Nine years ago…

As usual, the month of November was a flurry of activity around our house.  Everyone in this family celebrated their birthday in November except me, so it is a BUSY month.  With it safely behind me, I think I can find a few minutes to update the blog with birthday posts! 

Every once in a while, I have to look at these comparison pictures.  They are such poignant reminders of how far these precious girls have come.  Nine years ago, we were scared out of our mind, not knowing what the outcome would be for our girls…the doctors had painted a very bleak picture for us in the weeks before they were born.  We knew nothing of this medically fragile world, we were young, naïve, and so fearful….look at them now!

McKenzy Faith 2lbs 5oz. 13 inches long

 

Keyan Elizabeth 1lb 5oz. 10 inches long

 

Sidney Ann 2lbs 3oz 13 inches long

 

Abagayle Grace 2lbs 2oz. 14 inches long

UNBELIEVABLE!!!  Even for me, it never ceases to amaze me!  What these first pictures don’t show is the actual lack of photos that we have.  It doesn't show the hours spent staring into isolets, willing them to keep on. It doesn't show the tears shed at home while separated from our babies, or the late night phone calls to come back to the hospital because something was gravely wrong. The beginning was so scary that we didn’t photograph much of it.  They took turns being so sick on and off that there were periods of time when we couldn’t look at or touch them unless they absolutely needed care.  We weren’t focused on capturing the moments, we were focused on continuing them. It was a minute by minute roller coaster that on one hand I will never forget but in actuality, I remember so very little.  All the odds were against these little girls but one by one, and day by day, they struggled against those odds and here we are.  Some of them are still beating the odds every day in various ways but boy, what a miraculous story they hold! 
***I promise to blog about Chicago next!!!