Savannah Paige

To my Paigey Pants on her 3rd birthday -

I can't believe you are already 3 years old! You are truely a miracle and we are so happy you are part of our family. Your start was definately hard and you gave all of us a good scare. I began labor over a month before you were due and doctors were unable to stop it. Luckily, all tests and scans pointed to you being a very healthy baby. After you were born I actually got to hold you, you were so beautiful! So soft and sweet right from the start. I noticed almost immediately that you were having a hard time breathing and before I knew it - they took you and Daddy to the nursery. Soon Daddy was back with the news that you were born without Pulmonary surfactant in your lungs, and they were giving you lots of oxygen. Your little lungs wouldn't open right and you were working much to hard to breathe. The doctors decided that you needed to be lifeflighted to a hospital that could better care for you. As they prepared you to go, you crashed and they had to put you on a machine that did your breathing. They brought you to see us before you left and they took a picture of the three of us together. We already loved you so much - and the thought that you might not be ok scared us a lot.

At the new hospital you stayed on the machine for 3 more days. They tryed to take you off sooner, but you decided to scare us and stop breathing again. Mommy and Daddy visted you every day and called every three hours to check on you. You were so tiny and you slept a lot! You were very quiet that the nurses loved having you - you hardly ever cried and loved to be swaddled and snuggled. You were such a star you gratuated from the NICU in only 18 days!

You fit into the family like a missing puzzle piece from the start. You never minded that you had an older sister hugging and kissing you. You are such a great sister, and you have grown into that role more every day. You are so patient and loving.

Your heart is one of the softest I have ever known. You experience all of your emotions so deeply! You can make an entire room brighten just by being in it. Your giggles and smile are so infectious. You love to sing, dance, and tumble for anyone that will watch.

You have been your Daddy's girl from the start. You two are so much alike - laid back and happy. You both have the same tastes too - you both will also eat almost anything, especially if it's spicy! You guys spent a lot of time together and Daddy loves your snuggles. There were quite a few mornings I would find you both asleep together in the recliner.

You have such a bright future ahead of you, and I admire your joy of the simple things in life. You are so honest and loving in everything you do, and I am so happy that you are my daugher! I am lucky to be your Mom.

I love you.

Mommy

a birthday party in pictures

Thanks to everyone who helped make the girls' 3rd and 4th birthday party a success!

Grandma Nelson ~ Grandpa and Grandma Nyman

The Bucks ~ The Bergeners ~ The Larsens

Uncle Misha ~ Melanie ~ Trish ~ Michaele

American Idol 2023

Seriously... how cute is that?

The potty training nightmare.

I have decided that potty training is the least cool thing so far in the parenting world. Especially when you have one kid that is only interested when it suits her, and another who just doesn't seem to care at all. From the picture alone you can sense Savvy's enthusiasm. Preschool starts in less than a month and although potty training isn't a requirement, it sure would be easier! So today we launched "Princesses pee and poop in the potty party week!" Yep, that's right, using the potty is a requirement to be a princess. You should have seen Ky's face when I told her that even Sleeping Beauty uses the toliet. Complete disbelief. So together we decorated their door with progress charts and set up cool prize bins to choose from (of course bigger prizes for bigger accomplishments - if you catch my drift.) So we're going to try our best... wish us luck!

Kyrie Ruth

To my Kyrie Bug on her 4th birthday -

I can remember four years ago today so clearly. I was so scared - having been admitted to the hospital four days prior. They knew something wasn't right and you weren't due for almost another 5 weeks. When they diagnosed me with HELLP syndrome, the doctor came in with a counselor. Ty and I sat there as they told us our only option was delivery and they needed to know our wishes in case you didn't make it. I couldn't imagine my sweet (and fiesty) baby not coming home with us from the hospital - we were petrified. As they prepared to lifeflight me I remember praying that I would do anything if you would just be okay. As soon as the helicopter landed at a hospital with a NICU (Newborn Intensive Care Unit) I was induced. It took less than thirty minutes and only one push to get you here - but they took you away so fast, I barely got a glimpse. Since they were trying to stabilize both of us, I only got to see a picture for an entire day. Waiting that 24 hours to meet you was almost unbearable. I remember being pushed into the NICU and seeing the most perfect 4 pound 11 oz baby covered in wires and tubes looking at me. I fell in love instantly. Over the next 21 days I barely left the hospital, I wanted to be with you constantly. It was so overwhelming - not only was I a new parent, but you were so tiny. I remember one particular time that you were screaming so hard your face was bright red. I looked at a nurse and asked her what I was supposed to do. I still reflect on her reply all the time - "you're her mommy, you know what to do." We got into a routine together and bonded over feedings every 3 hours. You were so spunky! All the nurses loved to be in charge of you, and they called you "Baby Houdini." By three days old you had already mastered the art of taking your feeding tube out and holding it up for the nurses to see. You were barely over five pounds when we brought you home with special preemie formula and reflux medications. You also had a special monitor in case you forgot to breathe - which you seemed to do often in the NICU to scare the nurses. You only did it once when you came home, but it was enough to scare your Daddy and I to pieces.

You grew so fast, soon you were a toddler and a big sister. You have always been such a great big sister. You covered Savvy with kisses daily and touched her so softly. You have been her protector and friend since the moment you met. Savvy is so lucky to have you looking out for her.

You have always been an artist - expressing yourself through movement and creativity. Even when your rough start in life caused developmental delays, you never stopped trying to grow and conquer the world around you. You excelled at things in your own way, and turned your trials into advantages, something some adults never figure out.

I remember when I was a teenager my parents telling me that some day they hoped I had a child like me so that I would understand what I put them through. If there was ever a mini-me, it is you. I have always loved that I followed my heart and did things my own way, and I know that your life will hold similar experiences. You feel emotions so deeply, and because of that you have so much to give. You are compassionate, mischievious, and full of a love for life.

There is never a day that you don't make me smile and laugh. Your strength and determination are an inspiration to me and I am lucky to be your mother.

I love you.

Mommy