Friday, December 25, 2009

The girls first Christmas

Merry Christmas to all! We hope that everyone had a great Christmas. We had a great Christmas because we spent part of it with our precious little girls. Today was an uneventful day for the girls, which is a good thing.

Rachel was asleep the whole time we were with her. She didn't sleep well last night so today she was playing catch up. Rachel is getting so big compared to where she was. She continues to grow and hopefully her airway will become stronger as she gets bigger. We continually pray that she will not have to have a trach. She definitely is a girl with her own agenda, she wants what she wants and will do whatever she needs to get the attention. We love her very much and are grateful for her feisty personality. Rachel's updated weight is 7 pounds 3oz.

Rachel in her "My First Christmas" outfit from Grandma Claudia



Haley continues get better after her surgeries. Her bowels seem to be working better now. Today she started on my breast milk again for the first time in months and is tolerating it well. She is pooping, which is a great sign that her bowels are working and her abdomen is no longer distended. Dr. Bloss was right about her not having an obstruction. All she needed was time to heal which she is doing well at right now. She is such a tough little girl, she always pulls through these surgeries very well. We continue to pray to the Lord to help Haley's eyes so that she will have some vision to be able to get around and to not live in total darkness. If not we will except the Lord's will and move forward and enjoy every moment with her and Rachel. Haley is such a beautiful little girl as well, we marvel at how strong she has been. Haley's updated weight is 6 pounds 10oz.

Haley in her "My First Christmas" outfit from Grandma Claudia



This Christmas season we are eternally grateful to our Heavenly Father for His matchless love. We are so thankful that He sent His Son Jesus Christ to this earth to atone for all of us. We are in awe of the love our Savior has for us. This Christmas season we give thanks for all of our beautiful children that Heavenly Father has given us stewardship for. Our lives have been so enriched because of each precious child we have. While it has been a difficult year, we are grateful for the opportunity to grow and learn from our struggles and challenges. Our family proclaims to all the world that God does live, that His holy Son even Jesus Christ lives and loves all of us. We know that because of our Heavenly Father and the Savior we can overcome challenges that would seem impossible otherwise. We know that Heavenly Father has been at our side the whole way through our journey this year. We have had many nights when we had felt there is no way we could go on. On those nights I know that we did go on because of a kind and loving Heavenly Father who picked us up and helped us move forward. We are so grateful for the knowledge that families can be together forever. Such knowledge has made it easier for us to bare the loss of each one of our children. We know that only because of the Atonement of our Savior that this is possible. We owe everything to Him and the Savior, we love them and desire to be more like them this Christmas season.

10 comments:

  1. Glad to hear the girls had a great Christmas day with mom and dad!! As always, your testimony is so wonderful and inspiring. Your girls are so very lucky to have such amazing and loving parents.

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  3. Merry Christmas and A Wonderful and Blessed New Year is wished for You and Your 2 Beautiful Baby Girls. I have followed your Blog since the Babies were born and know Jesus is walking each step of the way with you. I Hope and Pray these 2 Beautiful Baby Girls will be coming home to your house soon.
    God Bless and Keep you safe in his loving arms.
    Peggy Kappes
    Alvin, Texas

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  4. Amanda and Thomas, this Christmas season I give thanks for the opportunity to grow so much because you shared your testimony and faith with me. What a blessing to have this opportunity! Thank you very much! I wish you and your family a wonderful Christmas and I am sure next year will be easier. I trust that there are lots of blessings waiting for you. Rachel and Haley are growing to bring you lots of joy and happiness. They look soooo cute in their "My Fist Christmas" outfit! I'm so proud of them! All my love, Claudia

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  5. Love the outfits! Merry, merry Christmas to you!

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  6. AMEN! beautiful, just beautifully said...

    Merry Christmas our fiesty little Rachel and our calm and precious Haley. she will never live in darkness, Her parents would never allow that...only perhaps lacking sight..

    we know what's gotten them this far... may His love continue to lift you up...

    Erma, Midvale, Utah

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  7. So glad the girls are doing well and praying that the Lord continues to give you strength in all your trials.

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  8. Merry Christmas to you too. The girls look soooo cute in their little outfits. I can't help but smile everytime I see them they are just precious I wish I could hold them they look like cuddlers. I know quite a few people who have been through hard times and anytime something happens I remember my mom saying, "It's trials like these that can either strengthen and bless a soul or break them to be lossed forever." I'm glad that this has strengthened your soul and I know you WILL be blessed. I admire the way you can see the silver lining on any cloud even when it's nearly black. The world would be a much better place if everyone could look at the bright side of things like you do. I think you are the best parents for these kids, they need someone who will love them and hold their little hand for every step of the journey, and for the ones who have passed on, they need parents who were sealed in the temple so they CAN have parents again. Merry Christmas. I wish you and your family a very very Happy New Year.

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  9. What a beautifully written blog!! Your girls are so beautiful and I love their little Christmas outfits..so sweet. Next year they will be home with you and will love the family and joy of being at home :) May the Lord continue to bless you and Thank you for your faith and strength it is an inspiration to us and well as so many others!!

    May 2010 bring you more happiness and blessings and two sweet little girls at home to cuddle with!!!

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