Jan 7, 2009

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Kathryn and Emma...what an adventerous life you have already led up to this point. You are a year old today. You have defied more odds and proven more people wrong than is even believable.

I will never forget the day I found out I was pregnant with you. At that time, I thought there was just one of you. The absolute shock I felt when I found out there was two of you is indescribable. Oddly enough, I always wanted twins; I just never thought I would get them.

My shock of discovering there were two of you was then overridden by an even bigger shock. Something was wrong with "Baby A"....that was you Katie. You had a growth on your neck that indicated that you would most likely be born with trisomy 13, 18 0r 21. I was sent on my way to a specialist the very next day. I wrote about my feelings surrounding that devastating news here. The specialist also believed that "Baby B"....that was you, Emma....wouldn't even be around by my next appointment.

Immediately, you were covered in prayer from all corners of the globe. You would not believe the outpouring of love and compassion you received by people who didn't know me...didn't know you....but prayed for you anyway. I spent several torturous weeks not knowing what the outcome would be regarding your futures, but loving you nonetheless.

The amniocenteses finally arrived and the next 24 hours were the longest I ever lived through. I finally received word from the doctor that "we don't know how this is possible, but your babies have no genetic abnormalities. You have two healthy, twin baby girls." But I know how that happened. And so do the rest of the people who prayed diligently for a miracle. Your miracle.

After being put on bedrest two months prior to your due date, you were delivered 7 weeks early and had to stay in the NICU for the first month of your life. You were tiny, but you were perfect. 2 lbs 15 oz and 3 lbs 5 oz respectively. You had overcome insurmountable odds and arrived on this earth ready to take it on. Miss Emma.....the feisty one inside of mama's belly.....you were not impressed with having tubes of oxygen sticking in your nose and after the first 24 hours, you had enough and decided you were just fine to breathe on your own.

You came home one month after being in the NICU barely over 4 lbs. And from that moment on, your mission in life was to prove to the world that tiny doesn't necessarily mean incapable or weak. Despite being two months early, you have hit every milestone when you should, slept through the night earlier than your sisters ever did and endured the trials and tribulations of big sisters who sometimes forget that you are human babies and not baby dolls.

Your life has consisted of millions of kisses, stares, "oohs and ahhs" and comments to your mama and grandma that include, "Wow! You have your hands full!" "Are those all yours?!" and constant camera flashes. You probably have some little inkling of what it must be like to be a celebrity with paparazzi following your every move.

Precious beyond belief does not even begin to cover who you are. Even though your doctor was concerned about your stiff muscle joints and even said at one point you may have cerebral paulsey, you took that as yet another challenge; you were sitting up within a couple of weeks after that. Even though he was concerned about your weight, you now weigh in at 16.5 and 15.5 lbs respectively....just shy of what your sisters weighed in at when they turned one.

The stories you tell me every day amaze me. And believe me.....I speak baby and I know every word you are saying. You are great story tellers already.

Your mama adores you; your sisters adore you; your grandparents adore you.......every one who you come in contact with adores you. You have an unexplainable magnetism. And every time I look at your beautiful little faces, I melt a little more. How could one mother be so incredibly lucky? Blessed. That is the only word I have. I am blessed beyond words. You wear me out, little girls, but better you wear me out than not be here at all!

What would I do without you girls? I would never want to know. You are (almost) walking little miracles. And a cherished addition to our family. I look forward to continue watching you grow, learn, and become the wonderful people you are destined to become.

Happy Birthday sweet, sweet baby girls!!! I am so glad you are here!!

All the love in the world that I have....

Your Mama

18 comments:

Dawn said...

Beautiful! Just beautiful!

Unknown said...

Happy Birthday miracle girls! It has been fun watching you learn and grow this past year!

Hey Kristen, can you tell me how to get rid of the rectangle that says free backgrounds...on the upper left corner of my blog? I think I need to delete a code in the html, but I'm not sure which one.

Andrea said...

Those darling little gems are A YEAR OLD already?!?! Wow!!

I loved that post, Kristen. You can tell how much you adore your daughters!

I'm happy to have been a part of your pregnancy, their birth and their first year (although I haven't been around much lately...I'm so sorry!! I tend to forget about the private blogs that don't show up on my google reader).

Sam said...

Oh wow, Kristen, this really brought tears to my eyes. I remember your blog entries when you first found out you were pregnant. I remember praying. And I remember when you got the good news that your little girls were healthy.

And now they are one year old. What a year it's been for them and for all of you. What a blessing those girls are to your lovely family.

Happy Birthday, Emma and Kate! You are both so loved.

Sammy

Needled Mom said...

What a beautiful post, Kristen. The journey has been miraculous and yes, you are blessed.

kpjara said...

What an incredible gift to give those girls!

Diane@Diane's Place said...

Hard to believe it's been a year since these 2 tiny miracles came into the world. Happy birthday, girlies!

Great job on this post, Kristen.

Happy Friday and have a great weekend! :o)

Love and hugs,

Diane

Midlife Mom said...

Happy Birthday dear little ones! What a lovely post Kristen, your love for them shines through. It's been quite a journey but look at the beautiful results! My best to all five of you!! xoxo

Dawn said...

I had my sound on for the first time - what a perfect song!

I wish there were some way to get this post to all of those 77 people who came over that day and started praying for you and for them!

Diane Viere said...

HAPPY Birthday to two beautiful MIRACLES!

What a beautiful post, Kristen. You are so right--you have been blessed beyond imagination! The story of their beginnings is just a prelude the wonderful story of their lives.

I love the song you included...what a beautiful prayer for your little sweeties!

Wiping the tears from my eyes so I can type! I remember the earnest prayers that stormed heaven's gate for these Baby A and Baby B! And now we see exactly how God miraculously answered our prayers.

Bless you as you continue to celebrate not just their first birthday....but their lives!
Diane

Carole Burant said...

Happy Birthday to "our" two little miracles:-) I say "our" because here in the blogging world, we have adopted them! hehe I so enjoyed watching the slideshow and the song you chose to go along with it is just perfect. They sure have come a long way in that one year and I can only imagine how much you go to bed exhausted every night but as you say, they are so worth it and think of all the years ahead of you with these two little blessings!!! All of your girls are precious. xoxo

Barb said...

Oh, I can't get your slideshow to work. But I know how beautiful they are, how much they've grown. And I wish your little angels a very happy, and belated, happy birthday.

nancygrayce said...

I remember the day your mother put out the call for prayer for these sweet miracle girls! Kristen, I have so much admiration for you....your strong faith and your love for your children. Keep up the good fight! Happy Birthday girls!

Robin in New Jersey said...

Happy belated birthday to your precious baby girls. Thank you for inviting me in to read your blog. I had been following you ever since your mom first asked for prayer for the twins. I was disappointed when you had to go private, but understood. I am so happy to read that you are doing well.

Laurie in Ca. said...

Hey Kristen,

I want to let you know that I am praying for all four of your sweet girls to get well and for this trying time to be over soon. I am so sorry and this must be so overwhelming for you. Your mom is keeping us posted on her blog. Extra prayers headed your way today.

Love and Hugs, Laurie in Ca.

Susie said...

Hi Kristen,
It's been ages since I've been by but wanted to stop in and see how yu were! I love the pictures of your girls that your Mom posts. They're each so special and beautiful!
Hope you're doing well and that school is going along nicely.
xo

groovyoldlady said...

That's beautiful.

They're beautiful!

*sniffle*

Izzy, Emmy 'N Alexander said...

Happy birthday beautiful baby girls! Lovely letter mommy!