Postpartum

We were home, and I was exhausted. My milk supply was not coming in. I was feeding every hour on the hour. I didn’t want to leave the house. My son was not pooping. He was spitting up almost everything that I gave him. He would only sleep if he were held. And I couldn’t sleep out of fear that something would happen. My anxiety had me on such an edge that I was averaging 2.5 hours of sleep each day (according to my watch). I cried over everything. Everything. And this went on for about two weeks before I had a breakdown.

Now, I knew after the first few days that I had the baby blues and postpartum anxiety. But I didn’t realize how bad it was until one night, I sat crying about not producing enough milk while my son cried out in frustration - yanking on my nipple. He hadn’t pooped yet, and he would strain so much. I was concerned that something was wrong. I hadn’t showered in several days, I wasn’t getting any sleep, my nipples were cracked, and it was so painful every time my son would latch. My husband insisted that I pump, but barely anything was coming out. And I just lost it in front of everyone. That’s when my husband, mom, and stepmother-in-law came up with a plan to take shifts. My husband told me to go to bed, and they would wake me up when I needed to pump so they could feed him. That night, I got some much-needed rest. And while I felt better the next day, I knew our routine was unsustainable.

 

Eventually, I went to see my doctor. While they prescribed some medication, I decided to try a few other things first to see if they would help. So, we went outside. I forced myself to make more trips into town. I asked for help so I could do a few things around the house and shower at least every three days. I started breathing through my anxiety - long, deep breaths. By week 3, the baby blues had passed, and by week 8, my anxiety had significantly decreased. Also, at the recommendation of several family members, I started researching safe co-sleeping. This isn’t for everyone, and that’s okay. I had co-slept with Emery, but I was completely oblivious to safe co-sleeping practices back then. This time, I was much older and exhausted. And I was dealing with severe anxiety, so I was scared to even think about cosleeping. However, after reading up on safe co-sleeping and bedsharing, I felt comfortable enough to give it a go. And let me just say that once we began co-sleeping, I started getting more sleep. We both did. I went from getting 4 hours a night to 6 hours in the form of two 3-hour stretches. Again, this isn’t for everyone.

Things have gotten better. I can function on the sleep I’m getting now. The minor health issues that little man has are things that he’ll outgrow. And we’re slowly adapting to our new family dynamic. While I had been totally prepared for the physical part of postpartum, the emotional and mental parts had completely taken me by surprise. I was ready for the bleeding and wobbling around. I was prepared for the fluctuation in hormone levels and the breastfeeding pain. But I was not prepared for the depression, anxiety, and tears. I was not prepared for the emotional breakdown that came with sleep deprivation. I honestly felt like I was losing my mind. And I was not prepared for the feeling of loneliness that seemed all-consuming. This postpartum was a completely different experience from when I had my daughter. Now that we’re three months in, I look back at that time with sadness. My anxiety really robbed me of being able to enjoy those first two weeks of “newborn bliss”. And I feel like I robbed my son of having a calm and peaceful introduction to the world. Instead, he got the mom, who was filled with anxiety, exhaustion, and panic.

Coming Home

Shortly after my son arrived, things were all fuzzy. I was tired. The doctor was stitching me up. My son was on my chest, looking shocked and sucking on his fingers. People all around were talking. Once that was all taken care of, it got quiet in the room, and we were able to have a “golden hour” as a family of four. I couldn’t believe that our little boy was finally here.

While I was so happy that he got here safely, it didn’t feel the same as the last time I had given birth. I knew I loved this little baby, but it differed greatly from my daughter. I couldn’t quite pinpoint the feeling, but it grew over the next 24 hours. It was like a slow bloom at first - as I stared at him. Then, tracing his nose and holding his little fingers, it felt surreal that he was actually in my arms. He would open his eyes and look at me with this intensity, too. He was perfect and very calm.

While at the hospital, I felt safe. If I had questions, the nurses would answer them. If we needed help, a nurse would come in. If you’ve ever given birth, you know that you get little to no sleep at a hospital. Surprisingly, I found comfort in that. There was always someone there if needed. And even though this was not my first time having a child - it had been 14 years since I had gone through this - everything was so different.

We were released the following afternoon, and while we were all excited to be going home, this is when my anxiety started to creep in. I worried about the car seat. I kept checking his breathing. When we got home, I thought I would feel more comfortable, but it was the complete opposite. Gone were the nurses. No one at home knew CPR. There wasn’t another person checking on my son to make sure he was okay in the middle of the night. Adding to that anxiety, he did not want to sleep while swaddled or in a bassinet. All he wanted was contact naps. And that’s when things started going downhill for me.

