This was me with Matthew 3 days after he was born and I was discharged from Harris SW Hospital and allowed to finally meet and hold my babies for the first time. I will never forget that day, EVER...I just remember the Lord giving me this overwhelming peace and being able to see past all of the breathing and feeding tubes and i.v.'s and just be comforted by the fact that God was in control and was sovereign over every detail of their life...every breath, every heartbeat, everything. That is the only thing that comforted me during that time. I really want to thank our family for loving us so faithfully during that time through daily shifts at the NICU, taking care of Tim and I through meals, cleaning, etc.., and praying for us daily. Our friends and church body continued to love us through all of this as well and I cannot thank you all enough. Raising children really is a group effort! 
This is our first family photo that was ever taken which was at Cooks in the NICU. It was the first time the boys got to be next to each other since the womb. It was amazing and a picture that we will never forget. It is such a picture of HOPE to me. The doctors told Tim the morning of the boys birth that Caleb and Matthew may not live, may live but have permanent disabilities, or may be totally healthy...that only time would tell. It is amazing what time has told in a year. We thankfully have two healthy children whom God has blessed us with and given us the task to raise them up in the admonition of the Lord. It is a big task, but what a privilege. May we never take it for granted...
This is Tim with Caleb the day he was born and transferred to Cooks. What an emotional day for Tim...I was given so much medication that the day the boys were born is an entire blur to me. But, Tim had to endure every single moment of uncertainty that day and it was a really rough 24 hours for him. I remember he felt so torn going back and forth from the NICU at Cooks to Harris SW where I was still a patient for the first 3 days of the boys lives. It was a crazy time for us, but we did not take for granted being able to take our babies home at 3 1/2 weeks of age...we were SOOO excited. What a WONDEFUL day it was!!! Okay, enough sappiness...let's move on to these crazy boys of ours who our little wild men now! They may have had a rocky start, but they are moving full speed ahead now and Tim and I are along for the ride...it's a really fun one, too!
The boys had a great first birthday filled with fun, including yellow cake with chocolate frosting and sprinkles!!! This is Caleb devouring his cupcake!
Matthew hesitated at first and just wanted to play with the cupcake. But, eventually he decided he liked his cupcake, too!
Daddy and Caleb swimmin at the pool...Cabers loves the water, especially alongside his Daddy.
Dad and Caleb with Uncle Tom and Tyler...
All the birthday fun pooped Matthew out!
Caleb started off his birthday morning by eating styrofoam...LOVELY!
The boys LOVE the dishwasher...(for all of you worried, there were no knives in the bottom that the boys could grab :)) and as soon as I open it to put something in there, they are right beside me and crawling on top of it. This could be great for the future...maybe they will love to load it as well as play on it!
Matthew loved his birthday breakfast which included a blueberry waffle with whipped cream!
Caleb just wanted to chew on the "1" birthday candle instead of eat the waffle!************Dad Insert*************
If you notice in almost every picture now Caleb has this look like he is angry at the camera. That is because mom's camera has this red light that flashes on the target before it takes the picture. Caleb will be completely content and playful and then as soon as that red light is on him, his face sours and he gives us the teenager I'm-mad-at-the-world scowl that all of you parents with older kids would recognize!!! The picture at the top of our blog really shows this face well.
5 comments:
Happy 1st Birthday! to Matthew and Caleb from the Michigan Stang Gang- UncleWally,AuntBonnie,WallyIII,
Heather and Bridget. We can hardly believe a whole year has passed already, they are so adorable,and the blogs are so great,allowing us to watch the boys growing up. They truly show how our God is mighty and loving to all of us who believe and are faithful. You both are great parents raising great children. Love,Stang Gang
Emmer, what a wonderful testimony of what God has done in your young family's life! I, too remember those rough days. Don't ever apologize for expressing your feelings as it is a great witness of your dependance and love for God. Look how far you have come from a year ago? Oh, my goodness!!! Glad the boys had a great birthday. See if'n you can get Caleb to smile for us. Matthew smiles all the time. Thank you for keeping us up on things....Love, G. Nelda
This post reminded me so much of that tense time for you guys. But God is faithful and has taken such good care of your sweet family.
Happy Birthday Boys!
what an amazing thing reading this and thinking back to a year ago. i'm so happy for you guys... i hope you really believe that, even though i never see you.
the boys look absolutely wonderful, and what a huge blessing that they are where they are now.
i hope it's not too long before i see you all again, and in the meantime, just know you have a friend in dallas who beams with joy everytime she thinks about the miracles the Lord has done in your lives :)
What a great post! Thanks for giving me that reminder of God's faithfulness...I miss you guys.
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