is our "glow worm." I was discharged from the hospital Saturday night, but we got to stay in our room one more night to be close to Eva. Eva had to stay one extra night for phototherapy and observation for her jaundice.At around 3pm on Sunday, we got the good news from Wesleyan nurse Geanie Baker that Eva could go home!! Here we are right before leaving Northside.
Eva all loaded up in her car seat!

Sweet Eva's first picture at home!