The Miles Family

Virtual Worlds

2011-12-03T21:11:00.003-05:00

This week in class we talked about virtual gaming and its place in education. We read an article and watched a youtube video about Second Life, which is a virtual world similar to The Sims. I remember playing The Sims a few times but I just could not get into it. My brother loved it though! I think that because I have a hard time getting excited about it, it would be difficult to use this in my classroom. Also being a mother of 2 little ones I don't have the time available to invest in developing a "virtual world" to use with my curriculum. I also think that with the limited time teachers have to teach each topic, this would/could be a total time waster. Students could spend a lot of time and not complete the task at hand. If I taught in an area that had a laptop program I might think about doing something that deals with the virtual world, because they have time at home to complete the work and spend as much extra time on it as they would like.

I'm all over the place on my feelings for it. Because of how involved people get in virtual worlds it becomes another gaming problem. Students will be spending more time indoors on the laptop or computer all because of an assignment that a teacher gave them!

I don't think that VR is a fad because I remember it when I was in 6th grade with a VR game at Studio 28 and it's still around. It is evolving and there are still people out there who enjoy it. As long as there is bullying, depression, etc. there will be VR. There will always be someone who wants/needs to escape the reality that they are in and VR gives them that opportunity.

-Amy Miles

Checking out some educational technology blogs

2011-12-03T20:54:00.002-05:00

http://www.emergingedtech.com/2011/12/education-technology-tweet-wrap-for-the-week-of-11-28-11/comment-page-1/#comment-27058

This week it was hard to find an actual blog for some reason. Lots of them I found seemed to be articles more than a blog.

Curricular Integration Project

2011-11-25T19:59:00.002-05:00

For my CIP I have chosen to do a webquest of sorts for my small group of girls that I teach for 8th grade confirmation. This webquest will include outside reading (or looking up bible verses on the Internet), video links, and websites. The final project or outcome of the webquest is for the group of girls to research and select a charity that is in need during the Christmas season. Then as a collective group we will listen to each of the girls "presentation" of their project and then select a charity to do a service project at before Christmas.

To complete the project I need to do some more research of my own and find some good links to use within the webquest. Also I am trying to decide if they will be on the "hunt" for something, if the quest will have a story line, or if it will be more of a guided project. I am also thinking about collaborating with the director of confirmation to see what tools he usually uses to teach this topic/lesson and see if I can design something that could possibly be used for all of the confirmation groups.

By doing this project I hope to learn different ways to integrate technology into the webquest while still having the learning get a significant amount of information/learning through completing it. I am also counting on being able to easily complete the webquest since I learned how to do this about 5 or 6 yrs ago in undergrad! I also want to try and use my podcasting skills within the webquest!

I feel that I can connect the learning from this project to what I will be doing in the classroom as this project is like a trial run. I can try out several different things and see what works and what doesn't. I also will learn from my small group of girls what parts they enjoyed, had trouble with or what they disliked by receiving feedback more quickly than I would in the classroom. By trying different items in the project I will also become more familiar with the tech tools that we learned in this class. (BTW-random note...we are watching the state football playoffs and they are using Google Earth to show where a city is in MI and then zooming in to show their high school!)

In the future I hope to be able to more easily integrate the tech tools that we learned through this class into my curriculum focusing on the fact that the subject matter comes first and then the technology should be there to enhance the learning experience. I have also learned that it is important to have a plan in place before you just take your class to the computer lab. In my classroom in the future we will be planning out our Internet searches before we go to the computer lab to make the time in the lab more efficient. From this project I am learning that no matter how thorough or self explanitory you make your webquest or lesson you can't just assume your students know exactly what is expected of them. So its important to show examples and go through the directions before the students get on the computer. They may have questions or come across problems that I had not anticipated.

I am excited to use what I have learned from this class and this project in my future classroom. Also to use it as a sub. I was thinking about recording some stories read by my as a podcast to play for my students when I sub if they need to listen to a story to kill some time at the end of the day (I even bought some portable Black Friday cheap speakers for this purpose!).

Webquests

2011-10-29T19:04:00.006-04:00

This week we learned about Webquests in my grad class. I remember learning about them and creating one in my undergrad technology in education class. I believe they are a great way to keep students focused and on task while using technology. It also helps to ensure that the information they are using is valid (hopefully the creator makes sure it is!). The weakness of the Webquest is that students aren't able to sift through internet sites themselves to determine what is credible information and what is just junk out there. This is a skill that students need to develop and teachers may feel that its too time consuming! Another weakness is that like anything created by us teachers it may have bias. Depending on the topic the bias may be very clear or it may be hidden. This is a problem because as teachers we want our students to develop their own thoughts and opinions based on what they learn and experience not because its what their parents, teachers, or friends believe.

http://questgarden.com/133/79/7/111022141423/index.htm

Above is the link I found for a Webquest on Climate and Weather for 7th grade.

Introduction. Strength is that the Intro is clear and simple. Weakness is that the webquest teaches the students a larger objective and not just how to compare and contrast weather and climate. This may cause students to discount the other information that is being presented.
A task that is doable and interesting. I think students would be interested in being a reported and videographer. The weakness is that there is a discrepancy between the Intro and the task. The Intro. says the students will travel into the future and the task speaks of traveling back in time. This is important because climate is more about the atmospheric conditions or weather over time therefor you need to look at the past to determine what the future may hold.
A process (do learners know what to do and when?). The learners know what process they are supposed to complete and what they need to do before they can move onto the next step. The only weakness is that Process 1 fails to mention the need to apply the information to the state which they selected and where to find that information. The process has a lot of different types of information for the learners to interact with.
Evaluation. Students have a rubric and questions to follow to make sure that they have included everything. The weakness is that items that are not associated with the subject matter receive more points than the science content!
A conclusion that brings closure to the quest, reminds the learners about what they've learned...Overall thoughts. The conclusion seems to tell the answers to the Intro. The weakness with this is that students could simply click ahead and use that information in their project instead of viewing the videos, songs, and reading the articles that go more in depth about the information. Having a hard time finding a strength in this part, but I suppose it would be that it takes the standard taught and makes it simple to understand.
And, lastly:
Is this a webquest you think you could use without modification in your classroom (not for the project in this class -- that should be your own creation)? What might you have to change? No I would not be able to use this webquest without modification. There are some areas that need some more attention to detail so that students get the most out of the project. It's a great idea and has good resources but the students are supposed to transfer this information they learn and apply to a state of their choice. I don't see a whole lot of guidance for the students with that transition. Some students could jump that gap but other students would have great difficulty trying to apply the new information themselves.

METS

2011-10-11T20:13:00.002-04:00

The standard I chose to address is:

PK-2.CC.2. use a variety of developmentally appropriate digital tools (e.g., word processors, paint programs) to communicate ideas to classmates, families, and others

I currently teach Preschool to 3 year olds where we don't have technology available in our classroom. I think the center is against using it in the classrooms for children under 3.5-4 years old. So here is what I would do to integrate it into my current curriculum if it was allowed where I worked!

Next week we will be learning about how our body grows. I would do the following activities during center times throughout the week to enhance the curriculum about how our body grows.

Literacy- Students will type their names on a word processing document that is already opened. To enhance their skills the teacher can show the students how to make a capital letter.

Math-The pictures the students "colored" on the computer will be printed, cut out and used for a sequencing activity.

Art- The students will create a self portrait using the paint studio on the computer. First they will create a self portrait of themselves as a baby (using pre-made shapes on the computer) and then they will make a self portrait of what they look like now.

Science- Students will use the paint studio application to fill "color" the pictures of how a plant grows from a seed to a plant.

Once a week the teacher will ask the students a question and the teacher will type their response into a word document. This will help to model the use of word processing and for students to be involved in a print rich environment.

Fine motor- The students will practice holding a mouse and clicking the buttons by moving it around on a piece of paper that has a line drawn on it.

Students will be assessed by the teacher while they are involved in the activities throughout the week. Each center has 2-3 students at it.

Digital Writing, Digital Teaching

2011-10-08T15:56:00.002-04:00

GVSUgraceam is the first comment on this blog post from an assistant professor at Central Michigan University. Go Chips! Who today are playing NC State!

http://hickstro.org/2011/10/06/some-thoughts-on-digital-reading/#comments

Sharewith911

2011-09-22T19:35:00.002-04:00

I found this blog that lists some great educational technology websites. One of them I chose to read was this http://theinnovativeeducator.blogspot.com/2011/09/mobile-phones-in-schools-as-lifesaving.html?showComment=1316734486784#c3685837517615893014

It talks about using mobile phones in schools to help save lives! The example is using your phone to take a pictures of what is happening in a school during a school shooting. While this is one of the extreme examples it could be very beneficial to law enforcement and first responders! Be sure to check it out.

Technology: Home and School

2011-09-12T21:37:00.002-04:00

Technology at Home:

In our home we have a desktop, laptop, iPod touch, iPod nano, PS3, and 2 Plasma TV's with Netflix streaming and the ability to connect to the internet. We also have cell phones, but we don't have a texting plan so that puts us a little behind the generation that we currently teach. For me I feel we have plenty of technology in our home! My husband would disagree since he loves to have the latest and greatest of things. He is currently dreaming of a projection TV system for the basement along with an iPad.

