Another Ear Infection

Kaidyn is now on her third ear infection. Fun stuff. So the doctor is now beginning to talk about the possibility of tubes. Not too sure about them but I have heard that once they get tubes many kids no longer get sick as much. So we will see what happens after this ear infection clears up. We are getting ready for Christmas Day. Even though this is technically her 2nd Christmas to us it like her first, since this will be her first Christmas at home.

So Merry Christmas to all of KJ's blog readers. Thank you so much for your prayers and keeping up with her story. May God bless you all above and beyond your expectations.

The Pollard Family

Please pray for the Pollard Family. They recently had twin boys born at 25 weeks. Both are in the NICU at Scott&White in Temple. As we know, they have a long journey ahead of them with many days of uncertainty. Keep their family and they babies in your prayers. Thanks!

Daycare

Kaidyn has officially started daycare with week. *deep breath* I did okay. She's doing great! I'm excited for her to be around kids her own age. The good thing is that her daycare, Peas in a Pod, has cameras so I can watch her ALL DAY! She having little difficulty adjusting so that makes it easier for me to let her go each day. I can tell she has fun cause she is worn out at the end of the day. I am looking forward to all the things she will learn at daycare just from being around kids her age. Hopefully they will aid in her development and getting her to catch up. I can already tell she's wanting to attempt to talk more. That's really the area that started to lack. While she's always been a noise maker/screamer. She is still not saying actual words. Really I just want her to say Momma! Haha. But so far so good with daycare. I'll give an update on the total week this weekend.

Lucky 13

Kaidyn is now 13 months and doing so great! Could really ask for better! She's crawling around everywhere, pulling up and everything, and on her way to saying 'Momma' (I can hope anyway :) ). She has gotten her braces now and had them about two weeks. And what do you know... She's too strong for them! She can still pull up on her toes! So back to Central Texas Orthotics we go! They already had to add an extra strap while in the doctor's office. Since then we found that she can take her left brace right off! I don't know what we are going to do about her. I can tell she's going to be a climber because she loves to pull up and hang on/off things. She is the strongest baby I've ever seen!

This week she has been under the weather. Another viral infection it seems. We've been fight fever, congestion, cough, etc. No ear infection as of yet but I think its coming.

It's Been a YEAR!!!

Her Birthday Outfit

Too cool!

Also in remembrance of Kaiya Dawn who would have been 1 on 10/23/10

I can't begin to explain how this past year has been. Yes I can! A ROLLERCOASTER! And one I didn't want to ride but not can't seem to get off. Ups and downs, twist and turn and even some circles big and small. But what a GREAT year it has been. Kaidyn has been such a blessing! When I look at where this blog started, with such sadness and uncertainty, I can't help but thank God for his blessings in our lives. Kaidyn would not be here today nor doing so great had it not been for the Lord and his great mercy. I just can't thank him enough.

So now at the one year mark we are oxygen free with no last effects from being a 24 weeker that we can see. Well besides the developmental delays that are expected she is doing great! She's getting ready to get her braces here in the next few weeks. She's crawling!!! And wanting to walk so hopefully when she gets her braces she will be on the move in no time.

Thank you all for being with us through out this year. It seems like its been so much longer. Can't believe all the events took place in just a year. Please continue to pray for us and especially for Kaidyn as she progresses and plays catch up! Thanks again!

Leg Braces and Such....

We found out that Kaidyn will have to get leg braces to help with her foot position. The ECI physical therapist said that its best to correct now and hopefully she won't need them long term. The issue is that when we stand her up she stands on her toes and won't put her feet flat. Her left will go down with pressure but her right foot is a little more difficult. She has high muscle tone in her legs so the braces will help with that. I mean she has calf muscles already!!! She gets fitted for her braces later this month.

Yesterday (Monday) Kaidyn had an eye appointment in Temple to check and make sure her retinas and all that looked good. Came out with a good report! Eyes are straight and tracking well! She is near-sided and will need glasses in the future but nothing to worry about for now. Back in a year for another check!

Today I found out that Kaidyn now has an ear infection. Two weeks ago when I took her to the doctor when I thought she had an ear infection she didn't it was viral. Today I took her just because she was still congested and having a hard time breathing (no fever or any other signs) and now she has an ear infection. Go figure! So we are on antibiotics for the next 10 days. This cold/flu season is not starting how I wanted. Luckily she was approved for the Synagis shot (to protect against RSV) so that puts my mind at ease... alittle.

