Dear Sheena,

Congratulations on celebrating Nicholas' 1st birthday! Praise the Lord for His blessings. May this be the first of many birthdays to come. There is no limit to God's love or His power, and nothing is impossible for Him. Don't worry about tomorrow; praise God for today and let tomorrow care for itself. Don't let a single moment go unsavoured. May each morning feel like Christmas morning, for each day is an irreplaceable gift. Don't pay attention to people who are ignorant, skeptical, or cruel; do not give what is sacred to dogs or cast your pearls to swine. May God uphold you, protect you, defend you, guide you, and bless you. Have a merry Christmas! My prayers are with you.

Love,
Myah

Happy 10-month birthday, sweetie <3

*Kissies*

Mommy's feisty little girl (2 days old)

Happy 9-month birthday, Faithy!

I sure do miss that cute little face! <3

Me and my "mini me"

I miss my baby so much... It's hard to believe that it's been less than six months since the Lord called Faithy home. It seems like it's been so, so long since I last held her. It is hard, but I am so thankful for the 53 weeks that she spent here on earth. That's right, 53 weeks: 40 weeks in my belly and 13 in my arms. One year and seven days. What a blessing! It went by so fast --too fast. God knows I would do it all over again if I could.

Some people tell me that I'm strong, but if they knew the truth, they would know that I have all the strength of a baby bird with one broken wing. I am not strong, but my God is strong. His love is strong. He gives me the peace and joy to carry on. And He comforts me with these words:

"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going."

Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?"

Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him."

Happy 8-month birthday, Faithy...

Surely goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD
forever. (Psalm 23:6)


Faith and her soukie

Happy 7-month birthday

Seven months ago at 12:26pm my little sweetie was born!
Happy 7-month birthday, Faithy :) If I could do it all over again,
I would.

Another beautiful portrait

Pencil sketch by Bethany Kerr (4 days old)

Untitled poem

Six months and 14 days ago, you left your mommy's womb.

Though you were 13 days past-due, mommy felt it was too soon!

But mommy had no choice, so she prayed that you would stay.

God gave mommy faith and hope, and drove her fears away.

The doctors said there was no hope, and nothing they could do.

All I wanted was just one day that I could spend with you.

On the nineteenth day of February, you cried your first cry.

You smiled your first smile... you sighed your first sigh.

You were the cutest, sweetest baby that anyone had seen,
And your mommy was the happiest that she had ever been.

They said it was impossible for you to live and thrive;

For weeks and weeks they wondered how you were still alive.

With God all things are possible; mommy knew it all along.

Science boasted knowledge, but God proved science wrong.

I know that you're in Heaven now. There is no better place.

Someday I'll be there with you, by God's amazing grace.

Sweetest little voice...

Lunchtime feeding (3 days old)

Happy 6-month birthday, sweetie sweets!

Six months ago today my baby girl was born. Three months ago we got to celebrate Faith's 3-month birthday with her. God blessed us with so much time with her and yet it's never enough. I miss my favourite girl everyday. Wishing my sweetie a happy 6-month birthday with Jesus :o)

Sleeping comfortably on Mommy (1 day old)

My dream come true

February 8, 2009

"The carseat that I hope I can take Faith home in."

February 21, 2009

Bringing her home.

Waking up from a nap

6 days old

1-day-old Faith

I'm so rumbly in my tumbly, time for something sweet...

Carrying to term

If your unborn baby has recently been diagnosed with anencephaly and you are in the process of deciding whether or not to carry your baby to term, you have come to the right place (and I have no doubt that God has led you here). Neither road is easy when you are told that your baby is going to die, but there is only one road worth taking, and that is carrying your baby to term. Termination (by early induction or other means) will only hurt you and your baby and rob you of precious time that could be spent together. You have nothing to lose by seeing your baby's life through, and believe me, there is so much to gain that you can't even imagine at this point. You will never regret carrying your baby to term, no matter how much time you are blessed with. Even if it is only for a minute (even if it is less than that), it will be worth it. That time spent with your baby will prove to be priceless; time that you wouldn't trade for anything. And remember, all things are possible with God. My daughter Faith lived for over 3 months, and there are many other babies with this condition who have surprised everybody by living for several hours, days, and weeks! So please, give that little life growing inside of you a chance. Not only will you get to enjoy the rest of your pregnancy and possibly get to spend hours, days, weeks, or months with your little one, but you will have peace in your heart knowing that you loved your baby to the fullest and did the will of God.

For support on carrying to term, please follow this link to the "anencephaly blessings from above" online support group:

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/anencephalyblessingsfromabove/

Happy 5-month birthday, Faithy!

It's hard to believe that only two months ago we were celebrating Faith's 3-month birthday with her. At that time she was learning to suck on a bottle and seemed to be doing so well. We had no idea that we would lose her four days later. Today Faith would have turned five months old. I'm missing her all the time... wish I could see what she's doing right now. Happy 5-month birthday, sweetie xox

Missing my girl...

