I've said it before...and I'll say it again...

snuggling babies is one of my most favorite things in the whole world...and I had the privilege of being invited to do just that yesterday. I got to hold sweet Hannah Noel. She is SO amazingly tiny. At 3 months old she is weighing in at an astonishing 5lbs. 9oz.!! She is eating like a little oink-er, which is an answer to prayer. So...she hopefully will begin to pack on the pounds and catch up with all the other plump 3 month olds soon.

I also had the privilege of taking some photos of the little peanut...if they turned out one of them will hopefully serve as the birth announcement/thank you card. So...hopefully we captured a good one. I took most of them with my film camera...but here are a couple that I took with the digital...

**to give you an idea of how small she is...that is a normal infant sized pacifier...these pictures are so deceiving...she looks way bigger than she is!**

Can I get a loud HALLELUJAH!!!

I just sat down to check my email, and found an update on our sweet Hannah Noel.

Here is what it said...
(written by Dan)

"I'm packing up cameras and car seats and the kids and we're all on our way to the hospital to bring our little girl home. We just got the OK from the doctors.

Hopefully we'll be home by 3:00 or 4:00, resting and enjoying a return to normal (for us) life."

After spending 80+ days in NIC and NIM at Spectrum, after way to many ups and downs, after losing her sister, and coming close to losing her too, after thousands of prayers form all over the country (literally)...one of Gods sweet little miracles is coming home!!!!!!!

On a VERY selfish note, I am sad that, once Hannah is home, no one will get to see her til spring(insert sad face). But...I am going to praise God for this miracle...and thank him daily for answered prayer. To quote one of my fav hymns, my Lord "HOW GREAT THOU ART"!!

I'm thankful for answered prayers...

I was able to stop at the hospital after school yesterday. And I wanted to let you know that God does answer prayers, (in case anyone doubted)!!

I arrived at the NIMU, (Hannah has been moved out of NIC...answered prayer #1!!) I was instructed to "scrub-up", (I was still wearing my scrubs, which are required at my Tuesday class...so I fit right in.) Then I was lead down a long hall, to the very last room, and there they were, Tami sitting in a hospital recliner...holding sweet little (4lb. 5oz. 17 in. long) Hannah Noel!! (answered prayer #2!!) She has only ONE tube which is for feeding, but she is IV free, and is doing well. (answered prayer #3!!!) I think the child just finds joy in keeping us all on the edge of our seat.

Tami said Hannah had a good few days. The new formula is agreeing with her...her stomach is remaining steady and soft...and she is digesting 99% of her food. They are going to keep her on this formula for a while...the GI specialist has a feeling that her tiny intestines have some sort of injury that needs time to heal.

She is awfully sweet. She makes the cutest little baby faces...she even opened her eyes for her "auntie" Shann!!! We spent some time trying to decide who she looks like...and quite frankly she looks a little bit like all of her siblings!!

I was nice to spend time with Tam...we usually talk on the phone way to much...and I have missed her the last couple months. I was also nice to hear her laugh...and see her smile...and see her holding that little girl. God does answer prayers...and I am so thankful for that.

Hannah needs our prayers *UPDATE*

Little Hannah is struggling a little. The doctors aren't sure how to help her. She has been having trouble with her feedings, so they have stopped them for now. She had been having a relatively great week...and then, all of the sudden...another hill to climb. Her parents are emotionally warn out.

Please lift them in prayer. Their strength, and grace amaze me every day, and I know they feel the hands of God surround them every day though all our love and prayers.

Thanks for your help.

I actually get to go up to the hospital today...so I will update you after I get to see Hannah.

**I will not be going up to the hospital today. Things didn't improve overnight, I talked to Tami this morning...there is no certainty as they look into the future. Their fear is that Hannah will not ever be coming home.

Our God performs miracles everyday...lets pray for one in this little girls life.**

cousins...cousins...and more cousins!!

What do you get when you get a bunch of cousins together??

Maybe...a little too much fun!!

We used the stairs as a slide...

We played tag...

We played on scooters...

We colored pictures...

We watched "Arthur and the Invisibles"...

We were just plain cute!!

We had the pleasure of spending our Saturday with the Hansen kids while their mom and dad went to the hospital to see Hannah...(who is doing very well!!) As you can see we had a lot of fun...I think God knew I needed a day filled with laughter! I just love these kids...they are awesome!

After the Hansen's left...we picked up Taylor, who is visiting from the U.P. Her and Haidyn are having a sleepover tonight!!

A very busy day...but oh so worth the exhaustion!!

"...for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven"

Shortly before 9pm this evening sweet little Rose Kathryn went to be with Jesus. She is now perfect in every way!!

She died in her mothers arms, and was surrounded by her family. Her little lungs just couldn't handle this great big world. She had the most precious tiny little hands...and ears...everything was there...it just wasn't ready to be here.

I find it truly amazing that this tiny little life...who we've known for such a short time...and who was among us for only one day...had so captured our hearts.

Hannah is still doing well. She is a feisty little one!! I'm pretty sure she is going to be strong willed...but that is just my prediction.

Continue to uplift this family in your prayers!

They're here...**UPDATED**

Again...I have only part of the story...details to come...but Rose and Hannah are both here. The birth went well...the girls are OK...both are on ventilators...the doctors are encouraged by their conditions. That is all I have for now. Mom is doing well, she had to spend some time in recovery before she could go see the girls, but she is doing well.

I plan on stopping there after school tomorrow so I hope to have all the details tomorrow. Keep up the prayers...God's been answering them so far!!!

**I have "some" details.**

Hannah Noel; 2lbs. 13oz. length...tiny (that is all I was told!)

Rose Kathryn; 1lb. 11oz. length...again just tiny!

Hannah has been taken off of her ventilator she is apparently a little fighter(Marissa...I think it might be in the name...now I know two Hanna(h)'s that "beat the odds!!)...little Rose will remain on her vent for "a while"...what that means I am not sure!!

But a great big PRAISE THE LORD!!! for the answered prayers so far!! I am hoping that there will be pictures of the girls that I can see I won't be allowed in the NICU...and I can't wait to find out if they are indeed identical which was a possibility!! I will keep the updates coming for anyone who is interested! Thank you for being a prayer warrior for these two precious little miracles!! Keep those prayers coming!!

Prayers needed... *UPDATE*

I would like to ask everyone to pray for my cousin who is pregnant with twins. She is 28 weeks along and they are going to take the babies tomorrow. I don't have all the details...but it sounds like during a routine ultrasound...something just wasn't right. The babies are around 2 lbs. right now...and this is the start of a very...very long road. They have 4 other children at home...and to say this is scary/stressful, would be an understatement. Please pray for health, and strength for everyone involved...uplift them in prayer. Our God is amazing...lets watch Him work a miracle in these two little lives!!

**I just returned from the hospital. It appears there is a problem with the circulation of baby A (Rose). Her blood is not circulating properly throught the placenta. She is estimated to be
1 lb. 10oz.

Baby B (Hannah) has no known problems. She is estimated at 2lbs. 10oz.

They will be delivered via c-section tomorrow around 4:30 pm. Their biggest concern will be breathing. Let's pray for big, healthy, working lungs...lots of crying in the delivery room would be the most beautiful sound!! The girls are looking at up to two months in the hospital...which will be hard for their parents who will be traveling to and from Zeeland every day...and equally hard for their siblings who will have a big adjustment in their lives too.

If you can...please join me in uplifting this whole family in prayer. Especially around 4:30pm Tuesday. This is just the begining of a long...uphill journey for this family. Let's watch God preform a miricle in little Rose and Hannah's lives!!