My name is Grace.  I live in Chicago, Illinois, with my husband, Rob, who is a cop, and our two children, Graydon Robert and Graciela Rhianne, who are four months old today.

The mere fact that our children are still alive is an answer to our dearest prayers.  Our children who should have been born today were born back in June, on the 3rd: they were nearly four months premature, weighing just 12 ounces (Graydon) and 1 pound, 2 ounces (Graciela).  The odds were stacked against them; doctors did not expect them to survive, especially Graydon, the smaller of the twins.

They just got out of the hospital last week (well, Graydon did; Graciela got out a month ago).  Graciela just came off of oxygen; Graydon is still on oxygen and it looks like it will be a while before he is taken off of oxygen therapy because his lungs are still quite weakened.  They have been to the doctor's office numerous times and our doctor is very pleased at how well they seem to be doing, especially Graciela.

We do not know what the future will hold for the twins, but one thing is certain: God is certainly performing miracles each and every day in their (and our) lives.  We have a very loving, close-knit church family who have been lifting us in prayer; in fact, it is only by prayer (and God's grace) that the babies have been doing as well as they have been.  There seems to be no other explanation.

Just keep those prayers coming; I and Rob appreciate them more than you will ever know!  Take care and God bless; it's time to feed the kids!  I will write in here again soon with another update; hopefully things will continue to go well for the babies!

~Love, your new friend,  Grace Hickam.

~To be continued!~