Thursday, July 2, 2009

Friday Shoot Out - Celebrate Life

This time last year at the office we were looking towards October and the opporutnity to celebrate new life. By July 2008 we knew that our co-worker Heather was expecting fraternal twin girls. The twins, however, had their own time line.

As summer moved on and got warmer Heather tired more easily and her doctor decided Friday, August 15th should be her last day at work. We had a pot luck lunch, we laughed, we cried, we all said how much we'd miss her, she wondered what she would do sitting at home until the babies arrived. We left for the weekend promising we'd call her at home to check up on her on a regular basis.

Monday morning, August 18th arrived and when we got to the office we found out that Heather was in hospital many, many miles away from all of us but ironically she was right where her parents and in-laws were. On the Saturday the water broke for one of the twins and she had to be rushed to the nearest available neo-natal hospital bed. The nearest bed happened to be in North Bay, Ontario - the hometown of Heather and her husband Jason before they'd moved to Woodstock 4 years previous. The doctors hoped to hold off delivery as long as possible as her actual due date was near the end of October. But as I said, the twins had their own time line and they arrived on August 20th.

At birth, Grace Elizabeth, weighed in at 2lb. 8oz - by the time my friend Jayne and I met her for the first time at the end of September, she was weighing in near 5lbs. Wasn't she adorable?!
This is Grace now......
Morgan Claire, started off at 2lb. 15oz and was 5lb this first time we saw her. By this time the girls had been moved from North Bay to London, Ontario - closer to their new home. The girls finally made it home to stay on November 1oth.
This photo of Morgan was taken during a visit to the office with Mommy last month......
We are all so lucky to know these little girls and their parents.
Friday Shoot Out is the brainchild of Patty and Reggie Girl and this week's theme was selected by Doreen from Michigan - thanks girls!

17 comments:

  1. awww.....so precious and beautiful. the sweet innocence, total trust and complete resting, babies are so special. thanks for sharing with us!

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  2. Though Gray has a ho-hum look on his face, I think this is the best post ever. Elizabeth is beautiful.

    I hope Elizabeth enjoys a lifetime of celebrations!

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  3. Oh Elaine, you are so right. THIS is what celebrating life is all about! Those little tiny babies humble and inspire me like no one else can! What mighty little beings they are! Lovely post! Thank you so much for sharing Grace and Morgan with us - next time you see them, please offer up big hugs from your Canadian bloggy friend!

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  4. What wonderful little babies!

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  5. When Heather brings Morgan and Grace to the office for visits every adult turns into mush. We love passing them around for cuddles and giggles.

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  6. Lovely baby pics! I love babies!

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  7. Adorable photos; nothing like sleeping baby to create a feeling of awe for life.

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  8. love the pictures. You have a great reason to celebrate!

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  9. What a great celebration of life. they are gorgeous.

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  10. Awwww!

    What a beautiful celebration of life!

    Simply Heather was the one who taught me how to make the photos so big, her profile link is: http://www.blogger.com/profile/04693495698843336789


    She has a post somewhere with pictures of exactly what to do each time you click on the links in her written directions. It is so clear and simple. I am sure if you ask her, she will direct you that post.

    Have a lovely weekend!

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  11. The twins are amazing! A fantastic celebration to share.

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  12. Thanks for the tip Jen, I'll pop over to Simply Heather and take a look.

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  13. Hi Elaine :)

    These are very sweet celebration of life photos!!

    I just read your email and rather than type it all out here, I chose to send you the link to my blog post that shares how to enlarge your photos. You don't have to make any changes at all to your blog, as I see you already have the stretch layout (perfect).

    Just follow the lines leading you into Picasaweb albums and you should be good to go :)

    If you still have trouble, just drop me a note and I will be very happy to help you out. It's not a bit of trouble.

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  14. Oh...leave it to me...I think that I forgot to give you the link (hahaha). Sorry, Elaine.

    Here it is:

    Simply Joyful Photos

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  15. Elaine, that really is something to celebrate! Beautiful photos!

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  16. Wow! My babies were both born In St. Joseph's Hospital, North Bay, because we lived in Powassan at the time. My daughter Heather, for whom I did not have a name chosen was born July 28th, 1975. Barry's mother, returning from her trip to Scotland brought back white heather, which is supposed to be lucky. I named my daughter Heather and shared some of the white heather with the new mother across the hall who also decided to name her new daughter Heather.
    Your Heather has adorable babies. Grace and Morgan, thank you for bringing back these memories of St. Joe's. and all the Heathers! xoxo

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  17. What sweet babies. Good choice for the theme.

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