I currently teach at a preschool and we have hardly any technology. There is one student computer in the Pre-K classroom and it currently doesn't work. In my classroom I bring the iPod touch and connect it to a speaker doc. I use it a lot to play movement songs, relaxing songs for nap/rest time, and songs to bring the students together when they aren't following directions! I think that having more technology would be amazing in preschool. These children can't write yet so they only have their words to express themselves. How cool would it be to have a webchat with another classroom! Pen pals for 3 year olds via Skype.

When I worked in the middle school setting technology was always being talked about. How can we get easy to use technology that's free into the classroom so that teachers can use it! Our technology teacher taught us after school about virtual field trips, how to navigate and search for ones that are free, as well as how to set them up in his classroom. I think that as teachers we need to think about how the technology works to engage our students. We don't want to use it just to use it. How can we use it to get our students excited about the more boring topics??

I would hope that with greater opportunities with technology in the classroom that my students would benefit from it. Would they be able to learn more about different cultures by taking a virtual field trip to another country? Then could we work to set up a Skype session where the students could do a Q and A to learn more about what its like to be a child in another country. Facebook has really opened up the opportunities to meet and stay connected to others around the world. We just have to take advantage of it and bring it into the classroom and have administrators and technology directors that agree with it!

I hope that this class will introduce me to different ideas about technology, new ways to use technology and the different successes and struggles in school districts across Michigan!

Have a great week!

-Amy Miles

It's been a long time!

2011-09-07T20:28:00.001-04:00

It's been too long my friends!

Abby is getting big (2 years old now) and Luke ( 5 months old) are doing great. I also started taking classes towards my masters and will be posting here for one of my classes!

-Amy

Just sharing something that came from my bible study...

2010-08-15T21:38:00.002-04:00

Don't feel sorry for me this is just part of the grieving process...

My Beth Moore study posed this question/statement: Oh, Beloved, surely you've found yourself still standing after a time when the enemy came seeking your slaughter! Testify here of his foiled plans.

Satan thought Faith's diagnosis would tempt and turn me away from God. Then he thought that the need for ECMO would, nope...so he tried surgery with a silo bag, nope...a blood clot, nope and then cardiac arrest. What Satan didn't know and I didn't truly know is that God was standing with me the whole time. I found out the night that Faith coded that He was with me the whole time. He wrapped his arms around me and told me it's going to be ok. Your heart will ache but your precious baby will be with me healthy and whole in Heaven. I held my baby as she slipped away. The saddest moment but the most comforting moment. I never spoke out loud but I talked to her in my head. Her spirit now in Heaven free of saddness and pain. That moment has changed me as a mother, wife, and person. Sure I still get scared. But I know now more than ever before that my God is a BIG God and He does good work. I hope to someday be able to put into words what I have learned from all of this without using cliches. To speak from the heart, but the words are hard to find. That last night with her replays in my head often. Brings me to tears to think about it. But I can't help but think that there is a reason or purpose that it replays. Something that I am not yet aware of that I am supposed to see in that moment. An intensely personal moment in my life, but I am not afraid to share it.

I hope my words can comfort someone, bring them peace, help others in someway. I just felt the need to share this.

Love,

Amy

Long, long time

2010-07-08T21:13:00.002-04:00

Wow it's been a long time since our last post. We were remembering Faith in the Smoky Mtn. National Park. Since then my nephew David was born a tiny 5lbs 5oz on April 30th. He's growing so fast and his momma and daddy love him so!

My sister, her fiance, nephew, Abby and I went down to FL. We went to a CDH conference and got to meet David. It was super hot already in May!!

Steve finished the school year and has a job for next year woohoo! Praise God! It's so nice to have him home and to get to hang out as a family.

We have been swimming and hanging out with friends. Our run Journey to Faith was a success. On Friday, June 18 we drove down to Ann Arbor and marked the route. Stayed the night with the Jacoby's (Faith's primary care nurse) and had a great meal and even better entertainment. A storm blew through and knocked down a power line in front of their house. Well really out in the road but it was crazy to be that close to a downed power line. So we got to call 911 and hang out in the dark :) In the morning we got up and headed to Ann Arbor and took some pictures at the Ronald McDonald House.

The first day of the run was amazing! I don't think we could have asked for a smoother day (maybe a few degrees cooler). The Saranac High School Cross Country team did an amazing job and so did all of the other participants. Day two was a little bumpy at the start but things quickly smoothed out and we had another fantastic day! The PR people for the Ronald McDonald House called and said that the newspaper was going to do a story. We were excited about that! Then at 2:30pm as I was biking while Tricia and Anna were running we got a call from WZZM13 our local ABC TV station. They met up with us with about one mile left and filmed us running to the cemetery. Steve and I led everyone the last mile to the cemetery, we got a flower and placed it on Faith's headstone. Then we hugged and circled up for prayer. It was a great ending to a fantastic weekend! WZZM13 did an interview and we were on the 11pm news coverage. They did a super job on telling our story. So Journey to Faith 2010 was a success and we met our fundraising goal of $2,500!

Since then we celebrate Abby's first birthday party. My mom flew up from FL and stayed for about a week. At Abby's one year well baby check she woke up with a fever and was diagnosed with an ear infection. Then Saturday she woke up with a gunky eye and Sunday she had a yucky cough! We are still trying to kick the cough. She has a recheck for her ears on July 15 and two weeks after that a weight recheck since she was in the 10th%.

We have been playing in the yard lots with Abby and last night she was practicing standing up. Today she took one step on her own! Our days of a walking baby aren't far away.

Steve has been helping to motivate me and has been running with me. I am finally up to running 1.5 miles and walking a mile or more afterwards. I want to run my first 5K in 10 years sometime soon. Maybe in September. So I was thinking about blogging about that. I know its a little boring but hey maybe it will be motivation.

Hope everyone out there is doing well in blogger land!

Great Smoky Mountains TN

2010-04-04T21:25:00.003-04:00

Book Drive 2010

2010-03-03T12:21:00.007-05:00

Wow we just want to say a HUGE Thank you to everyone who helped out with the book drive this year! We have been blessed with amazing people in our lives and now all of us are passing on the blessing to families with children in the hospital at Mott's and DeVos Children's hospitals.

In 2009, we gathered 370 books for Mott Children's Hospital at the University of Michigan. This year we added plush animals and shifted to only new books.

Thank you to all who donated:

The Robinson Family

The Olivarez Family

The Crawford Family

The Heald Family

Desiree Casillas and Matt Steingass

The Price Family

Tom and Cindy Miles

The Wheeler Family

The Feazell Family

The Baker Family

The Kruskamp Family

The Michel Family

C & R Family Chiropractic (paitents donated too)

Amanda Dickens

The Wilkins Family

Brenda Page and Family

Amber and Milena Viau

Jennifer Grace and Taylor Herington

Lou Miller

Erin Zimmer

Tressa Doepker

Shari Ebner

Marisa Grace Mogg

The Claybaugh Family

Amanda Duncan-Cyr

The Ansell Family

The Carroll Family

The Machuta Family

The Klynstra Family

Meghan, Jason, and Brianna Hathaway

Pat and Jim Hathaway

The Austhof Family

Jane Palmondon

Chris Johnston

Jan Fortino

Mike Evans

The Gardner Family

The McCarthy Family

Saranac Community Schools
The list is not complete...I may have missed someone. If I have I am so sorry and please let me know.

We delivered 130 books and 55 plush animals to Helen DeVos Children's hospital!
We will be delivering 168 books and more plush animals to Mott Children's Hospital on Friday!

Again we can never thank you all enough for your donations. Without you we would not be able to do this. You are bringing hope and a smile to children's faces!

Love,

The Miles Family

Birthday Weekend!

2010-02-22T20:21:00.002-05:00

Well it's official...I'm 28! This past weekend we got some books ready for the book drive with stickers on them and the thank you's all ready. Then we went back to MP, saw Avatar, visited my Grandma Grace, ate at the Pixie and I went to Women's Comedy Night at a church in MP. It was a very busy day! But lots of fun. We stayed at Steve's parents house and forgot to turn up the water heater so Sunday morning we drove back to GR to shower real quick before church. Sunday was just as busy! Drive, church, lunch, made cupcakes, 8th confirmation class, Meijer and then home.

I was so tired I took two naps today while Abby slept! :) I must say it was pretty nice!

Our church just finished a great series called Victorious Secrets. You can listen to it online! http://cornerchurch.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=68901 After church I went to the prayer corner and asked for prayers. I have been worrying lately, more than normal. Worrying about what I will do to keep my family safe if there is a fire or if Abby chokes. Abby has been sleeping on her belly with her face buried in her hands. I have been praying for God to keep her safe. I need prayers to stop worrying. Give my worries up to God. I thank God for every day with Abby and Steve and pray that we will have many more.

I get the feeling that my worries will always increase around this time of year, because last year when I was pregnant with Abby around this time I was worrying about all kinds of crazy stuff. Faith's birthday is coming up March 6th. Steve is costuming for Star Wars night at the Griffins game. Then Jenn, Taylor, Lou and his son and I are all going to the game. Abby is going to stay home with a sitter (which we have yet to find)!

We hope that you all have a great week!

Take care,

Amy, Steve, ^Faith^, and Abby Miles

Birthday week!

2010-02-18T12:55:00.002-05:00

What a week of birthdays! Friends birthdays, CDH angel and sibling birthdays and then mine!

