Yesterday I got to meet the most amazing, beautiful, and precious little girl. I so miss her already.
It's with thankfulness to her Creator that I announce:
Gracie Ann Kukis
Born December 30th
4:31 pm
2 pounds, 8 ounces
15 inches long
Seeing the strength, love, and courage that the Lord granted to Corey and Emily throughout her birth and the time in the hospital was one of the most profound blessings I have ever experienced. I know I can say for so many of us, that our hearts go out to them. Gracie was blessed with amazingly faithful parents. Let's continue in prayer for this precious family.
With love, on Em's behalf-
Posted by Kristen
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Thursday, December 29, 2011
December 29, 2011
Hello all. This is Kristen, Emily's friend writing. It is through tears and with a heavy heart that I share that today Gracie Ann Kukis went home to be with Jesus. At a routine appointment this morning, Emily learned that Gracie had died. As I type they are inducing her, and the hope is that she'll be able to deliver her naturally.
While we take comfort in the fact that Gracie is now perfect, and in the arms of Jesus, I know we are all deeply grieved at her loss and for the unimaginable pain that Emily and Corey are in right now. Please pray for a delivery that is healthy for Emily. Please pray for strength and comfort, and peace for both Corey and Emily. Please also pray for safe travels for the friends and family that are flying in to be with them during this time. I am getting on a plane in a few hours, and will continue to post in Emily's absence, as she wishes. God is mighty and He is good- may His peace be with you all.
Posted by Kristen
While we take comfort in the fact that Gracie is now perfect, and in the arms of Jesus, I know we are all deeply grieved at her loss and for the unimaginable pain that Emily and Corey are in right now. Please pray for a delivery that is healthy for Emily. Please pray for strength and comfort, and peace for both Corey and Emily. Please also pray for safe travels for the friends and family that are flying in to be with them during this time. I am getting on a plane in a few hours, and will continue to post in Emily's absence, as she wishes. God is mighty and He is good- may His peace be with you all.
Posted by Kristen
Friday, December 16, 2011
What did you say?!
Yesterday, I had a regular check up appointment. Gracie's heartbeat is good! I did, however, find out that I am measuring 43 weeks pregnant and I am really 33 weeks pregnant!!! In two weeks, I went from 36 to 43 weeks. Crazy! I was feeling like a real wimp about getting around and being so uncomfortable, but yesterday made me see things from a different view. I am not a wimp and there is a real reason why I take 5 steps and feel so out of breath. I was at Target before my appointment and one lady was like "you look ready to pop!" Thanks, but I see now why she said that. The doctor said I could tell people I am having twins. I also thought about making up a new due date, but now I don't tell my due date. I just say due in January and people think it is the beginning of January. I was kind of freaked out when she said 43 weeks, because I was thinking "am I just going to keep getting bigger and I am going to be like 60 weeks." She assured me that my stomach will eventually stop growing, and which probably means I will go into labor. Unfortunately, I am so big from too much fluid and not because Gracie is big. I can actually hear the fluid swishing around in there when I walk, which is really weird.
I also have a skin rash called PUPPP and it is so itchy!!! It just came up in the last week, and the good news is it will go away after pregnancy. Here is a little information I found on it: PUPPP stands for "pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy." In plain English, PUPPP is an itchy, bumpy rash — annoying but benign — that usually develops on the abdomen near the umbilical area and spreads to the thighs and extremities. It’s most common in first-time mothers and those carrying multiples. Sometimes itching can become very severe and spread to the rest of the body, but never on the face (thank goodness for small miracles). The good news: PUPPP poses no risk for your baby. So far it is just on my tummy! The doctor did say it could get worse. Yikes!
Corey and I are doing well, considering we don't know when Gracie is coming, which is nerve racking to say the least. We continue to take one day at time, which is what we have done since the beginning.
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7).
“Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you” (1 Peter 5:6-7)
We are loving our new house and getting settled. It feels like home. My parents get into town either tonight or tomorrow and staying for two weeks, which will be nice. My mom can cook for us, because that is becoming a very hard task for me.
Prayer requests: Pray that Gracie stays in there through Christmas and my birthday, which is the day after. It is not that I wouldn't love to share my birthday. I just don't want it to be a sad time every year, if it is God's will to take her home with Him. I would like her to wait till January. I also know that God has plan and we trust Him that He knows what is best for Gracie and I. Pray for family that will be traveling to get here when I go into labor, that they will be safe in their travels. And continue to pray for strength, wisdom and peace for Corey and I as we begin to draw closer to meeting Gracie. The prayers from all of you are seriously getting us through this. We feel them and we also continue to lean on the Lord in prayer. Thank you so much for following us in our journey thus far and joining us in prayer for Gracie.
Here is a picture of me, not very good. I forgot to ask Corey to take one last night and wanted to share one with you.