A Birth Story // Part II

When I say that I labored in all positions, I mean it. We walked the halls a lot. I would sit on the birthing ball and roll my hips in figure 8s. Then, when the nurse spotted the heart rate issue, I had to add several other positions. They dropped the bed, and I was in a sitting position. I went through several contractions that way. Then they laid me back down and put a peanut ball between my legs - having me bend back a bit. Not a fan of that one at all. And then I was asked to get on all fours - rocking back and forth. Then, they brought the birthing ball for me to wrap my arms around and rock. Finally, they got Corey involved, and we did the “slow-dance” position. We did this for about 2 hours. Switching between each one every 20 - 25 minutes. 

During all of this, the nurse kept monitoring my baby’s heart rate. Thankfully, her advice worked, and it started to remain steady. I was told that I could labor however I felt the most comfortable from that point on. While this was good news, this was also about the time that I started to struggle a bit. I began to waver in my decision to attempt this without medication. As I swayed through another contraction, the pain was so intense. I remember telling Corey, “I think I’m going to need something to get through this. It hurts so bad.” He told me that he supported that decision, and so I asked the nurse for some medication.

BUT it was too late. Originally, she told me that she’d bring me some pain medication to give me through my IV. Before she left the room, she checked me and said I was past 8 cm. When she returned empty-handed, I knew I wouldn’t be getting anything. “I’m so sorry. They told me that since you are at an 8, we can’t administer any medication.” I asked about nitrous, and she said they were out. I almost cried as I swayed from side to side next to the bed. The contractions were getting closer together, and they were painful. I mentally scolded myself, “Why did you think it was a good idea to do this without any drugs?” And just as another contraction peaked, a second nurse came in and declared that the nitrous had been restocked. She connected the mask, and they gave me instructions on what I had to do.

This is when time felt like it was going by really fast and slow all at the same time. I got up on the bed with the birthing ball and the nitrous mask. I had several contractions in that position before I was rechecked. Another nurse came in, and the doctor appeared. There was a whirlwind of pulling tables closer to the bed, and the doctor asked me to get on my back. She checked me and said, “It’s time to push.” The nurse told her I wanted to go with a squat bar for delivery, but the doctor said it wasn’t an option due to the umbilical cord. She needed access in case my son wasn’t breathing and she needed to perform lifesaving measures. My feet were placed in stirrups, and Corey was asked where he’d like to stand. My daughter and mother were sitting behind the doctor, and they opted to stay in the room.

As the doctor instructed me to push, I bared down, and that’s when I started to feel the “ring of fire”. It was so intense. As soon as the next contraction peaked, she said, “PUSH.” I pushed down as hard as I could. Other people were saying words of encouragement, but I tried to focus on the doctor. I was tired, and the pain felt like it was never going to end. The next contraction started, and soon after, I heard her say again, “PUSH.” This time, I pushed, but I didn’t do a full push. I felt weak and exhausted. I remember looking at Corey and thinking, “I can’t do this.” And that’s when I heard someone say, “He’s almost out, he’s right there, one more good push.” And I gave it all I had. My right leg came down, and the nurse had to grab it and place it back up. But I bared down, and within seconds, he was out. They placed him on my chest, and he let out a cry while I let out a sigh of relief. He was finally here.

A Birth Story // Part I

My entire pregnancy was relatively “easy” but we had to change plans a couple of times. And then when it came to labor and delivery, I ended up having to be induced. While I had hoped to avoid induction, my doctor felt it was the best course of action. So, that’s what we did.

The Monday before my scheduled induction I let my employer know I would be out. I finalized my sick pool request, which was granted. Thankfully. That Tuesday, I worked on “tying up loose ends” and handing over important documents to the person taking on some of my duties. I said bye to everyone and went home to pack.

That afternoon, I packed my hospital bag and went over a mental checklist. Gown, socks, toiletries, snacks, adult diapers, phone charger, etc. I placed my son’s going-home outfit in my bag and had Corey check that the car seat was installed properly. He then made sure to pack his pillow and loaded up our bags. It felt unreal that, God willing, by that time on the following day our son would be here.

