One Year Ago

One year ago we almost lost our dear Ashley to RSV. I remember it all like it was yesterday. There were so many awful memories of that day. You feel so helpless when your child is suffering and the doctor's and nurse's are trying to help her, but it's just not working like they would like and all you can do is stand back a watch. After they got her vented and the room cleared out of the 10 doctor's and nurse's that were working on her when she stopped breathing and her vitals were all going down fast. There where two nurse's remained in the room and they told us "Someone sure was watching over your little girl tonight and thank goodness she is a fighter" I will never forget those words. I don't think I stopped praying the whole time we were in the ER. God decided to let her live that night and he must have some big plans for her. We are so thankful for all the Doctor's, Nurse's, Social Workers, Aero Med Team, Friends, Family, and our Church that helped us and Ashley during this time. We are so blessed to have her in our family this past year. Today will be filled with tears, but they are tears of joy that we have our daughter and tears of saddness with the memories and the sights of that day. I put up this saying above her crib and it sums it up nicely "Such a big miracle, in such a little girl"

Christmas

Make a Smilebox slideshow

We had a busy Christmas. There were so many pictures so I thought a slide show would be easier. We had a total of 7 parties and over the last week. The girls are very tired and on toy overload. We had the Tubergan family Christmas on the 19th which included a nice big meal, fire, and many gifts. We had the De Vries family on Christmas Eve which included sledding, fire, and many gifts again. Some of Brooke's favorite's gift this year are her American Girl, Nintendo DS, Latch Hook, Piggy Bank,Flannel Sheets. Kenzie's favorite's are her Bitty Baby, Little bunk beds for her dolls, Polly Pockets, Tinker Toys. We were the mean parents and Ashley got clothes, diapers, wet wipes so not to may toys for her this year, but I think her favorites were the boxes.

Happy Birthday Brooke

Brooke celebrated her 7th birthday on Thursday. She stayed home from school in the morning she wasn't feeling well. I brought her to school in the afternoon since she was feeling better. She was so excited that she could pass her birthday treat out on her birthday. She didn't fell like going out to eat so she choose to pick up Wolfies for supper. She opened our gifts and was so excited that she got a MP3 player. She has been asking for one for awhile. We had her party with the grandparents, uncles, and aunts on Friday. Aunt Kristin made Brooke's cakes this year. We had a great night and Brooke got a lot of good gifts.

Christmas Program

Brooke was a light bearer this year and Kenzie was a sheep. This was Kenzie's first program and she did so good. Kenzie is my singer she sings even if she doesn't know the words. Brooke had a line to say and she totally forgot what to say right before the program. I think the nervous got the best if her. It was so cute watching all the little kids up front.

Ashley's Birthday Party

We had Ashley's Birthday Party last night with the family. She really enjoyed unwrapping her gifts well the first couple then she just played with the boxes. Brooke and Kenzie were right in on the action helping their little sister unwrap. Her Birthday cakes.

She ate her cake like a little princess. She would take little pieces at a time and never really got that messy with it. Corey went to take it away and she started to cry and kick her legs so he gave it back to her and she got a huge smile on her face and kept eating. She knows what to do to get her way.

These are all her gifts she got. Yup she's the third girl and gets diapers and shampoo. Ashley you are such a joy to have in our lives. You are starting to develop your our personality. It's so fun to watch you interact with you older sisters and stand your ground with them. You are starting to get into everything. You are walking along furniture, but not standing by yourself. We hope to celebrate many more birthdays with you.

Happy Birthday Ashley

Wow where did this year go. Your first month dragged on with waiting for answers, countless doctor visits, 2 hospital stays. We don't know where the rest of the year went it just seems like yesterday you were born. You have been such a blessing to us and your sister's. We can't image life with out you. We hope to celebrate many more birthdays with you.

It's hard to believe that you only weighed 5 pounds 11 ounces at birth, but you also were 2 weeks early.

Bronner's and Cutting Our Christmas Tree

We took a little road trip with the girls on Friday to Bronner's Christmas Store. We didn't tell them where we were going and they were excited to see all the Christmas stuff. Each girl got to pick out an ornament that represent something that happened to them this year. Brooke picked out a girl playing soccer, Kenzie got a ballerina the closest thing to gymnastics, and Ashley got a helicopter for her trip in Areo Med. It was crazy busy, but I guess that what happens on Black Friday.We cut our Christmas tree today. I was a nice warm day to pick one out. It sure does beat those times when it's so cold out that we pick the first one we see.

