Hi Everyone

Hi Everyone! My daddy says I am not old enough yet to have my own facebook page so I have taken over my mommy’s blog. I know a lot of people keep up with me because I see all the comments and all camera flashes as Grandma, Oma and my mommy try to keep you updated on my progress.

I was born one year and day ago on April 21, 2009. My mom and dad were not expecting me until June 25^th but I made a surprise entrance. I was only 3 lb 5 oz but that was a good size for my age. I met my daddy first. He was so big. I hope to be big like my daddy someday. I am working on it because I am already getting right on track with my age group. He took pictures of me so my mommy could see me. He then introduced me to all my family and a few friends. A few voices sounded familiar because I had heard them while I was in my mommy’s tummy. I was happy to see that so many people were excited to meet me. My mom met me a little later. I don’t know why she was crying but I was excited to meet her and see my daddy again. I tried to tell my mommy not to cry because God would take care of me. She probably will not like this picture of her but I do because it is a picture of the first time I saw her.

I had to stay in this place called NICU because I was early. I missed my mommy and daddy but I was ok because I had lots of girlfriends. They took really good care of me. They made sure I had everything I needed. They made sure I had my own blankets. None of that hospital stuff for me. They also made sure I had a blanket that smelled like mommy.

My nurse Kay made lots of cute signs for my mommy and daddy. She is really creative. I am glad she helped me decorate my room. I think this is the first sign she made for me.

My favorite time was bath time because mommy and daddy would come and bathe me. I got to take off my tubes and just splash around in the bubbles. My daddy did the first bath without my mommy because she was still recovering. The nurse tricked my daddy into helping. He was a little scared because I was so small.

He got a lot better at holding me. My mommy put daddy in charge of making sure my bath water was always the right temperature. Afterwards I would get to snuggle with my mommy and daddy. They would always say a bed time prayer and tuck me in good night. They always came for bath nights but some nights they would visit me earlier so my grandma or Papa would come visit me before bedtime and say a good night prayer with me.

My mommy and daddy did not have any preemie clothes. They did not even have a lot of newborn clothes because everyone thought I was going to be much bigger. But you guys were very nice! You bought me lots of clothes so I kept my style in the NICU. I kept the nurses entertained with all my different outfits. I even had my own socks and shoes. Thank you buying all those nice things. I wasn’t too fond of the white hospital gown!

My Grandma, Papa, Oma and Granddaddy came to visit me. They took lots of pictures for everyone – especially my Grandma. She was my own personal photographer. I missed seeing the rest of my family but it was swine flu season so that my nurses had to be very careful and keep me from getting sick so only grandparents and mommy and daddy could visit.

I grew up and worked really hard to learn how to eat. One day my mommy brought me a monkey from Nic and Ale to keep me company when they were gone. I had fun at night time. I played games with Andrea, Michelle and all the night shift nurses. And then it came. Laura told my mommy and daddy that I could go home. The ride home was a big adventure. I had so many new things to see. My daddy drove really careful so I didn’t get bumped around. I loved my new room but I preferred to stay in my pack n play right by mommy and daddy’s bed. It was great to see all my family again!

My mommy and daddy had lots of food. Everyone kept bringing dinners so that gave them more time to play with me and get some sleep. I needed teeth so I couldn’t try it but I am getting to eat some food now. I love bananas, puffs and yogurt melts the most! I loved getting to play with everyone. My daddy introduced me to video games. He plays it a lot sometimes but they both say I have to focus of school things before I get to play.

My mommy takes pictures of me everyday. She keeps a scrapbook and journals my progress. I don't mind the pictures although it can be embarrassing when she starts to add props. I usually cooperate because I love to see her smile. It seems to make her happy but just look at the picture below and you'll agree with me....it does get a little crazy sometimes!

