This year has been amazing! We have had some serious lows and some wonderful highs, as I’m sure you have as well. Many of you are aware of the health challenges our family has been dealing with over the past year and the decisions we have had to make as a family. For the benefit of those that I haven’t been able to keep in contact with via email, here is a recap and you can get a few more details by looking into the history on our blogon our blog. Also, we'd love to hear from you our email is aud.ashby@me.com or james.ashby@me.com.
August 2008 we learned that the baby we were excitedly expecting in December was showing signs of early heart failure because the left side was not growing. This would most likely develop into HLHS (Hypo-plastic Left Heart Syndrome). We were told that he would probably not make it to delivery. We cried A LOT and put ALL of our faith in Heavenly Father and his plan for our family. James and I flew to Boston to have an innovative surgery performed on our baby in utero. That was incredible and very scary. We believe the surgery helped some and through many prayers and blessings after a few ups and downs our family has experienced a miracle. Nathaniel had his first open-heart surgery 2 days after birth and a second about 3 months after that. He will need a 3rd surgery sometime between ages 3-4. These surgeries will not “fix” his heart but it will allow him to have a fairly normal life and we hope that it will put off a heart transplant for 20-30 years. He is doing very well! He will turn 1 this month and is, for the most part, right on target with others his age. He is into EVERYTHING, has started trying to stand on his own and took one step on his own last night.
Because of the care Nathaniel would need and it not being available in Midland, TX (our last home) our family had to make the decision to move to the Houston, TX area or commute for 6 months or so to Dallas, TX which was 5 hours away. Our girls agreed that is would be better to move again from a place we planned to stay for a while rather than be apart for an unknown time period. We are so proud of our girls being able to see the need for our family to be together. They have been very mature and understanding about their brother and his needs. So we moved Thanksgiving weekend to an apartment while we looked for a house. We moved into a house on December 23rd and Nathaniel was born on the 27th. It’s amazing that it was only one year ago. Through all of this I have learned that the Lord blesses us through our challenges. He provides earthly and heavenly angels to protect and help us to do that which we didn’t know we were capable of doing.
Marinda is 3 ½ and it is crazy to think that we were worried that she wouldn’t talk because now she won’t stop. She love’s her little brother and wants to be just like her big sisters. She has a wonderful laugh and beautiful dimples.
Elisabeth will be 6 soon and started Kindergarten this year. She love’s school and is turning into a very good reader. She love’s artsy stuff and get’s nervous when in front of other people, if you know her this probably surprises you because she is very outgoing.
Clarissa had an important birthday this year. She is 8 now and was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We are so proud of her for being ready to make this choice. She is doing really well with piano and enjoys school. All three girls are taking ballet and having a good time. Clarissa has chosen to participate in the Spring ballet production.
James and I are so grateful for each of our children and the joy they bring into our lives. They are each so different but are wonderful in each of their own ways. They are so good and patient with us as we try to figure out how to be parents. We are grateful for the good parents that we have and all of the good people that have been a part of our lives and our children’s lives that have helped to make us, and them, who we are.
We love you all! This is a wonderful season to ponder all of our blessings and the reason that we have all that we have. Jesus lives and loves each one of us. We are never alone. We are so grateful for knowing of a loving Heavenly Father who brought His son to this earth in humble circumstances to teach us and provide a way back to Him.
We hope you all have a wonderful 2010 and whether or not it is what you expect, look for the blessings in your life and give thanks.
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