Boy Oh Boy – NICU Time with Sweet Kaelan
Recently, I had the opportunity to spend a week in Colorado with family. My cousin Renelle Broughton (who is like a sister to me) had her little one early and was spending a big part of each day in NICU. I was able to spend time with her, her husband Eric, and their new sweet little one Kaelan! It was a precious time for me.
Words cannot express how honored and truly amazing it was me to spend time with this awesome Momma, caring Dad, and adorable little guy. Not to mention to have the chance to experience NICU from a totally different perspective from when the girls were in it over 10 years ago. Kaelan won my heart immediately and I am grateful for Renelle and Eric opening their home, sharing their precious boy with me, and everything during that crazy busy week.
Thankful for a chance to spend some extra time with my Aunt, Uncle, cousins, my parents, and other extended family over the weekend as well! Wish I lived closer to see them and their little guy grow up. Love you guys! Lots of hugs, kisses, and prayers always from South Carolina! Thankful for an awesome husband Jake Hayes for taking good care of our two chickies while I was in Colorado that week!
Goodies for Kaelan!
Renelle is like a sister to me and it was wonderful spending the week with her.
He was not happy about getting his footprints done and into the baby book, but his tiny little toes looked so stinkin cute afterwards!
Precious time with Renelle and her sweet little bundle of joy. I cannot tell you how amazing this week was for me to spend with her, Eric, and her adorable baby boy!Flashback Friday: NICU Graduation Celebration
Ready for the NICU Graduation Celebration
Today’s Flashback Friday goes back to September 2005 when the girls went to their NICU Graduation Celebration. It is hard to believe they are now 7 months old. We are thankful for all the doctors and nurses that helped our family during the time when the girls were staying in the NICU. They took good care of our babies and we learned a lot from them during their stay. It was a great event to celebrate. Glad the girls were still growing and healthy.
Relaxing while we pack up the diaper bag and get everything ready to head out. The super cute dresses are from my Aunt Mary Ann, Uncle Rick, and cousins Renelle & Laurel in Colorado! Thanks guys, they are adorable!
Karlie’s 1st Face Painting experience. She was not too sure about a stranger touching and putting stuff on her face even though the rest of us were right there.
Karlie made it through the face painting, but was not happy with us at the end. She was not a big fan of it. Her legs were kicking, arms waving, and was about to burst into tears to let us know that she was not impressed with this whole face painting adventure. A little TLC and snuggle calmed her down quickly and she was fine for the rest of the event.
Brina getting her face painted for the 1st time at the NICU Graduation Celebration. She didn’t seem to mind it at all.
Brina was relaxed and just let her paint her face. She figured Daddy was there it must be okay.
Karlie is all smiles now. She doesn’t even remember that her face is painted with a smiley face.
For some reason Brina loved chewing on this dress. Must of tasted good or had an appealing texture.
Brina talking and happy even though her pink heart is completely smeared all over her face from her fun NICU celebration adventure earlier that day!
Karlie is glad to be back home again. Her smiley face stayed on for several hours after we arrived back home.
Karlie and Brina are very lucky girls. During the NICU Graduation Celebration they won a door prize for some toy blocks and shapes. They are playing with their new toys now. They have no clue they won anything, but were happy to play with the new toys. So exciting!!!
Flashback Friday: Sharing, Sleeping, & Surgery
Brina and Karlie sharing a pacifier
Today our Flashback Friday hits when the girls were only between 1 – 2 months old after coming home from NICU. They shared everything and could sleep peacefully in the most unusual positions. It was much easier to get their pictures at this stage because they were not mobile yet. Thankful for these little blessings. It doesn’t seem like these days were that long ago.
They were preemies and came home on heart / apnea monitors for the first few months. You can see the wires coming out of their clothes in many of the early pictures. We never had to worry about them stopping breathing because the monitors would always alarm if they did. It wasn’t long before we got used to it.
During this time Karlie also had to go back into the hospital to have surgery. Her stomach wasn’t getting the milk she was drinking and she was throwing up after feeding. It was pretty scary taking our little one back in for surgery. Watching her being wheeled off to the operating room in the huge crib broke my heart. Thankful for Doctors and their help during this time.
Baby sleeping pile
Somehow Karlie managed to scoop herself until her bottom was against the wall and had her feet resting up on the wall while snoozing away.
Karlie resting after surgery with her huge IV bandage
Brina hanging out in the pillow. She thought it was pretty cool standing up at first, but decided after a few minutes she would rather be free.
Flashback Friday: Welcome Home Girls
Girls packed up and ready to leave the hospital NICU and go home for the first time!
Today’s Flashback Friday is the girls last day in NICU as they are bundled up and ready to come home. They spent about a month in the hospital NICU. The main reason they were there so long is that they were growing and learning how to suck and swallow. They weren’t as excited about coming home as we were, ha! By the time we got them bundled up in their carseats they were ready for a nap. Thankful for the amazing nurses, doctors, and people who helped us during our stay in NICU.
My parents and two youngest brothers were visiting the week that the girls came home from NICU. It was nice having the extra help around the house and with the girls. Thankful that we were able to get settled into home even if that meant we were on house arrest for the next few months. They were itty-bitty when they were born (Brina 4.9 and Karlie 3.15)!
Welcome Home sign hung up on the front porch with Dargo sitting on the porch waiting for us to come home.
First nap together in their crib – Brina on left and Karlie on the right!
Grandpa Russell and Brina taking a nap!
Uncle Josh rocking Karlie!
Uncle Lee feeding Karlie and Uncle Josh feeding Brina. It use to take them almost an hour to finish one small bottle with only 2 to 4 ounces in it. They have come a long way!
Grandma Penny helping with the girls!
Flashback Friday – Time Spent in the NICU
Karlie and Brina in their bed at the NICU!
Today’s flashback is to February 2005 when the two beautiful blessings were born – my daughters Brina and Karlie! After 12 weeks of permanent bed rest they came 7 weeks early and spent almost a month in the NICU. Thankfully, they spent the majority of their time in NICU sharing a crib. They looked so cute and all wrapped up together in their blanket. It is hard to imagine them being this tiny – Karlie was 3 pounds 15 ounces and Brina was 4 pounds 9 ounces when they were born.
At first they were not able to finish all their milk on their own so they had NG tubes. Jake had to hold up a syringe with the remaining milk and would drain directly into their little tummies! It wasn’t long before they were drinking their full portion on their own!
Sleeping beauties! Can you tell who is who?! Karlie is next to Mr. Duck and Brina is sleeping next to Miss Kitty
Happy Birthday Brina & Karlie!!!
Today is my little ones birthday! It seems like it was yesterday we were in the hospital and NICU with them. Even though their due date was in April they decided to come 7 weeks early. They have brought so much joy and laughter to our life! It has been wonderful watching them learn and grow. We pray daily that God will continue to develop them into beautiful young women with a heart for Him.
Happy 6th Birthday Brina & Karlie!!!
Our sweet girls - Karlie and Brina! This picture was taken a couple months ago. Now both girls have glasses!
