We received our bachelor's degrees from Kansas State University. Our education has helped both of us understand the medical terms, procedures and biology of Kellie's treatments.

Julie started volunteering in Pediatrics at Via Christi-St. Francis Regional Medical Center. This helped her learn how to deal with ill children and the emotional aspect for the families. She learned how to be a big advocate for Kellie and also learned patience and courage.

Julie had several medical problems that put her in the hospital five times, including having her gall bladder removed. This helped both of us, especially Peter, learn how to relax in a hospital setting.

We started trying to start a family, and went through two years of painful infertility, including a year of fertility drugs and one early miscarriage. This strengthened our bond of marriage and the faith and trust in God to bring us through the rough times. It was hard to understand why we weren't blessed with a child when so many were unwanted. It really tried our patience.

We started attending the church we now belong to.

We were blessed by Jacob's pregnancy and then had to endure four months of strict bed rest when Julie started pre-term labor at 24 weeks. This again strengthened our marital bond and also our faith in God. Peter had to juggle working and taking care of Julie and the house. Julie had to quit working four months earlier than planned. Thinking that she would deliver at any time, Julie read many books on premature birth and babies. This, of course, helped prepare us for Kellie's surprising birth.

About Kellie's name...Julie picked out the name "Jacob" for a boy, but we didn't have a middle name chosen. After his birth, Julie decided he needed Peter's middle name because Peter had sacrificed so much during the bed rest period. Also, he made it through the delivery with flying colors! Peter had chosen the name Kellie for a girl. (Since Julie picked out the boys name) He'd always liked that name and didn't know it was the name Julie's mom had originally picked out for her, but then changed her mind after liking Julie Andrews in "The Sound of Music". After Jacob was born, we decided that since he had Daddy's middle name, then a girl would get Mommy's middle name, Christine. The name, Kellie Christine, meaning, "warrior, Christian" was not chosen based on its meaning, at least not by us! Now it has such a deep meaning. The spelling was chosen by Julie during the pregnancy, but we never got around to discussing it...thinking we had more time. In the delivery room was when Peter found out the chosen spelling...and didn't argue with Julie at that time!

We became debt free through years of budgeting and planning. We paid off our last debt - our mortgage, two months before Jacob's birth. Jacob was born happy and healthy and changed our lives forever. Julie has been a stay-at-home Mom since before his birth. Jacob was delivered by c-section, preparing both of us for Kellie's c-section.

Julie's new insurance policy, which covers her and the kids, came back with one million dollars of lifetime coverage instead of two million. We found the error and had it changed to two million. Kellie will probably use the one million before she comes home.

We became pregnant with Kellie quite by surprise! While we weren't doing anything to stop a pregnancy, we sure didn't think it would happen with out fertility treatment! We weren't going to try any treatment and left the timing of another child up to the Lord. Little did we know it would happen within three months! Since Kellie was conceived without help, Julie knew God would make everything with the pregnancy and birth okay...little did we know His okay was this!

We all of a sudden decided to buy a camcorder/digital camera. Now we are so glad to have it to chronicle Kellie's life!

In anticipation of needing pregnancy bed rest and having two little ones, Julie purchased almost all of the cards and gifts, including Christmas gifts, she would need this year. This is great now considering there is no time to shop. Also, we won't be taking Kellie out in public much, let alone during the holiday season.

We started the free web site in January "just for the fun of it" and wondered who would ever visit it! Little did we know we'd get 30-50 hits per day, and that people we don't even know would visit it! We didn't even have Internet access at home until the end of last year. What Satan has been using for so much evil, we have seen Almighty God use for His glory with Kellie's story!

We prepared Jacob very early for Kellie. We moved him into his new room in January, we bought him big brother books, and we talked about "tummy baby". He is very aware of Kellie's condition and very concerned about her. When I was discharged from the hospital, he asked, "Baby Sister Kell-yee?", meaning, "why isn't she coming home, too?"

Jacob is a very compliant two-year old and is advanced in his speech and language skills. That helped him out during this crisis birth when he was shuffled all over and didn't have Mommy and Daddy very often.

We had time to get to the hospital before Kellie decided to be born! The delivery very well may have started at home, but we had 7 hours to prepare (enough time for our most important support team - both sets of Kellie's grandparents - to arrive).

It is a big blessing that she wasn't born 24-48 hours earlier; they would not have resuscitated her.

We were in total agreement regarding the decision to deliver Kellie via c-section, even though we weren't given time to discuss it together.

Peter's parents made it from Kansas City just minutes before Kellie's birth. Julie's parents watched Jacob during the trauma.

Julie had a female OB resident, Dr. Traci Helms, taking care of her. Generally she doesn't care about the gender of doctors, but during this highly emotional time, she is very thankful to have had a female supporting her. During the trip back to the delivery room, Dr. Helms answered Julie's fearful questions about Kellie in a very compassionate way, easing her through the roughest part of the whole experience.

Both Dr. Helms and the attending OB were joking around while sewing Julie up. The humor helped ease the tension that had just happened - something Julie always needs during hospitalizations - seeing the humor in the situation.

