Happy Birthday My Little Ones

Day 2 at hospital

First day home together

First photo shoot

Three years ago today, I gave birth to two very beautiful but early babies. They were born 5 weeks early and weighed in 4.4 lbs and 5. 4 lbs. They were so small, I can still recall how scared I was to bring them home, especially my boy. Seeing them in NICU with all those wires and feeding tubes, I prayed I would be able to bring them home sooner then later. When I was able to bring them home within the week, I was elated. Eight months of doing my best to keep them in but they were finally here and leaving healthy. Prayers answered.

Since that day, we have watched them as they have discovered the world around them, developing what I hope is a life long friendship with their older brother and building a twin bond that is as strong as both their personalities. They fight as much as they do hug and kiss one another. 

Now they are three years old and each showing their own very distinct personalities. There isn't a day that goes by where I don't laugh with the kids. We absolutely love them and though they were a surprise, with many sleepless nights, we also know they are a blessing.  I would change nothing. 

Happy Birthday my babies!  

Mama, Daddy and Nono love you both so much. Thanks for bringing double the love into our lives and filling our hearts exponentially. 

Remembering Our Fallen on Memorial Day

Today I wanted to comment about what Memorial Day means to me.

Captain John J. McKenna IV USMC 
KIA Fallujah, Iraq, August 16,2006

Several years back, in 2006, I attended the funeral of a fallen U.S. Marine, Captain John J. McKenna, IV. This military funeral was the first one I had ever been to and it definitely stands out in my memory. Not just because of all the people that came to pay their respects to this man that gave his life for a bigger cause. Nor for the beauty of such a somber and sobering ceremony but because I will never forget his mother.

Captain McKenna was her only son. The moment when they handed her his flag and they lowered him into the ground, her wailing cries tore at my heart. Even today as I write this, I still feel her chilling pain, as if it were just happening.

So to me, Memorial day isn't so happy. It's not a day about barbecues or discount sales in stores. Today's a day to be thankful for the men and women like Captain McKenna, who gave their lives so that we can maintain the lives we live. My husband lives with the loss of his friend every day with only a small picture of John in our home to keep him with us. That mother lives with the loss of her son every day.

So I ask that today you take a moment to think about those lives lost. To be grateful for the sacrifices that they and their families made so that you can sit out to enjoy the warm sun, barbecue in their memory and pray for those still out there defending freedom.

To learn more about Captain John J. McKenna, IV see these links below:
Military Room
Military Times
The Daily Beast
Together We Served
Legacy.com

Today, Be Grateful!

And as always, Be Blessed, Be Healthy and Be Beautiful! 

Thanks so much.