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