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!
DONATE NOW
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Friday, December 17, 2010
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
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
Thursday, December 16, 2010
March Of Dimes - Walk For Babies
Our family has been blessed with babies, but also faced many complications. My three sisters-in-law and myself have all required c-sections: 4 out of 4 - terrible odds!
Of all of our beautiful children (10 in total) 7 have been born prematurely:
Quadruplets - Alyssa, Ryan, Kayla, and Jonathan were born November 2, 2004 at only 21 weeks. They each weighed about 1 pound, but sadly they were too small, too soon. They are our angels now.
Twins - Ryan & Casey were born on June 26, 2006 at 32 week weighing 3 lbs. 8 oz. and 3lbs. 13 oz. Ryan spent 1 1/2 months in the hospital, Casey spent 1 month there. Today, they are thriving 4-year-old preschoolers.
Lily was born on August 11, 2009 at just about 28 weeks. She was 2 lbs. 11 oz and spent 61 days in the NICU.
Join our team MIRACLE LILY BEE or donate today!
Of all of our beautiful children (10 in total) 7 have been born prematurely:
Quadruplets - Alyssa, Ryan, Kayla, and Jonathan were born November 2, 2004 at only 21 weeks. They each weighed about 1 pound, but sadly they were too small, too soon. They are our angels now.
Twins - Ryan & Casey were born on June 26, 2006 at 32 week weighing 3 lbs. 8 oz. and 3lbs. 13 oz. Ryan spent 1 1/2 months in the hospital, Casey spent 1 month there. Today, they are thriving 4-year-old preschoolers.
Lily was born on August 11, 2009 at just about 28 weeks. She was 2 lbs. 11 oz and spent 61 days in the NICU.
Join our team MIRACLE LILY BEE or donate today!
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