Thanks!!!!!

I feel so blessed by all of the support that we are receiving from friends and family during this exciting but tiring time in our lives. Sam and I always feel blessed to have each other and our family but it is times like these that we realize how many people love and care about us. We are receiving gifts and phone calls every day. We had a group of wonderful ladies bringing us dinner for a couple of weeks, aunts and uncles helping with Drew and grandmas coming out to save the day!!!! We are fortunate to have great doctors and hospitals available to us and Grandpa Blackard allowing Sam to leave work to attend Laurens weekly doctors appointments. I have friends calling to check on me, give advice, offer assistance or just listen while I talk about things. Thank you to everyone in our life. Sometimes peoples lives are so busy we forget to tell each other how much we appreciate each other and I just want to take this time to tell everyone thank you.

Two weeks old and two casts and she can still roll over!!!!!

Lauren rolled over the other day and shocked me because she is only two weeks old and she has the heavy casts on her legs. I got out the camera and recorded for awhile and then stopped the video. Right when I stopped it I saw she was about to roll over so I started again so here are both videos. One she is trying hard and the second one she actually rolls over!!!!

Lauren getting her first set of casts off!

Lauren's first trip to Childrens Mercy Hospital

Lauren was born perfectly healthy but with two clubbed feet. We are so thankful for the doctors and treatment that she is able to have working with her. It is going to be a long process but it will be well worth it when we are able to watch our beautiful little girl walk, run and play sports. Our pediatrician referred us to Children's Mercy in Kansas City and we made our first trip there last week. The treatment plan is to apply casts on her feet weekly for five to eight weeks. This requires us to travel to Kansas City every Tuesday for new casts. I have to say I hated watching them cast her because she cried and I cried but she doesn't act like they bother her at all. After her feet are turned in the right position she will have a small out patient surgery. Then she will have casts for three weeks. Then she will have a brace and shoes that she has to wear 20 hours a day for two to three months. After that she will have to wear a brace only at night until she is three years old. They way that they explained it to us is that her feet are like teeth when you put braces on them. They might be straight but if you don't wear the retainer then they will turn back to the original state, that is why she has to wear the brace. Here are some pictures from her first trip.

She was not happy when they put the cast on until they gave her the sugar-water pacifier.

Lauren's first days!!!!

This is the day before Lauren was born!

Family of four is a new concept in this house but we are quickly getting used to it! Lauren is a great baby and likes to cuddle. She is still in the sleepy stage and we know this time to enjoy this stage because it will soon disappear! Here are some pictures from her first days!!!!

Here is Lauren meeting Grandma and Grandpa Dye for the first time!

Hello Grandpa Blackard!!!!

Precious Mommy and Baby moment!

Drew seeing baby sister for the first time! He was a little scared of all the stuff hooked up to Mommy.

Grammie and Lauren meeting for the first time!

First failed attempt for a family photo. I had to lay down for six hours after surgery so I couldn't sit up and no one is looking in the same direction. Oh well I am sure there will be more chances!

Here Drew is taking a picture of Lauren with his play camera!

Jerry came to visit!

Thank you Megan for the beautiful flowers!!!

Kiss kiss!!!

Hospital gave us a steak dinner. It was surprisingly good!

Cousins Brandon and Kyle

Aunt Mandy

Drew was helping Daddy put things together for baby sister!

Amy and Jerry!

Don't you just want to hug her?!?!?!?

LAUREN ELIZABETH BLACKARD

Lauren Elizabeth was born at 8:26 on March 12th! She was 5lbs 13oz and 18 inches long! She is beautiful, calm and better than we ever expected!!!!! We are in love!!!!! More pictures to come!!!!!

Happy Birthday Grandma!

Yesterday was my moms birthday so Drew and I decided to make Grandma some brownies!!!! My good friends Amy and Jerry bought Drew this apron and chefs hat for a big brother gift so we broke it out and got dirty! They had it personalized for Drew and the apron says "Drew Bear"! So cute... thank you Amy and Jerry.
When we finished the kitchen was a disaster and we were both dirty but we both had smiles on our faces so that is all that counts in my book!!!

Now what?!?!?

Dumping the oil! Messy, messy tasks as you can tell by all the oil on the counter next to the bowl!

Stir, stir, stir!!!

Taste test! That is the best part!

Isn't he the cutest?!?!?!

Eating the finished product! Grandma loved them!!!! and so did Drew!