Luke is a BIG brother!!!!

Happy Valentine's Day to everyone! We received an early Valentine present (and birthday present for me--it is tomorrow) on February 11th: James Benedict Haberman was born at 2:03 pm on Wednesday. They decided to perform the c-section early as my blood pressure rose and I had protein in my urine (gross, I know). Also, James' fluid level had been cut in half. We were sent to the hospital on Tuesday and James arrived the next day. We were nervous because he was only 36 weeks, 4 days gestation, but he came out crying and breathing without the help of oxygen. We also found out that James had TWO (yes, two) knots in his cord, which Dr. Tinker told us is very rare. James was baptized by the sweetest deacon right after birth and was transported to LeBonheur shortly after that. James is now resting comfortably at LeBonheur, awaiting surgery. Please visit www.caringbridge.org/visit/jameshaberman to read more about our newest miracle!

Today is a bitter sweet Valentine's Day. We have welcomed a true miracle, yet we are missing another one. Today is National Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Day. This time last year, we never would have guessed what an impact CHDs would have on our lives. CHDs are horrible, but with enough funding and support, one day they can hopefully be erased. That is the problem: there is not near enough funding for research, yet so many children are affected by CHDs. It is our hope that one day CHDs will no longer exist. Here is some helpful information on congenital heart defects (from http://www.itsmyheart.org/):

* Congenital Heart Defects are the #1 birth defect. Source: March of Dimes
* Congenital Heart Defects are the #1 cause of birth defect related deaths. Source: March of Dimes
* About 1 out of every 100 babies are born each year with some type of Congenital Heart Defect. (approx. 40,000/year) Source: Children’s Heart Foundation
* The American Heart Association directs only $0.30 of every dollar donated toward research. The remainder goes toward administration, education and fundraising efforts. Of the $0.30 that goes toward research only $0.01 goes toward pediatric cardiology for CHD. Source: Children’s Heart Foundation
* This year approximately 4,000 babies will not live to see their first birthday because of Congenital Heart Defects. Source: Children’s Heart Foundation
* The cost for inpatient surgery to repair Congenital Heart Defects exceeds $2.2 billion a year. Source: Children’s Heart Foundation
* Of every dollar the government spends on medical funding only a fraction of a penny is directed toward Congenital Heart Defect research. Source: Children’s Heart Foundation
* Though research is ongoing, at least 35 defects have now been identified.
* 4-8% born with CHD have Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome
* 4-10% born with CHD have Atrioventricular Septal Defects
* 8-11% born with CHD have Coarctation of the Aorta
* 9-14% born with CHD have Tetralogy of Fallot
* 10-11% born with CHD have Transposition of the Great Arteries
* 14-16% born with CHD have Ventricular Septal Defects
* Although some babies will be diagnosed during gestation or at birth, sometimes the diagnosis is not made until days, weeks, months, or even years after. In some cases, CHD is not detected until adolescence or adulthood. Source: March of Dimes
* It is a proven fact that the earlier CHD is detected and treated, it is more likely the affected child will survive and have less long term health complications. Source: March of Dimes

These are some scary statistics. Please join us in prayer that research for CHDs will receive the funding that is desperately needs. There is an HLHS baby in the NICU with James right now and it breaks our hearts to think about what that sweet baby and his/her parents are going through right now. Please pray for this sweet baby as well as all of the other sweet babies fighting right now. Thank you for continuing to check in on us and for showing your support for our family. We are so thankful for you all and for our angel Luke. God bless you all!!!!

It's been a while...

Hi everyone! It has been quite a long time since I have posted. I think this is the longest that I have gone between posts. Maybe it is a sign of healing? Maybe it is a sign of being busy? I am not sure, but I do know that I think of and talk about our angel each and every day. He is always in my thoughts and prayers. I always feel badly because I share our journey with Luke with complete strangers. People will ask me if James is our first child and I tell them "no, he is our fourth". After they pick their jaws up, they ask me the ages of the others. I can't ignore the fact that Luke is our third child, so I tell them about Emily, Matthew, and our special angel. Then, we usually talk about James and his omphalocele. I often feel guilty for pouring my heart out to a complete stranger, but then again, the more people who know our story and who pray for our babies, the better!

The other day, I was searching for HLHS poetry and found this really neat poem. I had never seen it before and thought I would share it with all of you. I think it is really sweet and nice. It really points to the fact that Luke was "loaned" to us from God. I feel privileged that Tommy and I were chosen to be the parents of an amazing angel, as well as parents to three other miracles! Here is the poem:

A Child Loaned
This is a poem is found in the prologue to the book Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome: A Guide for Parents

I'll lend you for a little time

a child of mine,"

He said,"for you to love the whole while he lives.

It may be six or seven years

or twenty-two or three,

but will you, till I call him back,

take care of him for me?"

"He'll bring his charm to gladden you,

and should his stay be brief,

you'll have his lovely memories

as solace for your grief."

"I cannot promise he will stay

since all from earth return,

but there are lessons taught down there

I want this child to learn."

"I've looked this wide world over

in my search for teachers true,

and from the things that crowd life's lane

I have selected you."

"Now will you give him all your love

nor think the labor vain,

Nor hate me when I come to call

and take him back again?"

"I fancied that I heard them say

'Dear Lord, Thy will be done,

for all the joy the child shall bring

the risk of grief we'll run.'

'We'll shelter him with tenderness;

We'll love him while we may,

and for the happiness we've known

forever grateful stay.

But should the angels call for him

much sooner than we planned,

We'll brave the bitter grief that comes

and try to understand.'"

- Edgar Guest

I hope you enjoyed this beautiful poem! We have had a lot of fun lately and have some great pictures. I will post them the next time I write. The kids have had snow and went to a sock hop--I can't wait to share our pics!

On the James front, we have an announcement: we have begun a CaringBridge site for him and the address is www.caringbridge.org/visit/jameshaberman. Please be sure to visit to get updates on James. We thought it would be great for James to have his own site...please visit and send the site to all of your friends and family. The latest update on him is on there--hope you enjoy our new site!

Once again, God bless you all for your support, love, and faith. You are amazing people and we are so thankful for all of you.