Laura and Jacob are twins who were born prematurely at 30 weeks gestation, after Mom had been on bed rest for 10 weeks. Laura spent 6 weeks in the neonatal intensive care unit (nicu), and Jacob was there for 5 weeks. Laura weighed 2 pounds and 10 ounces, and Jacob weighed 3 pounds and 3 ounces at birth.
Katie was born at 25 weeks gestation, after Mom had been on bed rest for only 2 days. She was pink and crying at birth and weighed 1 pound and 11ounces!
Her first month of life was like a roller coaster, as many nicu experiences are. She had a patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) that responded to medication twice, but then re-opened. The PDA triggered kidney failure, making her unable to urinate for over 24 hours. Her little body swelled up and her doctor told us that she was concerned that she wouldn't make it through the night. 
We prayed for a miracle that night, and God healed her! She had heart surgery to permanently close the PDA two days later. Though there were still trials ahead for her, she gradually but steadily grew and healed for the next two months. Two weeks before she left the nicu she had laser eye surgery on both eyes to correct her retinopothy of prematurity (ROP). We are so thankful that the surgery was successful, and that Katie's vision was saved. She wears glasses to correct for nearsightedness in one eye and farsightedness in the other eye, but her vision is very good.
