Happy 18th Birthday Kirstie!

HAPPY 18th BIRTHDAY KIRSTIE!

It's hard to believe my baby is 18! I remember the day she was born as if it were yesterday. For most first time parents this would be a joyous occassion but this was the most frightening day of my life. My due date was July 5, 1990 and Kirstie decided to arrive on April 3, 1990. I was just under 27 weeks pregnant when Kirstie came into the world. She was born at 11:59pm and weighed a whopping 1 pound 15 ounces and was 13 1/2 inches from head to toe. She was so tiny that when Frank put his hand next to her it covered her head and torso area. We went to Toys R' Us to the doll section to purchase kirstie a couple of outfits.
It was touch and go for the first few weeks at University of Arizona Medical Center and I was a very nervous first time mother but God whispered to my heart and reassured me that she would be fine. My nervousness drifted away and was replaced with confidence and I went to the hospital daily to hold her for hours on end. After a tough battle with an intestinal infection, a little over 3 weeks on a respirator and 90 days in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Kirstie was strong enough to come home.
We feel so very blessed God brought Kirstie into our lives. She is bright, caring, soft spoken, and a beautiful young woman inside and out. We couldn't even imagine life without her in it. I hope she lives her life the same way as she entered the world as a fighter. I pray she takes that inner strength and pursues all of her dreams and has a lifetime of happiness and love. We love you Kirstie! Happy 18th Birthday Sweetie!