On this day 1 year ago ...

It was on this very day, 1 year ago that our sweet baby girl was born! Happy, Happy Birthday, sweet Kendall Grace!

For our sweet Kendall,
You are 12 months old today (with a corrected age of nearly 9 1/2 months old) ... this year has been the BEST year of our lives ... because God gave us YOU as our daughter on this day 1 year ago! You are such a special girl with a big story about God's Love, His Healing Power & His Glory!

We want to remember ... give praise & glory to our God ... and tell you about the special day you were born 1 year ago ...
You were born at 7:51pm on Friday, May 1st, 2009 in Baylor Regional Medical Center of Grapevine, in Grapevine, Texas.
You were born nearly 11 weeks early, at 29 weeks 4 days gestation.
You weighed 2 lbs 6 oz and measured 14 1/2 inches long.

Mommy had been in the hospital on bed-rest trying to keep you safe inside her tummy as long as possible. We knew you would be born before your due date (July 13), but we didn't know how early you would come. We'd had a good day on that Friday, May 1st ... Mommy was feeling pretty good and Grams, MawMaw & Aunt Rach were all in town visiting us and keeping Mommy company in the hospital. Daddy's work gave us a baby shower ... Mommy couldn't go, so Daddy opened up all the presents we had been given for you ... and there were a lot of them!

At 3p, Daddy left his work to come to the hospital ... Mommy's favorite nurse, Shelly, was monitoring you ... we were listening to your heartbeat ... Mommy loved to hear your heartbeat and feel you move around in there. Nurse Shelly thought you might need to come on out & called Mommy's doctor, Dr. Katrina Allen ... she came by to check on us and decided it was time, indeed. Mommy was really scared when they said you would be born that night because we wanted you to be as big as possible and have more time inside ... but we were also sooo very excited about getting to see you and meet you ... we'd been waiting a long time to meet this special baby girl that God was giving to us! We trusted Mommy's doctors that they knew what was best for you & for Mommy ... and we knew that God was in control of all of it and He was watching over all of us!

Lots of nurses got Mommy (and Daddy) ready for an emergency Cesarean Section (C-Section) ... and within a few minutes, Dr. Allen had delivered you! Daddy was in the Operating Room with us and watched Dr. Allen deliver you ... as soon as she pulled you out, you took a deep breath & cried a sweet little cry ... it was the most precious and exciting thing that we've ever heard! We were filled with overflowing joy and happiness as God had given us a sweet baby girl and we got to be your Mommy and your Daddy! (We already loved you sooo much when we found out Mommy was having a baby ... and our love continued to grow even more as you continued to grow inside Mommy and when we found out you were a girl & we named you ... but, we never knew our love for you would grow a million times more once you were born ... this love is the most amazing feeling we've ever felt ... and we just can't fully explain it ... one day, you'll understand! And this love that we have for you ... well, God's love for us all is even a million billion more times than this!)

There was a team of 3 NICU doctors and nurses in the Operation Room with us that immediately started to check on you ... you were so small that they needed to help you feel better ... Daddy got to go over to you as the doctors and nurses were working and he took your first pictures! They wrapped you in blankets to help you stay really warm, put you in your new bed (the isolate incubator), and took you to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (the NICU) where you would live for the next 8 weeks ... as they wheeled you out of the room, they slowed down so Mommy could take her first look at you ... it was a quick look at you ... it was too quick, but she could see your sweet face and it made Mommy so happy! You were the most precious thing and we loved you soooo much! We just wanted to pick you up and hold you and kiss you ... and not ever be away from you! But you needed the doctors & nurses help, so we had to wait to be with you.

This is one of your first pictures ... just after the NICU team had helped you right after being delivered. As soon as Daddy took this picture, they closed the lid to your incubator and wheeled you into the NICU room.

Daddy got to go visit you 3 hours after you were born (as soon as the doctors and nurses would let him) and he took more pictures of you so he could show Mommy & tell her all about you! Mommy was very sick & the doctors wouldn't let her come visit you yet (which made Mommy so very sad), but Grams & Pops, MawMaw and Aunt Rach all went to visit you & told Mommy all about you. Mommy wanted to be with you and was so sad that she could not. She made sure someone was with you, sitting by you & checking in on you constantly, since she couldn't. Not getting to be with you was the hardest thing Mommy has ever done!

This is you in your isolate incubator once you arrived in the NICU ... staying all warm and cozy!

The next day, 27 hours after you were born, as soon as the doctors let her, Mommy came to see you for the first time! Daddy wheeled Mommy in the wheelchair to the NICU, we washed & scrubbed our hands and arms up to our elbows & went over to your cube ... you were sleeping, so peacefully. Mommy was so happy to finally get to see you and be with you ... just getting to visit you that night, made Mommy feel so much better! (While we were there, Nurse Denise gave Mommy a box of little hairbows to look through ... Mommy picked one out and the nurse put it in your hair. When Mommy dreamed of you wearing hairbows, this was certainly not the size she ever imagined, but you looked precious & the pink looked great on you!) You were this perfect, tiny baby ... all of your features were formed, you were just really small ... you had 10 fingers and 10 toes, and your fingernails and toenails ... you had a head full of black hair ... you had really dark eyes (which eventually turned into the most beautiful blue eyes) ... you were pretty clean (even though you weren't allowed to have a bath for 5 days, which made Mommy sad for you .. she thought you'd probably like to be nice & clean!) ... you liked to be all scrunched up with your legs and arms close in to your body (but you also loved to stretch out your arms and legs, too!) ... you were so sweet and we were so happy you were our daughter! To make sure you were still doing good, you had a lot of wires and tubes on you ... they were monitoring your heartbeat, your bloodpressure, your temperature, your breathing, and many other things. The doctors and nurses wanted to make sure you were feeling good so you could grow big and strong and be able to come home with us soon!

your 1st hairbow!

