By Valerie

I love you Hannah!!!!!!!!!!!!!  you are so cute!!!!!!!!!!   I miss you so so so so so so so so so so so much!!!!!!!!!!!!!   you are soooooo awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I made this skirt for Hannah all by my self.


By Valerie (Hannah's sister)

Thoughts From Hannah's First Day (12/7/10)

First picture with Daddy!

Dr's checking Hannah's hips.  They did not move correctly.

Hannah's cute hat 

Hannah's first picture in the NICU all hooked up to monitors, on extra oxygen (only for a couple hours), in the warming bed.

A picture my mom took of us with Hannah

Getting ready to hold Hannah for the first time since she was put in the warming bed

Dad enjoying Hannah Grace!

Here is my thoughts as I remember and from my journal as written the day she was born:
As I was reviewing my journal and pictures of the first day of Hannah's life I failed to say a few things.  Hannah was born at 8:08 am on Dec. 7, 2010.  I was in labor from like 1am.  I was scheduled to be induced at 8am that morning.  Funny how God answered my prayers for no induction.  I know inductions are so much more painful.  Hannah wanted to come before the Dr's said she needed too.  I was also told my my Maternal Fetal Doctor and Neonatologist that your babies heart rate will drop and you will end up with a C-section if you treat your baby as a normal healthy baby.  I told the Dr's my baby is healthy and I don't care if I end up with a c-section.  I want my baby treated as if she is a normal healthy baby.  They also asked how long do you want your baby to be resuscitated because your baby will need to be resuscitated.  Well my husband and I decided we wanted her to resuscitated if need be.  We did not know for sure our baby even had Trisomy 18.  We chose life for our sweet Hannah in many ways.  It was a up hill climb to advocate for our baby.  When Hannah was born on that Tuesday, without being induced, she came out screaming!  Waiting for her birth was a team of NICU nurses doctors, respiratory therapist, they assessed her well being and then I got to hold her. God answered our prayers of no c-section and she didn't need to be resuscitated!  At that moment when she was crying, I knew God was right there with our baby.
As we looked Hannah over, we did noticed her special features like she unique finger formation, her ears were a little lower, her hips didn't move right.  I knew in my heart my baby did have Trisomy 18.  I thought no matter what we are going to do whatever we can for her and love her no matter what.  She is God's creation and we love her so much!

Hannah's weight: 4lbs 11oz

Hannah's nurses:  Am: Cece. Pm: Dana

I have a list of answered prayer on the very first day of her life!
1. no induction
2. no c-section
3. screaming at the moment of birth!
4. got to hold her within minutes of her birth
5. her digestive system all connected
6. chest x-ray was good!
7. went potty first day
8. under warming bed less than 12 hours, she was keeping her own temperature
9. all the kids got to see  their baby sister born alive!
10. her heart rate was good!

My hardest questions to answer is how long or shall be resuscitate her when her heart rate drops or her breathing stops.  You know Hannah's doctor told us babies with Trisomy 18 forget to breath.  Rick and I could not answer these questions the doctor keeps asking us.  Well we decided since we don't know for sure she even has Trisomy 18 we will do whatever it takes for save our baby.
We love you Hannah Grace!
Here is my verse I clung to during my pregnancy with Hannah

Thank you for our visitors:  Tami and Dylan,  Dalee and her daughters, Aunt Jill, Kelsy, Pastor Jon

Phil 4:6&7
 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

In Christ, Sandra Kwant (Hannah's mommy)

Hannah's First day. A remembering Journal

Hannah's first picture.  She came out crying and breathing!  Such and answer to prayer as the doctors said she'd not be breathing.  I was crying at this moment. 

First time I got to hold my little princess!  She was maybe 10-15minutes old!  I was so happy because I did not think they were going to let me!

Hannah's first weigh in.  She was 4 lbs 11oz 17in long! Her famous hook finger is already at it

Hannah was brought to the NICU because her blood sugar levels were too low.  And as you can see her breathing was needing help. 

First time Terri Lynn got to see her baby "didter". She loved her sister,  Always wanting to see Hannah while in the waiting room.  Hannah had a nose cannula put on for a few hours to help her breath.  She was also put in a warming bed.

Hannah in her warming bed. She had an ultrasound of her digestive system to see if it was all connected and it was! Praise the Lord,  She also had an echocarogram of her heart and a chest xray.  Poor baby so many tests.  Her heart did show a couple small holes but the doctors said they would close.  Her longs looked good also! 

Sam and Cassie gets to see Hannah for the first time.

Heidi's first time to see her baby sister

Hannah looks so tiny next to Martin.  Martin was so tender with her.  He loved holding her. 

Nathan loved his baby sister!  He said she is so little

Valerie loved seeing Hannah and was so thankful Hannah was doing so good

Sweet Princess. Did you know we almost named Hannah, Lucy?  But I felt God telling me she is Hannah Grace.  My husband told me to decide on the name that day between Hannah or Lucy. Hannah was definitely Hannah

Treasuring my time with Hannah Grace. I was so thankful the nurse said I could hold her anytime I wanted to!  Believe me she was in my arms or someones arms most of the time she was in the NICU and at home.

This how I got around to see Hannah the first day. 

Ps 139: 13-16     

 ¹³ For You formed my inward parts;
         You covered me in my mother’s womb.
 ¹⁴ I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;^[b]
         Marvelous are Your works,
         And that my soul knows very well.
 ¹⁵ My frame was not hidden from You,
         When I was made in secret,
         And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
 ¹⁶ Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed.
         And in Your book they all were written,
         The days fashioned for me,
         When as yet there were none of them.

In Christ, Sandra (Hannah's mommy)