The day of my induction started early for us. We had to be at the hospital by 5 AM which meant we had to be up at 4 AM. Our alarm went off, and we made sure to gather the last bit of things we needed. We fixed our coffee and grabbed some breakfast. I walked into my daughter’s room and gave her a kiss. I told her I’d see her later and off we went.

The drive was pretty quiet as I was mentally preparing myself for what I was about to go through. The plan was to labor and deliver without any kind of pain medication. I had done it with my daughter, and I was adamant about doing it again. But that meant I would have to endure quite a bit of pain. So, I sipped on my coffee and ate my breakfast as we traveled down the winding back road towards the hospital. I kept thinking about how our lives were about to change, forever.

Once we arrived at the hospital the check-in process was simple. We were taken back to our room, and I started the process of getting ready. The nurse hooked up my IV and the wireless monitor system. Another nurse asked how I’d like to labor, and I informed her of my wishes. We were given some more paperwork, and then I was told that the Pitocin would be started after the doctor came in to check on me. Corey went out to grab some breakfast, and I recorded a little vlog while I waited.

By 7 AM, we had met the nurses who would be our “team”. We discussed natural pain management, and alternative non-medication options available. And because it’s required we went over epidurals and medications available should I change my mind. Then, I was checked for dilation, and the Pitocin was started. Everyone kept telling me that this would go by fast because I was already dilated to 6 cm. From that point, we just had to wait for the contractions to start.

Over the next few hours, I requested a birthing ball and spoke to the nurse about different delivery positions. We discussed the availability of a squat bar, getting on all fours, and even sitting upright. Thankfully, my doctor was open to whatever I felt comfortable doing. During this time my mom arrived. My father-in-law and my daughter came as well. The contractions were mild, and I rolled through them on the birthing ball. By 11 AM they broke my water.

The contractions remained mild, but it was about 1 PM when the nurse came in with concerns about my son’s heart rate and my lack of progression. She checked the monitor and confirmed that with every contraction I had, my baby’s heart rate would drop. She checked me and then stated that she felt the cord was wrapped around his neck. So, she started having me labor in different positions. Switching every 20 minutes. If this didn’t help or resolve the issue then we’d have to discuss other options...

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday

An Oops & A Little Chat

Recently, I was offered some products to review. I was also gifted a 3 month subscription to another product, and thought I should share my thoughts on both. So, the other day I took some pictures, and even a little video. I had all of these ready to upload, but then I decided I was going to clear out some of my phone storage because I'm anal and need everything organized in their own little folders. I started by removing duplicates, and then transferring several pictures onto my laptop. Only, when I went to move the product stuff over they were deleted rather than saved. Since these were being taken from my iPhone rather than my hard drive there was no way to restore them. So now I have to go and retake a bunch of pictures. Bleh. Until I get that up and going here are a few little updates for you guys. 

At the end of  May I became an aunt! It's a boy, and he is beautiful. Though I'm sure when he's grown up a bit he'll be all embarrassed that I called him beautiful. But you guys...he's so precious! And do you know what's even more precious? Seeing my baby brother holding his son. Carlos has always been a wonderful person. Sure he's as stubborn as an ass some times but he's also helpful, generous, and kind. My brother has always been the type of person who will do things for others without expecting anything in return. And that love that he has for his wife, y'all. It's unwavering, and unconditional. I don't think I've ever seen two people who work so well together, and put in the effort to keep a good relationship/marriage. I'm not saying they're perfect, or that they never have issues because that's unrealistic. What I'm saying is that they put in the work. You can tell when they bend for each other. When they compromise for each other. How they support each other. How they're a unit. It's truly, amazing to see them together, and I'm super proud of both of them. All of that said, I just know that they are going to be great parents! They are going to raise such a wonderful little man, and I'm just super stoked that I get to be his aunt. Unfortunately it's still a "no go" on pictures. Sorry guys, I tried. But I'm under strict orders. So, all I've got for you today is this one picture of a very sleep deprived brother looking down at his little bundle of joy. 

