If you landed here...

I would like to share our journey with you. Please go here and read it from the beginning. If you recently had the diagnosis of hydrocephalus for your baby in utero, please also visit here for tons of valuable information and so many stories of miracles and hope. It is one of the first places we landed when we searched the Internet after Camilla's diagnosis. There is TONS of hope on this site and TONS of information about what hydrocephalus is. This diagnosis can be serious, but its implications are very different for each and every baby. I think you will find throughout your reading that many of us had similar experiences in the ultrasound room, but very different experiences when our babies were born. So many of us heard the word "termination" along with sentences about our baby's diagnosis. For us this was never an option. Please search your own heart about your situation and do some research. There is a huge community of support across the world, many people of which we have come to know and love this last year. If you would like any questions answered about our baby girl's journey, or just someone to lend an ear to your situation, please contact me by commenting on this post with your email address. I will be happy to respond, answer questions, and pray for your baby. There is nothing more true than this: each and every baby is a blessing. So many miracles and so much of God's work is done through these children.

Please make sure to read Camilla's full story from the link above all the way to the present. She is such a miracle to us and I thank God every day for her. I wouldn't change our experience, while difficult at times, we are so much closer to God and what is truly important because of her story.

With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible. Matthew 19:26

Camilla Three Years Old

Camilla is about to turn three, yes THREE! We can't believe how fast time has flown and that our baby is almost three.  She is doing great.  Here are a few of her favorite things:

Talking.  All day, sentences, paragraphs, short commentaries!!!!!! Will she have a love of writing like her mama?

Her brother and sister. Hands down....her best buds.

Snuggling on the couch.  EVERYDAY she says at least ten times to both me and her daddy on the phone or in person...   "______wanna snuggle me on the couch?"  She says it with a southern accent (not sure why!!) and a drawn out word "couch" with a bit of a twang. STINKIN' CUTE.  LOVE. LOVE. LOVE.

Her dollies.  She is a mini-mama.  She names her dolls, feeds her dolls, wraps up her dolls, and pretends to rock them.  Adorbs.

Awana Cubbies, her Wednesday night fun at church.  Little Miss Independent shassays (how on earth do you spell that??) into the cubby room ready to learn and sing and have treats and she talks about it all week until the next Wednesday.

 WE LOVE THIS LITTLE GIRL!

As far as a health update, her eye appointment a few months ago went GREAT! Her eyes are functioning normally and the thinned optic nerves are not causing any trouble.  Praise!  Her wide open, big, beautiful blue peepers are a constant reminder of God's healing hand.  Thank you for all your prayers.

Now on to the pictures.....

Camilla Update!

Many people ask how Cami is doing now that two years have passed.  We, once again, have to thank our Heavenly Father for his healing within her.  She is a vibrant two year old little girl who has the biggest blue eyes I've ever seen.  As far as developmental updates, Camilla is doing everything she should be and more.  In fact, she absolutely AMAZES me with what she is doing at two years old. 

This past week, I was graciously given the opportunity to share a snippet of her journey on WCSG with on the morning show with John and Amanda.   If you happened to hear Camilla's story on the air, please scroll down to the next post and read  her entire story from the beginning.  God is good-all the time and it is my responsibility to share with others the hope there is in Him.  Everyday miracles are happening all around us, and it is a beautiful reminder of our future hope of eternal life.  

Blog? What blog?

Just kidding, of course. This blog means so much to me. I haven't posted in a long time....but I read this blog and all of the comments. Often. I weep as I hear the longings of my heart, the cries of my soul, and the kindness and encouragement of others. I cling to the verses, to the promises within them, when struggling through another of life's speed bumps and trials. The words ever comfort me.

I read the title, "The Journey of Camilla Joy" and I reflect on how far it has come, and yet how far from over it is. Her life is just unfolding. Camilla is doing wonderfully, she is truly miraculous in that she shows no sign or symptom that the doctors warned about. I know from the depths of my soul that she is a living example of God's miraculous work and that her story can and will be used for His glory.

I sit back and look at my little girl, look at my other children, and know I am changed forever. I know and understand the power of prayer now. I know what a "boiling" prayer means. If you have ever prayed in a hospital for someone in need of a miracle, that is the kind of prayer I am talking about. Whenever life gets tough, I will choose to look up. Knowing fully well that Jesus will always help and guide me even when I think I cannot stand on my own. My Camilla girl, through you, God taught me that. How grateful I am that in my own undeserving flesh, this promise will always stand solid.

Keep looking up, my friends.

8 months old!

Well, my Camilla girl, this summer we have been celebrating! The one year anniversary of our Level 2 Ultrasound has came and passed and WOW, we are AMAZED at YOU! Last summer, we celebrated your little (and big) kicks and prayed without ceasing for healing. This summer, we celebrate every new thing you do and pray with gratefulness and thanksgiving at the literal MIRACLE you are! Over the past year we have felt God's love and grace in everything. He helped us go to sleep and calmed our nerves when we were in need of strength.

But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.

I personally struggled with fear and anxiety and my heavenly Father took it away. Completely. He blessed us with so many supportive friends and family members, and strengthened ties and relationships in our lives. God has also given us the gift of so many new friends literally from around the world, it truly is awesome. Most importantly He has taught us all a lesson in trusting Him.

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart; and lean not upon your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct your path.”

My family and marriage is more grounded and stronger because of what we went through this past year. So many, many miracles and blessings have happened along the way (and still ARE) that I cannot even list them. I know this, Camilla Joy, your Mommy cannot wait to share it with you! We are truly humbled and in awe everyday of what Camilla is learning and doing and how blessed we are. She is hitting all her milestones-sitting up, trying to crawl, saying "mama" "dada" and "baba", laughing at mommy's jokes ---I think she actually gets them!:) We are so excited to see all of these firsts!


For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Our Camilla girl, He has great big plans for you.

Camilla is 4 1/2 months old....

And...I am way behind in blogging. Life has been crazy with me returning to work. With working comes some level of stress, plus add in graduate classes, nursing, pumping, and just being emotional about being away from home so much, all of this equals = busy and tired! I know, I know, no excuse! I have been wanting to update for such a long while now, and at the same time I have wanted to reflect on Camilla's journey so far. So many people ask me if I wish we were never given Camilla's diagnosis, if I wish the call would never have come. All that worry...and she is just fine. It sounds strange, I know, but no. I do not wish things different. And, while our outcome is so wonderful, I know I would still sit here blogging to the same conclusion had it been a difficult one. I know this, because I would have strength from my Heavenly Father. The same strength that carried me through 5 months of pregnancy. The same strength that is carrying many people I know. I cannot list the blessings that have come throughout this journey so far, but I will give it a try. So many supportive calls, words, emails, messages, gifts, visits, PRAYERS, new friends, stronger family relationships, a stronger marriage, a wonderful community of friends and children who are going through or went through the same things, opportunities to teach my children how to pray, appreciation and love for my children through a new "lens", a stronger walk with God, stronger faith, less worry, more ability to "hand things over" to God. a closer bond with our church family, being a witness of MIRACLES...the list goes on and on with blessings! Camilla's birth and place in our lives has touched us so deeply. I put a montage together (below) to share it with all of you. You will want to close the pink music player at the bottom of the blog first. Thank you for your many, many prayers on our behalf. We love you all!

Camilla's Journey at OneTrueMedia.com

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com