Mommy getting to touch your sweet hand

The next morning after you were born, Daddy sent out an email to his side of the family to let them know you had indeed been born ... he had called them earlier to tell them what was happening. (Mommy's side of the family was either all at the hospital or had all been contacted by Grams, Aunt Rach, or MawMaw.) On Sunday morning, Daddy sent the email that is below ... this email went out to hundreds of people who'd been praying for us & who would continue to pray for you (and still pray for you) ... you can tell from Daddy's letter that he was head-over- heals for you from the first second he saw you (and Mommy was too)!

Sunday, May 3, 2009 - 11:03am
Good morning everyone,

As of writing the last email update on 5/1/09, things took a very different turn . . . IT'S A GIRL!!!

Kendall Grace Rogers was born a little later that evening at 7:51pm. It was a wild and crazy ride, but she came into her new world and did a great job. She looks good and so far all her vital signs are normal and according to the nurses and doctors is doing as good as to be expected for a "29 weeker".

She weighs 2lbs and 6 ounces and measures 14 and a 1/2 inches. She is SO beautiful and has perfect little features but she's very tiny. :) She still has a great deal of developing to do, but I can't believe how perfect she already looks!!!!

It was all quite a shock to have to deliver so quickly. Earlier that morning the sonogram looked better than the previous 2 days so we really thought she had at least another day. Later that afternoon the nurse noticed a couple of variables on her fetal monitor and called the doctor to evaluate. After some quick evaluations, they determined they were going to need to deliver the baby via emergency C-section. There was a flurry of doctors and nurses in and out of her room and it was a very scary hour while they prepped her, had us sign consent forms and pumped her full of drugs to get ready for her surgery.

During the C-section it was an amazing experience. I was able to actually witness Kendall being pulled out of Alexis' tummy. I was able to see her open her mouth really wide as she took her first breath and for what seemed like several minutes (but was probably just a split second in reality) she tried to build up the strength to let out a cry and then here it came. Alexis and I were both able to hear her cry for short few seconds before the doctors had to start working on her breathing tube. It was the most precious thing I have ever witnessed. They continued to work on her to get her stabilized and giggled the whole time and told us "she's a feisty one!!" - she must get that from her mom :)

I was able to see Kendall after about 3 hours after she was born. The doctors had to prep her with a lot of wires and tubes so it took a while but they finally let me back about midnight. What an incredible sight - our little girl just looks perfect. She has tiny little fingers and toes with just perfect little finger and toe nails. :) I can not believe how you can love someone SO much after only knowing her for such a little time. WOW, God surely knew what He was doing when He designed us!!!

Alexis has now been able to see her twice. It's been really hard on Alexis because she had to wait so long before she was allowed to see her. Because of the Preeclampsia, she had to be on a magnesium drip which made her have flu like symptoms and very out of it. She had to be on that for more than 24 hours to keep her bloodpressure down. Last night, after 28 hours she was finally allowed to be wheeled down to see our baby girl. That made all the difference in the world. It was awesome for her to see her actually moving around and really actually realize the beautiful baby she delivered. WHAT A MIRACLE!!!!

It is absolutely AMAZING to learn the things the doctors and nurses have learned to be able to keep our little Kendall alive at such an early age. She has a long road ahead of her, so we still request a lot of prayers, but we know just from the small amount of time we've got to spend with her so far that GOD has blessed us with the most perfect child. God is SO good!!!!!!

Thank you all so much for your thoughts and prayers. We have truly seen the power of prayer thru this experience and each one of the doctors and nurses said the extra two weeks that Alexis was not forced to deliver, made all the difference in the world for her development. We've attached a picture of our little girl and one of the new Mom and Dad. We'll send more updates soon. Sorry this one took a long time to finally write, but it has been quite the ride the last couple days.

I should also update you to let you know Alexis is doing great now. She had a tough first 28 hours with that Magnesium drip, but she is doing really good now. After some breakfast this morning, we will try to walk down to see Kendall for the first time (the last two times she was taken in a wheel chair).

We thank you all for your continued prayers. We love you all and can't wait until each one of you get to meet our new precious little girl.

Love,
Ashley, Alexis & Kendall



Kendall, you are such a special girl ... a special child of God, that we have been entrusted to raise & be your parents! You are the sweetest thing and have brought so much joy into our lives and our family. We are so thankful for all that God has done in your body ... to grow you and develop you ... into this healthy, adorable, active, sweet, smiley, loving, precious 1 year old! We give God all the Glory and Praise Him for the Mighty work He continues to do in you ... and in our family! We know God has a great purpose for you and your life and we are so happy to be with you on this journey! We are changed forever because of you & our God!

To God be the Glory ... Great things He has done!

Happy 1st Birthday!

We love you, sweet girl!
Mommy & Daddy
(and your favorite "doe" ... Cassie)