V's First Day of 3-year-old Preschool

My wee babe is off to preschool. Where does the time go?

First Day of FIFTH grade!

It's their last first day of elementary school. Sniff, sniff.

New Wheels!

We didn't end up winning the bike contest, so in mid-April I started a GoFundMe campaign hoping to raise the money needed for E's bike. Just as I started spreading the word we were contacted by a very kind and generous anonymous friend who offered to purchase the bike for her.  We are extremely grateful that we were able to make E's wish come true and we could never thank our friend enough.

E thought it only came in black, so when she saw a pretty PINK bike coming off the truck she was super excited.

Hooray for new wheels!

E Needs a New Bike!!

E is a bike-riding super star and we were so lucky to have a bike donated to us from another family back when she was 5. She put a lot of miles on that bike, and had so much fun. Unfortunately (fortunately?) she has grown SO MUCH over the past couple of years and has physically outgrown that bike. She has also outgrown it in a mature, pre-adolescent manner as well, and is need of a bigger, cooler, faster, set of wheels. These adaptive bikes are obscenely expensive and well out of our price range. We have entered E into the "Great Bike Giveaway" and are really hoping to win a bike for her! Not only is it amazing exercise, it also allows her to participate with her sisters and friends hanging out, riding bikes in the neighborhood.

Please click here and help E win a bike!

A Visit with the Big Man

Furbies in Wonderland?

Happy Halloween 2014!

First Day of 4th Grade!

Marching for Babies...Again!

In just 4 short days our family once again be walking with Team H and E March for Babies to raise money for the March of Dimes!

It has been over 9 years since our twins arrived way too soon and much too small, yet every day I look at them and still see those babies fighting for their lives in the NICU. I never take their lives for granted, and I am grateful for every day that I get to watch them grow and thrive. They enrich my life, and the lives of everyone who knows and loves them, every day.

We have come so far in the past 9 years. H and E are in third grade, reading chapter books and learning their multiplication tables. E continues to love horseback riding and H has earned her orange senior belt in Choi Kwang Do. Both girls are enjoying another year of Girl Scouts and are realllllly looking forward to summer vacation!

Despite all of the progress they are making and all of the joy that they bring, the long-term effects of their prematurity will always be a part of our lives. E underwent surgery on a paralyzed vocal cord at the end of March and received her second cochlear implant last Monday. This makes a total of 12 surgeries between the two of them. E also completed 2 weeks of intensive PT at EuroPeds in February, and we are planning a 4 week session of conductive education this summer in Grand Rapids. It never gets any easier watching them go through so much.

I am thankful for advances in neonatal care that made our girls' lives possible 9 years ago. I hope that with continued research into causes and prevention of pre-term labor, as well as improved treatment options for those born too soon, fewer babies will face the long-term consequences of such an early birth.

With the help of our family, friends, and online supporters, Team H and E has already raised over $34,000 for the March of Dimes. We hope to continue our tradition of being one of the top family teams in our region and we are setting our sights high! Please visit our page to make a donation and to assist us in achieving our goal of helping to save babies!

Thank you so much for you support in our fund raising efforts over the years, and thank you in advance for supporting Team H and E as we walk this year!

Thank you all so much for your kindness and support,
B, J, H, E and V!