Writing about Jesus With Gratitude + Grace

Real talk about the stresses placed on Christian marriage and special needs parents, and practical ideas to thrive during crisis.

Update on our six-year-old with Down syndrome who's thriving after surviving ECMO, a large VSD, pulmonary hypertension, feeding tube, etc.

In the middle of my struggle with fear surrounding Redmond’s birth and the first couple months of his life, there were pockets of peace too.

Redmond is FOUR years old. He's been busy deconstructing everything we thought we knew about success and failure, pride and shame, etc.

I have learned a lot over the years about health and fitness, especially nutrition, and yet I have a difficult time doing what I know to do.

One of the things I talk about in the audiobook is my unknown bias against people with Down syndrome and their families.

Redmond is free! On December 19, 2019, we were able to remove the g-tube permanently.

As the parent of a medically-complicated child, or a child with greater needs than most, we go through seasons where things are intense.

I have a guest post today over at the awesome Down syndrome blog, https://www.cedarsstory.com/5-tips-for-moms-of-gtube-babies/

When Redmond had been home from the hospital for 10 short days, we found ourselves back in the ICU with him.

When I found out my son had Down syndrome, I was in shock. It felt like the whole world went dark and my life was over.

I was warned every time of the high, higher, and highest likelihood of birth defects in my babies.

When I was trying to wrap my mind around the words I’d been told about my newborn son, it was more than I could bear.

My Dad used to love to “tackle the waves” with me when I was a kid.

I knew there would be hard days, but I had no idea just how far beyond myself those days would take me.

It’s not just that she’s old enough to go to kindergarten, but it’s all the things that I feel like I’ve missed.

My son has been the one in the hospital. But I've been the one breaking.

One year ago this week was the most terrifying and awful time in my life.

My son, Redmond, is 11-months old and thriving.

There’s a famous poem about Down syndrome called “Welcome to Holland.”