Where has the month gone already! Abby is still doing the wounded soldier crawl (half an army crawl) and gets around really well. If I am making baby food in the other room she cries at the sound and tries to find me. She's a cutie!

She is eating three meals a day. The last few days she has been napping well which is new!

My sister in law is getting closer to the 28 week mark. Continued prayers that they stay pregnant and baby David continues to grow stronger. (They are dealing with gestational diabetes, incompetent cervix and borderline pre-eclampsia).

We are still collecting new books and plush for the hospitals. The books can be sent to 2275 Fawnwood Dr. SE, KEntwood, MI 49508

We are also doing a fundraiser for the Ronald McDonald House of Ann Arbor by selling Party Lite candles through the 26th of Feb if you are interested.

Not much else going on! Hope that all is well your way.

Love,

The Miles Family

New Orleans and Orlando Jan 2010

2010-02-01T13:22:00.001-05:00

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

From New Orleans to Orlando

2010-01-24T14:04:00.002-05:00

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

Off to New Orleans we go!

2010-01-16T20:28:00.003-05:00

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.

My Montage 1/3/10 at OneTrueMedia.com

2010-01-03T22:11:00.001-05:00

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Friends of Faith Book Drive

2010-01-01T14:52:00.000-05:00

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

Oh the weather outside is frightful...

2009-12-09T20:49:00.005-05:00

Winter Storm warnings, snow, rain, ice and a blizzard warning describe Wednesday and possibly Thursday too! Steve's school was canceled so we all stayed home where it was warm and watch a movie and had a photo shoot in the evening. Here are the pictures we took of Miss Abby!

Hope all is well!

Love,

The Miles Family

Roly Poly girl!

2009-12-08T14:56:00.002-05:00

Abby is starting to master rolling both ways! She hasn't figured out that rolling can take her places yet... She has been eating rice cereal for awhile now and loves it. Yesterday she tried organic bananas and enjoyed them. Next week we'll be trying sweet potatoes! I am using a book called Super Baby food that teaches you how to make your own baby food using organic fruits and veggies. I am excited to start making and freezing it!

Abby's grandparents are coming from FL next week to celebrate Christmas with us. We are excited to see them again. My mom took care of Abby while I was working.

We have blizzard like conditions on the way from a storm that was out in Nevada just Yesterday!!!!! We are preparing and hoping that Steve gets a snowday.

We hope that everyone is having a great holiday season!

love,

the Miles family!

Turkey Week

2009-11-23T12:46:00.003-05:00

I can't believe that it is already the week of Thanksgiving! Where has the year gone already!!!! I am down to my last three days of subbing and I must say I am really going to miss these kids. They have a special place in my heart. I think I might cry on Wednesday when I leave them.

My mom leaves on Wednesday to head back to FL. Then they will be headed back to MI the third week of December to celebrate Christmas. It has been such a blessing having her around to help out. I am going to miss her being around when she leaves. How will I ever accomplish all that she does in a day!

We will be back in MP on Thursday for Thanksgiving. Friday we will be out there shopping with all the crazy people. Steve is going early in the AM and I am going later. Next week I will be going to two woman's evening activities at different churches. I am really excited!

Abby is growing and growing. She has mastered rolling from belly to back and finally rolled from back to belly but only once! She does well bringing things to her mouth. She likes to suck on her bottom lip and stick out her tongue :) She is such a funny girl. Generally she is a very happy baby. Lately she has started to have a little fussy time and isn't really sleeping through the night anymore. Boo! On Sunday I tried to give her a little rice cereal it was pretty funny! She likes to suck on the spoon. We are also working on using a transitional sippy cup. We are loving every moment with her and have some new pictures to post later.

Hope all is well and have a great holiday!

Love,

Amy, Steve, ^Faith^, and Abby Miles

Faith's story

2009-11-09T20:14:00.002-05:00

Well I finally did it. I wrote Faith's story. It's sad to say that 19 months after my baby went to Heaven, its hard to recall some of the details. I really wish that I had written this earlier, but I know that this was all part of the healing process. Any earlier and it wouldn't have turned out the way that I wanted it to.

The first year of grief was a state of shock and survival. After Abby's birth, grief became a whole new ball of wax. I am so much more emotional. Anytime that I tell Faith's story, write about her story, or look at what Abby is doing now. It's a double edged sword to want your first born daughter here with you, but knowing that would mean Abby would not be here. I have to rest in knowing that Faith's purpose on earth was filled and now it is my job to use this "storm" in my life to live, learn, and teach others to lean on God. You can not go through these things alone and we have leaned on family, friends, Stephen Ministers from church, the CDH community and our Life Group.

We joined our Life Group early this past summer before Abby's birth. Though we waited a long time to find a life group that "fit". God's timing couldn't have been more perfect. Let me back up a little and talk about some of the ways that God prepared us for this journey.

July 2007 we found out we were pregnant, bought a house, I got a teaching job and after trying a few churches we found Cornerstone. It was a friendly church home and the messages and music spoke to us. I had never taken communion before until Cornerstone "invited" me to take part in their communion. You didn't have to take a class or be a member. I remember singing the song "Mighty to Save" and realizing how BIG our God is. He is mighty to save and He can save my little girl. We were quiet in our "storm" and never really asked for prayer requests or told people about what was happening in our lives. We were still wrapping our heads around everything. We continued to pray. Praying that things would look better on the ultrasound. When those weren't answered we prayed that things would stay the same. When we felt those weren't answered, we prayed for strength and the ability to enjoy the pregnancy. For awhile it felt like everytime we went for an appointment there was more bad news, but through all that we had the support of friends and the CDH community. God answered our prayer and our pregnancy was easy and enjoyable. Steve and I read to Faith while she was in utero because we knew we would cherish those moments later. I can still remember him reading her Star Wars stories:)

Though God did not answer my prayers the way I wanted them answered He did answer them. He surrounded me with people who had hope, who would fight the good fight with us. Without that support team the roller coaster of CDH would have been unbearable. I would have no doubt turned away from God.

The year following Faith's death we became very invovled in the CDH community, attended Infant Loss walks, hosted blood drives in memory of Faith, collected books for her first birthday, knitted hats for Gabriel's gifts, Steve ran a 25K, and made dinner at the RMH in Ann Arbor.

Back to our Life Group (sorry if this post is all over the place, its how the emotions flow sometimes). The people in our life group are AMAZING! When we got the call that we had been placed in this life group Steve and I were so excited. We would see people around church and say "those are the kinds of people we want to be surrounded by". We shared Faith's story with our life group and the birth of Abby with them as well. They supported us and prayed for us when Abby was 30 days old (the same age that we lost Faith). We grew closer together quickly and began doing outreach with our group. In September we went to Manistee to see Clint run his first marathon. A few days later he bounced an idea off of us and thus Journey to Faith was born:

Journey to Faith is a 125 mile run from the Ronald McDonald House of Ann Arbor to Faith Grace Miles' final resting place. Our goal is to share our stories of faith, spread awareness for CDH, and raise money for the RMH of Ann Arbor.

How have the "storms" in your life shaped your Faith? What people has God placed in your life to help you through it?

Think about it. Post in the comment section or post it at www.thejourneytofaith.blogspot.com where you can follow Clint as he trains for this 125 mile run. I will post more details as they become available.

If you would like to read Faith Grace Miles' journey check out http://faithgracecdh.blogspot.com/2009/11/story-of-faith-grace-miles.html

Thank you for your time.

The Miles Family

Slacker!

2009-10-31T17:44:00.002-04:00

Wow I am so sorry that I have gotten so bad at posting updates and such! Life has been busy!!!! I got a call to do a long term sub position where I used to work for 8 weeks and that was a month ago, so only 4 weeks left. I love the kiddos and the staff, but I am ready to be with Abby again. I only get to see her 3-4 hours a day. Props to all you working mom's! My mom has moved up here with us to live in our house and take care of Abby while we are working. It is so nice to be able to spend time with her.

I can't even think of everything that has happened since I last posted! We have been busy every weekend with different things. We went to A Walk To Remember in Lowell again this year, Abby was sick so she stayed home with Grandma. We made balloons for Faith, Drake and Jacob. It was a nice fall morning.

We headed back to MP to go to the Into the Light Cancer walk. Marisa and Tressa put the event together this year! Go girls! The next morning we headed back to GR to pick apples with our friends from church. It was a good time! Abby ate and slept through the whole thing!

I saw Bebo Norman, Natalie Grant and Jeremy Campbell in concert. Natalie Grant was AMAZING!!! Highly recommend seeing her in concert!

Steve ran a 5K from our "old" church to our "new" church building. Spiderman even ran the race! The kids all loved it!

I started going to the chiropractor and Abby does too! We are trying preventative medicine. Steve thinks I am a little holistic crazy!

That's about all for now! I have some big news but I will save it for another post as I can hear Abby!

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Look what Abby's doing!

2009-09-15T11:02:00.009-04:00

It has been awhile since our last post. Abby is 11 weeks old now! She is growing so fast and doing new things every day! Like today I walked in her room to get her and this is what I found!

That is my baby sucking her thumb! YIKES, take it away. Let see since our last post we made dinner at the Ronald McDonald house in Ann Arbor with other CDH families and it was a success! Thank you to everyone who helped out! While we were there we found Faith's name on a Gold Leaf on a tree in the RMH! It is given when donations reach $500 in a child's name! So thank you to all who donated in her memory. We had no idea!

