I am thankful...

I decided in honor of Thanksgiving our family would tell one thing that they are thankful for each day of November. Each night we sit together and take turns sharing one thing we are thankful for. It can be as simple as the beautiful fall weather or one day Julia was thankful for "Mickey Mouse." Gracie and Maggie have both said that they are thankful for their families and teachers and school among other things. It has been great. I highly recommend it as a family activity to teach children about giving thanks and blessings.

Today as I was thinking about what I am thankful for, I decided that I would share it outside of the family.

I have had the privilege to meet many Spina Bifida moms through chat groups and blogs and they all have a similar story of the way that they were told of their child's diagnosis.

Misinformed doctors are providing expecting parents with scary and inaccurate information and then offering, often encouraging, the option to terminate the life of a precious child.

More than half of babies diagnosed in utero with spina bifida are terminated.

This statistic weighs heavy on my heart.

What I am thankful for today and everyday is that on March 12, 2008, Julia Catherine completed our family.

He said that there was something "wrong" with her. He said she had the lemon sign. He said that she had a chiari malformation of her brain. He said that she had hydrocephalus. That there was a large defect on her spine. That she would never have bowel or bladder function. He said that she would probably never walk. She would face a lifetime of painful surgeries and we needed to make a "choice."

He didn't say that she would take my breath away the very first moment I saw her...

that she would be beautiful...

that she would be a fighter...

that she would be perfect...

that she would be brave...

that her smile would light up a room and melt our hearts...


that she would be smart and funny and that her sisters would LOVE her...



that she would be determined, tenacious and spirited...



He didn't know that we needed her to make our family complete...

Doctors are not giving parents both sides of the story. Our life with Julia is a beautiful life. I am thankful and blessed to be Julia's Mommy. Choose life.