A new way to drum

We got Kennedy this drum for her birthday.  She loves it.  But apparently she has found a new way to play with the toy as well!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

I am so so so incredibly thankful for my family and friends who have helped us get through the tough times last year, the hard times this year and the fun times all year round and more to come!!

Last year we spent Thanksgiving in the NICU.

This year we will spending Thanksgiving with our entire family and I cannot wait!  On to happy and good holidays this year. 

One year ago today...

Kennedy was 8 days old, weighed in at 3lb 7.5oz, and was moved from the level 2 nursery to the level 1 nursery in her NICU!  This meant she was taken off of her IV fluids, and was on her way to feeding by bottle/breast.  She became a full fledged feeder/grower at that point. 

It was also the day that Alanna came to visit us int he NICU and she took these wonderful pictures for us.

Now, a year later Kennedy is still growing like a weed.  Getting bigger each and every day.

She loves her puppy (the toy one that is)

We got Kennedy her My Pal Violet when she was about 6 months old.  She loved it then, and it just made her face light up when she saw it.  Now she seems to love it even more.  She gets so excited and happy when she see's her, and just loves to snuggle up to her when she is "singing". 

I just think it is the cutest thing ever :)

A visit with Santa that didn't go so well!

When we took Kennedy for her one year pics Santa was already at the mall (yes on November 16, what is wrong with the world today that they couldn't wait until after Thanksgiving?!?)

Anyway, I actually had not planned on taking Kennedy to see Santa because I didn't want her around all of the other kids, coughing and sniffling and touching everything in site during the winter season.  Luckily there was no one, and I mean absolutely no one in line to see Santa, so at my mother's insistence we got some Santa Pics.

Needless to say, she wasn't a happy camper.  But everyone needs a crying Santa pic, right?

My poor girl.  One day she will laugh at these, but for now they are kind of heartbreaking.

One year pics

I subjected my daughter to professional pictures on her birthday.  I feel bad, she got ticked at one point but we got some cute ones out of it, so at least I am happy, right?

Thankfully my mom went with me, as it would have been hard to do it all by myself. 

So, here are a few of her pics.

She is such a cutie!! I love that smile. 

One Year Stats!

She had her appointment yesterday, November 19, 2010 and here are Kennedy's current stats:

Weight: 17lb 13oz  (5%)
Length/Height: 28 1/4" (20%)
Head Circumference:  17 3/4" (50%)
*All of her percentiles are for her actual age - which is exciting, she is on the charts and staying there! 

She is just one long skinny child, gotta feed her some more good foods I guess!

One year ago on November 19, 1009 Kennedy weighed only 3lb 1.4oz, she now weighs over 5x that!

What a mess... but I wouldn't have it any other way!

Last night after putting Kennedy down for bed I came out to do my nightly routine of picking up her toys that she has taken out and gotten everywhere. 

I stopped for a minute and thought about how different my living room floor (well and living room in general) looks today.  A year ago there was nothing cluttering the floor, or the tables.  I could easily have my coffee table in the middle of the room with remote controls, candles, and what not laying about.  Now it is all replaced by bouncing zebras, drums, play phones, little people farms and houses. 

I stopped, and looked at the mess my daughter had made.... and I smiled.  I would not have it any other way.  I will happily take a mess that my daughter makes with her toys over not having it at all.

What a difference just one year makes....

November 18, 2009....

November 18, 2010....

One year ago today I was still in the hospital recovering from giving birth, pre-eclampsia, a likely infection, and Kennedy was fighting to grow, get strong, and learn to suck, swallow and breath (something they learn inside that she never got to learn). 

Today, she is almost 18lbs (will know for sure tomorrow, eating like crazy, crawling, cruising, talking (she says a few words - we think), and is a happy little camper. 

Time for the holidays, and that means cards!!

We took family pictures recently and I cannot wait to make them into our holiday cards! I also took Kennedy for her one-year pics and took a few holiday pics in that shoot as well.

We've done Christmas cards in the past from other vendors, even just buying simple ones at the store.  My favorites though were always the ones we did right after getting married and they were from Shutterfly. 

So, this year I decided we were going to use our family/holiday pics for our christmas cards, and I wanted a new contemporary looking one where I could use multiple pictures.  This took me to venturing through the world of online photo sites to create our cards and of course I ended up back at Shutterfly, because all of their stuff is pretty good, and in the past I have been very impressed with their quality and selection!

