meet the harrison's: March 2012

Singapore Zoo and Night Safari

One of our first excursions in Singapore was to the Zoo and Night Safari. Elle loved animals so this was a must. I would highly recommend the Zoo if you ever come to Singapore. It is designed so that it looks as if animals are just roaming free. It was quite incredible! The Night Safari was amazing as well. We road on a tram that took us through the park to show us the animals that come out at night. Then we went to a really neat show. We had a great time, but were exhausted by the time we got home at midnight!

Singapore Zoo

Elle's favorite animal

This little animal was just hanging out, not afraid of all the people walking aound

Feeding the Elephants

After the elephant show

Entrance to the Night Safari

at the Night Safari show

WE MOVED.....to SINGAPORE!

We made it! We flew from Dallas to LA. We had a 6 hour layover in LA where we were able to meet up with Mathew's sister and family. They were so kind to come pick us up and take us to lunch and a park so the kids could play and we could wear Elle out before the 18 hour flight to Singapore. We had such a great time hanging out with them and so glad they were able to meet Seraphina. Sadly, I only got one picture.

After spending time with the Walters we went back to the airport where we were barely able to take off before Elle was ready to pass out. We put her in her pajamas and got her ready to sleep. The girls were AMAZING. It did help that their seats turned into beds! Mathew got Elle's bed ready, laid her down and she was out for 10 hours! That meant we only needed to keep her entertained for 8 more! Elle woke up before we did so Mathew turned on a movie for her to watch. We both woke up to see Elle's flight attendant sitting down next to her talking and feeding her a cut up banana while she watched cartoons. Mathew and I were dying. She was living the princess life! Mathew could have stayed on the plane another 20 hours, because they kept coming around with food and were amazing. If you ever have the chance, fly Singapore Air!

Me, Abby and Seraphina

Elle in her seat/ bed

We are here! Elle is still a bit tired

One of the cleanest most beautiful airports I have seen!

Our luggage - 6 suitcases, a pack n play, 2 strollers, 3 carry-ons - all for a family of 4 for 9 months!

Mathew and Seraphina in the elevator

Living room

Seraphina's Blessing

Shortly after having Seraphina we packed up our apartment in NYC in preparation for our move to Singapore. We went to Dallas to visit family and spend Christmas in Oklahoma before our move so the family could meet Seraphina. Since we knew we were coming to Texas, we decided to wait and bless Seraphina so that family could be there. It was wonderful to have family and friends there to be a part of such a special day.

Harrison Family

My side of the family

great friends - the Vincent family

Seraphina Lee Harrison

8 lbs. 10 oz.

21 in.

I went past my due date again. After getting to my due date, my doctor and I decided to go ahead and set an induction date for September 19, which would put me 6 days past my due date (just like I was with Elle).

I went into the hospital at 5:30 am and left Mathew and Elle at home. The plan was to have Mathew meet me at the hospital after he got Elle breakfast and dropped off at a friends house. I was started on pitocin pretty quickly and things started moving right along. Mathew made it to the hospital around 9. My doctor was wonderful and came into the hospital room to chat with us while I was waiting for things to get moving along. They kept telling me that once I 'turned that corner' things were going to happen quickly. The nurse came in and checked me, I was a 7 and they said it might be a few more hours. Not 10 minutes later I was ready to push and the baby was born a few minutes after that. They were right, once I 'turned that corner', it went by really quickly. I felt amazing. The labor and delivery went really well. I was able to get up and walk around just shortly after birth.

Mathew stayed with me for awhile and then went and picked up Elle from our friends house to bring her to the hospital to meet her new sister. To say Elle was excited and loved her little sister is an understatement. She was so happy to finally meet this little baby we had been talking about. While Elle and Mathew were at the hospital visiting, the baby (not named at this point) spit up green. We were concerned, because I had only nursed her one time and that was right after delivery and this is 6 hours later. We called the nurse, but it took awhile and by the time she came over Mathew had left to take Elle home and get her in bed. About 20 minutes after he left the nurse came to see what was going on and had the pediatrician on call come see the baby to rule out any concerns. Unfortunately, she was concerned and recommended they take her up to the NICU to take x-rays to rule out a blocked intestine. I called Mathew has soon as they took her telling him he needed to come up and give her a blessing, because she was being taken to the NICU. He was able to call a good friend who was over to our apartment in a matter of minutes to stay with Elle so he could come up to the hospital. Another one of our friends met us there to assist in a priesthood blessing. As he began the blessing and started to say 'baby girl harrison' he felt strongly that her name was Seraphina. This had been a name we discussed and jokingly had agreed that if the baby was over 9 lbs, she would be named Charlotte (my choice). If she were under 9 lbs, she would be Seraphina (Mathew's choice) - (she was 8 lbs. 10 oz). He did not tell me this until the next day...I was fine with it though, because we love what the name represents.

Seraphina remained in the NICU for 14 days. She was diagnosed to have NEC. Necrotizing Enterocolitis. The treatment was: 7 days of gut rest (no eating), with a repogal tube that went into he stomach to suck up any stomach acid so that the intestines would not have to work at all and have time to heal. She also had a central line and several IV's providing lipids and nutrients. After 7 days of gut rest we SLOWLY re-introduced food. The nurses loved her and would take turns holding her (she liked to be held). Her incubator neighbors were little bitty premies, so to the nurses Seraphina was a butterball. The two weeks she was in there I was a wreck. I wasn't able to walk into the NICU without spending the first 30 minutes crying. Even though I knew she was on the up and up (after the first week), you just never know. The NICU is a scary place. I watched one sweet little baby crash and another pass away. I felt so bless that Seraphina was doing so well and was in such a great hospital to be treated, but it didn't change me wanting to just get my baby home.

Shortly after talking to my family my Dad made arrangements to come out and help with Elle. It was so nice to have him there to take care of Elle so I could spend time in the hospital. After he left my Mom changed her flight to come out earlier than planned. It was so nice to have family around to help out when they were most needed. We feel extremely blessed to say that Seraphina is completely heeled and was able to come home after 14 days. She is a beautiful and sweet baby and we love her so much!