Moving along. A few days ago I saw a post online about a mother who dyed her daughter's (about 4-5 years old) hair. The little girl had light blonde hair, and the mom put in some semi permanent pink color to tint it. Now, I was all "Damn that looks cute." But then I started to read the comments, and there were a lot of people saying some really rude things. It ranged from this mom being a terrible mother, to the little girl not being old enough to do what she wants with her hair, and then it went all the way to someone asking for a Child Protective Service number in order to report her. Now, I'm not a cosmetologist so I can't really weigh in on the "harmful" stance of this topic. But I do have a young daughter that's always asking me if she can have some random color added to her hair. Unfortunately, my little one has dark hair so it's always been a no from me. This is because we'd have to bleach it, and I'd rather not. If she had lighter hair, I'd probably let her do the semi-permanent color that washes out without even thinking twice about it. That's just me though. Then there was someone who commented about not allowing their daughter to make any decisions in regards to her hair until she was 11 or 12 years old. Because "Kids shouldn't always get what they want."  I thought that was a bit extreme, but to each his own I guess. My daughter has always had long hair, and I absolutely love it. She's wanted blue hair, pink hair, and purple hair that I wish I could allow her to have. But for the most part I've always allowed her to decide the length, and style of her hair. So what was the whole point of this little chat you ask? Well...I let my daughter do a thing...

(fyi--her hair was passed her bum before)

That's all for now folks. These past few weeks have been busy. It was hard to keep any kind of real schedule. Thankfully, after this Saturday everything should be back to a normal routine. Fingers crossed anyway. 

Halen David Is Here & Some More News!

Wednesday morning we woke up to a text from my friend (that had been sent at 2 am) letting us know that his fiancé had been induced. It was officially baby time! I let him know that we would stop by after I was off work, and hopefully Halen would already have arrived by then. Sure enough, I received a picture message letting me know just that around noon. You guys, he was absolutely adorable! Tiny little peach fuzz for hair, and some seriously “pinch-able” cheeks. Just looking at him made me want to go get myself pregnant.

Halen David McKamey 

 6 lbs. 13 oz. 

19” long 

He looks so much like his daddy! And thankfully, once we were at the hospital that afternoon I was able to get my baby fix. He’s even more precious in person. Such tiny little hands and feet. Look at that face!! Omg, my ovaries.

I am so excited for them! Brett is going to be an awesome dad too. Just sitting there with him in that room, and I could already see such a change in him. So attentive, and so in love. I've known him for years, and even just a few weeks ago, he was telling me "how it was going to be". All that went right out the window. LOL! That little guy has his daddy so wrapped.

When I was holding Halen I had such a rush of nostalgia. And I was a little bit sad for myself because I barely remember Emery being that small. You never forget, and you can always recall those memories. But, I no longer see her as that tiny little baby. She's a full fledged TODDLER. And holding Halen brought back all of those memories. I ending up telling my husband “We are so having another one. I want another one!” Everything felt all magical, and the idea of a new baby was just so awesome! I was sitting there with Halen and I totally pictured myself with another baby. Maybe not right then but even if I got pregnant while still in school I felt like we could handle it. Yeeaaa, then Emery started getting jealous, whining, running around, and trying to crawl up onto my lap like a wild child while I was holding him. Totally nipped that train of the thought real quick! I crashed back to reality and seriously debated getting my head checked for thinking such crazy thoughts. LOL! But seriously, I miss those “infant” months. I miss the tiny little socks, onesies, and baby breath. I miss those tiny stretches Emery used to do, and her tiny little yawns. She slept so much too. It was so peaceful! *sigh* Once we left the hospital my "baby fever” had curbed. Now if only Nate or Dane would get their wives pregnant, I’ll be set for the next few years. LOL! At least until (and if) we're ready to have another one.

And now on to some more good news. Right before we left for the hospital, my husband got the call from FMC about a job interview! It’s not exactly the position we were hoping for, and the hours will take some getting used to, but my dad said he won’t be in that area permanently. After 2-3 months he can bid out to work in a different area and even a different shift. My dad said he’d even try to get him into his area  and shift as soon as he was able to. But beggars can't be choosers and we really thankful for this opportunity. Now, I don’t want to get ahead of ourselves. These are all still “ifs” because he hasn’t actually been hired. His interview is today at 3:30 pm. We’ve been a little worried because we know other guys are being interviewed as well. So we're just praying everything goes well and in my husband's favor.

If you get a chance wish us some luck, send some good vibes, or say a little prayer. Our little family really needs to have two incomes coming in right now. Especially with school right around the corner. We’d really appreciate it.

What I've Been Up To: Part I

Man, I’ve been really bad about posting. Sorry! It has been a busy past two weeks. And until Monday things were going pretty well. I may have jumped onto the “depression” conclusion too soon. Or maybe not? But I can say that after writing typing it out, I’ve felt a thousand times better. So now, I’m going to break down the events of the past two weeks for you.

