Ava getting ready to leave the NICU...one year later
Mommy and Ava at the NICU
Ava giving our favorite nurse, Valerie a big hug
Mommy and Ava with some of the NICU nurses
One side of the window
The other side of the window
Grammy and Doc gave Ava this cool tube!
Grammy, Mommy and Ava with "antique" gifts
Mommy and Ava with Mommy's Cabbage Patch kids!
Ava sitting in Mommy's old rocky chair
Ava in her new play place
Mommy and Daddy created this fun play place for Ava's birthdayHappy Birthday Ava! To celebrate Ava's birthday, she has had several celebrations already. On Monday Grandmommy, Poppy Joe, Zachary, Aubrey, Brian and Stacey came over to Mommy and Daddy's house for dinner, cupcakes and a few presents. Today (Wednesday), Grammy and Doc made the trip to Acworth, to spend some time with Ava and help celebrate her birthday. Grammy and Doc brought Mommy's Cabbage Patch kids and Mommy's speacial "ready rocking chair." This afternoon Mommy and Daddy went up to the NICU to visit with the nurses. Mommy and Ava made cupcakes, a card and bought flowers for all of the kind nurses. There are not enough words for Mommy and Daddy to use, to thank the amazing nurses and doctors for taking such great care of Ava!
What an incredible year it has been! The verse that comes to my mind today is, "Yes Lord, walking in your truth your NAME and your REKNOWN (praise/loyalty) is the desire of OUR hearts!" (not sure of the reference). It all started back on December 17, 2008 when little Ava tried to come at a mere 28 weeks! The doctors were able to to keep Ava in Mommy for two more weeks. One December 30, 2008, Ava was born at just 2 pounds and 14 ounces. She stayed in the NICU for 8 weeks, coming home on February 24, 2009! Due to the fact that she was born so early and had a little bit of difficulty breathing and keeping her heart rate up during her time at the NICU, Ava wore a heart monitor from February 24-July 2, 2008! What a glorious day it was when that moniter was taken away!! Since her birth, Ava has been our miracle baby! She has grown, thrived and exceeded any expectiation that anyone had for her, being born so early and so small. Now days she is sitting up, crawling, laughing, smiling, babbling and has even started mimicking some of Mommy and Daddy's mannerisms! She is such a blessing to our lives and we have a love for her that goes deeper then any love we have ever felt. The biggest lesson that God has taught me during this past year is to enjoy every moment in life. To not sweat the small stuff in life. When you have fought for the very next breath, the very next heartbeat of your child, the insignificant things in life just don't matter anymore. God has truely blessed my life BEYOND WHAT I COULD EVERY ASK OR IMAGINE!! Praise the Lord, Praise the Lord, great things HE has done!!
2 comments:
Happy Happy Birthday Ava! We love you!
The play area in the kitchen looks great-love the window clings and the flowers that hang from the ceiling.
Wow, I totally get the 'sweating the small stuff' You are so right, when your child has to fight for each moment, the little things seem so insignificant!! Just wait til she gets older and she is a stubborn little one, just remember, "that stubbornness and fighter spirit is what kept her going in the NICU!" Even with Zach about to turn 11 in a few months, should not even had made it while in the NICU, let alone to be the stubborn 10 year old that he is!! Thank God for that fighter spirit, even when it drives you crazy!! God is so good!!!
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