Barrett's Hospital Stay

After 2 1/2 days in the hospital, hooked up to lots of wires and being poked and prodded, Barrett's levels finally came down low enough to come home. While the doctors are still not 100% sure what was wrong, they finally said that he had a bacterial infection.

We are so glad to be home!

Happy Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day!

Barrett's 1st Valentine's Day

Happy Birthday Blake

Blake big day has finally arrived! He has been counting down the day until his birthday party!

Some pictures with his buddies.

Barrett's little friend Lydia

They started the party out with singing and playing the instruments.

And then played with the parachute

A special ride while they sang, "Happy Birthday to Blake"

Fun on the jumper.

After playing it was cake time!

We sang "Happy Birthday" to Blake and then he blew out his 4 candles.

After cake it was time to open presents!


After opening all of his presents, it was time to head home.

Happy 4th Birthday Blake!

Destination Kentucky

Recap March 2008: Twenty-two hours from birth Jaden underwent open-heart surgery to repair five heart defects. Four days after surgery a grade 3/4 brain hemorrhage was discovered. He then underwent a series of three brain operations and has two more heart surgeries to face. He was in the NICU for 4 months before getting to come home.

Jan 2009 Jaden was taken to the hospital because the shunt that runs up into his brain was completely blocked letting all the spinal fluid his body was producing fill up his entire brain. The doctors had to go in and do a shunt revision.

As we talked with James and Kacey and continued to get reports on how Jaden was doing, Robert and I knew we wanted to be in Kentucky supporting our loved ones. We unexpectedly packed up, dropped the boys off at my mom and dad's house and headed to Kentucky to be with some of the dearest people in our lives. We left Saturday afternoon, drove 12 hours, met Jaden and spent the day at the hospital with James and Kacey Sunday, drove back home on Monday.

I have included a picture of the snow we saw on our way.

Jaden has been the center of our prayers for 10 months and we finally got to meet him. He is more sweet and perfect than I could ever describe.

Kacey, Jaden, and I

Robert, James, and Jaden

Please continue to pray for Jaden. He has been in a lot of pain and discontent. He is still in the hospital fighting infection, having trouble eating, and has air in the ventricles of his brain. This could cause the shunt to malfunction. Please pray that the air will go away so that they don't have to go back in and do another surgery. Pray that he will be able to eat to build his strength. Pray that the incision in his head will heal. Pray for James and Kacey to have the emotional and physical strength they need to face each day.

If you are interested in sending them a card of encouragement email me at smcintire1229@cs.com and I will send you their address. They need us to carry them right now, as they are so physically and emotionally drained.

(Robert and James are cousins)