KJ Update

Kaidyn has been good overall. Sorry its been awhile since I posted. I've been incredibly busy! Anyhoo, her surgery went great! The cyst is gone and it was just a skin cyst. She recovered great. Didn't even phase her one bit. She seemed less cranky after surgery than she had been all week prior to. So that's a good think. Her post op went good as well.

She has gotten her first cold. She was getting a cold and I thought maybe an ear infection so I took her to the doctor. Her ears were fine so they gave her a flu shot and then her cold got worse. So we did breathing treatments for a few days and its gotten better. She has been super stuffy but its draining now (ewww..) So she get suction daily. I wish we had the suction thing from the NICU that was awesome! But we work with what we got.

I wanted to post also and let those who follow her blog that Baby Chole Gallaway passed away on September 21. She was 8 months and was in the NICU the entire time. Please pray for her family. She leaves behind her mom, dad, sister, brother, and a host of family and friends; many who never got to meet her face to face. Her services were so nice, touched my heart. I know Kaiya was there to welcome her into Heaven. Its nice to know she has a friend there with her.

We we are on the count down to a year! Here we go!

Surgery Friday!

So, Kaidyn will be having surgery on Friday. She has a cyst in her chest will the docs want to have removed while its still small and she's still small (to reduce scar size). Prayers needed! Not too nervous about the surgery itself, more nervous if she has to intubated. That brings back horrible memories.

An update in general....

Things have been going good. She had a Temple NICU follow-up appointment recently and everything was good. Its soo funny, cause its like she knows when they say she's a little behind in an area because within the week she's doing it! ECI here in town comes to work with her twice and month and each visit she's moving right along. She will be crawling in no time. She has started to roll back to tummy now and gets up in crawling position.

She is getting two teeth in the bottom so a teething baby she has been. Which means, she's been CRANKY! Goodness, how many teeth do they get? She is growing up so fast. In a little over a month it will be the one year mark. I look at our journey and just praise God!

More Changes

In an attempt to start blogging more of what Kaidyn and I do, I decided to make some changes to the blog. Those still following please let me know what you think. I am new to the customization of blogs. I could pay someone and sleep, but it's fun to finally get it all worked out. So instead I stay up until 3am and work on it.

Update at Last

Kaidyn and I after her dedication

Ready to go ride my horse!

Must be cool to wear sunglasses inside

Playing in the Grass

Okay so its been a LONG time since I posted, mostly because our day to day is not very interesting anymore. But here's an update on Kaidyn and I.

Kaidyn is now 9 months! I can't believe it! Shes 13lb 7oz and 24in long. She is doing so good! She is starting to sit up, mostly with the assist of a boppy because she doesn't stay still enough. She is a busy body! The comment we get most is that she is a wiggle worm! Still no crawling but she tries. I personally wouldn't be surprised is she skipped crawling and went straight to walking. We did discover a cyst on her chest over the past few months and the ENT doctor wants to have it removed. Her first procedure. :( She will have to be put to sleep but it will just be an in and out procedure. The doctor said its not urgent and does not believe the cyst is hurtful to her. So we will have it removed soon. Other than that, Kaidyn is doing great.

We had her dedication ceremony this past Sunday at church. It went great! She was sooo beautiful of course!

An update on me, I just got accepted to the Blinn TEACH program. I am getting my certification to teach science and hopefully math.

I'll try not to make my next post two years from now!

Coming Soon

An update will be coming soon as well as makeover of the blog.

She's 7 months!

My little aggie

Kaidyn making her spitting face

First set of ponytails

Yummy sweet peas!

I'm all ready for church

Since the last post Kaidyn has grown so much in such a short period of time. She talks way more now and has even learned how to spit! It's her favorite thing to do :). She has now started to eat baby food, sweet peas to be exact. The doctors and nurses alike are still so impressed with her progress. She has been called the miracle baby by many.

Its so funny I never realized how small she really is. I mean I've heard of a few people who have had newborns her size or bigger. But recently it has become apparent to me how tiny she really is. While in a Dallas mall a lady walks up and of course comments on how cute she is then the next question always is... how old is she. So of course I say, oh she 7 months. And comes the surprised look... WHAT! She's so tiny. The young lady had her 8 month little girl in the mall with her... huge difference. I've also met a 14+ lb 2 month old and a lady with a 26+ lb 6 month. So I have to say an 11lb 7 month old is tiny. Also, at her check up appointment this week Dr. Ransom plotted her growth points, which are not on the chart, and says... "She's growing which is good but she will always be small, she may not make it on the growth chart until she's two" So I guess I'll have to get use to the surprised looks when asked the infamous question..."How old is she?"

