21 Days!!

Sorry, I’ve been so busy being a new mommy, I have no time to update this blog. Faith and Hope are 3 weeks old today! Wow, I never thought I would be able to say that. And I feels great to say they have made it this far! They are true miracles.  Faith and Hope have a few rough moments but nothing to alarming. They continue to grow and get stronger each day. They are weighing about 10 lbs. now. Overall they are doing well and every day is a new adventure for us to treasure. We are so happy to experience joy and happiness with them. :)  I gave them cute nicknames. Faith is Smiles and Hope is Bubbles.

We continue to have hope and savor each moment with our daughters.  We would love for you to continue to pray for Faith’s and Hope’s precious life. Each day is amazing. We love being parents and seeing all of our prayers answered.  Faith and Hope wore their first outfit this week which was a 3 month old dress! They look so adorable in clothing! We had to adjust to make it work but it looked nice for our weekend visitors. Thanks to my wonderful nurse Pam for helping me find clothes for them!

Our next goal is to prepare for us to go home. Updates are tough, because every hour is spent at the NICU, but we will try to keep them coming. Petey and I would like to thank all the great nurses and doctors at the NICU. We have grown so close to many of you. You many never know how much you all have encouraged us. Thank you. Most of all we have been encouraged by the numerous of people praying for us. E-mails, donations, gifts, and visits. We can’t begin to express the gratitude that we have for all of you! I am so lucky to have been given this life that I have and it is built on my faith in God. I love you Faith and Hope!!

2 Weeks Old

What if I would have listened to the doctors? What if I would have terminated the pregnancy? What if I would have listened to what everyone else was telling me? What if I didn't listen to my heart? I would have never spent 2 weeks, 14 days, 336 Hours, 20,160 minutes with my daughters. I would have never seen their beautiful blue eyes, hold them in my arms, or kiss them goodnight. I'm so happy and proud I didn't make the mistake of having an abortion. So many people have abortions and don't think twice about it.  Being their mom I look past all the abnormalities and see true beauties. God makes no mistakes. I'm so grateful to have God in my life. It has taken a lot strength to be where I am now. If I could turn time around, I am happy to say I made the right decision. I can't stress enough of how happy I am to spend these past two weeks, right next to my babies. I love watching them grow. Yesterday they were weighed at 9 lbs. 15 oz. They are such a special gift! Today I cried tears of JOY while I was holding them in my arms. I looked down and they both reached for my hand and right then I knew they are worth fighting for. They didn't utter a word, but I knew they meant I love you mom and thanks for believing in us. I love them with all of my heart and soul!!  I love knowing how loved my girls are to many people I barely know. Thank you all for strengthening all of us and sending us positive emails.

Please continue to pray for Faith and Hope.


Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Philippians 2:9-11

10 days!

It has been 10 days since I gave birth to my precious babies Faith and Hope. Time is really going by so fast. Faith is eating now. The girls are getting a lot bigger. From what I can remember I think they gained almost a whole pound already. Way to go girls! My nurses here are so wonderful. I love them all. One of my nurses gave the girls nicknames, sweet pea and sugar plum. So cute of names. So I decided to give them nicknames also. Hope is Bubbles and Faith is Smiles. If you could see them you would name them that too. It's so cute when I suction their mouthes Hope has a million bubbles. She can really make them big too! It's so cute. Faith is always smiling and awake for me. She's always looking around at the world and stare at me with her big blue eyes! I wonder what she's thinking. Babies are so adorable with everything they do. Don't you just love babies? They are so peaceful when they are sleeping. Faith and Hope were holding hands while sleeping. Of course I took a picture. It was the most beautiful picture I have ever taken. I love my girls so much!!


Also, thank you all for the positive emails I have been receiving. I appreciate you guys taking time out of your day to write to me. I love hearing your stories and connecting with people. Thank you for showing your support and praying for my family. Again, thank you so much. You all have up lifted my spirits! :)

Be Grateful

Just want to let everyone know they are not alone in whatever it is they are dealing with in their life. No one has this life easy. Some people have it harder than others. We need to pick ourselves up and make things better. Let's all try to be better people. No need for being negative and mean. Live every day like it is your last. Life is absolutely a huge blessing. Be thankful we are all here on earth. You don't learn what life is all about if you always have it easy. The hard tests we are put through makes us stronger and appericate every day more and more. 

Who do we always turn to when times get hard? God. Do we ever reach out when times are good? We need hard times so show us to appreciate things. Days are always filled with there ups and downs. We need to make sure we enjoy those good days and forget the bad. You have to move forward to the better. Appreciate life because you never know when it's your last day here on earth.

I know my daughters are thankful for every day that they are here. I hope everyone celebrates today living their life. Life is good. Please hug your children a little tighter, call your parents just to say I love you, and be friendly to a complete stranger. Because you never know who's having a bad day and you might be the one to brighten it. :)

Faith and Hope are 9 days old today and are doing great! I love you!!! xoxoxox

Faith & Hope & Love

 Someone emailed me this beautiful quote. Thought I'd share it with you.

