Our Miracle Mikayla turns 5...

As I sit here and type it was 5 years ago at this time that our lives began a long, trying rollercoaster ride! It was about this time 5 years ago that I was hooked up to a monitor in the hospital on bedrest after my water had broke 24 hours earlier-only 25 weeks along in my pregnancy-the nurses and doctors came in with worried looks on their faces. James was working and as soon as they came in I knew our lives were going to be forever changed! The doctor told me it would be best if my James could come as soon as possible because if Mikayla's heart beat kept dropping-they would have to deliver her. So I called James at work and he said he would be there as soon as he could. Then Mikayla started doing better, her heart rate went up and she was doing better. So they decided to wait it out as long as possible, because the longer she was in me the better! But in the early hours of the morning she began to show signs of distress again and they decided this time it would be best if they took her by c-section. I wish I would've documented the time more, because it is hard for me to remember all the details now. I remember there being a lot of people in the delivery room with us. I remember lots of tugging and seeing the most tiny baby I had ever seen...it definately was not like I had pictured it to be...there was no sound of her cry, no holding her, no seeing her up close. She was wisked away to the NICU immediately. The next thing I remember is my dad and brother meeting me in the recovery room and someone telling me how big Mikayla was...1 pound 12 oz and 13 inches long! But she was alive in the NICU and on a ventilator. We began praying immediately and until this day we know there was angels watching over her and there still is. She is truly our miracle child...here is how she has grown over the past 5 years...
Here are the first few pictures right after she was born!

 This is a picture with my hand next to her, holding her hand. As I look back at these pictures it all seems so surreal! Wow...she was SUPER tiny!

Mikayla with Daddy's hand on her!

After 120 days in the NICU and many trials and tribulation, we were able to finally bring Mikayla home. We knew that having a baby wouldn't be easy, but having one with lots of medical needs was a whole other story. She came home on monitors and oxygen and on a feeding tube that was through her nose. But James and I were ready for the challenge...we were so excited to be finally all home together!

Here is a picture of the day we left the hospital!

Oh how she grew over then next 8 months before she turned 1. She had several surgeries that included 2 on her eyes, a g-tube/nissen done, and a P.O.R.T. put in to help make blood draws easier.

Here she is on her 1st birthday! 

 Here Mikayla is on her 2nd birthday! We were on our 1st family vacation together! We had a great trip to Florida. Mikayla couldn't get enough of the icecream and she loved using the little sampler spoon to scoop it out of my Aunt Laura's cone!

 Already getting dressed as a princess! Mikayla's 3rd birthday! We had a Minnie themed party for her and she loved all the dress up clothes she got!

 Happy 4th Birthday! All dressed in her Birthday clothes and ready to go to school to celebrate her Birthday! Of course it was a little early because her birthday typically falls on Spring Break!

 And now she is turning 5! My how the years have flown by...I hope they slow down a bit, but I am sure that they won't! I can't believe our baby is 5!

Some of Mikayla's favorite things at 5!

She loves: gymnastics, reading books, coloring, playing school, doctor, or anything else she makes up with her stuffed animals, singing, dressing up, art projects, helping in the kitchen and asking questions!

Mikayla has the most amazing memory and imagination. She loves learning and is always searching to learn more things. We can only pray that she will continue to have the love of learning that she does! We thank God everyday for allowing us to be parents to such an amazing girl and for bringing her as far as she has come. Thank you to all of our family and friends that have supported us over the years and continue to support us-you have help make these last 5 years amazing. Happy Birthday Mikayla-you make daddy and I proud! We love you!

Trip to the Dells..

Spring Break 2011 took us on a mini trip to the Wisconsin Dells! We went back to our favorite place Chula Vista. This time our friends Mike and Carmen and their 3 daughters-Emma, Ellie and Abby joined us! The girls had a great time! Here are a few pictures from our water fun!

Play ring-around-the rosey in the hot tub that was in our room!

Ready for the water park!

 Mikayla going down a bigger slide for the 1st time. She got turned around and came down on her stomach...but she was still smiling!

 2nd big slide...she wasn't too sure of it, but she ended up going with a little push and she had fun!

 In the lazy river-Mikayla's favorite part of the water park! She loved swimming around the river and we spent the majority of our time in there!

 The orange slide in the kiddie pool!

 Flying down the slide!

 Taking a bubble bath after a long day at the water park! They had a great time playing in the bubbles!

 Trip #2 of the day to the water park! After a nap and dinner, it was time to go back!

 The group coming down the lazy river. Ellie was standing with me while I took pictures, she wasn't too excited about being in the lazy river again!

 Daddy and Mikayla swimming the river!

Emma and Mikayla swimming the river-they had fun swimming around together!