NICU Follow-up Appointment

Kaidyn has her first NICU follow-up appointment on Thursday and it went great! She is now weighing in at 11.4 lbs.

We started off the day visiting the very special Maya and her mom Kristy in Waco. Maya is doing good since she has been home but is still a tiny little Mayabug. She and Kaidyn had a good time playing and Kaidyn showed her all her tricks. It was so cute!

We then went to Temple for our follow-up appointment. First the occupational therapist ( the same one that visited us weekly in the NICU) evaluated Kaidyn. By doing various exercises with her she was able to determine how far along she is developmentally. And Kaidyn is doing great! She measured about 3 months, which is how old she is corrected, and even four months on her motor skills! She showed her that she loved to roll over and kick and play. She's a regular wiggle worm and that fun paper on the doctor's table added to the fun and excitement. The only thing she scored low on was language because she would show her she could laugh, but she does here at home.

We then got to see another familiar face when the neonatal nurse practitioner came to do her evaluation on Kaidyn. Again, everything looked good. By this time Kaidyn was worn out from the kicking and the rolling.

All in all it was a great trip which we will make again in three months!

Lifts Head and ROLLS!!!

Today Kaidyn was playing on her tummy, lifts her head and rolls over to her back! Yay! I was so happy. She has rolled over on the couch but I have been waiting for her to roll over on a flat surface and today it happened! Kaidyn is doing great! Officially off oxygen, 10.5 lbs 22.5 in. She is becoming such a big girl. Loves to stand and jump and even tries to "talk." She also received her first cereal bottle a few days ago and LOVES it! It is also helping with moving up her bed time to a decent hour.

How Preemie Moms Are Chosen

How Preemie Moms Are Chosen
(Adapted from Erma Bombeck)


Did you ever wonder how the mothers of premature babies are chosen?
Somehow, I visualize God hovering over Earth, selecting his instruments
for propagation with great care and deliberation.
As he observes, he instructs his angels to take notes in a giant ledger.
"Beth Armstrong, son. Patron Saint, Matthew. Marjorie Forrest, daughter.
Patron Saint, Celia. Carrie Rutledge, twins. Patron Saint ... give her Gerard.
He's used to profanity."
Finally, he passes a name to an angel and smiles. "Give her a preemie."
The angel is curious. "Why this one, God? She's so happy."
"Exactly," smiles God. "Could I give a premature baby a mother who knows no laughter?
That would be cruel." "But does she have the patience?" asks the angel.
"I don't want her to have too much patience, or she'll drown in a sea of self-pity and despair. Once the shock and resentment wear off, she'll handle it.
I watched her today.
She has that sense of self and independence so rare and so necessary in a mother.
You see, the child I'm going to give her has a world of its own.
She has to make it live in her world, and that's not going to be easy."
"But Lord, I don't think she even believes in you."
God smiles. "No matter, I can fix that. This one is perfect.
She has just the right amount of selfishness."
The angel gasps, "Selfishness?! Is that a virtue?"
God nods. "If she can't separate herself from the child occasionally, she will never survive.
Yes, here is a woman whom I will bless with a child less than perfect.
She doesn't know it yet, but she is to be envied.
She will never take for granted a spoken word.
She will never consider a step ordinary.
When her child says 'mama' for the first time, she will be witness to a miracle and know it.
I will permit her to see clearly the things I see – ignorance, cruelty, prejudice – and allow her to rise above them.
She will never be alone.
I will be at her side every minute of every day of her life because she is doing my work as surely as she is here by my side."
"And what about her Patron Saint?" asks the angel, his pen poised in the air.
God smiles. "A mirror will suffice."

April

Kaidyn has been doing great! She is growing and advancing daily. She's now 9lbs 10oz. Shes is doing so great! We are now just gearing up for the March of Dimes walk May 1st. She had her first appointment back in Temple. It was an eye appointment and it went good... I guess. All he did was shine a light in her face and say "Yep, her eyes look straight." Yes, we drove an hour and a half for him to shine a light in her face. It took us longer to wake her up for the appointment then the actual appointment. It was nice to see old friends. That's all that's been up with her lately. I'll try to post more regular :)

March for Babies

We have been doing great. Kaidyn is growing so big now. Shes 9lbs 5oz! WOW!! Shes been progressing so great. She tries to talk in her baby noises and stand up. Tryings to roll and scoots on the floor. She is doing so great. The ECI team says she doesn't need their services now she developing on time and beyond. So we are so bless and happy about that. Easter was great! She had a very beautiful dress and we went to Great-Granny's in Somerville for the day. She was so alert and talking it was wonderful.