Abby went swimming for the first time over Labor Day weekend. The pool was 81 but she didn't care for it! We also started putting her in a jumparoo and she loves it! On Labor Day I think it was, we went to Holland to pick up a cradle swing and we visited the lake. Abby fell asleep.

Well we will try and keep you all updated more frequently! We have a blood drive coming up on October 5th, 3pm-7pm at Cornerstone United Methodist Church, Caledonia, MI.

Love,

Amy, Steve, Faith, and Abby

Message for angel mommies...

2009-09-07T20:46:00.002-04:00

This waas the message at our church a few weeks ago...please read or listen online http://cornerstonemi.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=68901

Don’t Lie To Me
“Why God?”
August 30, 2009
Brad Kalajainen/Ken Nash

Pain and suffering. What are we to do with it? When that unexpected phone call comes and you hear the voice on other end of line say, “The other guy ran a red light. I’m sorry.” Or “Dad was taken to hospital…it doesn’t look good.” “Mom just had a stroke. You had better get down here.” “The doctor says the tests were more serious than once thought.”

You know that in that moment, life will never be the same. When your life long friend and supervisor says out of the blue, “I’m so sorry, but we are phasing you out. Things just haven’t turned out as we had hoped. You’ll land on your feet. But not here.” Or after 15 years of marriage you hear, “It’s time you know I’m having an affair. I want out.” Or Jim was in an accident at work, you will raising your kids alone. What do you do with another night of cramping, as you realize you are miscarrying your baby…again? How do even make sense of words like, Cancer… terminal… hospice… funeral preparation….
Last week we began this series called “Don’t lie to me.” We began by exposing the most common strategy used by the devil—the strategy of “Distortion!” We discovered that he will give you just enough truth in his whispering to get you to let your guard down. For these next 3 weeks we will be looking at the three most opportune times for him to use his art of distortion. Today we will be looking at small lies and twists occur during those times of crisis or tragedy. For some, their faith is just so fragile that it is easy for them to just say, “I’m done! There is no God! I’m sick of trying to find him!” Others just start believing that God is doing the best he can. Others come to believe the lie that God has left us to fend for ourselves as they latch on to the deist worldview. They say things like, God is clearly too big to care for my tiny world on this speck of dust in the universe that we call earth. These responses obviously won’t heal the pain, the truth is that they actually cause more pain as you cling to a distorted view of God in your anger! But they all have one thing in common…they all blame God.
The irony of pain and suffering is that it is truly the shortest path to God. Many of you have heard the quote by CS Lewis, “God whispers in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience but shouts in our pain.” Atheist or not, we can’t help but to run to God in these moments. Why is that? Because we need to know the answer to the why! Why did mom die so young? Why would God allow SIDS? Why did that disease happen?
The question looms. Why God? There has got to be a reason for my pain. What is the greater good? If we can find a reason, then we can endure, can’t we, but when it doesn’t make sense, our confidence in God wanes. I mean just think of the kinds of pain people endure when they have an end goal in mind. Just take tattooing for example. (Show pictures of tattooed people). How could someone be poked with needles on every pore of their body if not for having an ultimate reason? If captured behind enemy lines, that would be called torture, but because it is body art, they can endure! Or think of dental work or elective surgeries. People can endure massive amounts of pain just by having an end goal in mind. They say, “This pain makes sense because it will accomplish something.”
With that in mind, we really shouldn’t be surprised when tragedy strikes that our first response is to say, “I’ve got to make sense of this!” So we look to the only one who can possibly give an answer. God, why did this happen? If you are the all knowing, all powerful, all loving creator, then what in the world could you possibly be up to? And when we don’t hear a clear answer or an answer we are satisfied with, we start to wonder, “Is this my fault?” What if I would have called him? What if I would have left the house 10 seconds later? What if I had done a background check on that person? The more you think about it, the more you are consumed with guilt or rage or tears of emotion that confuse and paralyze you.
You know what? It’s very natural to get overwhelmed and confused when you are suffering. Think about this. Even Jesus lost perspective on the cross when he cried out, “WHY? Why have you abandoned me God?” Even Jesus lost context! It is amazing the disorientation that happens while in pain. I recently ran in a 200 mile relay race from Madison Wisconsin to Chicago, Illinois with 5 other guys. It took us 27 ½ hours of constant movement. We all ran an average of 33 miles during 6 legs each. I knew the goal, but listen to my journal entry after the 3rd leg. To give you context, Tom Dean spear-headed this idea and invited us to run in this God-forsaken race. Listen to my words, “Why did you have cross paths with Tom Dean, Lord...” (get the rest of the entry from Joe Fifer). Don’t worry, 4 weeks later, I forgave him.
When in pain, it is so easy to lose perspective and for confusion and doubts to set in. We are so susceptible in those times for the enemy to distort our thinking and thus get us blaming the very God who wants to rescue us. So what we do is try to fit the small pieces together by saying things like, “Maybe dad died so young so that the nurse could see our faith and we could witness to her.” Or, “maybe I lost my child so that I could help others someday.” Or “maybe that drunk driver crossed that center line so that I could get to show him unconditional love and forgiveness.” But as much as we try to fit the pieces together, those just are not the answer.
Listen. Death and disease is not God’s plan! Let me explain this further. Today I want to connect “the 3 big dots” from Scripture. We’ll be looking at Romans 8. What we are about to study is going to give you major perspective. We aren’t going to try to fit the little pieces together, because frankly, sometimes we just can’t. But there are 3 big dots that bring pain and suffering into focus. One promise I can make right up front is that by knowing the answer to why tragedy happens and how God works in all of it won’t make the pain go away. The answer isn’t emotionally gratifying. But it will give you context. Just like the tattooed person knew why he was going through the pain, but it didn’t stop the needles from hurting him. However, the context and big perspective helped him to get through the pain. You also need to know up front that the answer we are going to find is directed to Christians. So if you are not yet a believer, just listen in and keep adding your discoveries to your search for truth. And hopefully this will give you the courage to take that step toward Jesus.
Okay. The 3 big dots that will connect our quest for answers to the problem of pain and suffering are: 1) In the beginning 2) In the mean time 3) In the end.
There you have it. All better now? Questions answered? Well, what does it mean? Let’s look at Scripture to help unpack it. Verse 20 of Romans 8. “For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.” Romans 8: 20-22
For the creation has been frustrated from the beginning! All of creation is groaning to this very day because it has been tainted by sin. Sin has separated us from oneness with God and fullness of who we were created to be. Sin has reigned ever since. Do you know why your back aches? Because you are in bondage to decay. Why is there pain? Because we are deteriorating. Everything has been clouded under this darkness. As I said, pain and suffering is not God’s plan. It is consequence.
So with that in mind, when you scream out, “God what did I do to deserve this?” The Biblical answer is, “You were Born.” Everything is broken. It is why things go wrong. Death and decay—none of us are exempt!
The only thing positive that I can see that came out of this mess of sin and decay were a lot of jobs Think of all of the jobs that would not exist dentists, doctors, rust control specialists, police officers, prison guard and parole officers, ambulance drivers, veterinarians… think of that, most of you would be out of job. Ha, ha! Wait a minute…I would be too. Obviously sin changed everything In the Beginning!
But, the verses continue in v. 23. In the mean time… 2 things are happening. “We, who have the first-fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.” We wait patiently because the adoption process takes time. You think the bureaucracy is rough here. Look at how long the paperwork is taking place for our resurrection bodies to be adopted into glory! Actually, did you see that word first fruits? Think of it as a first installment. Your spirit is alive in the spirit, but your body is still decaying. This life is a time of testing and learning and trusting and growing while we wait for our redemption…in the mean time.
But there is something significantly more intense going on. Look at the second thing happening in the spiritual realm while we wait patiently in the mean time…“In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will.” Romans 8: 26-27.
Did you hear that? Not only are we waiting patiently in our weakness for our bodies to be reinstated to its original glory there is a deep intimacy going on that few of us dare to pursue or even acknowledge. The Holy Spirit himself is praying for us with inexpressible words. With groans. With empathetic power. With spiritual protection beyond your deepest imagination.
Do you know what is happening in your pain? You are being prayed for by the very Spirit who gave you life. When Jesus left earth, he left to sit at the right hand of the Father in heaven—which is a Jewish phrase to sit in the seat of power (that’s why the disciples fought over who would sit at the right seat of Jesus). So what is he doing in the seat of power on the throne? He is praying for you! Father bring her peace! Father fill him! Father redeem this! Redeem that! Redeem them!
Let me try to explain it this way. When my daughter was 4, she was running through the hall to her bedroom. She felt a poke, and stopped to look at what happened but she couldn’t figure it out. For the next two days she felt pain, but nothing was showing. Just a small red dot. After two days, we took her to the doctor. As they x-rayed it, they found a sewing needle stuck in her foot nice and snug parallel to her bones (which is crazy because neither of us sew…so I started checking Christine’s arms for needle marks in case she was a druggy on the side).
They needed to surgically remove it. To numb it, they needed to put a needle between the toes. I had never seen my daughter’s eyes so scared and vulnerable. She was so helpless. So terrified. She screamed as the needle went in, “Why did this happen to me?” Then pointing to the doctor she said, “I don’t like him.” It was awful as a parent. Do you think for a moment that I lost concentration on being there for her? I just prayed with groans. I was intimately present with her. I just kept saying, “just take a deep breath. I’m here. It’s going to be all right!”
The Spirit is groaning words unspeakable over you! And now imagine this, you may have heard us talk about how the spirit and breath are inseparable in the scripture. When Adam was created, how did God bring him to life? He breathed on him! When the Holy Spirit came into the church in Acts, how did he come? The wind/breath of heaven! In fact, an amazing verse in “Jesus said, “Peace be with you…he then breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. John 20:22. Imagine that, the first time he sees the disciples after the resurrection and comes up and breathes on them. In a crisis, in times of tragedy, just breathe deep! The Spirit is holding me. Praying for me…He is Groaning with me! With every breath you take, you are receiving a filling of hope and power and oneness with the God who gave you life. So in the mean time, while we still suffer with pain and tragedy and brokenness, God is saying… “Just take a deep breath. I’m here. It’s going to be all right!”
Do you see what God is doing? He is not the author of the pain, he didn’t say, today I am going to shove lots of liquor in that man and have him drive down the road drunk and kill an innocent driver coming in the other direction. God doesn’t plan evil. God allows for us to have free choice. Because of that, we now have a sin infected world in which we are frustrated. But in the mean time we have a Savior who rescues us in our pain and groans deeply in prayer over us.
And now here is the good news! Dot #3. In the End! You see, right now, God has Satan at “check” as in when you play chess. When someone says “check,” the game isn’t officially over, but it is now just 2 or 3 moves from checkmate where the King is captured and cannot move. In the end, that is what we will hear, “Checkmate!” But right now we are in the “check” phase, so Satan knows he has lost and is trying to take anyone he can with him to death. But in the end…“And we know that in all things God works…” Stop there. In all things God works! In tragedy, in failure, in brokenness, God works “…for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28
You see, there really isn’t an answer to make the pain go away. But, somehow in the end, in any situation, if we keep our eyes on him, he works it for good. That nurse might come to Jesus as she watches your reaction. That drunk driver might see the love of God through as you forgive him. Yes, God will use you to help others who are now going through what you went through. God will work! I had to bury a 7 year old girl a few years ago who died in a car accident. The mom was busy that day, so she asked the neighbor to take her daughter to school. The neighbor ran a stop sign on the way and got hit broadside. All 3 people in the car died. Unimaginable pain and guilt and rage filled the mom. But, I’ve got to tell you, as she and her husband worked through their very personal hell, I saw God so intensely present. Their faith not only recovered, but it far surpassed anything I ever dreamed possible. I’ll never forget their laughter about a year or so later, they were actually laughing about the thought of what their daughter was doing in heaven now with all of her unique personality traits. God even used them to minister to several people in the congregation going through a rough time. God worked! Look at Paul’s response to this…“What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?” Romans 8:31. God isn’t against us. God doesn’t invent pain. God redeems the pain. In other words, God really does have your life in his hands.
The pain is still there in suffering, but at least now there is a context to live in a world that is not as it was intended. You may have done some things that have brought consequences, but in all things God works for Good, so who can be against you? There are no satisfactory answers to pain, but all I can now say is that in the beginning things went terribly wrong. But in the mean time God has put a stake in the ground in the form of a cross and said, “Death stops here! I am with you always!” So that in the end we can live with confidence that God will work for good in everything!

