37 weeks on Saturday

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

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

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

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

Make photo slide shows at www.OneTrueMedia.com

A load of updates!!!!

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"

"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.