Our visit with the babies the past couple of days has been good. We are always amazed with them. For being so tiny they seem so strong. It brought us great joy as we watched little Rachel suck on a little pacifier. It was so cute! She was so active and moving around a lot. She is feisty. The nurse gave me a pacifier just like the one Rachel was sucking on. The nurse also gave me a little diaper that they use for them. You can see how small they are! Ashlyn, Braden and Haley are doing good too. Each day we think they are getting stronger. We are also getting to know each of their little personalities as we watch them. We don't know how much weight they have gained since birth since they are not moved around too much. It will be a little while longer before we post pictures. Thanks again for your prayers! It really means a lot to us.
Prayers for all of you from Cedar Hills, UT and from a fellow mom of multiples. May you all be blessed with the strength you need during this time.
ReplyDeleteOh thank you for the update. We are so thrilled to hear such good news. Our prayers for your family are continuous. We feel so blessed to witness your courageous example of dedication to family.
ReplyDeleteThe Will Family
Stansel family, I heard of your pregnancy several weeks ago from a friend here in Houston and recently learned of your delivery. Congrats on your beautiful miracles, and my sympathies on your losses. We are the proud parents of a 23w5d twin, Rhys, who is now 13 months old. We lost his brother 13 hours after birth to an infection. No parent should ever know what that feels like. I too remember leaving Rhys after our daily visits and I hated that we couldn't take him home. I just wanted to let you both know that despite being born so early Rhys is doing amazing. He is taking his own sweet time doing certain things, which is to be expected as a micro-preemie, but has surpassed so many expectations already. Know that it is possible for your babies to thrive! I check your blog frequently for updates and am always anxious to hear how your babies are doing. Your family is in our thoughts and prayers. The NICU journey is unfortunately not a pleasant one, but it somehow makes you stronger. God Bless! ~Candice www.ok-corral.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteOur prayers are with you and your little ones. God works miracles and will continue to bless you and your babies, keep leaning on him for strength and grace to guide you through this difficult time. Our sympathies run deep for the loss of your two children and we will continue to pray for all of you.
ReplyDeleteput your names on the chicago temple's prayer roll today! just want you to know that we are thinking and praying for you and your sweet new babies. we're so impressed with your positive attitude and the eternal prespective you're maintaining. god bless you!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks all the way from Australia for taking the time to update. So great to hear that the fabulous foursome are holding their own.
ReplyDeleteRachel sounds like my kind of gal! fiesty is good! so glad to read about the babies tonight... i check several times a day for new news. here in Utah we're not getting as much news about them as i'd like - so thank you and thanks for sharing this wonderful adventure with us. love, Erma
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad that they all seem to be doing well and gaining weight. Feisty is definitely good! Tell Rachel to keep up the good work.
ReplyDeleteHi Amanda,
ReplyDeleteI am 12 years old (the daughter of the "owner" of our blog spot account) and I heard about you on Houston News. Over the past week I have really been following your story. It really does touch my heart to see you and your family. First off, congratulations on Dallin, Kaitlyn, Rachel, Ashlyn, Haley, and Braden. I am very sorry for the loss of Dallin and Kaitlyn, but I know that they are in a better place, with the Lord, looking down on you, and wishing the best life for you and their siblings. :)
I will continue to follow your story. :) And I can't wait to see pictures of the babies!!
Wishing the best. You are in my thoughts and prayers,
Kennedy
Glad to see that Rachel, Ashlyn, Haley and Braden are doing good. Appreciate you taking the time to update us on your wonderful babies and allow us a glimpse of your life. God Bless you and your family.
ReplyDeleteMany prayers for your family
ReplyDeleteAmanda and Thomas, you cant imagine how happy I am every time I read great news like this! I'm so proud of those babies! You and
ReplyDeleteThomas are doing a great job with those precious little ones. I can see how happy you are when you see Rachel with her pacifier. My youngest daughter is also "Rachel" and she was born August 10th. She was very premature, lungs + heart problems and 5% chances of survival. She "stoped" several times, and nobody believed she would make it. Some people encouraged me to "accept reality and let her go." But I'm a stubborn, and I refused to give up. I remember the doctors being amazed that she survied (against all odds). Well, to make a long story short, today she is very bright. She speaks 3 languages, graduated from high school at 16, and went straight to college. Well, this is the story about my "August-Rachel" and I hope it can help you somehow. I am sure your "August-Rachel" and her siblings will follow that same path. I continue to send lots of love and prayers your way.
I was so happy to see such a positive post. The NICU is a journey of ups and downs. Obviously you have already experienced many ups and downs. I am glad to hear you are doing well. Take it a day at a time. It always overwhelmed me to think of it more then anything other then a day at a time when my children were in the NICU (and I only had one in the NICU at a time).
ReplyDeleteMany prayers for you and your sweet, beautiful family! Remember that Heavenly Father is watching over you in this journey. Allow those around you to continue to serve you as you continue on this journey. What a blessing it is for them to have the opportunity to serve.
Many prayers for all of you!
As you can tell, i've taken you and your babies to my heart. Sorry about the set back, that's tough. please know of our love and prayers... like the last twitter said, you have placed it in the perfect hands. HE will handle it, however its supposed to be handled.