Benediction:
I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. Romans 8: 18-19

Has it really been almost 8 weeks?

2009-08-21T19:31:00.003-04:00

We are continuing to feel so very blessed for each moment we are given with Abby. Even when she is screaming, I keep telling her how much we love her. Now I understand how parents say they didn't know they could love someone so much, but still love their other children equally but in a different way. Hmm that's sounds a little confuesing, but mom's know what I mean.

So we have been busy the last few weeks. We are continuing to go to the breast feeding support group each Monday. We love hanging out with the other mommies and their babies. A group of us are going to start hanging out monthly with gatherings. Abby was 11 lbs even at the last meeting. She is growing so much and is getting those cute baby rolls.

She has started smiling and cooing at us. She is a pretty funny lady. I try to video tape her every few days. Mostly while getting her diaper changed because she is so happy at that time! We have been going on daily walks and are settling into a routine. Preparing ourselves each day for when Steve goes back to work full time! Abby and I will be learning the ropes together at home as she grows. For many different reasons I am going to be a stay at home mom. I never thought I would be one, but I am really excited about it. We are working on a budget so that we can survive! :)

Steve started coaching soccer and they have a small team of 12 this year. They have a pretty short season, possibly because of budget cuts at other schools. School starts after labor day for him.

This weekend on Sunday we are going to serve dinner and do chores at the Ronald McDonald House in Ann Arbor. We have started a tradition with other CDH families from U of Michigan to volunteer there each year. It's great to see the little miracle babies and spend time with the amazing families.

Remember to keep all those CDH kiddos in your prayers. There are many that are on their way, newborn, or have just earned their wings.
I'll post some photos too. Abby went and spent time with her Great Grandma and was sooo happy!

Love,

Amy, Steve, Faith, and Abby

2009-08-05T13:03:00.005-04:00

Us at the Whitecaps game for Taylor's birthday. Then a picture of the 5/3 burger! Abby visited Holland State Park and we caught up with some camp ground hosts that are dear to our heart! Bob and Carol came to visit and play with Abby! Carol gave her a bottle and learned how to burp a baby firmly ;)We had a little family reunion at Abby's Great Grandma Grace's house. It was great to see everyone!

Abby is dealing with some possible reflux so I am altering my diet to see if that helps. Poor girl is spitting up and vomiting after every feed today. No fun. Milk is the new perfume...didn't you know.

Take care and God bless,

Amy, Steve, Faith, and Abby

Wow how time flies...

2009-07-26T21:50:00.002-04:00

Wow I really thought that it would be easier to update the blog. But I have apparently underestimated the power of a 8lb 9oz infant.

We have been adjusting to parenthood. We love every minute of the sleep deprivation and funny faces that Abby makes. We have been trying out different feeding philosophies to learn which one works well for us and for Abby. She is still running the show.

It's hard to believe that tomorrow she will be 4 weeks old already! She is growing so fast and the time simply slips away. We are trying our best to capture it on film and video (though she doesn't do a whole lot yet).

On Wednesday she will be a month old...30 days..it's an emotional number of days. The number of days that we had with her sister Faith. 30 days with both girls has been a roller coaster of emotion. Both different journeys. It's hard to cope with the fact that from 30+ days we will be seeing things that Faith could have been doing. It breaks my heart and I miss her even more. We are so blessed to have Abby healthy and whole. On loan from God for what we hope to be a long life. We cherish every moment. Even in my most severe moments of frustration with Abby, I remind myself of how precious life is and that all of this is in God's plan for our family. I know that He did not intentionally bring us this pain, but because of things I don't understand He has helped us find peace, strength and purpose.

I haven't uploaded any new photo's yet, so those will all come at a later post.

Have a blessed and peaceful night. The boss is calling :)

Love,

Amy, Steve, Faith and Abby

pictures

2009-07-12T22:17:00.003-04:00

New Arrival

2009-07-06T10:42:00.003-04:00

Sorry to keep you all waiting a week for this post!

I was hoping that the lack of posting would let you know she arrived! Monday, June 29th at 10:58 PM. Abby Grace Miles is 7lbs 11oz and 20 inches long and HEALTHY!!!

We went to the ER around 530 and were discharged around 730PM because I wasn't progressing enough. 10PM we were back at the hospital and she was born 58 minutes later. Needless to say there wasn't time for my epidural that I asked for...but I survived.

Now she is already a week old! Steve and I are so blessed to have this little girl. We want to thank everyone who prayed for our pregnancy, Abby's health and an easy delivery. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

She has had some visitors in the last week and looks forward to meeting others who are healthy and feeling good!

Abby already has a new best friend who was born on July 1st, Celia Grace Michel was born to our friends Christy and Burt.

Just a quick update

2009-06-29T10:17:00.001-04:00

We are 3-3.5cm and 50-75% effaced. She stripped my membranes. Having some contractions about 5-7 minutes apart and heading out for a walk right now to see if they are real or BH.

Someone will be sure to keep you all updated. If you have facebook check there first!

Have a great day!

~Amy

39 weeks and 1 day

2009-06-28T15:47:00.003-04:00

The pictures above are Shelly (22 weeks) and I (38 weeks) after our pedicure and then Steve, Anna, and I after her belly rubbing (39 weeks). Also a picture of Steve at AJ's family fun center in Grand Rapids raising money for Paws for a Cause.

Here we are at 39 weeks! Tomorrow we go to the OB...the way I have been feeling I sure hope that there is progress. This pain can't be for nothing! MAybe she is just waiting for our country's birthday.

Yesterday we went to a friends college open house and she claims to have the magic touch. So we let her rub the belly and she said that within 24-48 hours we will go in to labor or my water will break. :)

Steve and I have just been hanging out and enjoying having the summer off. Its the first time that we have both had the summer almost totally off! He has his masters class, but other than that we are just being bums and its GREAT! Today we were sitting on a towel in the yard and had a monarch and swallowtail butterfly come near us. My first thoughts were Faith and Drake. I saw the same butterflies a few days ago within minutes of each other. Another CDH mom, said that she had a pinkish butterfly linger by her the other day too in NC. The angels are keeping an eye on everyone and showing us they are near.

