One Year Later

Dear baby Zoey

One year ago today a miracle happened that changed our lives forever..... you were born.

Kimberly, (one of my amazing  sisters) who you are named after gave birth to you. She selflessly sacrificed her body and so much more to carry you. She is amazing. I hope you remember this and always have gratitude in your heart for all that she has done for you.

You were born at the University of Utah hospital at 6:33 am on August 3rd. You came so fast that mommy and daddy missed your birth. When you were born you were purple and not breathing. Grandpa was there and he had the privilege of cutting your cord. Then the doctors passed you through a window that whisked you to the NICU.

Zoey, you decided that you were done with heaven and wanted your turn on earth. You were so inpatient that in heaven you pushed all your cousins out of the way and came first, which was three months early. You lil sneak.

You weighed two pounds and fifteen ounces. When mommy and daddy first saw you you were in an incubator hooked up to every machine possible to keep you alive. Mommy started to cry but fell madly in love the moment she saw you. You were and are a beautiful perfect little miracle.

 Pretty soon we had bishop Jenson and your daddy give you a blessing that you would live and be ok but that we would accept gods will.

Over the next two months (63 days) mommy came and saw you everyday.

You ran a pretty good course. You didn't get any infection, no eye problems and no hearing problems. Which is really good for coming at 29 weeks. Your most difficult thing you had to overcome was to take a bottle. It would take you one hour to take an ounce of milk. So you could have probably come home sooner but you would not take a bottle.

You came home on Saturday October 5. Which worked out perfect because you were daddy's birthday present that year (October 6th).

Over the next six months was a challenging time. You were so tiny and never wanted to sleep. Also, it was RSV session. Every month you received your RSV shot to help protect you from getting sick. Btw this shot was 3,000$ each month. Also, u had to be on neo sure formula which was way expensive. These things and so much more is why I call you the "million dollar baby".

The drs said that you had little to no immune system. Because of this we didn't leave the house for six months. Yes mommy went a little crazy. You were a hard baby probably because you were a premie. So needles to say we didn't get a lot of sleep. But you were well worth everything.

Today is August 3 2014. It's your birthday. Yay yay yay!!!!! You weigh 17 pounds and  have tons of brown curly hair (which mommy loves to due and put in bows). You say dadada, mamama, bababa, and more jibber jabber. You are now on whole milk,;(Yay!!!) and can eat solid foods even though you don't like the food and you choke on it. You sleep pretty good now. You go down at 7 or 8 and usually wake up at 6 or 7am.

You love Elyse and Jace and they love you. I've never seen two siblings love their sister more than they do. They watch cartoons with u, play with u, dress u up, and even when their friends come over they always include you.

You roll over and over and you can sit up by yourself but you can't crawl or walk yet. But that's ok because that means you get to be my baby for Little bit longer.

Daddy loves to read to you and play with you and dress you up in u of u clothing (grrr). You say dadda all the time so that makes daddy very very happy. Ps -could you  work on saying mamma more because you love me the most :)

Mommy absolutely adores you. She is a lil Crazy and can't cut the cord. Meaning she never leaves you.  So u are with mommy all the time. Everywhere I go you come to. You scream whenever you can't see mommy. I don't know how you got like that. Lol. Yikes oops

Mommy loves to take showers with you, dress u up, do ur hair, read to u, watch veggie tales with you and especially take naps and cuddle with u. You are my sunshine after a good 5 year tornado. The love I have for you is beyond words (I could go on and on) I'm so grateful for you and the happiness you have brought to our family.

We love you Zoey

Love

Mommy

Daddy

Ely

Jace

Angel brothers

And Halle.

My Testimony 8-3-14

My heart is full of gratitude and humility. One year ago today a miracle happened that changed our lives forever. , her name actually meaning "life", was born. Just getting her here was a miracle. Which is a story to long to explain. But she was 29 weeks gestation (three months early) and weighing in at a whopping 2+ pounds. When i was able to see her for the first time she was in an incubator hooked up to every machine possible to keep her alive. My heart sank. i now could understand how my family must have felt when they saw me for the first time (when i died) hooked up, like zoey to every machine possible trying to bring me back.  Zoey was so sick and so tiny. I remember My wedding ring could fit up her arm. 

 Just to take you back a bit zoey was coming at 26 weeks which is considered micro premee. The head of the nicu nurses came in and talked to us about what the chances were if Zoey Would be born now. She began to say the survival rate was 50-60% and 70-80% of her being deaf blind dumb or mentally challenged. I'm pretty sure the color was already gone from my face but now it was covered in tears. I needed my Heavenly Father and saviors help. Within a half an hour our bishop and members from the ward were at the hospital giving us blessings. Before they got there I just kept thinking and pleading to heavenly father over and over again in my mind that I can't loose another one. I can't do another casket. I can't do another funeral. I can't. I will loose it. 

However, when hands of the melchezidik priesthood were placed upon my head an overwhelming peace and strength came to me. I cant remember exactly what the blessing said but i knew it didn't say that zoey was going to live or die. After the blessing I was calm and felt could feel the love of my savor and the holy ghost so strong. It literally felt as if he were holding me. I heard a still small voice in my mind and in my heart.  I knew that if Heavenly Father needed her to go live with him that he would be there for me so that I could do another casket and he would be there (caring me) so that I  could do another funeral. I'm soo grateful she choose to stay and we got to keep her. She is our sunshine after years and years of storms. I'm grateful for my family jay elyse Jace and zoey and our angel boys. I'm grateful for the savior for sacrificing his life so we could live again. In the name of Jesus Christ amen.