Cassie and Hannah Grace!!!!!!

This is one of the blankets that I made for Hannah Grace.

This is a bear that i made for Hannah before she was born is was for her to lay on she layed on it when she got changed

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 his is a dress that I made or Hannah but it was way too big for her

this is a dress that I made for Hannah Grace I have a skirt just like it.

this is another dress it was very big for Hannah and some more head bands that I made

a hat I made just made for Hannah

this is a head band that I made for Hannah the flower was a big as her head

this is a neck pillow i made for mom. dad and mom used it when they did kangaroo care with Hannah Grace

this is a burp rag we didn't use it much, Hannah didn't spit up very much

this is a also a burp rag but is was double the size of Hannah was

                                     this is a head band I made it looked to cute on Hannah

this is a blanket quilt I made for Hannah  

These are some of the things I made for Hannah all of the things things and more I put in a bag (the bag was big) I made them when mom was Pregnant most before we knew she was a girl and

I am so glad Hannah is a girl because I  only made 3 boy things.:-) I brought most of these things to Hannah when the was in the hospital.

                                                                                  With Love Cassie (Hannah's oldest sister)

By Valerie part 7

Mom pumping Hannah!!

Me holding Hannah on Sunday!

Hannah holding My hand!

Hannah under the Billi Lights!

Me looking at Hannah!

Hannah in her carseat!

The first time I got to see Hannah!

So cute!

Love you Hannah!

Love, Valerie (Hannah's sister)

Hannah Goes to Church! Day 13 (12/19/10)

A very special friend of our family took this picture of Hannah at her very first church service!

Valerie holding Hannah early Sunday morning.  Valerie just loves Hannah so much!

Heidi got the privilege to get to hold Hannah in front of the Christmas Tree right after we decorated it today.

All the kids in front of the Christmas tree.  We had just finished decorating it!

Terri Lynn having fun with the Christmas decorations!

Terri Lynn got the job of putting the Angel on the top of the tree.  Rick was holding her up so she could get the job done.

Hannah's Day at Church and Decorating the Tree

It was a wonderful day today!  We got the privilege and blessing to be able to take Hannah to church and show her off to our church family.  These people have been faithful in their prayers for Hannah.  It was a blessing to me to show Hannah to each person who has been praying for her. 

Through most of the church service someone else had Hannah in their arms.  Not me.  Hannah went from Nathan to Valerie to Heidi to Martin to Sam to Cassie to Rick and lastly to mom.  She was so good in church not a peep.  It was a joy to share Hannah with a few ladies who really seemed to want to hold her.  I felt like I was blessing them by allowing them to hold my special baby. 

Very soon after church was over we needed to get home because it was time to feed Hannah and I needed to pump.  Hannah is being fed every 3 hours.  It is important to feed her on time. 

When we got home, Cassie made us lunch so I could pump and feed Hannah.  Soon after we finished lunch we got our Christmas decorations ready in order to be able to decorate the Christmas tree (The kids and Rick went to pick out the tree yesterday while I stayed home with Hannah).  The kids loved getting the tree all decor ted and it was a joy to have Hannah apart of the decorating.  I am so thankful for our picture of all the kids in front of the Christmas tree.  It is a treasure to me!  and a great memory!

Luke 1: 46-55

⁴⁶ And Mary said:
      “ My soul magnifies the Lord,
       ⁴⁷ And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.
       ⁴⁸ For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant;
      For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed.
       ⁴⁹ For He who is mighty has done great things for me,
      And holy is His name.
       ⁵⁰ And His mercy is on those who fear Him
      From generation to generation.
       ⁵¹ He has shown strength with His arm;
      He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
       ⁵² He has put down the mighty from their thrones,
      And exalted the lowly.
       ⁵³ He has filled the hungry with good things,
      And the rich He has sent away empty.
       ⁵⁴ He has helped His servant Israel,
      In remembrance of His mercy,
       ⁵⁵ As He spoke to our fathers,
      To Abraham and to his seed forever.”

In Christ,  Sandi Kwant (Hannah's mommy)

Valerie and Hannah Part 6

I love this picture of Me, Hannah, and Nathan

Hannah is so so so so so so so so so so so so little by

 Me and Nathan

this is our Christmas picture

Hannah's hook finger says H H H

this was when Hannah was in the NICU

Hannah is in the bath

Hannah in her beautiful dress!

memory: Hannah tried to pull her tub out with her hook finger!

Hannah had two fuzed  finger's

Here is a better view of her fuzed fingers

Hannah's cute hook finger!

I made this skirt for Hannah!

the last day :(

the last time I got to hold Hannah:(

this picture was on Heidi's birthday!!!!!!!

Hannah's little tongue!!!

I Love you so so much! 

Love, Valerie (Hannah's sister)

Dear Hannah: Remembering My Pregnancy (Aug 2010)

This ultrasound shows Hannah holding her foot with her hand!  Amazing to see!

Hannah's beautiful profile!

Here is a picture of me with my pregnant belly. 

My Journal (remembering my pregnancy August 2010)

Here is from my journal.  I wrote this as I remembered my pregnancy.  I wrote this a few weeks after Hannah went to be with Jesus.  I was so scared I'd forgot things so I made sure I wrote all I could remember down. I know my journal writings are a bit wild but I just want to share what my pencil wrote down at the time.  I plan to share more from my pregnancy journal over the next couple months. 

