Happy Birthday to my AMAZING Amber!

Amber's birthdays have been special all.her.life.  Summer took a picture of a rainbow curved over the hospital the morning Amber was born. Every birthday has been a celebration! The 'new' has never worn off and I don't think it ever will!

When Amber was 18 we had a HUGE surprise party and then I took her to Hawaii. (She knew about Hawaii - just not the party before!)

To celebrate her 21st birthday - right after she had graduated from Texas State with her 4 year degree at the age of 20 AND just becoming engaged AND starting a new job as an editor - she and I went to London! The high light of that trip was our TINY hotel room and seeing The Phantom of the Opera!

For her milestone 25th birthday Mike took her to the beaches of Italy! They were living in Scotland at the time so she experienced a great deal of travel adventures that year! (I still love to read about them in her Bells and Kilts blog posts!)

So now she is 27 years old! As of 2 hours and 15 minutes ago!

Here she is yesterday afternoon as we left the hospital right in the 5:00 traffic!

I even managed to get into the picture!

She is beautiful as always!!

When you have FOUR kids in the NICU - it takes awhile to say goodbye - even though you will be back to visit the very next day.

Also saying goodbye to the beautiful and caring nurses and staff caused more than a few tears! These ladies are so special I think they are SAINTS!!

I shall pray for all the nurses I know for the rest of my life!!

Amber is holding Little Kailey and using a mirror so she can actually see that tiny perfect little face.

Mike was spending time with Trystan. All three girls are in the same pod and side by side.

If you know Mike then you know he has this deep reverberating voice.

Trystan knows it by heart and loves to settle down on her daddy's chest.

I love her expression! "What? I KNOW who you are!! You're my DADDY!"

I've posted this picture before but I can't get enough of it!!

Amber holding Logan......that perfect little 2 lb 6 oz bundle of girl.

And Harrison Lee.......a strong little boy. He is overcoming a few more issues than his Rock Star Sisters but he is still a Major League Player in the Bell Quad Squad!

I will share the update Amber and Mike posted on Facebook yesterday as we were leaving the hospital:

We found out this afternoon that Harrison has a grade 2 brain bleed (lowest is 1, highest is 4) on the left side. The more severe cases can result in cerebral palsy, and his chances of this are low. However we don't want the bleed to spread or worsen. It can be affected by his oxygen levels and blood pressure, which are both affected by the oscillator he is on to help his lungs breathe. The chest ...tube he had was no longer being effective, so they removed it and drained the air from outside his lung with a needle. The follow-up showed the air had not returned at this time. His blood pressure dropped but they have it back up now and his oxygen levels are good. We pray he gets stronger every day and his body is able to outgrow all this. It is so hard to watch him endure so many issues and he is still sedated to keep him calm and comfortable. Been a very long, emotional day...

So you can see why homecoming was a conflict of all sorts of emotions yesterday.

I just want you guys to know how much we all appreciate the prayers prayed for all of us! I firmly believe that when we pray for others - we are blessed ourselves - and I pray that each and every one of you feel the peace and comfort of God's grace in whatever YOU are experiencing. And let's face it. We ALL have a 'story!'

So today IS her birthday and we WILL be celebrating!

Celebrating LIFE!! Many lives!

This cookie bouquet was from Amber's sister in law, Leigh Ann.

Every night in the hospital since the births she would wake up and eat another 'baby.'

The only cookie left is the 'gift box' and I put that right by her bed last night.

I'm pretty sure it's gone by now!

Our plan is to eat lunch at The Olive Garden. They have a new one out here that wasn't even OPEN when Amber left for the hospital.

Then we will head downtown to the NICU for some one on one time with four special babies. What a perfect plan for a new mother's birthday!

And may I say HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my own mother who graciously shares HER BIRTHDAY with Amber and Mother's grandson, Jacob.

Also Happy Birthday to my friend, Cathy!!

And just one last thing......I would like to say something special to Bernice. You have meant so much to both me and Amber and I can't seem to find a way to contact you by mail or email. Would you mind sending one of us your address by personal email?

Now, Amber is still asleep as she should be so I am off to do the kitty chores and get this whole Birthday Day Thing started!!! Amber, if you read this when you wake up.....

Happy Birthday!!! I love you with all my heart!

Mom