The weekend of the 9th was the local "Tour de Pepper" that my dad and brother usually ride in. This year my brother couldn't go because of work and because he's already asked off for another ride in July. So, this time around it was just my dad and a friend of his from work. Of course being the cheerleader for my family, I spent the morning cheering them on and meeting them at check points. I'm pretty proud to say that my dad finished 34 miles in 2 hours and 25 minutes! Woot woot! After we finished at the race, my husband and I got ourselves ready for one of my best friend's “baby party”. Brett's girlfriend is 8 months pregnant and instead of having a baby shower, they opted for a pool party and cook out. My mother volunteered to babysit for a few hours so we gladly took advantage of some toddler free time. We had a lot of fun, and I was able to see friends that I hadn’t seen in awhile. It was pretty awesome. But the biggest surprise of all was that Brett proposed! A few of our friends knew, but the rest of us were completely surprised! Before the party came to an end, he gave us all hugs and thanked us for being there to share his day.

Last week my brother and his girlfriend stayed over a few nights. I love having them over! Sometimes I get so wrapped up in our conversations that time just flies by. Texas also got a lot of rain last week which was much needed for our area. Emery had an afternoon filled with mud cakes and knee deep puddles that mommy didn’t approve of but grandma couldn’t say no to. Despite my urge to cringe and the germ infested water I allowed her a few minutes before hauling her off to the shower. Now as much as I love the rain our front yard looked awful. It stunk like mud and water that had been sitting for too long. Ewe. We had one final storm on Thursday and it’s been hot and sunny every since.

Also on Tuesday of last week a friend of mine came back from Afghanistan! I've missed his face! When I was seventeen I had a close group of guy friends, that were a few years older than me. I met them when they were in college through a mutual friend. I hit it off with all of them. And not in that “Oh my gosh, they’re so cute” kind of way. With them, everything was easy. They treated me like one of the guys, but looked after me like a little sister when I needed it. We’ve all remained very close throughout the years. My friend Dane, however was in the army. So he’s been off on deployments throughout the entire time I've known him. But, he’s back now for awhile! And even though we all have our own things going on we’ve always managed to still get together. So when the other guys decided on having a welcome home get together for him last Wednesday, I jumped at the chance to get to see everyone together again.

Being around these guys, really makes me see what true friends are all about. We don’t have to be around each other all of the time. We don’t get mad if someone doesn’t call or text every few days. We all have an understanding that we’re grown up and we have different lives and responsibilities. But, when we get together it’s just as if we’re back in that dorm hanging out, throwing back a few beers. It’s easy. I can’t say that about a lot of people that have come into our lives. I think that’s why I only have a hand full of friends. But because of these guys, I feel truly blessed to know what real friends are. Last Wednesday, was no exception. And even though we probably won’t all get to see each other again until Dane’s wedding, I’m perfectly okay with that.

Baby Girl Willman

I just wanted to say that an acquaintance of mine and my mothers (one of my former co-workers) had her baby girl Thursday, June 16th! I got a call that morning, it was my mother and our friend, wanting to ask me what I thought of the feelings she was having. She said she was having major back pains every few minutes and that she was “leaking water”. Keep in mind she’s a first-time mom and didn't read any type of pregnancy books. I told her that her water had broke, she was having contractions, and she needed to go to the hospital. She said she didn't think it was actual labor because the pain wasn’t in her stomach, and she hadn't felt a gush. I told her again that she was and that the baby was probably positioned differently that why the pain was in her back. I told her that if she had showered that morning (she had) there was a good chance her water had broken then, explaining why she hadn't felt that "gush". She was still a bit skeptical seeing as how she wasn't due for another few weeks, so I told her if she wanted to wait for her doctor to call her back then she could. As I hung up her doctor called her back and told her to come in. LOL! Laura Barbra was born at 4:00 pm, 3 weeks shy of her due date! Both mom and baby are healthy and happy!

♥ Layla Grace Marsh 3/9/2010 ♥

This story truly breaks my heart. And what’s worse, is that there are so many children out there suffering! Not only from cancer, but from several other diseases. It seems like the farther we get along, the worse it gets. We have mother’s having abortions, people starving in other countries, children dying, hate crimes, and a whole bunch of other problems! And most of us just sit here, and we go on living our lives, pretending our own little problems are the end of the world. I AM GUILTY OF THIS! I am so guilty of this.