Kellie cried at birth! They said babies that young usually don't cry. It was Julie's sign from the Lord that all would be okay.

Our family practice doctor, Dr. David Kortje, was out of town, but the doctor on call, Dr. Greg Greer, is also a great Christian. It was great to be in good hands even with our doctor gone. The staff of the doctors' office pray for us. Dr. Greer prayed with Julie when checking on her the morning after Kellie's birth. Both doctors are very compassionate and caring, and they care for the whole person, body, soul, and spirit.

Every minute, hour, day, and week of Kellie's life is the most incredible blessing!

The meaning of her chosen name (picked out 3 years ago) spoke comfort to Julie immediately after the birth and confirmed that Kellie is a fighter and will grow up to be a strong Christian and do great things for God. It also showed us that there are so many prayer warriors out there fighting for her, as well as a army of angels.

Friends and family immediately surrounded us with love, support, and prayers.

We have a wonderful church family and pastors to support us and guide us. Many people gave us lists of scripture to claim for Kellie's life.

Special church members cooked us meals after Kellie's birth.

Special friends have pitched in and watched Jacob for us several times.

Special friends unselfishly loaned us their cell phone for a month until we could find the energy to shop for and buy one. This was our link to the hospital and Kellie.

On Kellie's sixth day, we received the poem, "For Kellie Christine" in the mail. It was written by a dear friend who herself has had many trials. The poem is very touching and has impacted many people.

Julie has always wanted an amethyst birthstone baby. It's a silly little thing, but God granted her the desire of her heart.

Kellie was admitted into what we've heard is "the best NICU in the Midwest". She has incredible doctors, nurse practitioners, nurses, respiratory technicians, and specialists taking excellent care of her. They have never given up on her even though it seemed so many times that she wouldn't pull through!

We were placed on over 30 prayer lists the first week of Kellie's birth through word of mouth with family and friends. The count eventually made it to around 40...we lost count.

Several other churches besides ours have prayed weekly, visited us at the hospital, sent cards, and prayed. It is great to see the unity of the entire Body of Christ (across denominations) work together on her behalf.

Word of Kellie's situation spread rapidly via email and our web site, in spite of the fact that the web site isn't listed on any search engines or links.

The radio station Julie volunteers for has a weekday morning show, "The Preacher's Wife" that mentions Kellie at least once per week and Julie calls in and gives updates. Many listeners pray and lift us up.

Someone, or many people, unknown to us, have prayed for protection from Satan from day one. We have not been in total despair or given up hope, but have always kept our eyes on the Lord and trusted Him for Kellie's life. While the road is scary and we are grieving, we've always known God is in control when we have been so out of control.

On March 18, Kellie was given a special gift. An eight-year old girl named Kaitlyn Adams, decided to donate 40 Ty Beanie Babies from her collection to the infants in the NICU. Kaitlyn wanted her most beloved Beanie to go to the smallest, sickest baby. That baby was Kellie, not even a month old yet. The Beanie is a praying bear named "Hope". The gift is treasured and a special symbol of the volumes of prayer Kellie had received and the hope that we all have had for her. Hope the bear has remained in Kellie's bed since that day and now wears Kellie's Easter headband. You can see her in some of the photos.

When Kellie was 6 weeks old, an elder from the church called to check up on us. He asked if Julie had a headache. She did and had been having them for quite some time. He prayed with her over the phone and the pain went away. She still hasn't had a headache in 8 weeks!

Many people have so faithfully prayed for Kellie's health and specific prayer requests...most of whom we don't even know and will never meet until Heaven!

Peter had a vision when Kellie was one day old, of God's hand over her entire bed protecting her from whatever came near her.

Julie's mom had a vision of two male angels standing on either side of Kellie's bed, and they turned around and both gave her the "a-okay" sign with their hands.

Julie's hair dresser had a vision of Jesus walking into the NICU and going over to Kellie's bed and picking her up and resting her in His hands and taking away her pain.

Julie's five-year-old nephew drew a picture of Kellie laying in her bed with three angels flying around protecting her. (This is the drawing on the photo page).

Jacob's child-like faith and prayers have made us see God in a new light.

We have met many new people at church we never knew before, and gotten to know others better.

Kellie has increased the prayer lives of many. We've been given testimonies regarding this issue. She is proving to us and many others the power of prayer.

Kellie qualifies for Supplemental Social Security Income and Medicaid while she is a patient at the hospital based on her low birth weight of under 2 pounds, 10 ounces. The Medicaid will pick up anything our private insurance doesn't cover, including the $2,500 deductible we would have had to pay.

02/22/00 - A head sonogram showed no brain bleed like they thought she had! We specifically asked for prayer that she wouldn't have one.

02/22/00 - The surgery to insert a central line catheter went very smoothly, and good, even though the surgeon said, "My that's a tiny baby!" He thought she'd outgrow it within a couple of weeks and it would have to be changed out. It lasted 8 weeks, then it was removed because it was no longer needed!