Dear Hannah Grace:

You know you were the only grandbaby that Pake, Beppe or Grandma ever had seen in an ultrasound.  We wanted them to see you.  We were so excited to have them see you in an ultrasound.  They loved seeing you!  Dad and I decided that we wanted to find out it you were a boy or a girl because Pake, Beppe and Grandma were there to see you.  The ultrasound technician said,"It's a girl!"  We were thrilled!  We love little girls!  We all got to see you hold your foot with your hand in the ultrasound.  We all were amazed. Because we saw you do that with your foot holding your hand, we knew you would be healthy.  It was like a sign God was giving us.  I can still see your hand holding your foot.  It is a picture in my mind that I will never forget!. 

We had to talk to the Maternal Fetal Doctors again.  Hannah, I was really worried because I did not want to see that cold genetic counselor again who wanted us to decide to terminate you.  I know God was with us and I didn't need to worry because a really nice lady walked into the room to talk to us about your ultrasound.  She knew we did not want an amniocentesis and she did not push us and she was ok with our decision.  Praise God!  The lady did tell us that you were growing but you were small for your age. Also the cyst on your brain was still there.  We were thankful to find out you were growing.  The cyst to me was not as concerning because the genetic counselor told me that cysts can be found in normal babies brains but disappear  before 32 weeks.  I was praying this was what going to happen with you, my sweet baby girl!

We just trusted God and leaned on the hope that you would be healthy.  We prayed that you be born as God created you fro the foundations of the earth.  We'd love you no matter what!  We still believed and trusted that you would be born normal and healthy.  But inside I knew you were a special baby .  We still wanted you no matter what!  You were loved everyday since the minute we found out we pregnant!  I told God we'd welcome a special needs baby with open arms!

When we left the Maternal Fetal Medicine office, they had us make an appointment for the next ultrasound.  This one will be in October around the time, you would be 32 weeks along!  Until then we shared our  concern for you as a prayer request with a few close friend.  We wanted at the time, to know the people we shared our concern over you to be really praying for you.  We did not want you to become gossip.  I guess I probably would have done that differently now.  I believe I should have had as many people praying for you right from the beginning and not waited until you were almost born.  I'm sorry Hannah for that!  

Pregnancy with you, Hannah, is a piece of cake. I have had no problems at all!  

I knew you were going to be just as God created you to be.  I love you, Sweetie Pie ♥  and Dad's Little Peanut!

Philippians 4: 4-8

 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!
Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.  Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.   Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.  

Love you and Miss you,  Sandi Kwant (Hannah's mommy)

Hannah on Cassie's Birthday Day 12 (12/28/10)

Today Hannah is 12 days old and It happens to also be Cassie's 13th birthday.  I felt so overwhelmed with Hannah at home.  We did not take Cassie out for dinner nor did she get to pick her favorite dinner. Thinking back about this I felt bad, I said sorry to her, I knew she understood but it felt good to her and I that I apologized. 

On Cassie's birthday some of my favorite picture of Hannah were taken.  This picture I love because it shows off her beautiful face.

This is another one of my favorite pictures because Cassie bought this headband for Hannah and she looks so peaceful and she looks so perfect

This picture is another favorite one of mine. She is beautiful.  This outfit is really tiny if you look at it now.  Do you see the football in the background?  That football was a gift to Hannah from Sam.

Now comes a series of favorite photos and I'm so thankful we took these pictures!

Hannah and Martin

Hannah and Sam

Hannah and Cassie

Hannah and Heidi

Hannah and Valerie

Hannah and Nathan

Hannah and Terri Lynn

As you can see Nathan loved loved holding and taking care of Hannah

Another one of my favorite photos. Brother and sister love!

Mom pumping breast milk, while I feed Hannah with the feeding pump. 

Hannah's Excitement on Cassie's Birthday

Today was Saturday. Today also besides Cassie's birthday Rick took the kids to pick out the Christmas Tree. I stayed home with Hannah.

Hannah lost her umbilical cord!  She can now have a regular bath!

We were so happy that Hannah got to enjoy her first family birthday. We were so thankful we were home for Cassie's birthday and not still in the NICU!

Hannah Grace gave Cassie a red fuzzy blanket and a green frog pillow pet.  Cassie treasures these items right now.  Rick and I gave Cassie a locket for her birthday. She has been such a big help and she has just gone in without being asked, she will without complaining clean up the kitchen, help with lunch, diner or make breakfast. She was a big help to Beppe and Pake when they were staying here while we were in the NICU.  She was Beppe right hand lady.   We love you so much Cassie! 

Thank you to Bible Baptist Church for coming and signing Christmas carols for us!  It was so beautiful and meant so much to show your support in that way. 

Thanks to Teresa and Mark, Michelle, Ashley and family, Shannon, Jay and Nellie, Cathy and Bill for your visit.  It truly means alot to us.  Thanks for the meal that was brought too!



Proverbs 3:5&6

     Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
      And lean not on your own understanding;
      In all your ways acknowledge Him,
      And He shall direct^[a] your paths.

In Christ,  Sandi Kwant (Cassie's and Hannah's mommy)