Baby James
	James, born June 2010. Heart surgery October 5, 2010.

Ivy Gray

Our sweet baby boy will be four years old next month.  It is so hard to believe it has almost been four years since our world seemed to crumble around us.  We rushed to the hospital in the middle of the night, knowing something was not right with the pregnancy, scared to death of what was to come. Knowing it was way too early for this little guy to be born and survive.  One never could have imagined what we would go through in the next several months and even years.  We often are still very busy taking care of Ivy, as he has 6 therapists, 6 doctors, a wheelchair, and tons of personality to go with it!  We get so busy, it sometimes seems like a distant memory....that 1 lb. 8 oz. tiny boy we watched struggle for so long.  And then, just like that, I can look at him, and watch him do something so amazing, watch him smile, listen to him talk to me, and I am amazed at how far he has come and it all comes flooding back.  The unbearable sadness, the heartwrenching roller coaster ride through the NICU, the constant lack of knowing what will come next, the oceans of tears cried.  It comes back so crystal clear in just an instant....never to be forgotten.  We will always be so grateful for what we have. There is so much I should have been posting on this site over the last year and a half, and I could go on and on.  I will try to sum it up for those of you who still faithfully ask about him, and check this website.  Ivy is finally thriving, and is a perfect size for his age now.  He finally hit the growth chart around age 3 1/2.  He went for so long never even being on the growth chart because he struggled to gain weight.  Now, we have a chunker on our hands :)  He is still fed through a G-tube, five times a day, but also eats some solids--but not much texture is tolerated.  He sees speech therapy to work on this weekly.  He is moving forward, slow and steady. Ivy finally started sitting independently right after Christmas this past year.  He was 3 1/2 and I had begun to come to terms with the fact that he may never sit on his own.  The Cerebral Palsy was just too bad I thought.  Well, God is good, because I was WRONG!  I walked in the living room to find him sitting straight up and playing with his toys and all I could do was cry from the joy.  He sits up quite well, all of the time now.  I will NEVER think Ivy is not able to do anything he wants to do, ever.  Ivy got a wheelchair last July and I was worried sick.  I don't know why, because the first time we put him in it he figured out that he could move all over on his own and he loves it.  Very independent little boy.  I still believe with all of my heart that Ivy will walk one day.  If it takes years, he can do it.  I know it.  Patience. Ivy has been through just one eye surgery (eye muscle in left eye) since the last journal entry in 2008, and that says quite a bit.  It has been over a year since any surgeries and we are so thankful.  I remember longing for this day, and while he still has battles, they are only battles now, not a war. Ivy is an incredibly curious and talkative little boy.  Even as I write this entry he is asking me "Where is Cabela (the dog) Mommy?  I can't find her...We need to go find her!"  He just finished singing "You are My Sunshine" a few minutes ago.  I sang that song EVERY single night to him when he was in the NICU, and it is the most beautiful sound in the world to hear him sing it to me.  It makes my heart feel as if it could burst from being so full of love for him.   Almost four years ago, on one scary and lonely April night, I thought I was being punished for something.  And I couldn't understand why God would put my little boy through all he went through in the months to come.  It took me a long time to realize that I wasn't being punished at all.  Ivy is my gift from God.  A reward.  An angel.  He is perfect in every way,  in God's eyes, and in mine.  He was put here because God knew our family was strong, and we were the perfect choice to care for such a perfect little boy.

Ella Newmiller

Ella was diagnosed April 29th 2008 with a Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma. This is a rare, aggressive, non-operable tumor located in the pons area of the brain stem. The prognosis for this type of tumor is extremely grim. There is no cure, no known effective treatment except for radiation-which, for some, provides only temporary relief of the symptoms. BUT ... Ella battles on. Click here or paste the following URL into your browser to see a special video of Ella. You will be blessed! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v93I983MM4M

Emaline & Mom
	Update:  Emaline is doing great following a successful catheterization and angioplasty Sep 28!  To GOD be the glory! From Her Family: "Thank you and the Faith Friends community for all their prayers.  We have a great God who has answered in a great way."

Emaline
	Emaline enjoying her first Fitz Grape Soda Pop.

Baby Tyler
	Day of Birth August 12, 2009 Time of Birth 6:11 PM Weight 6 lbs, 8 ozs Length 20 in