Prayer Warriors, part 2

For those of you interested in keeping in touch with Beckett's progress, Mandy and Ben do a wonderful job of keeping everyone up to date on their blog:

Team Gramkow

Look how far you've come, baby!

 To give little Beckett some inspiration, I pulled out some photos of his big sister Ellie.  Ellie was 28 weeks gestation and weighed 2 pounds 7.6 ounces. 

Ellie, born September 3, 2008

Cowgirl Ellie - in the cute outfit Kevin and I got her!

Ellie's first birthday

Ellie now - so much fun!

See, Beckett, hang in there!  You are so loved, and we can't wait to see you grow!

Beckett Thomas Gramkow

Beckett Thomas Gramkow was born at 4:43 this morning to Ben and Mandy Gramkow. He has an older sister, Ellie. He weighed in at 2 pounds, 2.26 ounces and was 14 inches long.  He was born at 25 weeks gestation. 

Please continue to pray for Beckett and his family. God will continue to give Mandy and Ben strength.

Calling all prayer warriors

 My dear, dear friend Mandy (one of the grad girls), delivered Ellie at 28 weeks while we were in graduate school three years ago.  Mandy is currently 25 weeks pregnant with Baby Brother Gramkow, and she is having contractions.  After a night in the hospital and a steroid shot to help develop BBG's lungs (another one scheduled for tomorrow) and medicine to hopefully stop the contractions, she is on strict bed rest until next Monday. 

It kills me that she is so far away in Fort Worth, TX, so the only thing I can offer from afar is prayer, and lots of it.  Please keep Mandy, Baby Brother Gramkow, Ellie, and Ben in your prayers. 

Mandy (left), Alisha, Me

Grad girls: Mandy (left), me, Sarah, Dana, and Alisha

Reading to Ellie

Alisha's Babies Shower

My graduate school friend Alisha had a babies shower (she is having twins - a boy and a girl!) this weekend in Kearney, NE on Saturday morning.  The grad girls were all about making this awesome for her!  Mandy and I decided to totally surprise her by making the trip (Mandy is from Fort Worth, and I of course live in Wichita).  I took Friday off from work, and my parents went with me to help with the driving. We stayed overnight in a hotel on Friday night to make sure I got there on time on Saturday.  Mandy came via Minnesota (her sister just had a baby, too!) and surprised Alisha Friday night, and I came over for the babies shower Saturday morning!  She was so shocked!  All the grad girls went together to get Alisha a gift, and I brought it with me.

Benton saying goodbye

Mom and I at the hotel

Plenty of presents for twins!

Alisha received a great amount of diapers and wipes!

Gifts for Baby Boy Hanshaw

Gifts for Baby Girl Hanshaw

Me reading to Ellie, Mandy's daughter

The grad girl present!

A pack-and-play!

Alisha's niece

Ellie being super cute!

Mandy, Alisha, and Me

Love the grad girls!

There are five people in this photo!!!  Mandy Gramkow, Baby Gramkow, Alisha Hanshaw, Baby Boy Hanshaw, and Baby Girl Hanshaw!

I had lunch with Mandy and Alisha, which was great to have more time to catch up!  My parents (who went to Cabelas and sightseeing during the shower and lunch) and I left for Kansas shortly after lunch.  It was great to see Kevin when I got back to Wichita!

Congratulations Alisha and Mandy!