A walk and a rainbow

Our family walked as a team for the March for Babies this past weekend. I was so disappointed not to be able to go but was amazed by all of the "Watson Walkers" who showed up to raise over $1000 for the March of Dimes. After we lost Hadley my biggest fear was that somehow she would be forgotten and that Mark and I would be the only ones to remember her and the short life she had here with us. Seeing all of the pictures from the walk with Hadley's name on the back of everyone's shirts was overwhelming to me. She has not been forgotten and her memory continues through everyone that has followed us on this journey. I wish that I could explain how important this is to me, as a loss mom, it is all that I could ever ask for from the people who love us.

Ever since Hadley passed rainbows have been a symbol for me to know that she is with us. Whenever I am having a really tough time or just aching for some sign that she is near I see a rainbow. The minister who performed Hadley's memorial told me that rainbows mean "I am here." After the walk, when the day was winding down we looked out our back window and there was a huge rainbow over our lake. We could see the whole thing from beginning to end right in our backyard. And she was here.

Thank you, thank you, thank you to the Watson Walkers:

Nana & Papa
Uncle Kyle and Aubrey
Uncle Brett
Aunt Marianne and Amanda
Aunt Sharon and Ashley
Aunt Mo
Sue and Kara
Kelli and Ava
Michelle, Rick and Jeffrey
and of course my amazing husband and kids


Daddy and McKenna

Ashlyn walking for her little sister, I couldn't be more proud!

Daddy and Parker

Our family sign


The Watson Walkers, we love you guys!!

Update on the next Watson

Well first I will start with the good news:
- I am 28 weeks pregnant today
- The baby is doing well
- I am at home

Now here's the rest of the story... this past week I ended up in Labor & Delivery. I got the flu and ultimately went into labor. I was admitted and things slowly got under control but lost what little cervix I had left. I was sent home Friday on strict bedrest so we are now just taking things day by day. After all we went through with the triplets we were really hoping for a semi-normal pregnancy this time but it turns out that is not going to be the case. We are working on arrangements for the day to day care of everyone around here and trying to keep things as normal as possible. So far the kids are all hanging in there, probably better than we are! We would appreciate it if everyone could keep this little one in your thoughts. I have already told Parker and McKenna to talk to my stomach and explain to their little brother or sister that the first couple months are no fun out here if you decide to come this early!

Many thanks to our friends and family for your support and a very special thank you to my parents, brothers and Aunt Marianne, Sandy & Nancy. I don't know what we would do without all of you. I continue to be amazed by your love and support for us.

Sick, sick, sick

I would love to post our Easter pics because we have some great ones but right now the flu has invaded our house. Poor Ashlyn has been sick, sick, sick. She has had a terrible flu since last Friday and by Monday our pediatrican took one look at her and sent us to the ER because she needed rehydrated through an IV. She has been a toughy though and did great with her IV and everything else she had to go through at the hospital. Well just when she was starting to perk up and we thought we had gotten through it without it spreading to the rest of the house McKenna started with the same syptoms. So far she is staying hydrated, thank goodness, but is battling a high fever. So back to the pediatrician we went. She gave us the okay to send Ashlyn back to school (Ashlyn was VERY happy about this, she almost jumped off the exam table) and confirmed that McKenna has the same. So we are hoping for two things right now... a fast recovery for McKenna and no flu for the rest of the family! Parker moves so fast that maybe there is no time for any germs to hit him :)
Hopefully Easter pics will be up before Christmas!

18 months old!

Today the babies are 18 months old... it has been an amazing year and a half. Parker and McKenna have grown into thriving, healthy little people and are more than we could have ever hoped for and, as always, we miss our little Hadley and wish she was here to celebrate this milestone with us too.
Here's is what our toddlers are up to now:

McKenna
24 lbs. 1 oz, 32 inches tall
Words-Mommy, Daddy, Parker ("parpur"), Sissy ("sushi"), apple, cheese, cracker, turkey, chicken, milk, up, down, all done, again, eat, ball, bath, bye bye, go, eww, more, "baa baa" for sheep, "moo" for cow, "baby peepee" whenever one of them stinks :)
Signs- more, all done, eat and milk



Parker
20 lbs. 1 oz, 30 inches tall
Words- Mommy, Daddy, bye bye, apple, turkey, cheese, ball, bath, up, "baa baa" for sheep, "moo" for cow, eww
Signs- more, all done, eat, milk and baby

Bye, bye

The past few days McKenna been gathering things that we need to go somewhere and then saying "bye, bye" over and over. Yesterday she followed me around the kitchen dragging the diaper bag behind her for the longest time. The girl is determined! Well this morning she saw my vest and had to have it on and then wanted my purse too because she had decided, once again, we were going "bye bye." She walked around the house all morning like this and was thrilled with herself. Thank goodness Daddy was home, he took her for a little drive so she could finally go "bye bye."