I'm back!

Almost a year later...think it may be time for an update ;).

For all of you that were following this blog and were suddenly left hanging and think that we're still in the hospital...we did indeed leave. We left November 4th...a couple days short of three months in the hospital and we left with a beautiful and healthy Gianna, who of course was sporting a brand new belly and belly button!

Fast forward many months, she is now a perfectly normal and healthy 16month old who loves to walk around, touch everything, smile, and explore this very exciting new life! She's very smart and loves to learn new things. She points to everything and wants know what everything is.  She counts to three knows the letters A, B, C, and D.  Everyday it seems like she says some new word. She loves animals and likes to tell you what each animal says (though sometimes we get the animals and sounds mixed up...sometimes the cow says baa and the sheep says moo lol.)  She loves to be outside, whether its playing with her toys on the deck or swinging on her swing. She walks all over the place now and thinks she's big stuff when she climbs up and down the stairs.  She is a very good girl and generally listens very well. She likes to say belly and show you her belly button. She is such a joy and we are so very blessed with how everything turned out.

God tested our faith and I thank Him for that everyday because not only did He strengthen Dan and I, but He gave us our little miracle. We have a follow up in January with her surgeon and her plastic surgeon, but there are no complications with her. Other then a fading scar on her belly you would never know anything had ever happened.  If you are a mom reading this expecting a little one with the same complication or have a little one in the hospital with an omphalocele, please keep hope because things do turn out good. Gianna is proof! I was told I had the option to abort my precious little baby.  We were scared, we were young, we were first time parents who had no clue about what an omphalocele was, I thank God I didn't listen to the doctor. I know so many other moms who have had similar outcomes as Gianna's. Contact me if you need support and information!

In February we closed on our first home! We are getting all settled in and love being homeowners!  God had this house all picked out for us and literally plopped it in our laps.  We are two very blessed people! We love the town we live in and love our little neighborhood!

Three weeks ago tomorrow we delivered our second daughter, Madelyn Faith.  She has been such a joy and it's been so wonderful to experience a newborn for the first time.  Gianna was in the hospital for the first eight weeks of her life, so we never really got that experience.  She is a very good baby, sleeps, poops and eats!  She looks identical to her sister...I spent the entire time in the hospital calling her Gianna. She is a little peanut weighing 7lbs at birth and has tons of hair! She was delivered at 36weeks via csection and spent an overnight in the NICU due to fluid in her lungs.  I was looking forward to being able to experience having my baby right away, but I have to say having her shipped right off to the NICU felt completely like the normal thing to do lol. We are so happy she is healthy and we were able to get her back the very next day!

Gianna loves her sister and is very good with her.  She is very gentle with her and loves to periodically come over and stroke her head, touch her nose and occasionally poke her eyes (working on that one!) She often comes over to her and says, 'awwww, baby!'  They will be best friends for life!

I have found the adjustment very easy...almost too easy??? We already have our own little routine and everyone seems happy. I am still healing and it's difficult not being able to lift Gianna, but I'm getting creative with getting her around.  Thank goodness she's walking!

So our journey continues with two little blessings...stay tuned for updates and pictures!

God bless,
K.E.M.