Welcome Home

It is hard to believe that today makes a year that we were finally able to bring our beautiful baby girls home. Maggie and Marley were born 8 weeks premature and had to spend 5 weeks in the NICU. That was one of the hardest things our family had to go through. Ben and I spent mornings, evenings and nights by their sides. Watching them, praying for them and longing for the day we could take them home and hold them and kiss them all day and night. Some days we could not even touch them, that broke my heart. I didn't get to hold Marley until she was 5 days old, that was hard for me. Clayton and Molly didn't understand. Their babies were finally born, yet they could not see them or hold them. Pictures were not good enough for them. It was 5 weeks of ups and downs. Good news visits and bad news visits. Some days I just sat there and cried wondering if they were ever going to let me have them. Finally, on March 3 we were able to take our babies home and let them meet their big brother and their big sister. What a happy day that was. I can still see the smiles on Clayton and Molly's faces when they walked in from school and saw those babies. They were real and they were home!


What a difference a year has made. Everyday they are getting bigger and stronger. Everyday they are learning new things. Everyday they make me smile a little bigger. They are where they belong, home with us!

Maggie

Marley

Maggie and Marley

Mardi Gras Marathon 2010

Sunday, February 28, 2010, the Mardi Gras Marathon took place in New Orleans. My husband, Ben, mother-in-law, Shirley, father-in-law, Henry and brother-in-law, Derek all took part in running the half marathon. (13.1 miles) They all did AWESOME!! My sister-in-law, Melissa and I along with Clayton, Molly, Maggie and Marley cheered them all on at the finish line. It was a beautiful day and we all had a great time.

This was Ben's first marathon. He has been working hard training for this and on Sunday his time and effort paid off. He completed the marathon in 2 hours, 35 minutes!

WAY TO GO BEN!

Maggie and Marley in their Mardi Gras Marathon oufits getting ready to go cheer for everyone.

Clayton, Maggie, Marley, Molly and Melissa

Ben getting ready to cross the finish line!

Here comes our marathon runner!!


Maggie and Marley taking a break, it was hard work being so cute for everyone!

The four marathon runners
Henry, Shirley, Derek and Ben
Great job guys!

Ben with his family, we are very proud of you! Great job!