Faith makes things possible, Hope makes things work, Love makes things beautiful. Always have Faith, Hope, & Love <3 you have them all.

Faith and Hope are 8 days old today!!! :)

September 13th

At times I think it's strange when people email me saying I'm a good mom and example. I don't know any other way. Some even emailed saying more women should be like me. I don't really understand why? Are all moms not loving? How can parents not love their children? Honestly who can hate a beautiful child? Hmmm...something I have been thinking about...Is there really people out there that have no heart?

About my day...

The loud noises of the NICU drive me nuts. Every beep I hear scares me. Every flashing light bothers me. But I know they are in very good hands. These nurses and doctors that look over my daughters are amazing!! I just want to pick them up when I see them starting to cry. I want to be the one to rock them to sleep at night. I wish I could let them sleep on my chest and feel their little heart beating. I love watching their chest move with every beat of their shared heart. Last night when I close my eyes I think about how beautiful God made them. So pure and at peace. I also, think about all the other babies I see walking past. The ones I see with no family by them. The ones with no mommy or daddy. I can't go by those babies because it's against the law but I do pray for them. But they are wonderful parents here. I met some great and strong parents here. I feel so connected to them even though we just met. I can tell all of them love their children so much and would do anything for them. They always ask how faith and hope are doing. I love that strangers even ask how my babies are. Talking with other moms helps me feel not so alone here. All day I sit and stare at the monitor waiting to hold my daughters tightly in mommas arms. I love them so much!!!

The hospital has a scrap booking club for the families tomorrow. They supply everything for you and they develop pictures for you. I thought that was so sweet of the hospital to organize that. I have a big meeting tomorrow with a lot of doctors. We need to all put our heads together and form a plan. Hopefully we will discuss when we can take the girls home with us. Something I thought I'd like to share, before I leave for the night I hold each of their hands in mine and we say a pray. It's such a silly thing I do but I feel like it's working. Every thing I pray about with them comes true. I love my days with them.

One Week Old

Today marks one week at 9:24

Looking back on these 7 days has taught me a lot.

Never give up trying.

Don't stop fighting for what you believe.

Every day is a precious gift.

Keep praying and He will listen.

No one ever thought I would say "the girls are one week old today"

Faith and Hope are doing great!!!

They are breathing room air at only 35 weeks old!

I'm so proud of them.

I'm so blessed I can sit by their side all day and night/

Can't wait for the day I can bring them home.

I love holding their little hands.

So I need to keep having faith and hope and love them to pieces!!

I love you sweeties!!

What It Means to be Loved

 A beautiful song written by an amazing song writer and singer Mark Schultz

Please take a minute to listen to the words of this amazing song.

I can relate in so many ways.

It was awesome listening to it because I feel the same way!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrXmHaBP-A4&feature=player_embedded


Lyrics:

For five months and eight days my wife and I had waited
Gettin' ready for our baby girl
But when he called the doctor said I need to see you  
and could you come in soon
then something died inside of me to sit with him and hear
the tests that said our baby may not live to be a year
then turnin' to my wife and he said 
"whata you wanna do?" and she said...
I wanna give her the world
I wanna hold her hand  
I wanna be her mom for as long as I can  
and I wanna live every moment until that day comes 
I wanna show her what it means to be loved
so we spent each day, watchin' every minute
and prayin' for our baby girl  
and I will not forget the way I felt that moment
when she came into this world
but they took her from the room just as soon as she was born
and watchin' through a window I could see her holdin' on  
when a voice inside me said...
I wanna give her the world
I wanna be her dad
I wanna hold her close for as long as I can  
and I wanna live every moment until that day comes
I wanna show her what it means to be loved
Well ever since the day we've got to bring her home
she's been out to prove the doctors wrong
oh and you should see her now
she's as pretty as her mom
and theres a boy at the front door waiting just to take her to her high school prom...
and he wants to give her the world
wants to hold her hand  
and someday she may get a wedding band
but she's gunna live every moment until that day comes  
and we're gunna show her what it means to be loved
Oh yeah (what it means to be loved)
show her what it means to be loved what it means to be loved

September 10th

September 10th 2011 is a day I will never forget.
Every mother waits and dreams of holding their child for the first time.
My turn has come and I held for the first time my little girls.
I can't even describe how good I felt holding them.
I cried tears of joy, while my fiance video taped the whole move.
I was very nervous because the girls have a lot of cords and wires.
But the team of 5 nurses got the job done!
The girls were so comfortable in my arms.

Also, early in the morning we had a priest come to visit.
Faith & Hope were baptized.
The girls have the best Godparents in the world.
My brother-in-law and sister.
Two of the most beautiful and amazing people.
It was beautiful!
They had a beautiful white gown that we laid over their bodies.
So pure in God's eyes.
Mommy & Daddy are so proud!!!

