a look back

 a year ago today I woke up feeling a bit off. I wasn't sure what it was, I just didn't feel good- almost like I was starting to get some sort of cold or flu bug. It had stormed the night before, so Korey was up north working and I didn't want to bother him, so I didn't tell him anything. As the day wore on I felt worse and worse, until it was about 4 in the afternoon and I found myself on the phone with the nurse, trying to hold my panic in check. I was in labor and my babies weren't due for another month. One of the most distinct memory of my entire life happened not long after I hung up the phone with the nurse and was still debating whether or not I wanted to head in to the hospital and if I did, how I was going to make it work with Hailey and Jack. I vividly remember being on my hands and knees, rocking to try and relieve the pressure of the contraction and looking over to my side and seeing my 2 beautiful children- 1 1/2 naked because he had just had a blow out diaper and I had only gotten him changed- no clothes back on- and the other, scurrying around with her scissors and stickers- harassing the dog! It was such a comical sight, but it was definitely the "tipping point"- the moment I knew that I had to call in reinforcements and somehow get myself to the hospital. Thank God that my neighbor's were available!! Korey managed to beat me to the hospital and we spent a very scary and uncertain night praying and begging God to let these 2 sweet princesses stay in a bit longer! Thankfully He answered with a resounding YES! I still can't think of this day and that night without being completely and utterly in awe of God and His gracious miracle toward our little family. When I arrived at the hospital I was dialated just past a 4 and the doctor on call refused to stop my labor- she was just going to let it go and let the babies come. I was heartbroken. I knew there was no hope that they wouldn't have a long stay in the NICU, being born @ 33 1/2 weeks and that thought frightened me beyond all belief.  Thankfully, God interevened, and our doctor had just been at Gander Mountain buying a new gun when a nurse called him and told him I was in. He wanted to run his new purchase past Korey anyways, so he decided to stop in and take over. (even as I write this story I have tears in my eyes) He ended up trying a few "tricks"- not giving us much hope that any of them would take effect and keep the babies in longer, but his willingness to try gave me hope and I texted a few of my dear friends and rallied the troops to prayer. I know that those dear friends prayed my babies in and a mere 4 hours later when my doctor checked me, my cervix had actually gone backwards (a thing that had never happened in my doctor's years of practicing) and it looked as if my contractions were slowing down and my babies were going to stay in for a while longer. I went home on complete bed rest for the next 3 1/2 weeks- some of the longest weeks of my life, but it was well worth it. One never gets a precious miracle and then throws it back at God. When our babies were born at the "healthy age" of 37 weeks and still had to spend 5 days in the NICU I knew that it was a precious gift from God that they had not been born as early as they had wanted to! 

our precious girls....

then:

and now: 

thank you, thank you, thank you dear Jesus, for the precious miracle You worked in our lives 1 year ago today. May I never forget to be thankful and praise Your glorious name for these little lives. And, thank you, to those of you who prayed for our girls. I will forever be indebted to you for your prayers and will always hold you in a special place in my heart because of your willingness to loose sleep on my babies' behalf. I cry when I think of you all and how dear you are to me and my family.