3 years old!

(Last Year)



Happy birthday to my little man. To a little boy that wasn't supposed to make it! You beat all odds, you are so strong and a little warrior. I love you so much. You have shown me a world I would have never known, I have met people I would have never met I am a better person because of you. I see the world in a different view. I love you for you! I want to make your world the best it can be. I want you to experience everything. I want you to love the person you are, I want you to love life and I will make that my life promise to you, to make sure you live life to its fullest! You not only make me proud but daddy too and everyone you meet. You have have made us so proud of everything you have and are achieving. You surprise us constantly. This year has been the very best, you have come so far. I can't wait to see what this new year brings. I can't stress to you how much I love you, and how everything seems all better when I see your smile and you give me nice sloppy kisses! Jonathan, you are the best little boy a mother could dream of. I love you till infinity and back!

( This year)


Love you dude,
Mommy

Jonathans Journey

As most of you know Jonathan was born 15 weeks to soon along with his twin brother Preston who is now in heaven! Jonathan was in the hospital for a little over 5 months. He had a surgery at just 2 lbs not even a month old yet however he survived! He endured endless pokes to obtain blood and he still has the scars on his heal today! He has had to face a lot in his young life and now he has to deal with having cerebral palsy. He has been diagnosed as a quadriplegic which means all 4 limbs are effected. He has limited head, arms and leg control. He eats by a tube that is placed right into his stomach. And even though he has all these involvements he is still the happiest little guy around!

He is involved in physical therapy, speech therapy and horseback riding and even though these things help we want to do more! So after much research we want to take Jonathan to Germany! Here we will get him stem cell therapy. Stem cell therapy is a drug-free alternative focused on affecting physical changes in the brain that can improve a child's quality of life.There is a lot of controversy out there regarding stem cell and why we picked Germany is because they use the persons own stem cells! So the procedure is that they take bone marrow from Jonathan's hip then after collecting the bone marrow they process it in a laboratory and both the quality and quantity are measured. These cells have the potential to transform into multiple types of cells and are capable of regenerating or repairing damaged tissue. Then the stem cells are implanted back into Jonathan by lumbar puncture.

Like I said we want to do this but need help with the cost. Its approx. 12,500 USD. That does not include the hotel, airfare, transportation or food! So if you could spare even a dollar it would make a difference in a very special little boy!



Everything should be falling into place soon. We are looking into doing a spaghetti dinner and have already received some donations! We also will have t shirts for sale in a couple weeks! Every donation and every sale from the dinner and t shirts will go to Jonathan!

The kids birthday party

What a fantastic day we had for the birthday party! We had it at a gymnastic center. They had trampolines, a foam pit, ropes, beams they did some fun activities with all the kids including a parachute game! I think all the kids had fun. Jonathan really liked the trampoline and Leah loved the beams and ring things you hang on. We will be getting her into gymnastics as soon as she is old enough! We sang happy birthday then the kids got their cakes. Jonathan liked it but was more interested in his sister demolishing hers! Leah was timid at first then went to town there was no cake left when she was done she was even going to eat the plate! They kids got plenty of gifts. It was a lot of fun with family and friends. I can't believe my baby girl is 1 and Jonathan will be 3 in a couple weeks!

UNCLE MATT AND LEAH


MADY

Happy Birthday Leah!!

Leah is a year old today!
This year flew bye so fast. I can remember last year like it was yesterday! I was going in for weekly non stress tests and diabetic check ups. I went in on a regular check up all looked great, fluid was right on, heart beat perfect and the most beautiful face ever! Then the general questions of how I was feeling and such. Then the nurse asked me how my insulin levels were doing and I didn't think anything of it but told her "well I haven't had to take any insulin and I had a cookie and my blood sugar was around 80" The nurse looked extremely concerned and said that is not normal you don't go from needed 100+units of insulin to nothing and being able to eat a cookie! So she got my doctor who said go get a milkshake drink it then check your blood sugar level 2 hrs later! I did exactly what he said and called and told them it was in the 80's. He said we were to come in the next day and be prepared for Leahs birth happening tomorrow! I told Justin and of course we were nervous but also knew we made it a lot longer then 25 weeks and we knew of the possibility of some NICU time. We went in checked blood sugar levels and then did a NST then the doctor came in and said we had to deliver! So Justin wheeled me down to birthing area they started hooking me up, everyone was taking guesses of weight and no lie I guessed 5 lbs 5ozs Justin guessed 6lbs and everyone else was in between except for some crazy resident that thought she would be about 7lbs?! They said the birth(c-section) would take place approx. 2pm we called everyone and did some texting we had lots of prayers going on for a safe and healthy baby. Justin was extremely nervous I was a bit nervous but I was also at peace knowing that this time the whole time I was pregnant with Leah I never had control but its God that I put in control. I knew this pregnancy would be o.k! It was 3pm when the doctor came in and said its time, o.k now I was nervous just because c-sections and the last time with the boys was so fast and scary! This time was so different. I was wheeled in met the doc that would give me a spinal and he was a cool as heck never felt a thing!So after the spinal Justin came in. There was the doctor and his assistant, a resident, a nurse and the anesthesiologist. Justin held my hand until they gave him the all clear to start video taping. Then he video taped them cutting me! This is kinda how it went down:

