The Six Pack

2-20-2000.  It was a date that forever changed our family.  It was the day we welcomed our First Little Blessing, Alexander Steven, a full month ahead of schedule.  Alex was born early and tiny, weighing just 5 pounds but completely healthy with a STRONG set of lungs! That first year, Alex taught us so much... ...he taught us that, despite my previously very "organized" life, you can't plan everything. ...he gave us our first real lesson in selflessness. ...he taught us to consult the doctors, but to trust a mother's intuition. ...he reminded us that there are more important aspects to life than money and career. ...he taught us to buy toilet paper in bulk. ...he gave us a better understanding of how children are such a precious gift from God. And in the blink of an eye, our little Alex is already twelve years old, going on 25.  He is still small for his age, but there is nothing small about the way he thinks.  Alex is our logical, rational child, and he tries t...

Happy Birthday to my sweet, intelligent, handsome, funny, and loving ten year-old David! David, you have given us ten precious, very special years.  I remember vividly that very day of your arrival, and how our hearts melted with joy the moment we first saw your sweet face and held you in our arms. We soon learned you have an unstoppable  energy and impulsiveness that often get you into trouble... ...and you have a great love for all things  dinosaur and nature. You are a caring son and brother, and seek God in your daily life. These ten years have not always been easy for you, but you have overcome many obstacles and are growing into a fine young man.  May God continue to bless you today and always, my sweet Davey.

Happy (belated) Valentines Day!  Heart Day certainly takes on a whole new meaning for those touched by heart disease.  Many lives have been lost, many children have suffered, and many families have faced tremendous challenges due to this most common type of birth defect.  Yet now more than ever, there is GREAT HOPE for CHD victims.  Twenty years ago, Zachary's prognosis would have been very grim.  Today, the tables have turned and many children born with this awful diagnosis have a very good chance at a normal life.  And each one of us can take steps to ensure that Zachary and his CHD friends will continue to enjoy a good quality of life well into adulthood. Educate yourself and others on the signs and symptoms of congenital heart disease.  Some infants will display symptoms before they leave the hospital, but other defects can go undetected for months or even years.  Read up on the warning signs (visit here ,  here , and here ) and pass the ...

Today kicks off CHD Awareness Week as a part of February's American Heart Month.  Just a few short years ago, I had never heard of "CHD's", and today I am mother to a CHD miracle! So to recognize the week, I wanted to take a few moments to share some information about Congenital Heart Defects and the difference we can make to help save our children. Did you know that congenital heart defects are common? Congenital heart defects are conditions present at birth that affect how a baby's heart is made and the way it works. They are the most common type of birth defects. In the United States, about 40,000 infants are born with a heart defect each year.  Did you know that some heart defects can be found before birth, some at birth, or some after a baby leaves the hospital? Some congenital heart defects can be found before birth. Knowing if a baby has a heart defect before birth can help families plan for the future. Some heart defects can be found at birth, because they...

It has been a while since I updated on our new baby, though it seems I complain about pregnancy every chance I get.  Today we are only eight short long weeks away from meeting our latest addition face-to-face!  It depends on who you talk to; some will say "Wow, so soon!" and others "Eight weeks still?  Gosh, it looks like that baby is ready to come NOW!"  Of course, I personally can't wait to get our Little Blessing out of my belly and into my arms.  I have never made it all the way to my due date...  Alex was born a month early and each of our subsequent children kept getting closer and closer until Zachary was induced just two days ahead of schedule!  So the trend predicts we may have to wait the full eight weeks, or perhaps even into the early part of April (ugh...) On the health front, everything looks fabulous as far as we can tell.  Our sonogram months ago revealed a full four-chambered heart, and a follow-up echocardiogram a few weeks later...