I am waiting to get a team together for the March of Dimes March for Babies walk May 1st. Our team name is K Squared ! We are walking in memory of Kaiya and in honor of Kaidyn. I would love it if the people who have been following their story would join us on that day. Click on K Squared and register for our team and/or make a donation if you would like. If you will not be able to walk with us still feel free to make a donation and help raise money for the March of Dimes.

Double Doozie

Sorry it's been so long. Wanted to post pictures but my computer is down so posting by phone. Kaidyn has been doing great! The doctor is very pleased with her progress. She now weighs 8lb 6oz. The only thing is working on her weight gain. Although she's gaining he would like for her to gain more. We met with the neo doctor her and he wants her to gain more as well. He also has a plan to wean her medicine and oxygen. We are now down from 1/4 to 1/16 and he wants her to be at 1/32 within the week. So that's the goal. Today she also had to her two shots, one in each leg. So today both she and I were not feeling well so we had a lazy day. She's becoming more active, rolling and scooting even trying to stand up! I forget she's only 1 month adjusted. We are having a great time even if I don't get much sleep. I'll post pictures when I can.

MENDing

Kaidyn has been doing so good. She is growing longer by the day. She gets more alert as the days go by. She is rolling over now! She rolled over on the couch. She is trying to sit up and even stand up! She is moving right along. I think she will be the smallest crawling baby. ECI came by mostly to fill out paper work. We will meet with a physical therapist at the end of the month to do an assessment and determine if she needs services right now. So we will see what they say.

This week I went to my first MEND (Mommies Enduring Neonatal Death) meeting. I think its going to be a good group for me to be in. Somewhere I can talk about Kaiya with moms who understand what its like to lose a child. The only place where I'll be Kaiya's mommy. It was wonderful to meet these strong women.

Update on Maya:

Please pray for her. They just found out that because of her rickets she has 9 fractures throughout her body. They are comprising a regimen for to strengthen her bones but she is in pain now. So continue to pray for this precious baby.

Many Prayers Needed

Maya is in need of your prayers. As I previously stated Maya still has two surgeries to undergo and now possibly a third. We found out today Maya has ROP (retinopathy of prematurity) Basically, due to the amount to oxygen she has had to be given (as all mirco preemies) there is an increased risk of retina detachment which is happening to Maya. We will know next week if surgery will for sure take place. Right now Maya needs all your prayers.

Update with Kaidyn:

Kaidyn is doing good and growing big... well long. She doesn't look any bigger but she is stretching out. She rolled over for the first time on Thursday March 4th so we were very excited about that. Continue to pray for her development. We meet with the ECI organization (Early Childhood Intervention) to check her development.

First Week Home

Our first week home has been bitter sweet. While I am great to be home in my own bed and familiar surroundings, I miss Temple (did I just say that?). I made wonderful friends there and of course I miss the nurses. Kaidyn has been doing good in her new surroundings. Nothing much has changed for her. We have kept with her same schedule from the hospital. I am having the harder time. Her feedings are every three hours and breathing treatments every six. Blah Momma tired!!! She had her first doctor's visit this week. She is doing great. She was 6lb 11.9oz when we left the hospital last Friday and she is now 7lb 4oz. He is very pleased with her growth and how well she did while in the NICU. Now we start to slowly wean her from her medicine and oxygen and just make sure she continues to grow. Hopefully soon we will begin to work with Early Childhood Intervention to make sure she is where she needs to be developmentally and stays on track. We will see how she progresses in the weeks to come.

Maya is doing good as well. She is weighing 2lb 13oz. She is doing great with her cannula and in the process of being weaned off of it. Continue to pray for her as she still has 2 surgeries to undergo before she leaves the NICU.

