Seems hard to believe that next month, our baby girl will be two years old.  No longer a "baby", per se, but to me, she will always be our baby.

Nyckole Laureen continues to live, grow, astound her doctors, and those who come into direct contact with her.  Even despite the odds that were stacked against her, our daughter has proven to be a little fighter.  When doctors gave up hope on her, she proved them wrong by reaching one milestone after another.

This is Patricia Le-Anne Tanner, Nyckole's mommy.  Thought I would write some more about her, as well as the other members of my family.  If it were not for their prayers/support, as well as the support of a wonderful medical team back at the children's hospital, my girl may have never had a chance at life. 

It is only by God's grace that she's come this far.

Nyckole is talking a blue streak; she also has a temper to be reckoned with when she doesn't get what she wants.  She is definitely in the "terrible-two" phase: everything is "NO!"; if she doesn't get her way, she will scream so hard (and so loud), your ears might bleed!  LOL  She may be little, but she has a very big voice for her size!  LOL

Nothing wrong with her!!  (Other than being smaller than average and having to wear glasses, that is.  Or spoiled!  LOL)

Besides Nyckole, we have two other children:  four-year-old Grant Payton and six-year-old Micah Aurora-Dawn.  I feel sorry for little Grant:  he's surrounded by sisters; he's our only boy!  LOL  He has had the hardest time since Nyckole's birth; it seems that he's been shoved aside, and now he's jealous of his little sister.  We know that deep down he really loves her; we just have to have more "big-brother time" with him, so he doesn't feel abandoned.

Micah is in the first grade; as for Grant, he has afternoon pre-K; that means we have him in the mornings until we take him to his school at noon.  We then pick him up at five.  Seems that pre-K is the only break our son gets from his sisters; he's happiest there, but at home, he's competing for attention, particularly on his little sister's part, because it seems everyone notices Nyckole first before they even notice her brother (or other sister).

I guess it's because Nyckole went through so much early in life; people are interested in hearing her story.  It's only natural.

I sometimes feel guilty that Nyckie was born so early, but maybe there was a reason for it.  God has brought her "through the fire"; she is now a blessing of hope for all parents who have prematurely-born children:  if she can survive what she went through, then by God, other premies can, too!  This is why I often refer to our youngest child as being "a symbol of hope" to all prematurely-born children.

I am currently working on a manuscript about Nyckole; I plan on making it into a book.  I want people to know her story, get to know the "real child behind the headlines".  Hopefully the manuscript will be accepted (and maybe published!!); I have always wanted to write a book; now seems like the perfect time as Nyckole's second birthday approaches. 

Well, Nyckie's crying, so I'd best see what she wants before she wakes up the rest of the household.  I will write in here again soon; until then, this is Patty Tanner saying so long and God bless!  Thanks for all the prayers on Nyckole's behalf; they've really helped her (and us)!

~Love, your friend, Patricia Tanner, Nyckole Laureen's mommy.  :)