ReplyDeletelove, Erma
You all are in my prayers and thoughts. I am also a mommy of multiples. I had triplets in 2006 at 24 weeks and 6days. Sadly one of my sons passed away at 14 months old. So i am also a fellow angel mommy. i am so sorry about your losses. I also read up on your twitter and I saw that the babys have brain bleeds. This can be very scary but I would like to share about my daughter. She was 1lb 4oz at birth and at a week old she went into septic shock. She had a bowel rupture and two days before that we were told that she had a level 2 and level 4 brain bleed. when her bowel ruptured they told us to take her off of the vent we didn't listen. They are 3 1/2 now and she is doing great. She has minor delays but nothing major. She gets Ot, pt and st but you would never know she had all the problems she did. I am hopeing to share a little bit of hope for you guys. And just keep praying God does work mircales.
ReplyDeleteWe continue to pray for you and your sweet babies. That is so precious that Miss Rachel was sucking on her binkie. May the Lord continue to press and strengthen you all.
ReplyDeleteHi Stansel family,
ReplyDeleteMy name is Lindsey Johnson I am 12 years old and I live in Flower Mound, Texas. I am sooooo glad to hear that the babies are doing well but was heartbroken when I saw that they have brain hemorrhages, and when I learned of Kaitlyn and Dallin's passing. I know God has a plan for them and I know you guys will see them again...hey maybe they were perfect souls and didn't need to be tested on this earth. my mom's friend lost a baby and she thinks of it that way and she feels honored because of it(I thought that might help you) I am so proud of you guys I can't even imagine the hard time your having. Thank you very much for sharing your journey with us I have been following it since I found out. Every night when I kneel down and say my prayer you always make it in. It's amazing that I don't even know you but yet I love you, I celebrate when there are reasons to celebrate, I cry at times when a cry is needed. I'd like to thank you for that I have learned how to be more compassionate for peole.
with love and support,
Lindsey Johnson
(P.S.I will be fasting for you this next fast sunday)
Hi, I found you guys via a micro premmie group that I belong to and wanted to congratulation you on the birth of your wee babies and to say that I'm so sorry for your loss.
ReplyDeleteI hope Rachel, Ashlyn, Braden and Haley continue to do well and will be home with you soon.
Just got linked to your blog. I am the mom of a 25 weeker who has/had severe bleeds. He is almost 4. Though I didn't have multiples I did ride the roller coaster. I hope that things go well. I see the temple in Chicago has your name I think I will call Mesa. We hope that you are holding up. Much prayer and love!
ReplyDeletePrematuritywithlove.blogspot.com
Nancy Brown
Mom to a 25 weeker Tyler
Stumbled across your incredible story via a micro-preemie blog and wanted to add our prayers. Your faith is humbling and God has truly blessed your family. As an angel-mommy you will have the beautiful blessing of special spirits to watch over you and your little ones. Heaven's music is all around you! Love from Idaho
ReplyDeletehttp://amazingayla.blogspot.com
Thomas, I grew up on Michigan Ave. with your Dad and we were in the Rocky Mountain Girls Club together! I also knew your Mom - they are such great people. We are praying for you and your babies. I talked to your Dad this morning - I didn't know they were serving a mission. I didn't catch where they are so I am going to E-mail you and ask for their information. I still live in Salt Lake City and there was a wonderful article in our Mormon Times about you and your sweet wife and babies. You are such wonderful examples of pure faith. Keep hanging in there. Your names are in the temple here.
ReplyDeleteI wanted to give my condolences on the loss of your two precious babies. I can only imagine the pain you feel.
ReplyDeleteI do however, understand the NICU journey you are on. My twin girls, Natalie and Abigail, were born at 26.1 weeks, weighing 1#5oz and 1#13.5 oz due to TTTS. They spent about 4.5 months in the NICU. It is a long and bumpy road, and you will feel crazy at times. Take each day, one at a time.
I have found great comfort, support, and valuable information in a yahoo micro-preemie group. There are a number of 23 and 24 weekers as well as many moms who have lost a twin or even one or more triplets. I would encourage you to check it out. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PreemieBlogMoms/
You will also find many parents include their blogs. It can be helpful/encouraging to read others journeys and know you are not alone.
I would also encourage you to post pictures of your children. Some may find them disconcerting, but such is the reality of preemie babies. To you, they are beautiful. I was so proud of my babies when they were born; I showed their pictures to everyone. You are a proud mom and dad; it's okay to be that even if your babies don't fit the vision of what pink, cuddly, newborn babies should be.
My thoughts are with you. I truly hope for miracles and a bit of luck for your little ones. Hang in there and take care of yourselves.
Warmly,
Johelen
www.natandabby.blogspot.com
You don't know me but I found your blog through the Wilkinsons blog. I follow theirs because I was pregnant with Quintuplets this year. We lost them to pre-term labor at 21 weeks in June so my heart aches for the loss of your little ones. However, I couldn't be happier that the three are doing well. I will pray that they continue to do so and that your family will heal with time.
ReplyDeleteBest,
Katie
www.stakerstew.blogspot.com