Isabella Grace Clarke

Birthday: May 28, 2010

Born at: 8 am

Birth Weight: 5 lbs. 9 oz.

Birth Length: 17.5 inches

God’s little blessing to Jared & Marlissa . . .

Isabella Grace arrived prematurely on the morning of May 28, 2010 – 5 weeks early to be exact. Jared and I headed to Florida Hospital Orlando early that morning after realizing at about 3 am that my water had broken and I was in labor. We had seen the doctors early that week and the hope was to keep the contractions away and baby in womb for a couple more weeks. So we were both quite surprised when my water broke and we were headed to the hospital.

At 7 am the doctor walked into the room and said he would let me labor for about 1 hr and see how far I’d progressed. Jared gingerly reminded him that baby was breech, to which he shouted to the nurses for an ultrasound machine so he could see if Isabella Grace had moved. Ultrasound machine finally came on and baby was still sitting bottom down, head up – it’s cesarean time. That’s right going in for a c-section – not what I had planned. However, the 1 hr of contractions was completely unbearable and I was just starting, needless to say I was quite relieved to not have to do all that labor that comes with natural childbirth.

Isabella Grace was delivered at 8 am and was whisked to the neo-natal unit for observation and vitals check. She had some rapid breathing and high red blood cell count which required her to be in the nursery during our stay at the hospital. We felt very blessed to be able to take Isabella home with us 3 days later. Oh, and we closed and Jared moved us into a brand new house the same weekend Isabella was born. WOW, what a “memorial” weekend.

We are now at the 2 month, 4 week mark and Isabella is growing steadily. She’s smiling and cooing, finally sleeping through most of the night. I am back at work and Jared is still working from home which helps so we don’t have to have daycare issues.

Thank you to our family and friends for all the support throughout these months, the well wishes and the extra hands from tati and uncle, graam, gramps and auntie Julie – you’ve all been indispensable during the sleep-deprived days the first few weeks.

Isabella’s website will be used to keep family and friends up-to-date with her growth, her birthdays and just information on the Clarke family happenings. We hope you visit often and make sure to leave Isabella messages you’d like for Jared and I to read to and save for her.

Jared and I thank God for His many blessings throughout these months of adjusting to parenthood. God has seen us through and we know and trust Him as we love Isabella Grace and show her all of His wonderful creation.