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!

Here's to G-Pop!

So sorry for the long period between post. I was reminded on several occasions that I needed to update the blog by KJs Godfather or G-Pop as she calls him. So here you go G-Pop!

KJ has been doing great. Has not had a relapse of pneumonia (yay!). We have seen tremendous growth in here over the past several month. She has grown (straight up only), and seems like grew a shoe size over night. She is talking in full sentences now and even told me she wanted to wear a pink dress to school this morning. She likes to wear dresses and dance like a ballerina. She has hit the terrible twos but we are working on making good choices.

The plan is to put her in gymnastics this summer and take advantage of her increased muscle turn and joy for turning flips.

All in all KJ has just grown up to be a normal two year old. God has just blessed her beyond measure and the expectations of most. What an awesome God we serve!

PS Yes I know...no pictures. I will post some from my phone soon.

Baby Maya

I have posted on several occasions about Baby Maya, KJ's NICU BFF. Here's a little about Maya's story from her mom Kristy!

Its been SO LONG!

Wow, I didn't realize how long it has been since I posted on KJs blog. Time has surely flown by. There have been a few ups and downs since I last posted so I will do my best to update on all but they will probably not be in the order that they occurred, sorry.

KJ has been released from ALL therapy! Praise God! I was (still am) nervous about the ending of her therapy. Her therapist have been a part of our family and a big part in her great success. None wanted to stop seeing her but all said that on there visits they just played...she already knew everything!

KJ has still been battling recurring pneumonia the entire winter season. Just last week she had to go to the ER again with her 3rd cause this season of pneumonia. It was nothing but God that I was able to get an appointment scheduled with her pulmonologist and within a week she has having a CT scan of her lungs and a bronchoscopy. The CT scan showed that her lungs were completely covered with pneumonia (all but an area in her lower left lobe) and her bronchosocpy showed that she has some airways that are not fully opened and that she has some indications of reflux or aspiration in her bronchial tubes.

Treatment: for the pneumonia she has PIC line (long term IV) in her arm so she can receive IV antibiotics for the next few weeks. For the reflux or aspiration she will be started in nexium for reflux and will have a swallow test to see if she is aspirating (if food is getting into her broncial tubes).

Sounds like a lot but after a few rough days KJ is back at daycare, running and jumping around! KJ is truly a fighter and gives me strength everyday. Someone said to me the other day..."Wow, she is such a fighter, she has so much will, she will grow up to do great things!" And I believe God has a wonderful plan for her and this is all just her testimony!

Be blessed!

Birthday and Halloween Pictures

Happy Birthday Kaiya Dawn!

Whew....2yrs

On October 29 KJ turned 2. Boy how time has flown by and how blessed we have been. KJ is doing so great....even better than anyone expected. Thank you all for the prayers and support over the past two years. Through your prayers she was able to beat man's expectations of her and show truly what God can do! We love you all.

The Week Ahead

Just wanted to post a quick update on KJ. This week she will be fitted, hopefully, for braces just to sleep in. We think that she needs the support but don't want to slow her down or frustrate her by making her wear braces during the day. Also, we will be discussing with her ENT on taking her adnoids out. I just don't see this winter going good if we don't. As soon as she gets a hint of sniffles she gets super congested and this time even anitbiotics didn't clear it up. So prayers needed this week! Will update at the end of the week with results.