Thanksgiving

I hosted my first Thanksgiving dinner this year. We had Corey's family over, I figured if I messed up they would not care. I'm proud to say that everything turned out great and I didn't even mess the turkey up. It was great to stay home this year and not be running around to all different parties. We had some great games on the Wii between everyone and of course we looked at all the ads. We have so much to be thankful for this year our girls, family, friends, Corey's new job, health, and many more things. Hope everyone enjoyed their Thanksgiving. Here are a few pictures of our Thanksgiving.The girls made these Pilgrim hats for a little snack after dinner. Brooke made most of them while Kenzie ate the marshmallows.

Missouri 2009

11 Months and New Tricks

Ashley turned 11 months today. I can't believe that in 4 weeks she will be 1 where did the time go. She is such a layed back girl, she just watches her sister's and everything else going on around the house. She always has a smile on her face all you have just have to look at her and she just beams. She is starting to pull herself up on things and crawling super speed. She does not have any teeth yet, but she still eats great. Here are some of her new tricks that she does.

You tell her to go night night she will lay her head on the floor. She will do this like 10 times in a row. It's so dumb cute.

Climbing into the entertainment center.

Puckering her lips. It's so funny when she does it that we laugh at her and then she keeps doing it. We might have problems when she grows up.

Halloween

The girls wanted to get dressed right away when they got up on Saturday. They had a hard time waiting until 3:30 to get dressed. We went to Brandon and Kristin's and then we went to our church for Trunk or Treats and supper. It was inside this year due to the cold weather which was nice so the girls didn't have to bundle up. We then headed to mom and dad De Vries' house along with their cousins. The girls had a blast this year they would look in their pumpkin buckets to see what candy they got. At one point I heard Kenzie tell Brooke "We can't eat it all at one time because we might get a stomach ache"

Lakefront Property

Who knew that we lived on lakefront property when we moved in. Kenzie says we need to build a bridge to get across to get dads deer that floated away alone with their sand toys,

Pumpkin Carving

We carved pumpkins with my family on Saturday night. Here are a few pictures of the night.Brooke getting into taking the "guts" out

Corey made Kenzie put her hands in the pumpkin and as you can see she didn't like it.

Corey said forget about those little knifes - let's get the power tools out.

Finished product.

This is what we see when Kenzie gets hold of our camera

The Best Part of Baking

Kenzie and I did some baking last week and she loved licking the bowl.

Harvest Party

We spent a night at a Harvest Party at my sister-in-laws parents house. I took the girls while Corey stayed home with Ashley who is dealing with a cold. The girls painted pumpkins, found candy in saw dust, hay maze, rode horses, hayride and ate some good food. The rain held off while we were outside which was nice. The girls had a great time.

Family Pics.

Sorry I can't get them any bigger.

I Lost Another One

I lost Brooke to hunting this year already. She helped Corey with the food plot and building the shooting blind or "treehouse" as they call it. She was so excited to go hunting this year with Corey. They went out on Thursday for the early doe season. Corey asked her if she wanted to go with him and her response was "can we bring the laptop and play games" a girl after my own heart. No computer, but some coloring books went instead. She did fall asleep in the blind, but she did see a four point. She had a great time and I think Corey did too.

I'm a Soccer Mom

That's right I'm a Soccer Mom, I would have never thought that. Brooke started soccer last week with a practice and a game on Saturday. She did really well considering she has never played before. It was fun watching her practice she could not stand still she was always moving and jumping around. She would laugh out loud when her couch would say something funny. Corey and I looked at each other and said "This is not our shy little girl anymore". She played her first game on Saturday and they won 4-2.

Goodbye Summer - Hello 1st Grade

We said goodbye to summer this week. Brooke started 1st grade on Tuesday. She was excited to get back to school to see her friends. We went on Monday to meet her teacher and drop off school supplies. She was a little shy while we were there, but there were no kids that she knew while we where there. I get the privilege of dropping her off to school everyday since we are now out of Zeeland school district. I walked her to her classroom on Tuesday morning and she did great - she went right to her teacher to give her some papers. I didn't expect to get a little teary eye leaving her. It seems that 1st grade a is big step with going every day all day, she's such a big help at home with Ashley so I miss that. Kenzie LOVES that Brooke is gone. I asked Kenzie if she missed Brooke and her answer was NO!!