We will update again tomorrow after the OB appointment. Our friends in Louisiana are set to have a C-section on Wednesday to welcome their little girl Celia Grace Michel. She is Drake's little sister and we are so happy for them. Christy and I have been trying to get the girls to arrive on the same day. We will see how that works out.

Have a great day and enjoy the weather!

Love,

Amy, Steve, ^Faith^, and baby Miles

38 weeks

2009-06-22T19:36:00.002-04:00

We had our 38 week appointment!

1-2 cm and 30% effaced I can't believe there was actually some progress! Pray that we continue to progress. I have been having some false labor. Contractions 10 minutes apart..today is the record amount of time of 1hr and half that I actually paid attention to them. Then it just got boring keeping track of them so I am doing other things! :)

We will keep you posted. Our next OB appointment is June 29th.

Take care!

Happy Father's Day!

2009-06-21T20:28:00.002-04:00

Happy Father's Day Steve! I know that today our little girl is smiling down on us and thinking about how amazing her father is! He raises awareness and funds for CDH, runs 15.64 miles for her, donates blood, and every day sends his love to her in Heaven.

It's hard to think that this is our 2nd father's day with out Faith on Earth.

Next year we will celebrate Father's day as a family with two little girls!

Steve I hope that you had a great relaxing day today!

Happy Father's Day to all Dad's with babes on earth and in Heaven.

Love,

The Miles Family

37 weeks on Saturday

2009-06-12T15:55:00.003-04:00

Steve and I have officially nested the ENTIRE house! I think its the cleanest it has ever been! We cleaned carpets, closets, under sinks, reorganized, and threw things away! It feels good to be done with that. After 2 years it actually feels like we are somewhat done. We still have some electrical stuff to do. Anyone out there in the West MI area that could offer some help????

My parents arrived on Thursday and are ready for the baby to arrive. They are staying here a few days and then heading to MP to see family and friends. My mom's birthday is on Saturday and my sister and nephew are coming to GR for her party.

We went to the doctor today and there is no progress in the baby dept. No dilation and a little bit of softness. But nothing to write down. So we see her partner next week while she is on a cruise and then her the following week. So we may have a little firecracker babe after all.

Hope all is well your way. Please keep all CDH babes in your prayers. A few I follow are Ava, Carter A., Ruby, Avery, Jamie, Giavanna and James. More CDH babes are on the way. Pray for their families as they start this journey.

Take care,

The Miles Family

Just think you only have 3 more weeks till you find out her name!

The picture in the post is items that will be sent to Gabriel's Gifts in Memory of Faith. My aunts donated money for Faith's book drive and we were unable to get the books in time for the drop off. So we used the money to purchase things for this CDH project. A friend of ours and fellow CDH mom to an Angel makes bags for CDH families/NICU families. She fills them with items that NICU parents need and could use. I will post more information about the project and how you can donate if you are interested. Thanks!

36 weeks

2009-06-06T20:39:00.005-04:00

We have finally reached 36 weeks! Next Friday we will head back to the OB and get "checked" to see if things are starting to progress. I have no expectations for that exam, with Faith I didn't dilate to a 1 until I was 40 weeks and 1 day. So I expect this little girl to be just as stubborn.

I have been feeling pretty well, just started experiencing some serious heartburn. So I started taking an OTC acid reducer. She has been calming down a little bit. I haven't been able to sleep really well lately, so I am being prepped for the late nights with a beautiful baby in my arms.

Thinking of holding her is so exciting and so emotional. It makes me think of Faith more and the last time I held her. Her sweet face to my face. I know that God is watching after her now, but I will always miss her and think about how much fun she would have had here on Earth.

All of our maternity photos are posted on http://kristyphotography.zenfolio.com/amysteve so be sure to check them out. Kristy did an amazing job! I think we are going to make a little collage of some of the maternity pics and then the newborn pictures we get taken.

Last weekend I cleaned out our linen closets, a bedroom closet and under the kitchen sink. This past week I have been making baby hats. So my nesting doesn't require as much energy! The picture of the hats I made is at the top of the post I believe. I feel like I don't know what I am doing on this blog!

I have about 2 more days of work and then I am off for the summer. Steve and I have many projects to complete before the baby arrives.

This week we also received a surprise from Maxton's Memorable Moments. It is a beautiful painted picture with a verse on it from Maxton's mommy Ashley. Maxton is a handsome boy that was born with CDH and earned his wings 18 days after he was born. He fought every step of the way. His mommy makes these pictures for other CDH babes and they are fantastic! She is very gifted. You can check out a picture of the one we received at http://www.maxtonsmemorablemoments.blogspot.com/

We hope that everything is well your way!

34 weeks and 5 days

2009-05-28T19:10:00.003-04:00

We had another OB appointment today and things are still looking good. Baby Miles decided that she would make me measure ahead again. So she is going to see if that pattern continues. Everything else is going well and I managed to keep the weight under control, even losing a half a pound!

She is still active and her heart rate is around 125 bpm. She said that if we were to go into labor now they wouldn't do much to stop labor. That is when Steve and I realized that we are getting really close!

Last Sunday we went and had maternity photo's taken by a friend in Lansing. She posted some of the pictures on her blog and we should be able to see the rest of the photos by Sunday or Monday. http://www.kristyphotography.blogspot.com/

Our next OB appointment is June 12th! Only 4 days left of Kindergarten! Their graduation ceremony is tomorrow.

Hope all is well your way!

Love,

Amy, Steve, ^Faith^, and _____________________ Miles

OB @ almost 33 weeks

2009-05-16T10:58:00.002-04:00

Yesterday we had an OB appointment and now we are measuring right on! Which is good and sad...because I was really looking forward to not stressing out the next 7 weeks. So now I need to change my mind set as we are looking at a July 4th baby for sure. She said to expect to carry this baby as long as I did Faith...who knows how long that would have been if we hadn't been induced!

Anyway, she is still doing well in there. Each week she drops a little more, which I guess is common in a second pregnancy. Her heart rate was in the 120's when she listened to it and I almost freaked out! But she said that its normal and they go in cycles. We listened for a little longer and it was in the mid 130's.

Only 13 more days of school with the Kindergartner's...I can't believe we are at the end of the year already!

Hope everyone is doing well! Take care.

Love,

Amy, Steve, ^Faith^, and baby "fire cracker" Miles

PS Someone suggested we name her America Miles...any responses to that.

Pictures to go with post below

2009-05-13T20:21:00.002-04:00

Make photo slide shows at www.OneTrueMedia.com

A load of updates!!!!

2009-05-13T18:50:00.002-04:00

Wow I have been slacking big time on our posts! It has been a busy few weeks as school is winding down and we have been doing awareness activities. So here goes...

April 25th, 2009

Brianna Faith Hathaway's first birthday celebration! We headed back to MP to attend Brianna's first birthday party. Her parents Meghan and Jason are good friends of ours from way back! Meghan and I used to get into trouble in Kindergarten together. It was so great to see her and meet her cousins.

May 3rd, 2009

Steve, Jenn (my sister), and I went to the University of Michigan Children's Memorial Service. Here they remembered patients that passed away while in their care. We put two photos of Faith in the slideshow they had, made a few sun catchers, and met another CDH family. Their precious daughter Marley was born in December 2008 and earned her wings in January of 2009. Our journey was similar to theirs, but also different. Our daughters faced some of the same battles with CDH and had a few of the same primary care nurses. It was great to finally meet them and we hope to be able to stay in touch with them.

May 9th, 2009

5/3 River Bank Run in Grand Rapids, MI. Steve had been training since January to run a 25K
(15.64 miles) in memory of Faith. We woke up and headed down to the race where he joined thousands of other runners! The weather man said we were done with the rain and right before the race started so did the RAIN! It rained for about the first 5 miles of the race for Steve. But he continued on keeping a pace of about 9 minute miles!!! My sister, nephew and I hurried to the half way point, but missed seeing him! I felt horrible! What a wife... so we headed down towards the finish line and finally saw Steve with about a half mile to go. He looked great! Many people were struggling, but Steve kept pushing on. He finished the race in 2 hours and 20 minutes and 47 seconds. (He likes to make sure that people know the seconds too ;0)

The week before the race Steve did a fundraiser for CDH research and awareness at Saranac High School. Students and teachers could donate $1 minimum to guess a time that he would finish. Those who donated were allowed to wear a hat or PJ's to school that day. He raised $325.00!!! We donated the money through our firstgiving page to CHERUBS. www.firstgiving.com/faithgracecdh

May 10th, 2009

Our second mother's day and we again spent time with my sister and my nephew! They were with us the first mother's day after Faith passed away. Not a whole lot of excitment this day, we simply relaxed and worked in the yard a little. We planned on planting flowers at Faith's grave, but there was a frost advisory.

May 11th, 2009

Blood Drive

This was our second blood drive in memory of Faith at our church. Our first one was last fall. We really didn't have a whole lot of people commit to appointments but we had a ton of walk-ins and friends that came out to donate!!! Total we had 26 people sign in and 19 people were able to donate! We also had a great number of first time donors once again. Thank you to everyone who donated their time and/or blood!

May 14th, 2009

Million Penny Roof Sit for Ronald McDonald House Charities in West Michigan

Our local radio station does this roof sit each year for the RMD house of West Michigan. This year I decided to start collecting pennies last minute at home and at school. I will let you know how it turns out:)

May 15th, 2009

Our next OB appointment with the usual stuff. We had our ultrasound 2 weeks ago and everything looked great! She seems to be dropping a little more into my pelvis each week, but is staying put as I haven't had any Braxton-Hicks contractions or anything yet.

