HAPPY 1ST BIRTHDAY, MOLLY ALICE!

Wow, it's been a YEAR since our precious girl came into the world! (see her birth day post here)  

I could fill books with the thousands of ways she's enriched our lives, but suffice it to say that words could never do her justice.  She is one. amazing. girl.  So good natured, easygoing, and genuinely sweet.  So tough, resilient, and full of grace.  So silly, spastic, and hilarious.  What a precious gift she has been, even beyond her 365 days.  

We had a small family birthday party to celebrate our sweet girl today.  We dressed her in all the customary fluffy pink frocks, and she looked ADORABLE!  She enjoyed ripping the paper off of her presents (and is well-practiced after Christmas!).   She cautiously took a nibble of birthday cake and munched on a piece of the "blanket" off of a pig-in-a-blanket.  Even after a barely-20-minute midday nap, she was content to entertain us all afternoon without complaint.  (See?  Easygoing baby.)

photo by Sally Ingram

photo by Sally Ingram

We love you more than words can say, sweet Mollybear!

The big day is coming!

T-2 days!!!  

We've been counting down for the past 5 months, and Homecoming day is finally just around the corner!  Here are some pictures from before Cameron deployed on July 22.  We absolutely can't wait to be together as a family again!!!!!

Checking out Daddy's quarters on the ship

Bedtime giggles with Daddy

The day Daddy had to leave

I'm so proud of my Daddy.
 He's my hero.

Prayers needed

When we discovered Molly's omphalocele, we felt totally alone.  Like no one else would ever understand or be able to walk our road with us, given how rare it was.  But then we found a Facebook group for families just like us, and the parents therein have been our saving grace at some of the hardest times on our journey.  

I am closest to one mom in particular.  We've done omphaloceles and tube feeding trials together.  Her name is Carly, and her son, Gavin, was born a couple of months after Molly.  Gavin has had a rough go of things and has been in the hospital for the past 4 months.  But Carly & Ryan were finally gearing up to take him home two weeks ago when disaster struck.  

Since then, he's gotten an infection, had multiple organ failure, been on the ventilator, and is now on the oscillator, which is much more serious version of the ventilator.  Here is Carly's update from today:
  
"By the grace of God Gavin is still here.  Gavin has gotten progressively more sick the last two days.  Tonight his blood stopped clotting and his right lung started bleeding inside.  We were really losing him at one point.  He was being prepped for a very risky life saving support when I waked in to call my parents and sister to let them know.  Somehow when I came back he had stabilized on the oscillator.  Somehow.  We have no idea how.  But somehow.  This is still a very grim situation.  Nobody can figure out where the infection is that is causing his body to do this.  Without knowing where it is nobody knows how to treat it.  Right now we are just praying that he stays stable on the support he is on. Thanks to everybody who said a prayer tonight.  We really appreciate it.  God willing we will have a solution soon.  In the meantime please pray for our son.  9 days ago he was his happy playful self.  We just don't understand how he got here."

Please pray, friends.  Please, please pray.