The Saturday following the babies' first birthday, we had a big birthday party at the park in our neighborhood. We were blessed to have many family and friends come and celebrate with us. And the babies were so good! I was a little afraid of how they would handle being outside and around so many people, but there was no fussing! And during the party, all of the boys even took a little snooze. :)
Bill's brother Bob and his wife Katie drove all the way from Colorado to be there for the party! What a wonderful surprise!!!!
With their proud grandparents
We were blessed to have so many of our wonderful NICU nurses come say hello!
Michelle and Kristin with Finn
Michelle was our Case Manager in the NICU. She has become a wonderful friend to me since we've been discharged, and also a huge help and encouragement this last year! Kristin was the nurse that was with me the first time I held my tiny Finn when he was 9 days old. I will forever remember that day.
Beck and Naomi
Naomi was Beck's very first nurse ever. She was at the delivery! :)
Beck, Steph, DeNae, and Stella
DeNae took care of Finn a lot when he was our only baby left in the St. Cloud NICU. I always enjoyed our conversations while I was visiting Finn.
Finn and Debbie
Debbie was one of our night nurses in the NICU. She is from Michigan and is a huge Detroit Tigers fan. Bill always enjoyed talking Tigers baseball with her! :) Go Tigers!
Finn and Amy Jo
Amy Jo was another of our night nurses. She always wanted to know how Max was doing down at his hospital. She was always sweet and encouraging... and never uncomfortable as I would cry and tell her of Max's struggles.
Max and Heidi
Heidi was Max's nurse the day he was transported down to Minneapolis. She hugged me with tears in her eyes as I cried while watching my sick, 2-lb baby get loaded onto a stretcher. She also was Beck and Stella's nurse the day that I gave them their first tub baths. Let me tell you, there's not much more terrifying that giving your tiny, slippery 3 1/2-lb baby a bath over a marble floor! :)
Ashley and Max
Ashley was Max's fabulous NICU nurse in Minneapolis. I get tears in my eyes just thinking about her role in Max's life. Ashley was a true God-send to me, and I am so thankful that she signed up to be Max's primary nurse. She watched me cry many times over my tiny, sick Max... while we waited weeks and months, wondering if he would be able to make it. She was someone who loved Max while I was torn between being with Max or being an hour and a half away in St. Cloud with the other babies. After Max was discharged from the NICU and moved into the pediatric unit, she would visit him after her NICU shift was over. She would text me on her days off to see if I was going to make it to Minneapolis that day, and if I wasn't, she would go to the hospital to snuggle and play with Max. I am so thankful for her sweet, caring heart, and the love that she showed Max when his Mommy couldn't be there with him.
We are so thankful for ALL of the WONDERFUL nurses who cared and loved our babies this last year!
our family
Finn with his crawl ball from Grammy and Papaw
super fun howl guitar from Aunt Heather
Max checking out his new sweatsuit from Uncle Jeff and Aunt Laura
he loved his Taggie puppy from Mommy and Daddy
Beck opening his present from Mommy and Daddy
opening his Dino ball popper from Aunt Heather
Stella with her new sweatsuit from Uncle Jeff and Aunt Laura
her first doll - a Cabbage Patch baby named Lainey
riding her car from Grammy and Papaw
Finn taking a ride
Sunday was their dedication at church
It was also our first time taking all four of them out together!
Max waiting to open his gifts from Grandma and Grandpa Gardner
Finn and Mommy with his gifts from Grandpa and Grandma Gardner
Finn
My Aunt Val and Uncle Todd from St. Louis came to town for the weekend. It was their first time meeting the babies. It was so wonderful to spend several days with them!
Great Aunt Val and Stella
hello, handsome boy!
It was a great first birthday weekend! A huge thank you to everyone who helped me prepare for the weekend and make sure it was a success! Also, a big thanks to all of you who have helped us out this last year - helping with the babies, washing bottles, buying us diapers/formula - and especially to you all who have prayed us through this past year. We are forever thankful for you!