Thank you Noorman family for joining us at Chula Vista! We had a great time! We even fit in seeing my brother on the way to Chula Vista-he joined us for some fun on our first night at the water park! Then on the way home-we stopped to see some of James family-Angie, Troy, Zechariah and Zayden!

Our baby is turning 5...

Mikayla's birthday tends to fall on Spring Break every year! I will never forget that fateful day almost 5 years ago when I went in for a routine Dr. appointment at 24 weeks pregnant and walked out on bedrest because my cervix had shortened! After spending my first weekend of Spring Break on bed rest I went into the Dr. for another ultrasound and check and he told me my cervix looked much better but he still wanted me to take it easy. The next night my water broke and the rollercoaster began! 2 days later Mikayla Rose entered this world at 25 weeks 2 days gestation! It has been an amazing journey and on her actual birthday I will do a update of the past 5 years!

But here is the birthday fun at Mikayla's school!

The princess cupcake cake! With a light-up princess! Great option for easy serving at school!

 Mikayla and her friend Britney-the only 2 girls in the classroom!

 Mikayla showing off her birthday crown and sticker!

 The whole class singing Happy Birthday to Mikayla! Then she got to make a wish and blow out the candle!

 5 Birthday hugs!

Eating the yummy chocolate cupcake!

The Home and Garden Show...

We went to the Home and Garden show one weekend! My mom was working with the Master Gardener's booth! So we Mikayla planted flowers with her!

 Planting the seedlings!

 On a scavenger hunt around the show! Mikayla put the pencil behind her ear-it was so cute!

 Playing on the tire swings and the play equipment was Mikayla's favorite part!

 In the end before we left, Mikayla picked out a beautiful bouquet of flowers for me! They were gorgeous and only $5!

Winter fun...

I guess we aren't very good at taking pictures in the winter time, because we don't do very much outside...but here are a few of our winter adventures!

 Playiing in the snow! Our little snow angel!

 Mikayla has really wanted a pet...we wanted something that was easy to take care of and didn't have fur. Mikayla picked 3 goldfishes-Goldie, Nick and Sam!

 Sledding at our friends Mike and Carmen's house! It was the most perfect day, sunny and on the warmer side. The girls had a great time sledding!

 James and Mikayla going down the hill!

 Mikayla trying out snowboarding!

 Carmen, Emma, Ellie and Mikayla on the big sled going down the hill together!

 Mikayla and I made a snowman together! Then we built a snowtunnel!

Climbing through the snowtunnel!

 Celebrating Brayden's 2nd Birthday!

Very cute Thomas the Train cake!



Celebrating Aida's 61st birthday...

So on January 14th, we headed home to Rockford to celebrate Aida's 61st birthday with the WHOLE family! It had been a long time since we had all been home and the first time we had all been together since Zayden was born. The little kids had a great time together! We all had a wonderful time spending time together for the weekend.

The kids playing moon dough together (above)

Then the kids LOVED playing hockey together too! Mikayla is being the goalie below! (below) 

 Nathaniel, Lola (Grandma), Zechariah and Mikayla at the Ice Hogs game

 Picking up chuck-o-pucks-ice skating on the ice to pick up the pucks!

 Angelica and Zayden!

 The Cousins-at Imperial Palace for the Surprise party!

 The whole Dykstra Family!

Aida was extremely surprised to see all of us at the resturant! We had a great time and it was fun to spend time together! Hoping we can get everyone together soon!

A few more memories of days in Florida...

While I am so glad it is now Spring, the weather isn't quite cooperating to make it feel like Spring much! So I have decided to relive the last few days we were in Florida, to add a little warmth to our life!

Our last day at Disney we spent at Animal Kingdom. The first stop was the Safari, which was probably one of my favorite things we did, the animals were so close and this giraffe walked right up to our jeep. VERY COOL!

   

Mikayla experienced her first "big" ride. She went on the Kalihari Rapids. She was a little unsure about it, but in the end, SHE LOVED IT! Even though we were soaking wet!

After the ride...soaking wet!

 At the tree of life! Daddy and Mikayla and Mikayla and Mom!

 The end of our day at Magic Kingdom wouldn't be complete without Mickey Ears ice cream and a souvenir!

 Mickey ear wizard hat!

 After our time in Orlando we headed to West Palm Beach to have Christmas! We spent time with the Reid's (Susan (my borther Kyle's girlfriend) parents). We had a great time spending time at the beach, feeding the fish and celebrating Christmas together as a family!

 Beach time!

 Walkind down to the pier to feed the fish. Uncle Kyle bought some shrimp for Mikayla to feed the fish, since the sea gulls were eating the bread she brought down to feed them!

 Flying a kite on the beach on Christmas day!