Great day for the kiddos... sad day for mommy

My mom left today to go back to Ohio. I kept telling her I had THREE kids now and she can't possibly leave me but she assured me I could handle this and she would be back this summer. It's funny how I spent so much time when I was young trying to grow up and get out from under the parent's umbrella and now I was begging mom to move in with us! I mean, Abby already calls the guest room "Mi Mi's room." What more could she want?? : ) She is, however, sending my dad down next week to stay until she can come back. She is a teacher and has to finish out the school year and then it's back to Texas. I am so grateful he is coming because he is the best baby holder there is. He is so patient and calm so I know that he will be a great help with the babies and Abby has her Paw Paw wrapped around her finger so she will have a great time with him too.

Enough whining from me!! Now on to the kiddos! We got some of the best news today we have had since this whole saga began back in February. We finally got the results to Ethan genetics tests. Apparently, they didn't even test for Down's because none of the doctors thought he had any of the physical signs. They did the test for diGeorge Syndrome/Velocardialfacial Syndrome which is very common with Ethan's heart defect and it was...wait for it... NEGATIVE!!! So, as far as we know, he only has the heart issues. What an answer to prayer! We had come to terms with the fact that he might possibly have Down's or DGS but after meeting our little guy, I asked God to spare him from anything else serious as he will deal with his heart issue the rest of his life. He is just so small and I hated for him to have to carry the burden of anything else on his wee little shoulders. He has an uphill battle with his heart but today, we are celebrating answered prayer and God's grace. YAY!

Lauren had a great day too! She has been doing great with holding her temperature in the last day or so and after two failed attempts last week, she is back in her "big girl" crib. They are looking at her coming home towards the end of the week. I have to take a CPR class before she can come home and she and I have to pass our car seat tests. She has to be able to hold her stats while sitting in her car seat for an hour and I have to prove that I can safely strap in a preemie into our car.

I need to post some more pictures but I haven't had time to download them. I took a great one today of Ethan. He has so much hair and this little cowlick in the front that I just love. I always tell the nurses that I love when his hair sticks up so when he has a bath, they always try to keep it messy for me. He looks like a little man! Well, last night his nurse made his little cowlick stick up right in front and he looks like Pee-Wee Herman! So funny! I tried to call him Pee-Wee Harmon but my mom said that was mean and I would give him a complex. Oh well, we got a good laugh anyway!

Thank you all for your prayers. They are working!!

Love, Heather