Four Years Later....

 

Wow. It's been almost four years since Kaiya Dawn and Kaidyn Jamiel entered this world. It has been a long and hard journey but I wouldn't change it. None of it.

Kaidyn is doing great! She is a happy, healthy, almost four year old. She has become as girlie as you can get. Her favorite color is pink and she is not happy in anything other than a skirt (a tutu that twirls is preferred). She is no longer on any type of daily medication and has not had any emergency room visits this year (knock on wood as this year is not over).

She was evaluated for special services with the local school district, but she did not qualify as special needs. Yes! That is correct, this almost four year old who was born at 24 weeks, weighing in a 1lb 3.8oz, who spent 113 days in the NICU, who needed oxygen for 10 months of her life, who had several rounds of steroids that could affect your learning development, did not qualify for special services. Praise God! The school district was shocked that not only did she not qualify, be she was also on target or above in several categories.

So, as she approaches her fourth birthday, (October 29th) I begin to prepare to host a "My Little Pony" themed affair. With cake (which she will not eat but she expects to be present), a birthday tutu (pink of course), and crown for our princess. I thank God daily for all he has done. It is because of no one else but him that Kaidyn is alive and thriving.

This year for Kaiya's fourth heavenly birthday we will be celebrating with our local MEND chapter at Central Park on October 13th from 3pm - 4pm. If you are in the College Station area please feel free to come out and celebrate not only the life of Kaiya but also the lives of those little ones that are no longer with us.

In honor of Kaiya's birthday (Oct. 23rd), I invite my friends to make a donation to the Bryan/College Station M.E.N.D. chapter in her name. This organization has done so much for myself as well as so many other women in our community. Without this organization I don't know how I would have gotten (or continue to get through) those rough months, weeks, and days.

You can make your donation by following this link  http://www.mend.org/support/about-donations.jsp. If you are donating by check please be sure to put that it is in honor of Kaiya Dawn from the BCS chapter in the memo line so that our chapter gets credited for the donation. In the online donation that is a place for this information as well.

I want to thank you all that have been her for me throughout this journey. I never would have imagined the day I found out I was having twins that four years later I would be here. But I thank God for this. Because of it, I have had a testimony to share with so many people. Being able to share my story has been a tremendous blessing for me. It allows me to tell people about Kaiya and how even in her 49 minutes of life, her impact on this world has been great.

I ask for prayer as we continue on life's journey because it is far from over. I welcome the opportunity to share my story about my wonderful twins Kaiya Dawn and Kaidyn Jamiel. You can see the miracle in their birth dates.

Love you all!