Ellie needs prayer NOW

Ellie is not doing good. She has been switched to another vent but really needs prayer now. Please pray for her healing.

Ellie, doing much better

Thank you to everyone who has been praying for Ellie.  Instead of me updating you through my blog on her progress, I want to invite each of you to click on Ellie's Blog to the right of our blog as her parents are blogging.  They also have pictures of her posted, absolutely beautiful.  

Ellie is Here

Please, with all your heart, pray for Ellie.  She is very sick and needs everyone praying for her.  Her family is mentally, physically, and emotionally drained at this point and they need your prayers.

Tomorrow is the Day!

Ellie is gong to make her entrance into the world tomorrow.  She is currently head down so they are going to begin the induction process and she should be here tomorrow am or early afternoon if everything goes as planned.  

Thank you all of your prayers.  This family has become very special to us.

Ellie is coming!

Hey all, just wanted to let you know hat April is in the hospital. She was out eating with family and started feeling different. She went in and they are going to keep her. Please pray for April, Matt, and Ellie. I'll keep you updated!

Praying for Keegan

Our family was wearing green on Monday for Keegan.  I explained to my girls why were were praying for him and why we were wearing green.  Today I went to Katelyn's class and I heard her in the hallway telling one of her friends that we were praying for Keegan because he had to have surgery.

Praying that everything went well yesterday.

Fun times at school

Last week the girls had a field trip to the zoo and a school picnic.  Their last day of school is May 19th.  I can't believe Katelyn starts Kindergarten in August.  Time goes so fast.  

We bought season passes for Katelyn, Kenlee, and myself to Holiday World.  They love going there, oh who am I kidding, I love going there too.  We can't wait to start using them.  I think the last time we bought season passes we went 14 times that season (and that is when I was working full time)!!

Here are some pictures of the girls at their school activities this week.  

This weekend - **NEW**

Saturday I went to Cincinnati to see April and Matt.  They are a couple Brandon and I met when we spoke at the Right to Life banquet a month or so back.  I am so grateful they came up and introduced themselves to us that night because we share so many things that most families do not have to experience.  I can only explain it as a God thing.  We had a great time on Saturday.  We talked the entire time (imagine that!).  I loved getting to know them and know that we will be friends forever.  I have their blog attached to ours - please take a look and pray for their family as Ellie will be entering the world on May 23!!!

Mother's Day was very emotional for me - more than Rebecca's and Joanna's birthday.  I remember last Mother's Day I went to Rebecca's hospital and the NICU staff gave all mothers a red rose.  Joanna's hospital gave me a tag blanket that a nurse had made.  Each year on Mother's Day we will take Rebecca a red rose so as to never forget my first and only Mother's Day with her.  

I have been reading along with our blog from last year on the same days we posted them.  It so hard for me to know now that a year ago Rebecca was already slipping away from me and I didn't know it.     What I wouldn't have done differently if I knew I would only have a month left.  I have been struggling with anger against the hospital.  How could they not have known something was wrong.  A sign of heart failure is fluid retention - she was a 3lb baby who passed away at around 8lbs.  Are you telling me they didn't have a clue that she was going into heart failure.  When I brought it to their attention that she was beginning to gain weight or fluid around her neck the only thing they thought about was a tumor, which they couldn't find.  Not once did they talk about a cardiac issue that may be causing this.  **NEW** Don't get me wrong, I love, love, love the hospital and the staff who took care of her.  They gave me 74 days with her and I am so grateful for that. **  I know that things happened for a reason that is unknown to me but as a mom, you can't help the thoughts and emotions you experience.  Your child should never die before you.  A mother should never have to bury her child.  It's just not fair.

March of Dimes

We had our 1st annual Barnard Twin's Team walk in the March of Dimes this Saturday!  The weather could not have been better.  My kids were great and Brandon didn't get stressed out at all (both are amazing!!).  Our team raised over $1600.00!  Thank you so much to everyone who donated money and walked on Saturday.  It was a great time.  I plan on next years team being bigger and better so heads up!!  Each team member walked with a pink balloon in honor of Rebecca since that has been her symbol for our family.  After the race, some of us went out to the cemetery and let the balloons float up to her.  Here are some pictures from Saturday.