I found these cute cards, and now have to choose just one.

There are just too many good ones, that I'll probably end up spending about an hour just trying to decide which ones to use.

I think I'll check out the calendars as well so that I can have different pics in my office each month.  

Oh, and bloggers, get 50 free cards for sharing!

Prematurity Awareness... Blogging for Preemies

Today, November 17, 2010 is Prematurity Awareness day.  I decided this year I would blog for preemies, since last year on this day I had a 1 day old preemie. 

Kennedy Anne was born at 9:32 a.m. on November 16, 2009 weighing 3lbs 5oz and only 15.75 inches long. 

Kennedy was born prematurely as a result of Pre-Eclampsia, and what turned out to be a partial abruption of the placenta.  This was something beyond my control, and to this day I still feel as if my body failed her.  She was too early, she wasn't "ready" for this world yet, and as a result she had to spend 22 days in the NICU learning everything she should have and growing and gaining weight as she should have had she come as a full term baby. 


The Story of Kennedy's arrival itself is a link on my blog (the link is here as well The Story of Kennedy's Arrival), I do not feel the need to repost it here.  What I will post is how having a preemie has affected our lives. 


Having a preemie changes the way you seem to look at everything.  Every little milestone they hit you are excited about and nervous about, you worry, will it come with their actual age or their adjusted age (the age she would be now if she had been born on her actual due date).  I tend to analyze everything, but then often realize that I need to just let it go. She will meet her milestones and do things on her own time.  I have to realize this, and be diligent when I do think she may be falling behind because I want to get her the help she may need. 

I worry like crazy about her getting sick.  We were basically on lock down at home until the Spring/Summer because of Flu and RSV.  RSV can be troublesome for any child but can deadly to a preemie who has underdeveloped lungs and a compromised immune system.  We will again be on lock down (or modified) for this winter season.  Things such as seeing Santa Claus had to occur ridiculously early to avoid the line of children.  I had wanted to take Kennedy to a Gymboree Class for her birthday but couldn't because I am too afraid of the germs that the kids carry their.  I worry when we go to restaurants, stores, or are around other kids because she may get something that to any other child would merely give them a runny nose, but to Kennedy it might give her something more. 

I also get the stares from people when they ask how old she is.  A mom yesterday with what had to be a 4-5 month old asked how old Kennedy was, I told her proudly "she turned one today!", but then I got the stare.  She looked at her child, then at my child, and then at hers.  Her 5 month old baby boy was about Kennedy's size if not bigger.  Oh well, I figure.  I have a peanut, she is happy, healthy and growing, and so what if she is only in 6-9 month, or 6-12 month clothing at a year old.  At least she is gaining weight and staying healthy.

Ahh, and then we get to weight.  Luckily we don't have the eating problems that some parents have.  I don't worry too much about whether or not she is getting enough food to help her gain.  She has remained on her curve, and I hope she doesn't fall off of it.  But weight is so important, preemies need to gain, and gain, and every little ounce lost is an important ounce to a preemie parent. 

I feel like I could go and on, at this point I have probably rambled on and who knows if I have made any sense? But I would like to quote another preemie parent who has had struggles but remains incredibly strong.   "that a preemie isn't just a small baby, but an unfinished one. All of his systems are underdeveloped leaving him at risk of infection, disease, and overstimulation. But it doesn't just stop when those systems finish developing."  Trish ~Fertile Hope

Prematurity Awareness is important. This article itself shows how prematurity is still all too common -  Still Too Many Preterm Babies. 

I am wearing purple today to help raise awareness (and Kennedy is too!)

We are incredibly thankful for how wonderful Kennedy has been doing, and how well she is growing , however not everyone is as fortunate as we are.  Please help us in promoting awareness for prematurity, it affects more people than you may realize, visit the March of Dimes to see how you can help.

Birthday Party Day (recap)

Here are some pics from Kennedy's First Birthday party!

Again, thank you to everyone for coming and sharing in her day with us!!

 Tori and Kennedy were due one day apart and ended up with birthdays 7 weeks apart!

 Apparently I have a kid who is afraid of the cake.  Every time we sat her in front of it we had a meltdown.

 But of course she was all about the presents!

 Sidney was more than happy to help!

Short on words, but I love to share pictures :)