I had a busy year even though I couldn’t go some places because I might get very sick. My lungs and immune system were still a little weak. I loved getting to play with my friends, Hunter, Ashton, Austin, Leelee, Hayden, Kayla and my cousins, Esperanza and Madison. Hunter lives close to me so I got to see him the most. I have lots of older cousins that came to play with me too. Vance, Olivia, Tre, Noah, Mitchell, Nic, DQ and Ale are my cousins. I enjoyed getting to meet all of them. I haven’t met my cousin Zane yet but they tell me that he is pretty cool. I have lots of family in Barbados (some in London, Puerto Rico, and other states like Georgia and Washington too). My mommy keeps bugging my daddy about this thing called a passport. I am not sure what that is but I hope I get one soon so I go to Barbados. Here is a picture of me with my buddies Hayden and Hunter.

I had a friend Jenny (physical therapist) that came to see me once month. She taught me all these exercises so I could work on my motor skills. She was very nice and sometimes she would bring cool toys for me to play with.

I had a lot of doctor visits but I did not mind. The nurses were all very nice and the doctors just told me what I already knew. God was watching over me and He was making me stronger each day. I know I had a lot of people praying for me. Thank you for your prayers. With each prayer I grew stronger, my daddy says I am going to be all about science and math when I grow up. My mommy says I’ll be whatever God wants me to be.

I did really good at getting my baby fat. I didn't look like a preemie for long. :) Here is a picture of me with all my chunkiness. Oh yeah and my Aunt Ashley see tried to tell me that this was cool. I think she might have been messing with me. She does that sometimes.

Recently I am able to go out more. I even had my first airplane ride. I see lots of planes at my Oma’s house. She tells me all the time about the planes but I didn’t think I would get to be one so soon. It was fun. I tried to stay awake for most of it but I couldn’t.

My mommy even took me to see about 450 people for this March for Babies speech. I was nervous but then it was ok because they gave me a cool toy and my mommy did all the talking. I just had to smile. I am glad I got to go because I want to help other babies like me. Lots of people said I was a miracle and a reminder of God's grace.
My mommy made this cool poster with preemie items next to newborn items so people could see how small I was. My mommy is keeping me busy with the March for Babies. I am an ambassador for her company and for a national sponsor. I am not sure what an ambassador is but I think it is something fun. I even have my own team which you can join if you want.

This last weekend, I got to go to Corpus for my friend LW’s baby dedication. I can’t wait to be dedicated too. My turn is on May 9^th which is Mother’s Day. My godfather Jamal and his girlfriend, Ruby came with us. It was a fun trip. My mommy even let my Daddy give a little bit of a snow cone. It was very cold. I am not sure if I liked it. My granddaddy tries to give me sugar all the time but my mommy says no. I think he is just teasing because he knows I can’t have all that sugar.

On my birthday, my mommy and PaPa took me to see all my girlfriends at the hospital. I took some cookies for them. I was excited to see them. I knew they would be surprised because I am so big now. I got see my old room. It was empty and it still had the cool teddy bears around the ceiling.My mommy used to spend a lot of time in that chair talking to me. Look how happy she is that I am doing so well.I got to see Connie. She loved my birthday monkey hat.

This is Chris. She is really cool. Connie gave me this toy for my birthday. My friend Aiden (her son) helped pick it out for me. He did a good job because this helicopter is really fun.

I gave high fives to Kay and Connie. They're so proud of me.
I walked around with Connie. I wanted to tell the other babies that they'd get to come home soon like I did.
I let PaPa wear my hat because I was tired of it. It didn't fit me very well and kept falling off.
Laura let me play with her badge. She is the one who got to escort me out when I got to go home. She is really good with babies.
I made sure my mommy took a picture of me with ladies so you all can see that I do have lot of girlfriends at the NICU...and this wasn't even everyone.

Well my mommy is going to catch me soon so I better say goodbye. I am looking forward to my party this Saturday so I can play and get to try cake for the first time. My godmother Cynthia bought me cake just like the curious George monkey she bought me so I can’t wait.

I have the best family in the world. So many aunts, uncles, and cousins- they all really fun.

I’ll hand this blog back over to my mom. She does her best to keep everyone update to on me. I do my best to smile for all the pictures. Thank you for praying for me. Maybe I’ll see you at the March for Babies.

Love,

Baby Kevin

Also know as KG, Little K, BK, Cutie, Snoop (that’s what my Auntie Michelle calls me and my mom doesn't seem to like it), Boo Boo and all other my other nicknames.