Senna Nicole Pierce was born at barely 4 lbs. on October 14th, 1994...after a tramatic entrance to the world. I was on bedrest for bleeding, but 5 weeks before my due date, here she was! It wasnt until later we found out there was a tear in the placenta, we were very lucky we didnt lose her...a miracle, she was OK. She was born blue with the cord wrapped tightly around her neck, so they wisked her away before we got a chance to meet our daughter. Once supported she came around quickly and I got to see her about an hour later, but it felt like eternity! Jeff left me to be with her and I had NO idea what was going on...he did later apoligize, he just got so caught up in the nursery getting his first glimpse of his firstborn. When I saw her I was amazed at the head of dark curly hair and all I remember is how tiny she looked...it was amazing, every moment...I had a daughter, a girl...how sweet it was.
Making a barely a peep for a month, she basically just slept and breastfed continuously. We rarely got a chance to see Senna's eyes open and to our excitment as new parents, actually took turns waking her just so we could get to know this little being! Little did we know, at 5 weeks old all the screaming would start, and it would go on for weeks. It was literally like someone walked in the door in the middle of the night and switched babies on us! She screamed and screamed, nothing satisfied her. If she wasnt eating, she was screaming! Her tiny body pushed us away, not liking to be held close at all. The only thing I could do was carry her in a sling to quiet her. Jeff did find that a low hum helped some too...but it was BAD, really BAD. At that time we did not know our sweet little girl had something called Sensory Integration Disorder
Her PED continued to offer me that stupid "fussy baby book" and chalked it up to me being a new and unexperienced mom with way too many worries! It was more than frustrating leaving that office that day, my gut telling me there had to be something wrong with our girl! Sadly this was before the computer age and trusty Google! We were'nt online, and to think today what I would of done if I was back then! The support and wealth of information I would of received...I felt very alone back then, what was wrong with our baby?...I was convinced that she absolutely hated us!
Another great Senna moment! This was right about the age that she decided she wanted to be a little gymnast like her friends at school. So what do you tell a child with weak muscles and uncoordination that cant even muster up a somersault? It was clear this wasnt going to happen and as the years went by, she soon found other strengths like Art. Much like her mom, she was good at this and took pride in all her little drawings.
There was once a time she and Easton got along quite well...today theyre just starting to be more nice to each other again. I guess because she's growing up, and the way she puts it, "He doesnt bug me so much anymore"
This one always cracks me up! What a couple of silly kids...they always loved these photo booths.
Always loved spending time with her cousins, Senna was and still is one of those kids that doesnt follow but leads. I guess they say thats pretty common with first borns. If she has an opinion she will say it! Whether that means losing a friend or not. She was nothing like me as a child, I was shy and hoped for the most part no one would ever notice me! BUT maybe being a middle child, explains it!
Senna always loved animals, I dont think there was a animal she didnt fall in love with and wanted to adopt. She begged for years for a puppy of her own after figuring out that hamsters stink and then get out and crawl under the clothes dryer to die! In fact I remember once while we were driving she was nearly 4 at the time and asked me once again when she could have that puppy. I responded with the same ol' same ol', I yelled back to her, "when youre older!" And thats when she quickly told me in that sweet sassy Senna tone of hers, "When Im older?, look at me, Im still in a carseat for godsakes!" lol, this girl was always saying something funny.
BUT to my surprise Jeff finally agreed we could add another pet (not such an animal guy!) I guess our mean barn cat and boring guppies just didnt cut it for Senna to be satisfied with anything else. So just past her 10th Birthday we surprised her with Mya, a little Papillon puppy. She cried tears of joy, with a grin from ear to ear. The look on her face was absolutely priceless that night as we handed over that little furball in her arms. I dont think Jeff and I will ever forget that moment, never.
By the time of her 12th Birthday, I could already see she was acting much more like a teen than a little girl...and did I mention her love for Halloween and anything scary, including horror movies??! I guess it was meant to be since she was born an October baby. Of course having a Halloween/Birthday party each year through out her life probably helped some!
In one year she went from the12th Birthday picture above... to this! The days of Myspace and unlimited text with a cell phone of her own was definately here. Welcome to the teen years Mom and Dad!
So now she's 15...wow, I can hardly believe it.
She's really a good kid and we're very proud of her...AND already quick to remind us how soon she'll be able to get that drivers permit! It got me thinking that 16 is just way too young to be handed a 3,000 pound machine! It scares me to death, nevermind that when Jeff and I were her age we felt completely ready to get behind a wheel! But thats just the way it is when you have children of your own. To me, she's still that little girl who had big dreams of making it big someday, always reminding her Dad and I that she would be able to take care of us once she became famous! And who knows, she still has time!
So we celebrated her Birthday tonight at one of her favorite restraurants. She certainly didnt forget to bring her new IPOD Touch so to tease her brothers by showing them all the cool stuff she could do with it! It was a good night, and for some reason we were all quite silly at table. Not sure our waitress found us amusing though but we made up for it with a good tip.
But there are days I miss these little faces, wondering how the time has flown by so...After going through all these old photos they bring back some really good memories. I know soon theyll be all grown up and we will no longer hear those small voices giggling throughout the house anymore. A little sad...and maybe part of me is feeling this way because when I look at this picture...this was before Mitochondrial Disease had changed our lives. Jack was only 4 mos old and at the time, as far as we knew he was just a little floppy...but like his sister with a little therapy, he'd be OK. We had no idea in the following months and years what was to come for our precious son and our family. But as always, I continue to remain hopeful that GOD is looking out for us, I just have to believe we'll all be OK.
