and so it begins...(again)

I have...again, started trying to lose weight. It seems as though I do this at least once a month...I usually make it about a week or so before I "fall of the wagon". BUT...I'm not going to let that happen this time. I have come to the realization that this is going to be a life long journey, and commitment. I will never be able to eat like I did in high school and still retain...or in this case regain my 18 year old body. (I don't think my 18 year old body is still available...it's a discontinued model...I must look in the "post baby section now!) Don't get me wrong...I'm aiming for that weight...but it ain't gonna be the same!

So...I am one week into my journey, and I am happy to announce that I am 2.6 lbs. lighter than I was just one week ago!!! (insert roaring crowd here!) I have made a personal goal to lose 10lbs. by Thanksgiving...and I think...rather, know that I can do it.

I have added a weight loss ticker to the bottom of the blog so you can keep up with my progress there!!

Have a great day...and...remember to drink your water, and eat your fruits and veggies!!

satisfying my need for comfort food...

I am in the process of making my favorite comfort food...Cheese Broccoli Soup...although it should be called Cheese Vegetable Soup...none-the-less...it is fabulous!!!

Here is the recipe...

1- 49.5oz. can of chicken broth
10 small red potato's cut into bite sized pieces
1-2 cups cut up carrots
1 cup cut up celery
1 bag frozen broccoli
1 10.5 oz. can cream of celery soup
1 cup milk (can be a can of evaporated milk)
16 oz. Velveeta cheese cut up

Bring chx broth to a boil. Place cut up potato's, carrots, celery and broccoli into broth. (I usually do the potato's and carrots first, they take a little longer to cook!) Once all veggies are tender turn burner to low and add crm. celery soup and milk. Once they are well combined add Velveeta until melted...finally ENJOY!!

By the way...it's not to bad for you either, so it won't hurt the waistline!!

Hard to move on...

I am finding it hard to blog about anything other than Hannah and Rose, and their family. It seems somewhat cold to just go on with life as usual...and not dwell on the loss of Rose and tiny Hannah in the NICU. It has consumed my thoughts for the past week...just seven days ago I sat around waiting to hear of their birth...hoping and praying...and now one week later I have just returned from the cemetery where we said our final goodbyes to that sweet little girl who we "held" for such a short time.

I wanted to share with you the words that Roses' daddy wrote to her...they are beautiful...

Little Rosebud,

You were only with us a short while,
but we loved you more than you ever could have known.
From the moment we knew you were in momma's tummy,
we started dreaming about you-
about how you'd look, how big your smile would be,
how loud you'd laugh and how hard you'd fight with Tessa.

We had big dreams for you, little lady.

But our dreams were simple
compared to the dreams Jesus has for you.
You went straight from our arms into His
and you're seeing things we've never even imagined.
Down here, your eyes were never open,
and I want you to know...you didn't miss a thing.
I'm so happy that the very first thing you ever saw
was the smiling face of Jesus as He waited for you
with His arms wide open.

Well, I'm getting to the end, but it's hard to say goodbye.
Just know that your momma and I love you and that
your brothers and sisters do as well--

they're always asking what you're doing in heaven.

And whenever they ask, we tell them you're laughing
and that you're running, that you're playing with Jesus
and that you're flying.

Keep flying, Princess, until we meet you there.

Love,

Daddy, Mommy, Madi, Caleb, Andrew, Tessa and Hannah


I have decided to move all updates and prayers to the right side of the blog...I'll keep you posted on the needs of this family. Though it is hard to move on...we know where Rose is, and we will one day see her again.

"How very softly you tiptoed into our world. Almost silently. Only a moment you stayed, but what an imprint your footsteps have left on our heart"

one day at a time...

I thought I would update you on the Hansen family. Everyone is doing well. The children at home are processing the loss of their sister...though they all have different levels of understanding! But I've been told they are doing well. Dan and Tami are doing well too.

Hannah continues to do well. She definitely has ups and downs...but she seems to be coming through all the challenges in a positive way.

Here is a list of specific ways to uplift this family in prayer...

For Hannah;
*continued strength and progress
*the medicine for her heart will be successful
*she will begin to gain weight

For Dan and Tami;
*strength while making funeral arrangements
*adequate rest and nutrition
*safety while traveling to and from the hospital

For Caleb, Maddie, Andrew and Tessa;
*continued understanding of the loss of Rose
*patients during the long road to bring baby Hannah home

It is amazing to see God working through this family...they are feeling all the prayers...keep it up!!

"...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!!