1St BiRtHdAy PaRtY!!!

We ended up having a small party for the babies with close family and friends and one of my favorite parts was being out of the house all day long! We packed (what felt like our entire house) up 2 car loads and headed to my sister's for the day and threw our daily schedule out the window! We didn't really go with a "theme" for their party and just stuck with their (what I call) "signature colors". I have always been the one to go ALL OUT on parties from the invitations, to decorations, details, details, details - that's me. For some reason it was different this time, I didn't stress all the small stuff. I kept things simple and it was perfect!

I was asked quite a bit as their birthday was approaching how I was handling it, and to be honest it was VERY difficult at first. I would always tear up thinking about how ridiculously fast they're growing up and how they won't be my little babies much longer. On the other hand I have to keep reminding myself they are here, all of them, and to celebrate their first birthday and making it through the first year is HUGE! Last year I remember telling Bret "if only I knew they would be here a year from now...".

Baxlyn in her first tutu made by Mommy! (btw she HATED it)

Oh I was SO HAPPY with the way the cakes turned out! I knew just what I wanted and headed to the local grocery store... I gave them my specific requests (this baby, that color, this order, blonde fro, pink pig tails etc.) and hoped for the best! The result was better than I had pictured!!!
Love this picture!!

When we put the babies in their table and set 4 cakes in front of them, each with a lit candle, they all started to squirm and whine until we started singing.... they all stopped immediately not moving an inch. All except Kylee that is, this girl has LOVED to dance since she was itty itty bitty - any music and shes-a-movin' and the birthday song is no exception!!

Brody

Korbin

Baxlyn has had some texture issues going on lately and she couldn't stand the icing being on her hands. We gave her a spoon and she was good to go!

Last but not least we have Kylee. Below is sweet, calm Kylee BEFORE cake...

Adorable Kylee DURING cake....

Kylee immediately AFTER cake..... sugar high? I think so!

Thanks so much to all of you who came and a special thanks to Amy Horton with Amy Horton Photography for coming and capturing some great pics!

**Bret and I would like to ask for your prayers. We are taking Kylee tomorrow (Monday March 1st) to have an MRI and an EEG done. It will be a long day of tests and we need prayers that things run smoothly for her and we get good results as well. We will update soon with more details. Thanks Bret & Heather

The Brodster

It still brings me to tears to think about where we were this time last year. I'll never forget living day to day not knowing if Brody was going to make it. Just one year ago we were given the chance to "pull the plug" on him. Of course we never considered that as an option. If God wanted to take him home, he would have. We are thankful everyday that He chose to let us raise this special little boy.

I CAN'T imagine not having this sweet baby (and his laugh!) to wake up to everyday and how different our lives would be without him.

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Toothless ONEders!

We officially had 3 toothless babies the day of their first birthday. Brody, Korbin & Baxlyn WERE nothing but gums. 2 days later, Korbin's first finally cut through and then Saturday at their party we noticed Baxlyn had one too! I tried to get a picture like I did Kylee's, but these two can't hold still for ANYTHING now days so their cheesy little faces was all I got!

Korb Worb

Little B

That's all the update for now, we're still unwinding from a VERY busy weekend! Birthday Party post - coming soon!

1 Year Check Up!

My little deer in the headlights not moving an inch as all of the staff come in to take a peek and congratulate us on not having ONE sick visit since they have been discharged from NICU! L-R Baxlyn Brody Kylee & Korbin

Brody at birth - 3lbs at 1 Year - 20lbs 15oz!

Brody showing off his weight bearing skills!

Having a moment with Dr. Reyes... a little doctor in training... who knows?!

Our Baby Girl B at birth 2lbs10oz at 1 Year - 18lbs1oz!

"This is me showing you I can stand. And this is my shoe!"

My Little Tiny Kylee at birth 2lbs7oz at 1 Year - 19lbs9oz!

Last but not least Korbin at birth 2lbs11oz at 1 Year - 19lbs7oz!

I'm pretty sure this next part made them never want to have another birthday - shots! Poor things got 3 shots each, it was brutal and you could hear them all crying AT ONCE through the whole office.

"We hate being one, mommy!"

Our attempt at a group shot with Dr. Reyes before leaving which the girls wanted nothing to do with. Better luck next time!

Happy 1st Birthday Brody Baxlyn Kylee & Korbin

This is it, this is their very first birthday. It's so hard to believe my sweet babies are ONE! February 16th 2009, I woke up like any other day having no clue that by the end of the day I would be half my size and officially a "Mommy". I remember so much about that day... the nurses who were present, the special one who came in from home just because I wanted her there, the disgusting meatloaf with tomato and basil that I (for some reason) ordered for lunch, the look on my doctor's face and how my heart sunk when he said the words "Looks like were gonna have some birthday parties...". I'll never forget seeing my friends and family in the hallway cheering me on while I was being wheeled to the operating room, literally feeling myself getting smaller and being able to take deeper breaths as each baby was pulled out, and hearing each one's weak whimper as they took their first breath on their own. It was definitely a day I will never forget.

Right before Korbin and Baxlyn were discharged.

These are some of the amazing doctors who God used to take care of myself and the babies. Dr. Leveno, Lucena, Kuforiji & Dr. Jain, if you are reading this THANK YOU! We think about you often, especially during this time.

Dr. Kuforiji
Dr. Lucena
Dr. Jain
The One and Only, Dr. Leveno

Brody, Baxlyn, Kylee & Korbin
Your Daddy and I have said a million times already and will say it millions more in your lifetime, we are so proud of you and thank you for being the fighters that you are. Not one single day has gone by that we haven't thought about where you were a year ago and how far you have come. God has truly blessed us not only with four babies, but more specifically YOU four babies, and we thank him for that each and every day.

Happy Birthday to our miracle babies, we love you!
Mommy & Daddy

Brody
Baxlyn
Kylee
Korbin

My Birthday Babies!

One of the news stations who covered the babies at their birth did a special segment on them last night in honor of their first birthday. Check it out here
http://cbs11tv.com/video/?id=51778@ktvt.dayport.com

Stay tuned! One year check up and the P a R t Y! coming up soon!