Easter

We enjoyed a nice, relaxing Easter at Grams and Gramps home. Chad took in 3 local Easter egg hunts while Kaylee enjoyed two of them. Michael and Kaylee even got their picture in the local newspaper for one of them. Chad loved wrestling with Uncle Heath and Kaylee giggled with glee whenever someone took her downstairs to swing. We enjoyed time at Aunt Connie's with family. The "greats" got to ride the donkey. Chad also got to go fishing and "hunting" with Gramps. Mommy and Daddy were pampered with naps and extra help with Itty and Bitty. What more could we ask for??

Kaylee has become quite the talker. She has many words but thinks that she can say entire paragraphs. We just have to remember to listen for the words that she uses most often!

Friends

Last evening, we had the fun of having visitors from my hometown. Courtney, a high school friend of mine, and her family came for supper and play. Chad and Jordan are 2 months apart in age and Kaylee and Rebekah are 1 day apart in age. The kids had fun and the adults enjoyed catching up. We definitely wish that we lived closer together!!

Thank you

We had approx 175 hits on the website after I emailed asking for prayers of dedication for Chad's NICU picture. So many of you emailed saying that you and your family did pray over Chad's picture. Thank you so much for sharing. Although, we would have liked to physically come around Chad's picture and pray over it, knowing that people prayed around the States is so sweet. May God bless each one of you who have blessed us by our prayer dedication request.

We will probably never know, this side of Heaven, how God will use this picture. Oh I look forward to coming together with fellow brothers and sisters in Christ and hearing the stories.

Chad's NICU Picture

After some questions, I wanted to post the reason for our excitement for Chad's picture being chosen for the NICU. Of course this is not a "contest" that we won nor is it something that we are "famous" for because of what our family went though. Most definitely we would have chosen to have not gone through this valley but we praise God for what He taught us through it and the precious little boy He gave us.

Those of you who went through this valley with us understand how encouraged we were by those stories that we heard of kids who had been through Chad's same situation. Our biggest questions where whether our baby would survive and then what his life would be like afterwards. Would Chad ever be able to run or ride a bike? Would he have more surgeries? What would his scar look like? I will never forget the cardiologist who told Michael and my Mom about the happy, healthy little boy with the cowboy boots and hat who was in for his yearly cardiology checkup after having open heart surgery just 3 years before.

On Chad's picture that will be hung at the hospital, it says:
Loves tractors, riding his bike, and learning about Jesus

We are excited because this is one more way that we pray God will use Chad's story to bless, encourage, and draw people to the ultimate Healer.

Chad's Picture

It is a long story how this all happened but Chad has been chosen to be among nine kids to “give hope” to parents who’s children are in the NICU. There is a brand new hospital opening the middle of March and they are decorating the NICU with pictures of kids who are thriving after a tough start. The thought is "photo display to nurse hope". Michael and I didn’t hesitate when we were contacted due to that fact that we know how encouraging it was to know that many kids have normal lives after rough beginnings. Our prayer is that Chad’s picture might be used to bless others and give them hope. The photographer added Chad’s “likes” to the picture off of several that I gave her. There is an article in the local newspaper this morning that briefly talks about Chad's situation and how he is one of the pictures to be permanently displayed.

Although we have approved the final picture, I will wait to put it on the web after it is open to the public. The photographer put another picture as a sneak peak on her website. It is above.

This is what the photographer had written on her blog:
C H A D
This amazing little guy had heart surgery when he was only 6 days old. His mom told me over the phone before his session that he had a pretty big scar on his chest and suggested taking a few pictures where you could see his scar. I thought it was a great idea and the final image chosen for the NICU has Chad showing off his scar. :-) Chad is three and he brought his favorite book "My Three Book" to his photo session.