Our BUMPY Road to Parenthood

Our road was a very bumpy one...

My husband and I are High School Sweethearts who began dating at 14 and who got married right out of college at age 23. We couldn't wait to start a family together.

We couldn't get pregnant on our own so we needed to see a fertility specialist. It took three years before we finally had a reason to celebrate.

When I got pregnant we told everyone right away, we were so excited. Unexpectedly, at 12 weeks, just when we thought it was "safe", the routine ultrasound showed no heartbeat... we were devastated. Life was never the same after that.

We decided to try again. Ultrasounds were scary for us after last time - not exciting like it is for other parents. Yet again, the tech grew quiet and I knew something was wrong. This time; however, there were 4 heartbeats instead of one - Quadruplets. We went to all the best doctors, read all the statistics, but decided that we needed to have these babies. I couldn't terminate some of them after all we had been through. I was on bed rest at the hospital for three months.

At 21 weeks I went into labor, and it couldn't be stopped. It was too soon. Alyssa Nicole, Ryan Nicholas, Kayla Ann, and Jonathan Tyler were born on November 2, 2004 at about 1 pound each. They left this life too soon and are now my angels in heaven.

Leaving the hospital after a pregnancy with no baby to go home with is the worst possible feeling imaginable.

Finally, I got pregnant once again. This time they saw only one heartbeat and I was relieved. The next appointment at the doctors revealed another heartbeat - it was twins! I was scared, but happy too. This pregnancy was relatively less complicated. I was in and out of the hospital a couple of time due to preterm labor, and on bed rest for a few weeks. My beautiful twins were born early at 32 weeks, but healthy and so strong. On June 26, 2006 Ryan Christopher and Casey Nicole were born via c-section. It seemed to take forever. I was so nervous, here we were again with premature babies. What would happen...

I heard them scream, and relieved I wept. My babies could breathe! The battle wasn't over, but my little peanuts at 3 lbs. 8 oz. and 3 lbs. 13 oz. were strong fighters. They spent a little over a month in the NICU but were so strong. The never required lung support. And continued to grow each day.

Today Ryan and Casey are 5-year-old twins full of life. We are blessed to share our lives with them.


Please join us in the Walk for Babies
on April 29th @ Brookdale Park in Bloomfield, NJ
Or DONATE TODAY

Go Team: Miracle Lily Bee

We're walking again this year (April 29th @ Brookdale Park)- the whole family - to raise awareness about prematurity and to help find new ways to help babies survive.

We walk in memory of our angels: Alyssa, Ryan, Kayla, & Jonathan (born @ 21 weeks) and our twins Ryan & Casey born at 32 weeks - healthy, strong, and 5 years old now!

Everyday we hear of another mom and dad that have to face the struggle of bringing a premature baby into the world. Help find an end to prematurity!

Support us in the March for Babies - http://www.marchforbabies.org/personal_page.asp?pp=3563082&ct=4&w=5226487&u=kwellins

March For Babies - May 1st

We're really excited about teh March coming up next weekend. If you haven't already, please check out my March of Dimes Dashboard at www.marchforbabies.org/kwellins . We're so close to reaching our fundraising goals! THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

Our Psycic Encounter

Many people do not know this about us, but after the loss of our 4 beautiful babies I was lost. It was as if the world had stopped spinning for me, but continued for everyone else. I lost hope and faith and happiness. Then, I met Karen Noe a Psychic in NJ. From that day forward, my world began spinning again. You can read my entire story in her new book Through The Eyes of Another http://www.throughtheeyesofanother.com/

Happy New Year

With each new year we have a new beginning. A chance to change and grow and renew. This year I count my blessings - family and friends - and although times were tough in the past and will undoubtedly be tough at some points in the future - we have each other. We are strong. We are healthy. We are rich in ways money can not buy.

Now, I choose to give back to the March of Dimes. Their research and development is what brought Ryan, Casey, and Lily into our lives and kept them here.

Although Alyssa, Ryan N., Kayla, and Jonathan could not be saved it is my hope that in the future more can be done for expectant mothers and growing babies to end prematurity. Please join me in the March of Dimes Walk for Babies.

THE SEASON TO BE THANKFUL

During the holidays and always, we have much to be thankful for. Despite all of the sadness that comes with loosing a child, let alone 4, my family and I are so very lucky to have our twins Ryan and Casey. Although our twins were also born prematurely, they are both very healthy and strong. During this time of year, especially remember to give thanks to those you love, those who make your life worth living.

Please consider donating to team MIRACLE LILY BEE (my niece, and another premature baby) for our WALK FOR BABIES!

Our Road to Parenthood

Our road was a very bumpy one...

My husband and I are High School Sweethearts who began dating at 14 and who got married right out of college at age 23. We couldn't wait to start a family together.

We couldn't get pregnant on our own so we needed to see a fertility specialist. It took three years before we finally had a reason to celebrate.

When I got pregnant we told everyone right away, we were so excited. Unexpectedly, at 12 weeks, just when we thought it was "safe", the routine ultrasound showed no heartbeat... we were devastated. Life was never the same after that.

We decided to try again. Ultrasounds were scary for us after last time - not exciting like it was for other parents. Yet again, the tech grew quiet and I knew something was wrong. This time; however, there were 4 heartbeats instead of one - Quadruplets. We went to all the best doctors, read all the statistics, but decided that we needed to have these babies. I couldn't terminate some of them after all we had been through. I was on bed rest at the hospital for three months.
At 21 weeks I went into labor, and it couldn't be stopped. It was too soon. Alyssa Nicole, Ryan Nicholas, Kayla Ann, and Jonathan Tyler were born on November 2, 2004 at about 1 pound each. The left this life too soon and are now my angels in heaven.

Leaving the hospital after a pregnancy with no baby to go home with is the worst possible feeling imaginable.

Finally, I got pregnant once again. This time they saw only one heartbeat and I was relieved. The next appointment at the doctors revealed another heartbeat - it was twins! I was scared, but happy too. This pregnancy was relatively less complicated. I was in and out of the hospital a couple of time due to preterm labor,and on bed rest for a few weeks. My beautiful twins were born early at 32 weeks, but healthy and so strong. On June 26, 2006 Ryan Christopher and Casey Nicole were born via c-section. It seemed to take forever. I was so nervous, here we were again with premature babies. What would happen...

I heard them scream, and relieved I wept. My babies could breathe! The battle wasn't over, but my little peanuts at 3 lbs. 8 oz. and 3 lbs. 13 oz. were strong fighters. They spent a little over a month in the NICU but were so strong. The never required lung support. And continued to grow each day.

Today Ryan and Casey are 5-year-old twins full of life. We are blessed to share our lives with them.

Last year, another preemie join our family - a cousin - Lily Madeline. You can see her story at:
http://miraclelilybee.blogspot.com/

Please join us in the Walk for Babies
on April 29th @ Brookdale Park in Bloomfield, NJ
Or DONATE TODAY

Go Team: Miracle Lily Bee