Memories and Milestones

August. The month that opens a floodgate of memories. A month that has been full of unexpectedness and excitement since 2008...and this year was no exception.

We have thoroughly enjoyed attending the St. Vincent NICU reunion for the last 3 years. We were so excited to see Nurse Julia, one of Whitney's primary nurses while she was in the NICU! We saw several other nurses, doctors, therapists...and many families that we had gotten to know while there. It is amazing to see how the stories of hope, faith, and resilience have unfolded when you see all of those little miracles running around.

Whitney's Grandma, Uncle Andy, Aunt Kara, and cousin Tyler came to the reunion, too. Sweet Tyler is guiding Whitney to the train ride that they enjoyed together. Cousin love. :)

Whitney got to hang out in the pediatric transport vehicle with one of her favorite NICU respiratory therapists, Cathy!

Speaking of good people--we have been so fortunate to have such wonderful First Steps therapists for Whitney over the last 2.5 years! Since First Steps services end when the child turns 3, we had to say good-bye to Ms. Karie (speech therapist above) and Ms. Nancy (physical therapist) last week. Whitney loves her some Ms. Karie!! Whit will now start receiving speech therapy through the school system once a week, but is really doing fabulously!

After Karie's final visit last week, I took Whitney in for her 3-year check-up with her pediatrician. She weighed 22# and was 34" tall! I asked the nurse, "Isn't that what she weighed last year??!!" She said, "No, she was 21# last year." Oh. So, we gained a whole pound in the last year! Prematurity + genetics from a scrawny mama= positively petite preschooler! Dr. Scott would like to see her a little bit heavier (and actually on the growth chart!), so we will do what we can with our picky princess! Pediasure milkshake, anyone??!!

August 25th, 2011. Our baby girl is 3 years old! I still have to pinch myself sometimes. She is here. She is healthy. She is ours. God is good.

She enjoyed a fun, fun day of play and presents...and preschool open house that evening!

Sneaky girl! Notice Ben holding her hand down from attacking the balloons!

Now I am trying to hold her captive for a picture! She is an on-the-move kind of girl!

Celebrating the birthday girl with Grandma and family on the 27th!! Fun times!! Whitney really got in to the birthday traditions this year, which was a joy to watch.

She could care less about cake (and most other desserts), which is heartbreaking for this sweet-tooth mama, but we took a birthday cake to share with our small group the night before her big day. And, though she didn't even want a taste of the cake, the look on her face when she saw the candles, and heard everyone singing to her, was priceless. She felt special. Just seeing the cake and hearing the singing was all she needed. The rest of us felt special as we were cleaning our plates from her cake! :)

Whitney enjoying her new birthday tricycle...along with appropriate accessories--Dora helmet from Grammie and Pop and beads from Grandma and Grandpa. :) A girl has to look her best in the driveway!

After an exciting birthday week, it was time to start preschool on Monday, August 29th! Ben got her all ready and took this picture before they left. It looks like she's already practicing raising her hand! Is she gonna be a teacher's pet, or what?! :) This preschool also has an extended care program, which works out great with our work schedules. Ben said that she was very emotional when he dropped her off, as we anticipated she would be, but when I picked her up that evening, she was having a great time. She even tried to run away from me in the parking lot and said "No going home! Go back to my school!" Ha! Guess the first day was a success!