Miracle Babies: 1 year later...

This is a story about miracles...

Shanda is one of those friends that I can go for a couple of years without seeing, yet when we see each other again it's not weird at all. We've known each other since Freshman orientation at Western Carolina (more than a couple of years ago!) and have kept in touch here and there over the years. Early fall 2006 I got an email that Shanda and her husband were having twins. But the next thing I knew, there was another email saying that the boys had been born nearly 14 weeks premature.

On November 16, 2006, Evan and Tristan came into the world fighting for their lives. But they did not come into this world alone--they were accompanied by the prayers of hundreds of family, friends, and strangers and the expertise of amazing doctors. Evan weighed a tiny 1 pound 13 ounces and Tristan a teeny 1 pound 7 ounces. Can you even imagine babies so tiny? Their preemie diapers were the size of a dollar bill! Here's where the miracles come in....the boys spent 87 days in the hospital, but amazingly they came home before their original due date in February. And amazingly, they are perfectly strong and healthy and happy today! Shanda and Randy are such sweet and brave parents, and they are fully aware of the miracle of their boys.

I got together with Shanda and the boys at her mom's house in Charlotte just a few days after their 1st birthday in November. We shot some birthday pictures and celebrated their first year of life. Their one-year homecoming from the hospital will be February 11th, so I thought this would be the perfect time to share their photos!

These handprints and footprints were made when they were newborns. Notice the size of the quarter in comparison to the footprints!

Regular size pacifier for a year old baby, compared to the itty bitty paci when Evan and Tristan were in the hospital...

Christmas hats they wore in 2006 compared to the winter hats they wore around their first birthday. Getting an idea of how much they've grown?!

OK, so here are the boys now! Are they adorable or what??

(I'm pretty sure their grins mean "No Mommy, we're not eating leaves! Just looking at them.")

Shanda said they are fraternal twins, but I still had a hard time telling them apart.

I think this is Tristan...

...and I think this is Evan! (Shanda, leave me a comment if I've got it backwards!)

It was almost naptime when we came inside from the chilly leaves, and there was some ear-pulling....

Paci-stealing...

and a couple of tears.

Finally happy again, in Mommy's arms.

Like I said, this story is about miracles: the miracle of amazing medical care, the miracle of the prayers of many, and the simple miracle of a cold day in the leaves with two perfect babies. If you are able, you can click here to make a donation to the March of Dimes in honor of these boys or the healthy babies in your own life! http://www.marchofdimes.com/howtohelp/howtohelp.asp

Shanda--thank you for letting me share your story. I can't wait to see you guys again!