1 day old

In Loving Memory

A slide-show tribute

It's the 19th again

I just realized that we would have been celebrating Faith's 4-month birthday today. We probably would have watched our Winnie the Poo movie (I would have sang all the songs of course). I was actually thinking about watching that movie today, hmm maybe that's why I thought of it.

Pencil sketch

I got a gift today... a beautiful pencil sketch of Faith that looks exactly like her picture, only without the tube feed and with angel wings :) I could cry looking at it, it is just so beautiful. Looks like her in every way. A woman named Bethany made this for me and sent it all the way from Alabama. I can't believe it made it all that way without a scratch! I'll take a picture of it tomorrow so you can see :)

Prayers for mommies and babies

I've created a new blog where I will be posting my friends' prayer requests and praise reports. This new blog is devoted entirely to mommies and babies who need prayer, especially the moms who are carrying babies with anencephaly to term. Please visit http://www.prayers-for-mommies-and-babies.blogspot.com/ to find out how you can pray for these women and their families.

I thought I'd post a few more home videos of Faith today... so comforting to look back on those memories.


First kiss from mommy (just born)


Grampa taking a video (evening of her birthday)


She used to pull her own arm out of her sleeve for me. Grammy and I were trying to catch it on video. (3 weeks, 2 days old)

Four days old... big smile :)

So, I think this might be "the" photo. I have been trying to decide on a photo to include in my thank-you cards, and I think this may be it :) I still have some photos to sort through, but I really like this one. It was taken when she was 4 days old. That was a really good day! Faith was just full of big smiles that day... from ear to ear. Looking back, I would say that was one of the happiest days of my life.

It's hard to believe that Faith left us just 6 days ago... we miss her so much. 

My little sweetie <3

Looks just like her mama... ready to go outside

Time for some milk (8 days old)

Newborn Faith

The first few days after Faith was born were the happiest of my life. She was so talkative at that age! When she ate it was by mouth, and she tasted mommy's sweet milk. She always had a red face and a big gummy smile whenever she got feisty. She squeeled when I kissed her and cried when she needed to be fed or changed. She didn't need any medecine or a feeding tube. I find a lot of comfort in watching these videos :)


Mommy and Faith (3 days old)


"Wali" (3 days old)


My hungy baby (3 days old)


Very hungry baby... (5 days old)


Having some lunch (5 days old)

Memories

Mommy and feisty Faith

We spent the night holding Faith and reliving some of the wonderful memories captured of her on video. I will never get over her cuteness... her sweet little voice and all her little facial expressions, her feisty personality, the way she hummed to herself when sucking on her soukie... the way she looked like a baby bird whenever she would suck in her bottom lip, the little dip between her bottom lip and her chin, the way she would route around and suck on mommy's nose, her big exaggerated sneezes, all her smiles and grins... I am convinced that she was the most adorable little girl there ever was. I just keep watching the "Kisses" video over and over again. It never gets old. I will be posting many more photos and videos of Faith in the coming days and weeks... I'm sure it will be a huge comfort for me. I am so grateful for all the time I had with Faith and for all the photos and videos and for the memories we shared. And I can't wait to see her again... I don't know how she could get any cuter but I'm sure she is even more beautiful now that she is living it up in Heaven.

The best 93 days of my life...

were spent with my daughter. Faith went to Heaven today. We spent most of the day snuggling together in my warm bed. She was starting to go a little cold, but mommy kept her warm. I told her that I loved her many times. I was holding her in my arms when she passed away. It was around 4:40 in the afternoon. That was several hours ago now, but she still looks so beautiful. She is looking like a little porcelain doll. Her tube feed is gone. Her lips are still pink and her facial expression looks so happy and peaceful. God is good.

Thank you all for your prayers.

13 weeks, 2 days old

Asking for your prayers today. Faith is suffering from stomach bloating and bleeding ulcers, most likely the combined result of irritation from the feeding tube and prolonged use of one of her medications. We have taken her to the emergency room once, but we have decided not to take extreme measures to treat her (ie. surgery). I am trying to let her stomach rest as much as possible and giving her acid blockers. I am doing my best to keep her comfortable and diligently praying that God will intervene. Faith is wrapped up snuggly in her blanky and has been opening her eyes and blinking --not something that we see very often. I hope you'll keep us in prayer today. Thanks for checking in; I'll update you soon.

Happy 3-month birthday, Faith! :D

Faith turned 3 months old today and I couldn't be happier! She is doing very well these days. I'm just letting her tummy settle right now (she just ate) and then I think we might go for a little stroll outside. It's a gorgeous day out today but it's been rainy the past couple days and we've been cooped-up inside.

That's all for now! I may post a few new videos later if I have time. Thanks for checking in :)

12 weeks & 2 days old

Faith's Lullaby

Faith, you are my baby girl

Most beautiful one in the world

You came into my life one day

And now I'll never be the same

Ten fingers and ten tiny toes

Rosebud lips, a button nose

You came into the world that day

And never will it be the same