I also have a skin rash called PUPPP and it is so itchy!!! It just came up in the last week, and the good news is it will go away after pregnancy. Here is a little information I found on it: PUPPP stands for "pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy." In plain English, PUPPP is an itchy, bumpy rash — annoying but benign — that usually develops on the abdomen near the umbilical area and spreads to the thighs and extremities. It’s most common in first-time mothers and those carrying multiples. Sometimes itching can become very severe and spread to the rest of the body, but never on the face (thank goodness for small miracles). The good news: PUPPP poses no risk for your baby. So far it is just on my tummy! The doctor did say it could get worse. Yikes!
Corey and I are doing well, considering we don't know when Gracie is coming, which is nerve racking to say the least. We continue to take one day at time, which is what we have done since the beginning.
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7).
“Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you” (1 Peter 5:6-7)
We are loving our new house and getting settled. It feels like home. My parents get into town either tonight or tomorrow and staying for two weeks, which will be nice. My mom can cook for us, because that is becoming a very hard task for me.
Prayer requests: Pray that Gracie stays in there through Christmas and my birthday, which is the day after. It is not that I wouldn't love to share my birthday. I just don't want it to be a sad time every year, if it is God's will to take her home with Him. I would like her to wait till January. I also know that God has plan and we trust Him that He knows what is best for Gracie and I. Pray for family that will be traveling to get here when I go into labor, that they will be safe in their travels. And continue to pray for strength, wisdom and peace for Corey and I as we begin to draw closer to meeting Gracie. The prayers from all of you are seriously getting us through this. We feel them and we also continue to lean on the Lord in prayer. Thank you so much for following us in our journey thus far and joining us in prayer for Gracie.
Here is a picture of me, not very good. I forgot to ask Corey to take one last night and wanted to share one with you.
 |
| 33 weeks, measuring 43 weeks |
Friday, December 2, 2011
31 weeks update...
Yesterday, I had a rountine check up. I am 31 weeks and measuring 36 weeks, because of all the extra fluid in there. It explains when I tell people how far along I am, they reply with, "Oh, you look a lot further along." Extra fluid just means Gracie is having a hard time swallowing in there. Also, having extra fluid the doctor says I will most likley go in to pre-term labor, because the fluid will eventually cause my water to break. Gracie might be a December baby just like her mommy. My due date is January 31 and it would be great if I could make it that far. Although, if I am measuring 36 weeks now, then geez, I would be huge and super uncomfortable by the end of January. Only God knows when Gracie will come. I told Corey a few weeks back, I wish God could show me a glimpse of Gracie entering into the world and how that it is going to play out. Proverbs 3:5-6 - Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Then we wouldn't be able to grow in our faith and trust Him, if I knew what was going to happen. Right? Not always the easiest thing, but makes this path much easier to walk when I do.
A few other things from the appointment, Gracie's hearbeat was a good, but difficult to hear because she was moving a lot in there. The doctor said with all the fluid she is able to move around a lot and change position, which made it difficult for the doctor to feel what position Gracie is in. I pray Gracie is the right position when I go into labor. I would like to not have a c-section, but is okay with it if it is better for Gracie and I.
In the last 3 weeks, I have been able to feel her move in there for a little bit each day. It is still not as much from talking to other moms and how much they felt their baby move. Corey has gotten to feel her 3 times, which is so great!! I really wanted him to be able to feel Gracie move. He enjoys it also.
Prayer requests at this point would be to continue to pray for Gracie. I am also getting a bit nervous and scared about delivering her, so you could pray for that. There is a high risk of her not making it through labor, which is really tough on Trisomy 18 baby or any baby with a birth defect. Corey and I love her so much and can't wait to meet her, no matter what that looks like, but still a little nerve-racking. I do know that with all the support we are getting, that we will be able to cope with whatever comes our way when that day comes and that Gracie is strong little girl. Gracie has a lot of family/friends cheering her on and praying for her. We are so very thankful!!
A few other things from the appointment, Gracie's hearbeat was a good, but difficult to hear because she was moving a lot in there. The doctor said with all the fluid she is able to move around a lot and change position, which made it difficult for the doctor to feel what position Gracie is in. I pray Gracie is the right position when I go into labor. I would like to not have a c-section, but is okay with it if it is better for Gracie and I.
In the last 3 weeks, I have been able to feel her move in there for a little bit each day. It is still not as much from talking to other moms and how much they felt their baby move. Corey has gotten to feel her 3 times, which is so great!! I really wanted him to be able to feel Gracie move. He enjoys it also.
Prayer requests at this point would be to continue to pray for Gracie. I am also getting a bit nervous and scared about delivering her, so you could pray for that. There is a high risk of her not making it through labor, which is really tough on Trisomy 18 baby or any baby with a birth defect. Corey and I love her so much and can't wait to meet her, no matter what that looks like, but still a little nerve-racking. I do know that with all the support we are getting, that we will be able to cope with whatever comes our way when that day comes and that Gracie is strong little girl. Gracie has a lot of family/friends cheering her on and praying for her. We are so very thankful!!
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