Happy Easter!

Well despite the rain, it was a beautiful day.  It started this morning when Kenlee and I made breakfast and took it up to Alexis and Katelyn so they could have breakfast in bed.  We went to church (hadn't been there in a few weeks due to being out of town).  It was awesome!!  I absolutely love our church.  After church we went to my family's easter lunch.  It was great to see everyone.  After easter, my cousin Amanda is expecting her first child in July, so we had a baby shower for her.  Yes Amanda, I did make the nursing cover for you - it was not bought!!  We went to see Brandon at work.  We were going to see Rebecca but it was so nasty out that we decided to go later this week and take her an easter basket then.  

Brandon and the girls and I went to see his family in Wayne City yesterday.  We had a wonderful lunch with the Clifton's and were able to visit with the Barnard's for a short while before heading home. 

We are so blessed to have such wonderful families who love us and our girls. 

Happy Easter from the Barnard's.

Rebecca wanted my attention today

Today was very unusual.  Beginning first thing this morning, I heard "Our God" playing on the radio while I was getting the girls dressed for school.  Because we had a school delay, we were around the house awhile longer today and before we left I heard it again.  My mother in law took the girls for a "girls day out" and I was listening to the music channel on the TV.  I heard both "Our God" and "Praise You in this Storm".  As the day went on and the kids came back, I heard both songs on the radio again.  Then tonight I went to Family Christian Bookstore and while I was in there I heard both songs.  Now we are a family that never turns off the radio, but I have never heard those songs as much as I had today.

Rebecca wanted her mommy's full attention today.  It has been really hard knowing that a year ago I was living a completely different life.  Time is going to fast - it's so hard to let it go.  I know it may seem weird to people, but I would give anything to still be going through the fight just so she would be here with us.  

I remember a year ago I was surprised to find a picture at Rebecca's bed of her and the Easter Bunny that the NICU staff took for us.  I saw on the news that Tri-Fest was last weekend.  I remember that was my first trip back home last year after the girls were born.  Rebecca not being here never entered my mind a year ago.  She was healthy, just needed to gain some weight in order to get her procedure done.  

Our family will never be the same as it was - we are changed forever.  

A Family in Need of Prayer

A few weeks ago Brandon and I spoke at the Right To Life Banquet here in Evansville.  We told of Joanna's fight to be here and how doctors asked us numerous times to terminate Joanna in order to save Rebecca.  It was an awesome event and I hope we get to be advocates again to save babies lives.

After the program we were approached by a couple who we immediately had a connection with.  They are our age and last year they were expecting their first baby.  She was 40 weeks along in the pregnancy and when she went to the hospital to give birth, her sweet baby girl had passed away in the womb a few days earlier when her cord became wrapped around her neck.

They are now expecting another baby this summer.  Their baby has some serious complications that were found on ultrasound so they have been going to Cincinnati to see the Fetal Care Center specialist.  From what I remember, her child's organs are all on the opposite side of the body.  They are inside but every one of them is switched around on the opposite side.  Her child also has a mass in a lung, and holes in her heart.  They chose to go to Cincinnati, as we did, because of the reputation of Children's Hospital.  They have been seeing the same specialist we did.  She will deliver at University Hospital and her infant may be in the NICU there to be stabilized but will eventually be moved to Children's Hospital.  She is due in June but believes they are going to have her deliver around Memorial Day.  Who knows how long they will be in Cincinnati.  It am so grateful that they came up to us so we could be a support system for them.  I remember her saying she didn't know anything about the hospitals up there but after talking to us (if this is your first time reading our blog, I love UC and Children's!), she felt so much better knowing she is going to be in good hands.  I remember that was a BIG fear of mine.  When the ambulance took me up there to be admitted, we had to go through the ER and there were people everywhere with blood all over them and they were screaming.  I remember looking at the EMT and saying, "I think I made a wrong decision coming to this hospital."  Boy was I wrong - they saved my Joanna's life!!

Please, please pray for them.  I haven't been able to get them off of my mind since we met.  Unfortunately I don't have any way to contact them but if you are reading this, please contact me.  I would love to talk with you again.    

Last Day of Vacation :(

Well the time has come to say goodbye to the beach...

Aside from Kenlee's new fit throwing, we had a great time.  The weather could not have been better.  When we woke up this morning I told Katelyn that this was our last day here.  I asked her if she was sad and she said she wasn't.  She said she missed home and would never say that she didn't like home again!

Here are some pictures we took today.  We are planning on leaving around 3am tomorrow to try and get the girls to sleep some in the car - we'll see how that goes.

Vacation Update

Well I surprised the girls yesterday and took them to Disney's Magic Kingdom.  They were so excited.  As we walked down Main Street towards the castle, Katelyn said, "Mom, this is like a dream come true!"  We got there soon after the park opened and left around 11pm.  It was a long long day for Kenlee, but Katelyn did very well.  She had to walk most of the time so I know she was tired.  The weather was great - lower 80's and sunny.  I'm not sure if it was because we were in between spring break week and the week before Easter (a busy week according to Disney) but the longest we had to wait in a line was 40 mins.  It was so nice!  Here are some pictures from yesterday as well as some beach pictures.  We only have 2 more days of sun bathing so I better get out there!

 On the right side of the picture you can see a dolphin.

 Girls love playing in the sand.  This was their first castle.

 It rained on us in the early evening hours Tuesday so after the rain pushed through we brought out the kites.  We had three of them going but Katelyn let one go.  She was upset but we told her she gave that one to Rebecca so she could fly a kite with them!  She liked that.

 One out....

 Two out...

It has been a great vacation so far!!

Florida Girls Trip

Katelyn, Kenlee, and I left Friday afternoon with my mom and her 2 friends from work, Lana, and Kathy.  We drove half way on Friday, got up really early Saturday and drove the rest of the way.  We made it to Daytona Beach around 1:30pm on Saturday.  Our rooms were not ready yet so we changed into our swimming suits and started having fun.  We all crashed last night around 10pm and slept until 8am this morning.

Day 2 - Sunday

Weather is great.  Sunny, highs around 90.  We spent most of the day either at the pool or beach.  Girls are having a blast.  They love to jump the waves.  Today's waves were much stronger than yesterday.  Umbrella's, I have decided are lifesavers.  That was the only way we were able to stay out as long as we did.  We have just gotten our showers and are ready to go get some peel and eat shrimp from Down Under. 

 Kenlee picked up a crab out of the ocean.  It was dead but she didn't know that.  She has no fear.

Joanna's Birthday Party

This Saturday we had Joanna's birthday party.  What a celebration!!  I can't describe to you how it feels to look at her today.  To know that she was written off from the beginning yet sits here in front of us today making us laugh.  She is a true miracle!!
She did perfect at the party.  Was in a great mood and loved the attention.  Here are some pictures from the party.  We went out to see Rebecca and take her some balloons, flowers, and her princess birthday hat.