Keep all the CDH babes out there in your prayers. Also remember the families who have lost their precious little ones to this terrible defect. I have been keeping tabs on Carter, Ruby, Jaime and Avery that were recently born, waiting repair, or recently have undergone repair. Please pray for these babies and their abilities to over come any obstacles in their way.

Thanks to everyone that follows our blog!

Love,

Amy, Steve, ^Faith^, and baby Miles

I will put photos from all these events in a montage.

"God Bless The Grieving Mother"

2009-05-07T19:31:00.001-04:00

"God Bless The Grieving Mother"

God bless the grieving mother...
In January as the snow flakes fall...
And as a new year dawns...
For her memories will comfort her...
Through winter, spring, summer, and fall.

God bless the grieving mother...
In February during the month of love...
She sends her hugs..on the wings of a dove...
And her kisses are blown to the moon above.

God bless the grieving mother...
In March and on St Patricks Day...
A beautiful rainbow...a symbol of hope...
Which colors her world..in a magical way.

God bless the grieving mother...
On Easter In April as she stops to pray...
Thanking God for the gift of everlasting life...
Knowing she will be reunited someday.

God bless the grieving mother...
On Mothers Day and thru the month of May...
Whose memories are like threads of gold...
For they will never tarnish....or go away.

God bless the Grieving mother...
In June as her tears fall like the rain...
Please comfort her...and give her strength
and peaceful days to help ease the pain.

God bless the grieving mother...
In July as the fireworks light up the sky afar...
Just like her memories light up her heart...
And she wishes upon an evening star.

God bless the grieving mother...
In August...as the sun shines through...
Who's life moves on...thru ups and downs..
Whose heart is so tender and true.

God bless the grieving mother...
In September as the leaves turn and fall...
Her childs life forever etched in her heart..
Her childs name entered on the memorial wall.

God bless the grieving mother...
In October...with the harvest colors all around....
Please guide her on her journey of grief...
and keep her safe and sound.

God bless the grieving mother...
In November...a time to give thanks and pray...
Who is so thankful for each precious memory..
But wishes with all her heart...just for one more day

God bless the grieving mother...
In December as Christmas nears...
Please bless her with the gift of peace...
And many great friends to help dry her tears.

God bless the grieving mother...
Each day throughout the year...
As seasons come and go...
And time unfolds...
Day by day...
Month by month...
Year by year...
and especially today...on this Mother's day.

OB appointment 30 weeks and 5 days!

2009-04-30T18:35:00.006-04:00

Only 65 days to go!!!

We had our OB appointment today and an ultrasound to check her growth. I don't know what to call her anymore because she doesn't fit into the moose-ette or the peanut category anymore! She is in the 60%, so she is within normal ranges. She weighs 3lbs 14oz right now, which is about a 1/2 lb heavier than the books say for weight. She has chubby cheeks, Mom's toes, Dad's head and lips.
It's still a girl! We were pretty happy to hear that and she is still wonderfully healthy! These are her girl parts. I am sure that she will love that picture when she is older. The tech told us that girls look like tulips :)

The above picture shows her dimple in her cheek! Then you can see her showing off her pouty lip! The tech had to push a little harder near my pelvis to see her face, she is down pretty low already! Then she got mad and started crying! LOL I think its hilarious now, but I am sure I won't enjoy it later! Did you know that could do that in utero?

I will have to scan in the other photo of her hair floating in the amniotic fluid! It seems soooo long!

We were so excited to see her today and be reassured of her health. Only about 9 more weeks and we will get to meet this little beauty!

Hope all is well your way! Steve runs the 5/3 River Bank Run on May 9th! He is excited to run and be done!!! Our blood drive is on May 11th please donate if you can because our turnout is not looking so hot!

Take care!

Love,

Amy, Steve, ^Faith^, and Miss 60th percentile

2009-04-19T20:47:00.007-04:00

Lily Kay Smith born March 6th, 2009. Picture taken on April 19th, 2009.

Beautiful baby girl :)

Flowers from Tanner, Kristin, and Lily.

T-shirt design for the 5/3 River Bank Run

Steve is running a 25K in memory of Faith on May 9th!

We had a great night with Tanner, Kristin, Lily, and the Klunder Family. It was so great to see them again. They are all an amazing group of people. Lily was such a good girl! She is so precious. Steve and I both held her for quite some time!!!! I even got spit up on...how sweet. We look forward to seeing them again before our little one is born.

That's our update for now. We have an OB appointment and ultrasound on April 30th. More news then!

Love,

the Miles Family!

2009-04-19T15:49:00.002-04:00

Calling all blood donors! We are supporting a blood drive on May 11th in memory of Faith. Watch the video below to learn more. Did you know that only 1% of the population actually takes the time to donate blood!

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Later we will post pictures from our meeting with Lily Smith! We also have some pictures of the shirts we will wear for Steve's 25K run.

Love,
The Miles Family

OB visit

2009-04-16T19:38:00.002-04:00

We are now almost 29 weeks! I feel like time is starting to move by quickly, but at the same time I just want to meet her already! I want to know that she is safe and healthy and in our arms.

The doctor said that I am still measuring ahead. Which I knew since on Monday night she was trying to touch or elbow my lungs! That was a new and very uncomfortable experience. We go back to the OB in two weeks and will have an ultrasound to see if I have extra fluid or a moosette inside me!

Things are continuing to go well here. Steve and I are getting used the daily grind of school after Spring Break. Some of the teachers have started counting down the days:) The kids are all really great though and I will surely miss them next year!

We hope that things are going well your way! We will continue to keep you posted on Miss Peanut/Moosette's progress!

Take care,

Amy, Steve, ^Faith^, and Miss Peanut/Moosette

PS We STILL have not decided on a name we are back up to deciding between 4 name and they are not all on the blog list:)

Spring Break 2009 Pictures

2009-04-10T19:17:00.002-04:00

We hope you enjoy these pictures from our trip to Gatlinburg, TN and Atlanta, GA. We met up with three other CDH families and had a great dinner with them.

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Happy Angel Day baby girl!

2009-04-05T20:50:00.003-04:00

Today marks one year since Faith grew her wings. Steve and I spent the day in the Great Smokey Mountains. We walked through the town of Gatlinburg and saw 50 JUMBO bumble bees! Then we headed to the National Park welcome center and learned about a trail we could walk. We took traveled along a motor trail and were supposed to stop and hike a mile to a waterfall. WELL...I am way out of shape, plus there isn't as much oxygen up there:) So we just continued on the motor trail. We saw several butterflies. Yellow Swallowtails, an orange butterfly, a mini purple butterfly, and some cabbage butterflies. It was so beautiful and peaceful. We were close to nature and all that God created. It gave me an overwhelming sense of peace about the loss of our precious daughter. We miss her everyday.

The ability to talk about her and raise awareness in her memory have helped us so much in our journey of grief. Don't get me wrong, we definately have our down days. But it has all helped to make this Angel Day "easier" than it might have been otherwise. With Miss Peanut on the way, we hope that we can continue being so active in awareness. Faith's sister will be there cheering us on and helping to raise awareness.

Our last awareness activites for Faith (till the baby is born) will be in May and then not again until October (possibly August when the CDH families whose children were born or cared for at the University of Michigan, host dinner at the Ronald McDonald House of Ann Arbor). On May 9th, 2009 Steve will be running in the 5/3 River Bank Run in Grand Rapids, MI. He is running the 25K in memory of Faith. The next day is Mother's Day and that Monday, May 11th is a blood drive in memory of Faith at our church, Cornerstone United Methodist Church, Caledonia, MI.

Thank you to all of you who lifted us up in prayer on this day. I know that your prayers helped us find peace on this sad day in our lives. We love you all and cannot express how much you all mean to us!

With Faith, Hope, and Love,

Amy, Steve, ^Faith^, and Miss Peanut

We will post some beautiful pictures later!

Busy busy busy...

2009-03-29T18:57:00.002-04:00

Things have been very busy around here. Last weekend Steve costumed for a local hockey game to raise money for a local charity.

This weekend we went to a Mom2Mom sale in Grand Rapids and bought lots of clothes. Being pregnant and expecting is such a different feeling this time around. It took us awhile to get into shopping at the sale for the baby, but then we were picking up lots of different things. We still haven't found an outfit to bring her home in. I think that will probably be last minute. I know that we will bring her home, but won't truly believe it until she is in the car seat and we are walking out the door!

Our school had its Spring Carnival on Saturday. Steve and his Star Wars friends costumed to raise money for CHERUBS in memory of Faith. We raised $130.00 at the carnival and $70 in outside donations. We were very happy since we are a small school!

Today is Steve's 29th birthday! I "made" him sausage McGriddles for breakfast and his parents came to town for a late lunch. Now we are all watching the basketball games.

Miss Peanut is very active. I don't think that she is going to sleep much. She is awake often throughout the day and usually wakes me up at 2:30AM and 6:30 AM. We are so excited as we get closer and closer to her arrival. We are currently 26 weeks along! She can hear our voices now and likes to treat me as a punching bag:)

We will post pictures later of the events we have done lately.

If you live in the area and donate blood, SAVE THE DATE May 11, 2009 we are doing a blood drive in memory of Faith!