113 Days Later

After 113 day in the Scott & White Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Kaidyn Jamiel Walker is finally home! I just can't believe this day has come. The Overnight Stay went well, although waking up every 3 hours will take some getting use to. Saying goodbye to everyone in the NICU was bitter sweet. I will miss all of them! From Dr. Govande (her neo) to all the nurses, social workers, and other staff. Their faces became a regular part of my day. I realized quickly that although I have felt out of order being in an unfamiliar town for almost 4 months, a regular routine had set in. This irregularity had become normal. Checking out of the Ronald McDonald House was also a very bitter sweet moment. The entire staff there has been excellent my entire stay. I had really moved in and it became apparent when time to pack up my room. I guess the good thing is that it wasn't really goodbye to the RMH or to Scott and White. Both will be a part of our lives for time to come with follow up appointments, visits to see old friends, and NICU reunions.

She did very well on the drive home, slept the entire way. She seems to like riding in her car seat. Getting settled in at home is slow going. Getting use to moving around with her equipment will take some getting use to. She has been doing great since she's been home.

I want to thank you all so much for following us through this part of our journey. What a roller coaster this was. But do not think the blog will end here. Kaidyn and I have a wonderful journey ahead of us and I will continue to post the progress of this miracle that has touched my life. Continue to pray for her and her development. Our next challenge is meeting those developmental milestones and staying on track.

I will also continue to update on Baby Maya. I know many have been praying for her and please continue. Her mom and I have become great friends so I will keep you all updated. Maya is on now on a high flow cannula and is doing wonderfully. She has started taking a bottle now as well. It seems that her and Kaidyn have had a very great week. Maya just seems to be pushing full steam ahead now. I guess she wants to join her buddy Kaidyn on the "outside" :)

Again thank you all for your prayers and continue!

Overnight Stay

Well we are going home tomorrow!! I can't believe the day is actually coming. I seriously thought I would be in Temple forever. Tonight I will stay overnight at the hospital with her and learn all the equipment and tomorrow is discharge day!! Praise the Lord. Baby Kaidyn is coming home.

It's My Due Date!!!

Today was Kaidyn's due date. I can't believe it! Its seems so odd that today was the day she was suppose to be born and here she is heading toward 4 months. She's still been doing good. Slowly getting ready to go home. Waiting right now for her doctor to come back from a conference to give us the actual time line. Not holding my breathe though, if the nurses let it slip and tell her she could be coming home she; she may decide to stay longer. She just loves her nurses.

Its been so long since I posted because I had tendinitis and trigger finger in my right hand. It was a pain!!! All better now, for the most part.

I'll try and keep you posted on the plan for going home. Doctor should be back tomorrow or Thursday.

Maya is have a good day as well. Continue to pray for her. Although today was a good day. This weekend was pretty bad and she has some type of infection. We thank God daily that Scott&White is so proactive and immediately start antibiotics so she is doing so much better.

Grand Tour of the NICU

So Kaidyn decided she wanted to see EVERY part of the NICU. She is now in her very own suite. She's been doing great with her respiration. We are heading back toward home again. She is now 6lbs. She is getting so big. They had to reduce her fluid intake so she only gets 45 mL a feeding but it's some high calorie stuff. All in all Kaidyn is doing great.

Maya has been doing good as well. She's still on a CPAP machine and loving it a little too much. She has started feed but has not been able to really digest it yet. Because she's not getting fed she is getting Rickets so please pray. Pray also for motility in her bowels. But over all she's gotten over her infections and just working on eating right now.

Not Much Has Changed

Kaidyn is doing about the same. Her respiration continues to be over 70. They performed a heart ECO on her yesterday to see if there was an issue in her right ventricle causing her respiration to be high, and determined that she has two small holes in her heart; one between her atriums and one between her ventricles. Neither hole is concerning and both should close on their own. They did not find and issue that could be causing her to breath so rapidly. The current diagnosis is...her lungs are now in a chronic diseased state, she has bronchopulmanary dsyplasia (BPD), which will cause her to breathe fast. To that add getting fed a high amount of volume. This excess fluid leaks into the lungs causing them to work harder leading to faster respiration. So at this point they have lowered the amount of milk she gets and increased her diuretic hoping that with less fluid it will be easier for her to breathe. We are now in a waiting game. She no longer gets bottles at every feeding due to her high respiration so she will have to start that over again (she's beginning to get lazy with her bottle) and she is still up on the liters of oxygen she is getting so she is being weaned from that again. Not sure how much longer we have, really just depends on her and which way her breathing goes. Because of her BPD she will be coming home on oxygen so we have to get her to that state but right now her respiration is too high to talk about going home. Continue to pray for Kaidyn for lung strength, brain strength, bone strength, stomach strength, and growth strength. Pray specifically she definitely needs these things in particular.

