2012!

I knew 2011 was going to be an amazing year. I was settling into my pregnancy as I rang in the New Year, I was full of hopes and plans for 2011.

I knew it was going to be the most amazing year I've ever had. I had no idea that it would also be the hardest, most trying year I've ever had.

Thank you - from the bottom of my heart, thank you - to all of you who cried and laughed and sat bedside in the hospital with me, to all of you who supported me and celebrated with me in 2011. I would not have made it through this year without you.

I don't know what 2012 has in store for my sweet family of 4. But I know it will be awesome, even in the hard times. Because I rang in the New Year by kissing these sweet faces...

And we can absolutely make it through anything :)

(Don't worry, those sweet faces were in bed at their normal time tonight. But I totally did sneak in and steal kisses at midnight!)

Happy New Year friends... I hope 2012 is everything you wish it to be!!!

Who am I, Sovereign LORD, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far? -2 Samuel 7:18

A Day Late and a Dollar Short (AND A WINNER!)

I know, I know... I was supposed to announce my winner yesterday.

I'm sorry!

BUT! I have a really good reason!

We're famous! Our local paper called me at the end of last week - the NICU my babies stayed in is expanding, and they wanted to interview a recent grad as part of their article. And they chose us! I was super super flattered and well, I love our NICU so of course I jumped at the chance. The only problem? I was out of town Thursday-Sunday and they wanted to run the article today. Which means yesterday was a blur of last minute cleaning our messy just-back-in-town house, making myself look presentable, and putting cute clothes on the babies for the paper's photographer to come take our picture. (Alright, alright, and then my sister came over and we tried to make our own weave. That's a whole 'nother story for a whole 'nother day.) Point of the story: yesterday was uber busy, which is why I didn't get to do this post.

But I'm here now!

Comment #13 was from thefloyds10! Yay Savannah!!! Email me (dingle.lee at gmail.com) and we'll get a hat going for sweet Noah :)

I'd like to extend a big huge THANK YOU to everyone who entered and promoted my giveaway! I had a lot of fun and I couldn't have done it without all of you! Annnnd a big HELLO to all my new readers... leave me a comment and tell me a little bit about you!


PS If you'd like to read the article featuring my sweet babies, you can see the whole thing online here!

Gratitude

I'm trying to write my farewell letter to the doctors and nurses.

I'm having a really hard time with it.

Preparing to leave is so bittersweet. I've come to love these people as family, and they love my babies too. I've spent every single day of the last three and a half months with them, they've become a part of my life and I'm going to miss that part. It's like some weird grown-up version of summer camp, but with your sick babies... you're ready for it to be over but you're not ready to say goodbye.

And then, how do you express a gratitude this deep? "Thank you" is what you say to the person who holds the door for you at the bank. "Thank you" is not sufficent for the people who saved your babies lives.

I'd say I owe them my first born but she's super cute and after all this I'd really like to keep her. :)

Phililppians 1:3 - I thank my God upon every remembrance of you

CPAP!

Today has been an exciting day!

The babies' team was all set to extubate everyone after rounds this morning, but Sassy got a little impatient and pulled her own tube out before it was time. (Have I mentioned yet that I FEAR the teenage years with that one?) Luckily their team is awesome and acted fast and got her hooked up to the CPAP before she crashed. She took to it like a champ and is doing AWESOME!!! The mask looks uncomfortable and she gets fussy every now and then but it's just going to take a few days for her to get used to her new setup. But her vitals have been stable and she is breathing. My baby is breathing!

Since Audrey's extubation was so, um, exciting, they wanted to be able to keep a good eye on her and decided to save Grayson's for tomorrow. He's ready though, he is so ready. He's been satting in the high 90s all day - on only 24% oxygen - he's letting us know he is ready.

I wish I had words more sufficient than thank you when it comes to your prayers. I don't think I could ever say it enough times to relay our gratitude.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. -Philippians 4:6-7