It's hard to explain just how important birthdays are for Natalie---and for all of us. Her real "birth" day was filled with anxiety:
At one week, she had survived one major medical event, but was doing well:
At two weeks old, we thought Natalie was going to have a long, but relatively smoothe remainder of her ride in the NICU:
Her third week led us on the journey to Minneapolis. I remember sitting in the hospital thinking there was no way I could go back to Minot without Natalie; I wouldn't be able to enter our house again and see her nursery or touch her little clothes. I really didn't know if I could survive a day without her. In a couple of weeks, I'll blog about the days in Minneapolis and try to recount all that happened. That will be a good test of my memory!! :)
At four weeks, Natalie had survived what doctors told us she couldn't---a bacteria that did all it could to take her away from us. It had met its match with Miss Natalie B!
Four YEARS later, many things have changed, but we haven't forgotten just how important every day is with Natalie. It's a miracle that she's here. Every birthday is extra special---but the 364 days in between are pretty amazing, too! Happy Birthday, Natalie Beatrice Olson. We love you!