First and Second week - Kellie pulled through the air leaks in her lungs that the doctors thought would kill her. She also pulled through the severe abdominal bleeding. The two conditions were why the doctors told us they had done all they could, and that she probably wouldn't live much longer.

02/24/00 - A church elder, Wes Wolken, came and annointed Kellie's bed with oil and prayed for her (according to James 5:14). She still has this protection. After praying for Kellie, Peter and Wes prayed for Julie and she was healed of her pain from the c-section.

02/27/00 - We asked for specific prayer for her edema and seizures to stop. The edema did eventually stop. The seizures continue to improve. The convulsive seizures have stopped and now she suffers from silent ones.

02/29/00 - The prayer requests were: no brain bleeds, no intestinal trouble, no ROP, and no infections. The only thing on the list she's had is ROP, and we trust it was healed with surgery. We trust there is complete healing.

02/29/00 - We asked for prayer for her electrolytes to stabilize and they did. She still had some troubles with calcium and phosphate, but they appear to be normal now.

03/04/00 - Kellie hadn't had any blood pressure trouble for a week, another answer to prayer. She still hasn't had any trouble with it.

03/04/00 - Bacterial cultures came back negative after there was suspicion she had an infection. She still hasn't had any as of 06/03/00.

Her lungs slowly showed continual improvement allowing her to come off the ventilator at 9 weeks old.

03/06/00 - Kellie has always tolerated her feedings well, with no intestinal trouble that is so common to preemies. This is another big answer to prayer.

03/06/00 - Her jaundice never got too bad and she recovered well from it.

03/06/00 - People prayed for healing for our family when we were ill, and also our long term wellness and strength. We have held up great since the beginning. Someone also was praying from protection from Satan, as we have never been depressed or given up hope.

03/09/00 - We were told that out of thousands of babies treated in many years, only one or two had pulled out of the air leaks like Kellie had.

03/10/00 - We were told to expect some feeding problems and setbacks, some infections and some continued lung impairment. She has never had feeding problems or infections. Her lungs continue to heal.

03/13/00 - We asked for prayer for the urine problem to stop and be healed. It stopped with the Desmopressin drug (synthetic anti-diueretic hormone), but now she is off the drug and doing fine. It was diagnosed as Diabetes Insipidus and it appears to be healed as of 05/12/00.

03/15/00 - We asked for prayer that she wouldn't have Periventricular Leukomalcia (PVL). All tests indicate she doesn't have it. It is a disease that causes brain damage.

03/17/00 - We asked for specific prayer for Jacob, that he would get over his long-term illness and that he would understand what was going on with Kellie. He continues to be concerned for Kellie and shows her love. He has adjusted well to the situation.

03/17/00 - We asked for prayer concerning hypoglycemia. She recovered well from it.

03/22/00 - It looked like there was blood in Kellie's diaper. We prayed that it wasn't from her urine or stool, but rather blood from a heel stick or something. There was never any blood again.

March - We asked for prayer for Kellie to have good growth. She continues to have this and has great weight gains.

03/31/00 - It really looked like Kellie had a bad infection. We earnestly asked for prayer that she didn't have one. All of the cultures came back negative.

04/05/00 - Another head sonogram showed still no head bleeds and no PVL. It also showed no pituitary tumor like was suspected.

March and April - We asked for prayer regarding the other "23-weeker" babies, Daniel and Michael. They continue to do well and have healing.

04/14/00 - A repeat EEG showed her seizures were improving.

04/14/00 - Julie asked for prayer regarding her milk supply - that the Reglan drug would work. It didn't just double her supply like the lactation doctor said it would...it quadrupled it!

04/19/00 - We really started seeing the manifestations of the long-term prayer requests

04/19/00 - We asked for prayer that she would be extubated within two weeks...it was six days!

04/19/00 - Her third ROP (Retinopathy of Prematurity) eye exam showed no disease. The doctors were amazed.

04/23/00 - Kellie had three virus cultures taken. They were all negative.

04/25/00 - A fourth eye exam still showed no ROP disease.

05/09/00 - We asked for protection from infection once again since Kellie was on the Decadron steriod. She came through that round without any infection once again!

05/11/00 - A fifth eye exam showed that Kellie did have ROP disease. It was Stage 3 plus with rush in Zone 2 of both eyes and needed immediate surgery.

05/12/00 - Kellie had her ROP laser eye surgery and didn't have any problems breathing. We asked for prayer that she would stay off the ventilator, which she had a 50% chance of needing. She didn't even have any apnea, bradycardia, or desaturation episodes during the surgery.

05/18/00 - We asked for prayer about her getting off of CPAP and being able to eat by breast or bottle. She came off of CPAP (for a week) on 05/22. She tried nursing, but failed, on 05/25. She took in milk by bottle on 05/27.

05/21/00 - Kellie moved to an open crib, meaning she could regulate her temperature - something we asked for prayer about.

06/01/00 - A follow-up eye exam showed that her ROP had regressed to Stage 2 in three-quarters of each eye, leaving one-quarter still at Stage 3.