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!