Justin with the video camera no less: Laura this is so cool, I have never seen someones guts just laying on them!

Me: Justin please, I am a little nauseated

Justin: But Laura this is so cool, OH MY GOSH THAT'S WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE IN THERE!!!!

Me: Justin SERIOUSLY!

The doctors: Justin why don't you sit down next to your wife for a little bit!

Justin o.k but can I keep the camera so we can watch this later?!

docs: thats fine just sit down!

Me: Thank You

Then all of a sudden there was this ear piercing cry, Justin jumped up, I was crying and laughing what beautiful music!Out came little miss Leah! She had the cord around her neck twice! They let me hold her all gooey and everything cord still attached. Then they took her, cleaned her up, weighed her 5 lbs 4.7ozs!They told us she was perfect and didn't need any intervention, she was sucking away at the nurses fingers and breathing perfectly! All I kept hearing was Justin asking them are you sure she doesn't need any oxygen or anything are you sure and even though they kept reassuring him he still was very nervous. At one point he said should I come get you if she looks like she may need more oxygen and they said she won't she is perfectly normal! I watch the video often so thats how I know all this part! The pediatrician looked her over and then they gave her to me, my beautiful, perfect, healthy baby girl! I only held her a minute because I was so nauseated and when they handed her to Justin he looked like a brand new dad! He was so scared of breaking her even though two years prior we had a 1 lb 12 oz baby and a 1 lb 15 oz baby! SO after I recovered I was sent to my own private room where I got to hold my baby and bond, she latched on the very first time I tried. I was crying so hard that my tears where going into her face! I never wanted to let go of the feeling the bonding that I felt at that very moment. I praised God, I laughed out loud, I sang "What a Mighty God We Serve" I was so happy no. really. I was happy! I didn't sleep a but maybe a couple hours I just wanted to hold her they kept me there a day longer because the lactation consultant and my doctor just found it hard to believe she lost her weight but by the second day was already gaining it back! We went home on a Saturday and I put her in the bassinet and just stared and thanked God for the billionth time!


Oh Leah where do I start. Our first few months together weren’t easy. You and I had long stretches of alone time every night doing what I began to refer as the midnight march. Starting at around 6 p.m., you were only happy either nursing or nestled against my chest as I walked and walked until the new day had begun - usually some time after midnight.There's one tough night that stands out from those foggy, sleep-deprived days. I just bursted into tears. And so did you. It was just the two of us crying so completely in the darkness, neither one of us knowing what was really wrong.Oh, but it was so worth it. You are so worth it. I remember thinking I’d do anything to have those long nights end. But now that they're just a piece of our past together, crazy, maternal me sometimes misses those marches and bouncing you and whispering to your sweet, helpless self.


Leah, in just one very, very quick year you have given me more than I could ever imagine. Your smiles are endless. Your giggles are constant. That fussy newborn has been replaced with a very happy baby. You’re crawling and cruising along furniture while standing, but I don’t think you’re going to be walking too soon. You love it when I crawl on the floor with you. You’ll start giggling and will speed up as if we were playing a game of chase.I love hearing your giggles or seeing you grin and wave your hand to everyone you meet. Every day with you is a gift.

I love you so much, Leah. I can’t wait to see your personality continue to emerge and to watch you grow and change.
Happy first birthday, sweet baby girl!


Love you to the moon and back,
Mommy