Doctors are learning day by day new things about the girls.
It's a learning experience for me and for everyone.

Bracelets

Lots of people asking how they can purchase a bracelet.

As of right now we have a lot of orders...so...

Therefore we need to put on hold on any new orders as of September 14th.

Thank you for understanding.

God Bless & Thank You

God is good

Faith Rosemarie and Hope Lillian were born September 6th 2011.
Weighing a total of 8 lbs. 10 oz.
Born crying and kicking.
The girls lenghth was 15 1/2 inches.
Mommy and Daddy are so proud of them.
Time they were born is 9:24 am.
We celebrate each day at 9:24 their beautiful life they share together.
The girls have lots of soft brown hair and the prettiest eyes.
God is good and he knows what he is doing.
I'm so honored to call them my children.


September 6th was a day miracles happened.:)
I gave birth to the 2 most beautiful conjoined twins.
I love everything about them!!
The doctors and nurses were amazing.
My c-section was a miracle and could possibly have natural child birth in future pregnancies.
Thanks everyone who's praying for my little precious gifts from God.
I sit with them all day waiting patiently to soon one day get to hold them in my arms.
I cry tears of joy, that God made them so perfect. (at least in my eyes and anyone who has met them)
I can't express enough how much I adore and love them!!
We aren't sharing pictures.
But we would love to show off these true beauties that God created.
Again thank you for the support and I love you all. :)

Ultra Sound Pictures

Celebrate life

Tonight we were looking back on all the good and bad times throughout this pregnancy.

We are looking back and seeing how strong they have been.

Faith and Hope are true fighters. So tonight let's celebrate!!

We are celebrating life!!

We are celbrating how far into the pregnancy the girls have come!!

We were told they would never be here now at 34 weeks.

I'm so proud of them, if only they knew how happy they make me feel.

I'm enjoying life tonight by having ice cream!

Cheers to living life :)

Negative comments

I am so mad about how cruel people really are!!!!

Someone had the nerve to say some hurtful mean things about my unborn babies and myself.

Wonder if it makes them feel better by saying these things??? Because your all wrong!!!

This is a positive story so why twist it around and try to make it seem bad?

I love my children and that's what this blog is about.

I will do anything for them. And that means giving them a chance to live.

Also I recently became catholic as of (Easter) April this year, seeing that people think I'm a cafeteria catholic (just had to add). I had no faith before this and now look I have God in my life. I can see my life changing for the better with having the babies because, it has brought me so close to God. I can tell those people who are writing these mean things don't and I feel bad.

My fiancé and I were planning a wedding but unfourtnatley we don't have the money nor time as of right now.

Day 4

We received many phone calls from the news and emails. The word is really spreading fast. I just want to wait to share information until after the girls are born, which will be really soon! I'm not disclosing the date either, I guess you will be in total surprise when I log in a tell you they are born!! Did anyone see  my babies or myself on channel 5? I didn't see it and wanted to know what was said. I had no idea they could just put you on TV without asking! So if anyone knows please comment. Thanks :)

Thanks for all the comments and support most people are giving me. Reading each one makes me more relaxed and less stressed of what is to come. Whenever I'm feeling down I just read one of the many emails that have been sent to me. It makes me so happy to know how many people are praying for us. My girls have so many people that truly love them. Thanks!

Day 3 Admitted

This morning I was woken up by a team of doctors and medical students. I met with my soon to be doctor who will be doing the caesarean section. His name is Dr. Ismail, he said he has delivered over 10,000 babies himself. This will be his third delivery for conjoined twins. He has hope for me and the babies and he is trying his hardest to make the smallest incision possible. He knows that I am very young and want more children in the future. It's so nice to know that I will be in very good hands, and I trust in him a lot.

I also met with a gal who is a recreational therapist. She was so amazed that I brought so many things to do here in the hospital on my stay. She said she would teach me to knit, so I'm going to try to make something for my girls. Maybe I can learn something to help me make their clothing in the future.

The nurses during my hospital stay are wonderful. Couldn't say a bad thing about any of them. It takes a special kind of a person to become a nurse, especially a labor and delivery nurse. Through tears and laughter my room is always full of emotion. My nurses keep assuring me I'm doing the best I can and I'm going to be a great mom. They're right there to guide you through everything and anything. Everyone is real compassionate to me and I just want to say thanks to all the nurses who are taking care of me during my stay.

I know God is helping me through this but so is all the positive people. Friends and family, even people I don't even know are helping me so much. Some even write me to tell me how courageous I am. Some people say they are praying for us. All the support is helping me get through the last stretch before they are born. It's nice to know that people do care a lot about you and your children. Thank you again everyone for letting my story and my children get into your lives, I love knowing that these people are here for me and I'm glad I'm friends with everyone of them. :)