Take care,

Amy, Steve, ^Faith^, and Miss Peanut

24 week OB appointment

2009-03-17T19:50:00.003-04:00

Wow it's hard to believe that we are already at 24 weeks! Only 16 more to go:) Everything went well at the OB. It was no fun to step on the scale and see that I have already reached the 20 lb mark. I need to slow down on the Cadbury Eggs!

We got the OK to travel to Atlanta for Spring Break, now we just need to finish planning it! My uterus is still measuring ahead. Which could mean a big baby, gestational diabetes (I don't have any signs of it though), or that my uterus just wants to be large and in charge. Any how in 4 weeks I have my glucose blood test. Then I will be in my third trimester and will see her every 2 weeks. I will probably get another ultrasound to make sure that she isn't too big. If I have GD I will deliver at 37 weeks (pray that I don't have it). Her heart rate was still good and she is moving around lots and lots.

Steve and I are down to two names now I think :) Still a secret so that we are allowed to change our minds! We like to read to her and she loves the music at church just like Faith did.

Thanks for checking in!
Love,
Amy, Steve, Faith and baby Miles

PS. Thank you to who ever visited Faith on/around her birthday and placed a rose there.

Faith's Birthday

2009-03-16T20:34:00.004-04:00

We had such wonderful weather for Faith's 1st birthday on March 6th, 2009! We drove to Ann Arbor and delivered over 300 books that were donated by family and friends. They will find a new home in Holden NICU and Mott Children's Hospital. Above is our picture in front of Big Bird with all the books!

After dropping off the books we headed to Holden NICU with Rice Krispy treats in our hands. We were able to chat with some of our favorite nurses Jessy, Michelle, and Jeanne! It was great to see them again. Steve and I were surprised at how much different it was to be near the NICU again. We know our journey is done there and therefore it wasn't super emotional.

After visiting we headed to Trader Joe's for some guacamole, spicy salami, and these cool noodles that are like hollow spaghetti. Then we headed to Lansing for date night with Kurt and Brooke. Brooke is expecting in May so we headed to the local Mongolian BBQ for all you can eat. It was great to see them and hang out with them.

We also received some other fabulous news before dinner started. Our good friends Tanner and Kristin called to let us know that they had a baby girl that morning in IA! Her name is Lily Kay Smith and she was born on March 6th! It certainly is a special day! Tanner was the best man in our wedding and he is the pastor that did Faith's service. Another one of our groomsmen also has a little girl that was born on March 6th in 2007! Plus we have a nephew who was born on March 6th in 2003! You have to be pretty special to have that birthday!!!

We had a great day remembering the birth of our little girl. Each day we remember the happiest moments we had with her from her bubbles, strength to fight adult doses of sedatives, and her first dirty diaper that we were able to change. Her time here was short but has made such an impact on our lives. We know that she will always be remembered and treasured. Thank you to all of you who help to keep her memory alive. We Love you!

Love always,

Amy, Steve, ^Faith^, and baby girl Miles

Happy Early Birthday Baby Girl!

2009-03-04T21:48:00.003-05:00

Faith's first birthday is on Friday! Wow the year has really gone by. Here is a video that we made for her birthday. It reviews all the things that we have done in her memory this year. I am sure that there is more that I am forgetting! Enjoy!

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Friday we will be heading up to U of M to donate over 200 books in her memory! Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers!

Love always,

Amy, Steve, ^^Faith^^, and baby girl Miles

Ultrasound Pictures!

2009-03-02T20:59:00.004-05:00

Pretty little girls face!

Busy weekend!

2009-02-24T19:34:00.007-05:00

The weekend of the 20th and 21st we drove to IN to see many friends! It was a great time.

On Friday after our ultrasound we drove to Rochester, IN for two surprise birthday parties and to meet up with some friends we met via CHERUBS. It was gr eat to see Corin, Barb, and Steph again. We were also finally able to meet Kate, her hubby and their twin girls. Well only Lily because Gracie was sleeping. Above is a picture of all of us.

We stayed at Shane and Steph's families condo in Culver, IN. It was such a great place to stay and had a fabulous view. I wish that the snow hadn't been on the way or we would have stayed longer. We headed toward Fort Wayne, IN to see Brian and Carrie Baker and meet their newest family member. Elliot Joseph Baker was born on February 17, 2009. He apparently had talked to his brother before he was born...so he decided to visit the NICU. It was great to spend time with Brian and Carrie. I even got to hold Elliot for about 5 seconds!. I don't know how they ever put that cutie down! He is doing better and hopefully is heading home soon.

Here are some pictures of him...I don't know where they will end up in this post so please forgive me!

Hope all is well your way! We have a few other people to share the gender with before it will be posted sorry!

Love,

Amy, Steve, ^Faith^, and baby Miles

Good News

2009-02-23T09:46:00.002-05:00

The ultrasound went well and everything looks absolutely perfect! I have been waiting to post because I wanted to share photos from our busy weekend. But the camera is still buried somewhere. We have a few more people to share the gender with before we post it online. But remember that all we were asking for is a healthy baby!

Take care,

Amy, Steve, ^Faith^, and baby Miles

Ultrasound tomorrow

2009-02-19T19:49:00.001-05:00

Our ultrasound is tomorrow at 3:30 PM. We are very excited! The bad news is that we are heading out of town for the evening and won't be able to post any info. So don't freak out if there isn't an update! Take care and thanks for all of your prayers!

Happy Birthday Drake!

2009-02-18T06:36:00.002-05:00

We just wanted to say happy first birthday to Drake Michel. We hope that you and the other cherubs are having a great party up in Heaven. We will be thinking of your family today.

Happy Valentine's Day

2009-02-14T21:09:00.004-05:00

So we changed the layout of the blog and I lost a bunch of stuff! I really need to figure out how this thing works.

I hope that you all had a great Valentine's Day! Steve ran 7 miles today for training to accomplish a 25K in May. He got to run in fresh snow! Our date night was pizza and a movie.

We scheduled our level 2 ultrasound with Maternal Fetal Medicine doctor (MFM) for February 20th at 3:30PM. Then we will be heading to IN for the weekend. We are going to hang out with some of our CDH friends and then head over to meet Carrie Baker's new peanut that is set to be born on February 17th I believe. Then we will head back to Michigan.

February 18th is Drake Alexander Michel's first birthday in Heaven. Please keep his family in your thoughts and prayers. They are a CDH family that we have grown very close to. We are both expecting babies in July, only three days apart!

We hope that you are all doing well. Thank you to those who have donated books! We need to get started on putting stickers in them :)

Take care

Love,

Amy, Steve, ^^Faith^^, and baby Miles aka "Bubba"

OB appointment

2009-02-09T16:45:00.003-05:00

What a good day!

We got to the OB appointment about 20 minutes early and got right in! Everything continues to go well. My uterus is measuring at 22 weeks and I am only 19 weeks! WHOA! Stretchy organ, she said she isn't worried about it right now and that over time we will see my own trend of growth. The heart rate was 155 ish, she said that anywhere between 120-160 is good.

I had blood drawn to check on Fifth's disease again and make sure that I don't have it. There is an incubation period and it may not have shown up on the first test. We forgot about the Quad test and so did the OB. But we decided that's okay and if something came back elevated it wouldn't change our choice of life for this baby. Plus we will probably have our ultrasound before those results were back anyway.

We will be contacted by a high risk OB soon to schedule our level 2 ultrasound. She said that they may want to do more ultrasounds with the given history and exposure to Fifth's but its all wait and see.

Each day I feel the baby move. Steve can feel it to. It is already quite strong and almost as rowdy as Faith! We are going to have our hands full!

That's about it! We will let you know more when the ultrasound comes around.

Love to you all,

Amy, Steve, ^Faith^, and baby Miles

A day at the beach...

2009-02-08T20:11:00.004-05:00

We had heard that Lake Michigan was more frozen this year than in years past...so we headed to the lake to check it out. Saturday it was about 50 degrees out and we were really excited!

When we got to the lake it was much colder and windier than inland! The frozen waves and water was beautiful though! We saw several swans in the channel swimming and a few sea gulls eating a fish on top of the ice.

Faith was able to go to the lake many times in utero during the summer months. This was baby #2's first trip to the lake and we probably won't be back until it's a little warmer!

Take care,

Amy, Steve, ^Faith^, and baby Miles

Appointment on Monday the 9th

2009-02-06T20:54:00.003-05:00

We have an OB appointment on Monday and should find out when the ultrasound will be scheduled. We will be having a level 2 ultrasound to thoroughly check the organs and all that good stuff.

A friend is letting us borrow a fetal heart monitor so we have been using that every few days. We need to get some more ultrasound gel for it to do it more frequently. The heartbeat has been in the mid 140's when its "resting" to 160 when its playing soccer in there.

We still aren't sure if we will be sharing the gender or name choices. We will see if the baby lets us see parts, if not God is telling us to wait for this precious gift.

Hope all is well for everyone. Take care. Keep in touch.

Love,

Amy, Steve, ^Faith^, and baby Miles

Our new family blog!

2009-01-31T20:55:00.001-05:00

Our family is growing even more so we thought that we would start a blog that has information about the whole family!

Here you will find information about baby #2's appointments and activities done in memory of our daughter Faith Grace Miles.

Enjoy!

Amy, Steve, ^Faith^, and baby Miles