So when I ran across this story, I couldn’t help but break down into tears. Here was a family that lost their baby to something as ugly as cancer, and I was worried about Emery not self-soothing yet? What is WRONG with me?!? There are parents out there that have lost a child to SIDS, CANCER, STILLBIRTH, CAR ACCIDENTS, DISEASES, DEFECTS, and MISCARRIAGES! Women who would love to have my “problem”. Babies who would love to not have to go through chemo, be hooked up to a monitor, go through surgery, and just get a chance to run around outside! 

Every 4 hours a child dies from cancer. That’s 6 children a day. That’s one too many.

7,000 Babies die due to SIDS each year (that’s almost one every hour every day).

According to Child Maltreatment 2009, an estimated 1,770 children died as a result of abuse or neglect in 2009.

I know that GOD does things for a reason, and I know that all of those children are playing in heaven. And I hope that one day I’ll get to hear the sounds of their little feet! That I’ll get to hug every single one of them. But right now, I want to help whoever I can. I want to stop being so selfish and start making a difference for someone out there!! For the amount it costs me to eat out ONCE a week, I could send to help a family pay for chemotherapy. For the amount it takes me to buy Em all those toys, I could give a child a gift to lift their spirits! I would want someone to do that for my child. I would want to know that others were helping me give my little girl a chance. Now I’m not saying stop eating out or stop buying your kids things. I’m just saying, every once in a while, think about someone else. Volunteer, donate, hold fundraisers, send care packages, or even just a card! It really does make that much of a difference.  It really does help. 

Layla Grace Marsh

11/26/2007- 3/9/2010

Layla Grace Marsh was born on November 26, 2007. At 17 months old, she was diagnosed with Stage 4 Neuroblastoma. The next 10 months of her life consisted of chemotherapy, radiation, surgeries, multiple blood transfusions, and a bone marrow harvest and transplant. Her parents, Ryan and Shanna Marsh, chronicled her progress through Twitter and their blog, laylagrace.org. On March 9, 2010—the joy, the beauty, the fighter—gained her wings.

Read Her Mother’s Post, One Year Later Here

And another one here.

Today we remember the little girl that won the world's heart. Today we remember her fight and that she lost the battle but continues to help others. Today we remember that there are still thousands of children out there fighting for their lives!

I Cried...

Good to Great | Layla Grace Children's Cancer Research Foundation

I can honestly say that I hadn't heard about this little girl. Probably because I was so caught up in my own world and problems that I didn't notice anything. I never really got online or watch the news.

And this makes me so sad. We have so many little angels up there...

I Jumped Too Soon

Remember how I said something always goes wrong? It did. Turns out the explorer is putting up a fight and refuses to cooperate. The frame might be bent. Do you know how much that will cost to fix?? A part of me wants to set the damn thing on fire and run it off a cliff. So, now we are looking at options.

So, I was all annoyed and angry over how much of a pain in the ass this car has been. And then I started looking through websites on my break, and I came across Tabatha's Blog. I was crying so hard in my cubicle. I know for my emotional state I probably shouldn't read so many loss blogs. But, their stories and their losses hit me at such a level that I can't help but read their stories. To see how they are doing, and to even say a few words to them. Because I really...truly...feel for them. My heart breaks for all of these moms. I really just want to hug them all and bring back their babies. To set things right. I hate knowing that there are so many little ones taken every day. Some before being born, some during, and some after. And this made me feel so awful. Here I am whining about how awful my life is because of an explorer, and there are women out there just trying to survive. I stumbled across some other blogs but in all honesty...I cleared my history because it was too hard. It was too much sadness. But, I will pray for them. I will pray that every single mother out there, that has lost a little one, gets the healing and comfort they need.

That they deserve.

So, after reading all of these I've decided to start making donations and sending out cards/supplies to some of these families or organizations. So, if I ask for an address I swear I am not stalking you. I just want to know where to send stuff. I may not be able to give a lot. But, every little bit counts I hope. And I want to be a part of finding a cure for things. I want to know that some of my money helped others. Helped educate people about CHD, SIDS, CF, EB, and so many OTHER things out there. I want to know that because of me, someone was able to receive a card, supplies, or just a care package. I want to know that I am helping.

Prayer Request- Siena and Ada Update

Update Siena:  She has been in surgery since 8:30 a.m.  Her central broviac line is in and they are now starting on the Abdominal diaphragmatic hernia surgery.

Please continue to pray for her and her family!