Sunday, January 24, 2010

From New Orleans to Orlando

Abby and I successfully made it to New Orleans and spent the last week with the Michel family. It was AMAZING! I really couldn't believe how at home we felt and it felt like we had known eachother a lifetime.

We enjoyed some Popeye's, gumbo, grilled red fish, beneits from THE Cafe Du Monde downtown New Orleans, King cake and many other treats. We went and had the girls' pictures taken at Penny's in their tutu's and headbands. They turned out sooooo cute. The pictures should be in the first week of Feb. Thursday we went into the city and delivered bags to the NICU in memory of Drake Alexander Michel for Project Sweet Pea. Then we went into the French Quarter and walked and walked and walked. It was very interesting to walk around the city and just take it all in. Friday we were supposed to relax but went shopping instead. We had a fantastic time and I don't think it could have been more perfect.

Abby did well on the plane rides...though its a little difficult to nurse an almost 7 month old on the plane :)

We arrived here in Orlando on Saturday around noon. We hung out at Bob and Carol's house (my bro's) and made them dinner. It was good to see them again, since its been almost 6 months! Today we are celebrating my dad's birthday early. Sometime this week we might do Disney, since Abby is free!

Our friends had their twin boys on Jan 21, 2010 at 35 weeks. They are both doing pretty well. Just working on gaining some weight. Please keep them in your prayers.

Talk to you all later!!

Pictures will come after Thursday..I forgot the cord to the camera.

Love and kisses from FL!

Amy and Abby

Saturday, January 16, 2010

Off to New Orleans we go!

Abby and I are heading out to New Orleans on Monday to meet a family that is very dear to our hearts. The Michel family is welcoming us into their home. We met them online at CHERUBS, a CDH support group. We stayed in contact as our babies were due just days apart. Their son, Drake, decided to come about 2 weeks early! Faith had other plans and was not budging! We kept in contact while our kids were in the NICU. Then when our world came crashing down as Faith passed away..we packed up and headed home. The next day, Sunday, April 6th, 2008 Drake passed away. I was in total shock. This was not happening. Christy and I continued to stay in touch and talked often. Journeying through our grief together. Months passed. Christy had started trying to conceive again. Months passed again. Steve and I started trying to conceive. 2 months passed. Another negative test. Christy called the day after her birthday to tell me she was PREGNANT! We were so excited for her! She told me to test again and that maybe it was too early to tell before. So the next morning I tested again and it was positive. We were pregnant together again!

We talked often during the pregnancy and were so excited when we found out that the babies were healthy and that we were both expecting girls!!! Did I mention that Abby was due July 4th and Celia was due July7th? God works in mysterious ways. Our girls were born about 33 hours apart!

So now we finally get to meet up! We are going to get the girls pictures taken together, shop, eat and have fun.

I just love sharing the story of how our lives have come together and stayed together. I hate CDH and wish that we didn't have to meet this way. But meeting such an amazing person and sharing this journey with her is priceless.

Love you Christy!

See you Monday!!


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Saturday, Jan 23rd Abby and I are flying to Florida to see her grandparents, Aunt and Uncle, and family. We are arriving on Jacob Robert Grace's birthday and angel day. His first year in Heaven. We know that he is playing with his cousin Faith and so many other babies. Please pray for peace that day. It will be difficult for our family.

Friday, January 1, 2010

Friends of Faith Book Drive

Happy New Year to everyone!
2009 Blessed us with the birth of our second daughter Abby Grace Miles on June 29, 2009 at 10:58pm. She is a happy and healthy 6 month old today.

Now that 2010 is here I would like to tell you about our planned events for 2010 in memory of our Sweet Pea, Faith Grace Miles (3-6 to 4-5-08).

Friends of Faith Book Drive
Donate new books or new plush animals this year! We apologize but we are not accepting used books this year. Last year we filled the Family Resource center at Mott's Children's Hospital with over 300 new and used books. Thank you to everyone who donated!

Our focus this year will be on collecting new books and new plush animals to donate to families with a child or children in the NICU/PICU. Depending on how many items we receive we would like to donate some items to DeVos Children's Hospital here in Grand Rapids, MI and some to Mott Children's Hospital in Ann Arbor, MI.

How you can help: Purchase a new book or plush animal and send it to Amy and Steve Miles, 2275 Fawnwood Dr. SE, Kentwood, MI 49508

Right now Kohl's has Dr. Seuss books and plush animals for $5 to support Kohl's Cares For Kids. So if you purchase one of these and donate it to the Friends of Faith book drive you are helping children TWICE!!!!

Dr. Seuss stories are dear to our hearts, because we read them to Faith each night.

Thank you to anyone who can help! We really appreciate it!

Hugs and love from Michigan,
Amy, Steve, ^Faith^, and Abby Miles