Some of you might remember we had a birth photographer when I had Kaden. I’d gone back and forth on hiring one, but in the end we found the perfect photographer who was more than willing to work with our unknown birth schedule. Kristine lives in El Paso and owns Kristine Garcia Photography (Instagram & Facebook).…
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On Having Another
ContinueI’m folding laundry as Sam flips through his phone. It’s late and quiet, and we’re both lost in thought. I reach forward to grab another round of shirts and glance at him. “Where are you at on wanting another baby?” I ask it abruptly, because there doesn’t seem to be another way to go about…
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Kaden, ciHHV-6, and the Journal of Heart and Lung Transplantation
ContinueFor the last 3 years, I’ve worked with the HHV-6 Foundation, Kaden’s cardiologist, and doctors in Germany and India to figure out why ciHHV-6 caused Kaden’s heart to develop with cardiomyopathy. They took samples from me, Bella, the twins’ umbilical cords saved by the hospital, and Kaden’s organs from his autopsy. They went through hundreds of…
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Charlotte’s Birth Story & First Days {Part 3}
ContinuePart 1 Part 2 After Charlotte was born, she was placed immediately on me. The cord clamping, first bath, and eye drops were delayed like we’d wanted, and for a few minutes I just held her and cried – in relief for her, and as memories of Preston, Julian, and Kaden laying in that exact spot on…
{About Me}
Sam and I have been married since I was 19. He was 20. He's an OIF, medically retired veteran of the Army and Marines. We have 5 children - Bella was born in 2009 after a rather bumpy pregnancy and her first year was mostly crazy reflux. Preston and Julian, my identical twins, were born at 20 weeks in 2012 and lived only a few hours. Kaden was born full term in 2013 seemingly perfect, and at 4 days old he was found to have cardiomyopathy due to ciHHV-6. He passed away at 3 weeks old. Charlotte was born in 2015, and was a complete surprise to us. Each of them have changed our lives completely.
Currently I'm in school to become a counselor who focuses on trauma and grief.
I love Jesus - even though sometimes I get really angry and upset at the way our life has gone. I hope through my faults, insecurities, snarkiness, selfish nature, and general mess - my love for Christ and His work in my life shines through in my story.
{Writing on}
