Our little Claire Bear

     Claire has been doing really well at home!  We have been watching for hydrocephalus, and no symptoms of it yet.  We'll continue to watch for it through her first year of life.  Claire is still pooping and peeing without any help!  Yay!  We went to get Claire's stiches taken out this past Tuesday, but they weren't ready to come out.  We'll go back this Tuesday and see what happens. 
     We have had SO SO much to be thankful for this Christmas!  What a blessing and miracle our little Claire has been.  Thank you Jesus!  At Midnight mass on Christmas the choir sang a song about a baby who was sent by God to do amazing things.  Of course they were talking about Jesus, but I couldn't help but think the same of our little Claire.  It's amazing what God can do by using " the least of His".
     Before Claire was born, while meeting with one of the Neurologists at Children's, the Dr. informed us that there was a small chance that our baby would not survive.  This information kind of went in one ear and out the other, since I was making myself concentrate on the positive to be able to get through it all.  Well, sadly a friend of a friend of ours had a baby girl a couple days before us, who also had spina bifida.  Their baby girl survived  her first surgery, but did not make it through her second.  This put things into perspective even more.  It makes us appreciate every little smile and moment we have with our little Claire.  Please pray for this baby's family!

   Also, Paul and I have been thinking about the fact that one of our doctors, prior to coming here, had mentioned aborting Claire.  How many people receive the same news as us, and actually go through with an abortion?  Look at all the miracles that have happened, just because we trusted that God would take care of us.  Our little baby WILL be able to walk!  These people, in fear, are stripped of parenthood, and stipped of the many blessings that can occur.  It really hit home, knowing that if we had not been pro-life, that Claire might not have existed.  Wow. Praise God that we know the truth about abortion, and were able to accepted God's plan!  Pray for those considering abortions.

  Hope you all have had, and are having a very Blessed Christmas Season!  We Love you and thank you for everything!