Faith's benefit

Yesterday was the day everyone in my family has been waiting for - Faith's benefit. I'm glad to say that we pulled it off very well. No one has done the final tally, yet, but it should be a big chunk to help Billy and Erica pay for Faith's medical bills.

It was so great to me to look around the parking lot at Todd's Dugout and see all of the people that I knew were there because of a connection to me. Not to mention, all the people that I know that sent donations and kept asking about the baby. For me, it was a call to everyone I know for help, and people responded. If I ever have any doubts about the good nature of people, I will look back on this day and remember that when you ask those around you for help, they will be there, enthusiastically.

Faith is coming home soon!

Great news!!! Erica and Bill will be leaving the hospital with Faith tomorrow and returning home to Connecticut.

Tonight, the new family will be staying in the Launching Pad at the hospital, which is a room where parents and baby can stay in the hospital but do not receive help or care from the nurses or staff. In the Launching Pad, parents have the opportunity to practice caring for their babies with the comfort of knowing that if a problem arises, there are competent nurses and doctors around. It will be Erica and Bill’s first experience caring for Faith totally free of wires or tubes, and the first experience they will have inserting the feeding tube and administering medicine without someone watching them.

If all goes well, Uncle Paul will pick them up tomorrow afternoon and drive them to Bethel, where Faith, Erica, and Bill will see Faith’s room for the first time. Fortunately for Faith, she has two fantastic aunts and a wonderful grammy who went over to the condo the past few weeks to get everything ready for her. J

The next big hurdle will be the next surgery in the spring….which of course Erica and Bill will keep you informed on.

We are all so excited. Erica and Bill and Faith can’t wait for you to come visit. Again, they thank you for all of your well wishes, warm thoughts, and prayers.


Love,

Karen (Billy's sister-in-law)

Hey, Grandma!

From Mobile Pictures

Birthday lunch

Took my aunt out to lunch for her birthday and we had a great time. Gave her the necklace I bought her in November in St. Thomas on Ron and my honeymoon. It's about freaking time!!!! :-)

The birthday dinner

Thunderstorms, so I couldn't use the grill... Power went out while I was cooking with an electric stove... Steak was overcooked because the thermometer lied to me. Otherwise, dinner was awesome, and Ron really liked it. :-) Oven fries were the best.

Happy birthday, Ron!

Today is Ron's birthday! I'm going to make dinner for him, so if you don't see any posts for a while, we didn't survive. ;-)

Baby Shower

Yesterday my mom threw a baby shower for my sister-in-law. It was very nice, and everyone had a good time. My grandfather made some nicely painted wooden birdhouses for prizes, and I was in charge of games. Erica got nearly everything she needs for Faith, and that's without even getting anything from her side of the family yet. She decided to save her family's shower for after the baby is born to celebrate her healthy birth, which I thought was a great idea. So, that puts us about 6 weeks away from the birth of my niece!

Hi, Mom!

Found out that my mom is reading my blog. Cool! I'll be even more impressed when she starts one!

Also, happy birthday to my brother, Billy.

Have a Little Faith

http://faith.sillica.com/

It's (going to be) a girl!

Billy and Erica found out today that my niece will be a girl! :-)

Bridal Shower Pictures!

My Mom is a great toilet paper bride, isn't she?

These girls sure do know how to throw a party!

Congratulations, Aunt Karen and Bill

My aunt just got married on Saturday. A good time was had by all. :-)