A Special Meet-up

Last year we went to our first NICU reunion. Somehow Mike found out that someone he went to school with would also be there with his family. We ended up sitting at the table with them and hardly stopped talking the whole time. Burke and JoEllen Hummel had triplets born just a few months before Jared. It was so nice to visit with a family who 'got' what the whole experience of having babies well before you were ready for them to be born. Their story is wonderful, heart-breaking and beautiful all at once. As it turned out, they found out they were having triplets (they already knew they were pregnant) on the same day, Memorial Day 2006, that we found out we would be meeting Jared in a few months. The triplets were due to arrive at the end of December that year and Jared was due January 25th. The triplets ended up coming into this world when they were only 25 1/2 weeks along. They had a little girl named Maylee, and two boys, Jakobi and Breckin. Little Breckin was only on this earth a little while before Jesus scooped him up and took him home to wait for the rest of his family to join him someday.

Jared hung out for 34 weeks and arrived on December 15. Sydney was our little mini who stopped growing around 26-28 weeks, but we didn't know it then. She ended up being born at 33 weeks, the year before, 2005. Burke was kind enough to ask if the hospital just keeps a NICU room ready for us. :P Yes, Burke, it's right next to the one they keep ready for you guys.

Anyhow, we also each have an older child. You already know Corban. He was our biggest baby at 5 lbs 6 oz and made it to 37 weeks before he couldn't wait any longer to join this crazy world. Burke and JoEllen have a 6 year old girl, Caislyn. She's such a sweet heart, and quiet, too. Very much like Corban.

Well, we have stayed in touch over the last year or so. It took some mighty planning, but we finally had the opportunity to get our families together again! We met them at the Hartville Kitchen and then we all came back to our house for dessert and a chance to visit and let the kids play together. JoEllen and I both scrapbook, so you know we had our cameras handy! We thought we had better get the kids together for a picture right off the bat before they got wrapped up in games and whatnot. I have never seen 6 kids sit and smile for pictures as quickly and obediently as they did! It was amazing and so cute!

From left to right: Jakobi, Corban, Maylee, Caislyn, Sydney and Jared

JoEllen caught this adorable picture of Corban and Caislyn together. Oh my does that make a mom's heart skip a beat a bit. =)

Sydney, Caislyn and Corban enjoying some ice cream.

Caislyn and Sydney playing in Jared and Corban's room. Pretty smiles, girls!

Jokobi and Jared enjoyed their ice-cream together. I can never get over how beautiful Jakobi's eyes are! These two boys are so fun to watch play together! They are very close to the same size, too. Later on that night before Mike and I went to bed we got Jared up one more time to go potty. Through his sleepy haze Jared told us that he had fun playing with his friend, " 'Kobi". This was so worth it. And hopefully we'll be able to stay in touch and keep getting our families together. I think we all had a lot of fun!