Thursday, November 17, 2011

World Prematurity Day



Today is the first ever World Prematurity Day. It is a day to raise awareness to the many babies around the world that are born too early. Lately, I have found myself reflecting more and more on how truly blessed we are to have Callie in our life. I keep searching for the strength to write about the emotions that were involved in her birth and the first year of her life, but I am not quite ready yet. I do know that she has defied the odds and continues to amaze everyone that knows her and her story. When Callie was born, she weighed only 1 lb 5.3 oz. She was so sick that the NICU didn't think she would make it through the night and we were brought in to say good-bye to our little girl. Then a few weeks later, after she suffered the worse grade brain bleed a baby can have, they said the likelihood of her ever walking or functioning normally were slim. We asked if we could have hope and they said "you can always have hope". Callie has endured 6 surgeries and has faught through more health scares then most people face in a lifetime. The strength she has shown amazes me.


Callie is now coming up on her third birthday in February and is thriving. She is doing well at school. Learning to be more assertive and communicate more effectively. Over the weekend, she was putting together a puzzle with her cousin Jack, and Jack kept trying to help her with the pieces. Callie leaned across, put her hand over the puzzle and said "Jack, I told you NO...I can do it myself." The clarity and tone in which she spoke was so appropriate and bold, that my Grandmother and I actually took a step back. She is doing the things a two year old should be doing and we couldn't be any more proud. Cal is a determined little girl and knows what she wants. I tell everyone I know this is why she survived. She is our little fighter through and through.

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Halloween Pics!


Happy Halloween everyone!! Our little bumble bee had a great Halloween this year!

It started two weeks ago with the annual neighborhood Halloween parade. This year was a big change from last year!

Last year, we pulled Callie in a wagon and this year she walked with her friends!

Last year, we carried her around to see the different activities, this year she participated on her own! The picture above is her in a circle playing a creepy version of hot potato!

Last year, she would eat anything and this year she was digging through the candy basket for chocolate!!


At school, they talked about trick or treating and call Callie could talk about when she got home was going trick or treating!

Such a big girl walking out of the house on her own! She definitely was little miss independent this year. At one house, I grabbed her hand to help her down the step. She turned to me and said, "No Mommy, I do it myself!" And she proceeded to turn around, step back up the step and step down all by herself!!


And she was so excited running down the street exclaiming that she was going trick or treating!

Callie was so excited to run into her friends Sydney and Alyssa. I think it is cute that she bends down in the picture too!!


Callie's friend Riley was also dressed as a bee! I think Callie was more excited about Riley's dog barking inside the door!

And for the second year in a row, Callie and her friend Ashley went door to door together!









What a difference a year makes!