Not So Good Days

Kaidyn is not doing so good right now. We were on our way out the door but she had other plans. She is having a hard time breathing. Her respiration is suppose to be under 60 but on a good day they are 68 or so and go as high as 100. She has had to have her feed tube put back in because of it. High respiration can cause her to spit up and choke. We are also back in the "Towers" or the actual NICU so she can be closely monitored. She has started breathing treatment and has been given more diuretics. Please pray for her lungs to get strong and pray against infection. So far all her test have come back negative.

Maya is doing a little better. She still has her infections but she is hanging in there like a strong little girl.

Continue to pray for all the babies. Another baby needs special prayer. His name is Ryan and he had to have a large portion of his bowel removed today. The doctors have given his family a 50/50 chance of survival. His twin Ragan also needs your prayers. Both are very sick.

Little Update

Kaidyn is hanging steady. Still going through the stuff with her oxygen. Hopefully soon well get it straightened out so we can go home. They are in the process of reducing her flow again. So pray for her lungs still and that she is sheltered from infection.

Maya is really sick so she needs many of your prayers. She has 2 strains of staph and pneumonia in her left lung. She's hanging strong but please pray for her little body. Pray also for her mother. It's hard hearing all this news by yourself.

So continue to pray for all.

Photo Shoot, Snap Snap

Kaidyn had a big day today. The hospital's marketing team came by and took pictures of us. She did a great job. I'll post them once they email them to me. Of course they thought she was just too precious. Who knows you may see Kaidyn and me in a Scott and White publication.

We are beginning to talk about going home but Kaidyn has other plans. She had to have her flow turned up today. She's been really congested lately so they had to deep suction her today and they got a lot of gunk out. She also had to get an extra diuretic. They seemed to work so hopefully soon she'll be ready.

Pray for all the families here. It seems that lately there have been more families with really sick babies lately.

Prayers Needed for Maya

Maya really needs all of your prayers. She has an infection that the antibiotics are not helping. They are waiting for the results of the culture but it will 24-48 hours before they come back. They are thinking Maya has a fungal infection and that would not be good for baby Maya. Please please pray for Maya and her family.

Three Months Today

I couldn't let today go by without remembering Kaiya Dawn Walker. She would have been three months today.

I love you my little Angel. Watch over your sister. I know you are with her every time she smiles in her sleep. She gets to play with her own special Angel.

All Bottles, Bottles, Bottles

Kaidyn has had a very good week. She is now getting a bottle at every feeding! And that means NO MORE FEEDING TUBE!!!! I am so happy for her! I can see home at the end of the tunnel. She is now 4lb 7oz so she is gaining weight! We are just waiting for her to come out of her isolette and then we will know more about a timeline to go home. It is still 50/50 if she will come home on oxygen but right now I just want to go home.

The RMH is packed! I have met some great people here so I am not too home sick but there is still nothing like being home.

Baby Maya is doing good as well. She is on a conventional ventilator and her parent now get to do Kangaroo Care with her. She's wearing clothes and is now starting to recieve breast milk. She will be one month tomorrow! Time sure does fly!

I have come to realize how truly blessed Kaidyn has been. Maya's mom was telling me that the doctors were telling her how rare it is to get through this journey with no surgeries or brain bleeds. And praise God, Kaidyn has had neither. She is truly a blessed little girl. Continue to pray for her that her lungs continue to strengthen. Pray for Baby Maya that she grows strong, her lungs grow strong. Pray for all the babies in the NICU. Daily I hear of babies having to go through life threatening surgery. Just the other day Kaidyn's doctor said she has already gone through more in her life than any of us every will. So true, these babies are filled with so much strength we just want God to comfort them in their pain.

Pray for the parents here, that they stay strong through this long journey. All the parents here are bonded through this journey. We are part of a club that no one asks or wanted to join, but members we are. It is not easy to be unexpectedly lifted from your normal life into the life of a NICU parent. Where your days are filled with hospital visits every 3-4 hours, little sleep, your heart stopping every time your phones, praying its not the NICU, wondering how long you will be here, a week, 2 weeks, or like us 3 months and counting. Being separated from your family is never an easy thing. I just ask that you pray for the babies but don't forget the parents. We all need your prayers that is the one thing we all really need.