Tuesday, September 05, 2006

27 comments:

Stacey said...

Praying for you and baby Eliot as you go through this journey of life! You're not alone!!

Anonymous said...

Hello again!
I am so excited to celebrate Eliot's birthday! He is looking more like Daddy and then he looks like Mommy! Ginny, don't kid yourself! You are a great writer also! Every time I read the messages, I am humbled and amazed! God does work such miracles! Eliot is getting so big, he is so precious and cute! Take care! God bless you guys!
Gena Pierce

Jennifer said...

What a PRECIOUS little boy! I just found your blog through Kate at thetateschool.blogspot.com. i am passing it along to a couple of other people I know she have children with syndromes. What a beautiful, precious family you have. May God continue to bless you richly...your testimony brings Him such glory!!!

Anonymous said...

God bless you, Eliot, Matt, and Ginny.

Renee said...

Eliot is one cute little boy, and I have chills after reading through your story. We have a son with Trisomy 21 but still cannot comprehend what you are dealing with. Indeed, what a miracle he is! Congratlulations on your first child. May God continue to bless your family during this time.

Anonymous said...

Ginny,
I am weeping as I read your post. Your words are the sweetest words I have ever heard, and I want to save them always in my heart. You and Matt are the best parents I have ever known. You have received the best gift God could have ever given you, and it is so precious to be able to look on and share in this most intimate and holy time in your lives. I love you with all all all of my heart and even more.
Your friend, Karen

Randi said...

Prayers being said for you little guy...

Anonymous said...

Hey Matt and Ginny...
This is Marlee. It's been a long time! I live in Istanbul, Turkey now and news of Eliot just reached me. I am honored to know of his life and to follow along on this amazing journey. Know that I am praying fervently for peaceful moments as you are awake in the middle of the night--when it's day here. Thank you for sharing your beautiful son's story with the world. He is a miracle.
Marlee

Unknown said...

....may the Lord continue to bless you and keep you, may He continue to shine His face on you and give you peace....

Ivey's Mom said...

Jenmom sent me to your post. April 25th of this year our family was blessed with our third child, a baby girl. We have two boys, Knox (3) and Walker (will be 2 tomorrow). In the days following Ivey's birth, they thought that she might have trisomy 18. However, after testing, she was diagnosed with a deletion to the long arm of her 21st chromosome. She too is a very rare but extremely special baby. My heart goes out to you. We are still in the beginnings of this ourselves, but let me tell you, it will get better. You will cope and adapt. Things that seemed foreign will be come your normal. There was a nurse in the NICU who told me everyday......"You must make this baby become part of your life, don't make her your only life. That has been the best advice I could have possibly received. These babies that we have will live much shorter lives than we will, but why not let them live the fullest life possible? You will get through this, you have no other choice! Whenever you need to talk to someone who is basically in the same shoes you are wearing please send me an email.
With Blessings,
Gwen

Anonymous said...

Ginny & Matt,
Thanks so very much for all the time spent sharing your lives and pictures. I am always so curious how you are doing. I have checked in several times, but this is my first time to comment. You have just seemed to leave me speechless everytime. I am so glad all 3 of you are doing so well and cherishing every moment. You have inspired hundreds. It's amazing to see God working in you. You inspire me everytime I think of you. Ya'll are awesome. How can one not be inspired by your story. I know your parents are so very proud of both of you. You are amazing parents for Eliot. Be sure to tell him Happy Birthday. Continue to cherish everyday. I will continue to pray for you daily and the church is praying to. Wow! Eliot you are such a handsome man! Stay strong!!!
Love,
Claire Dauphin Payne

Anonymous said...

Ginny & Matt,
Thanks so very much for all the time spent sharing your lives and pictures. I am always so curious how you are doing. I have checked in several times, but this is my first time to comment. You have just seemed to leave me speechless everytime. I am so glad all 3 of you are doing so well and cherishing every moment. You have inspired hundreds. It's amazing to see God working in you. You inspire me everytime I think of you. Ya'll are awesome. How can one not be inspired by your story. I know your parents are so very proud of both of you. You are amazing parents for Eliot. Be sure to tell him Happy Birthday. Continue to cherish everyday. I will continue to pray for you daily and the church is praying to. Wow! Eliot you are such a handsome man! Stay strong!!!
Love,
Claire Dauphin Payne

Anonymous said...

First of all he is such a cutie!!! I am Lance's cousin Amanda (mother of Nathan T-13). I have just pulled up this page and began reading part of the stories. Some sound all to familiar to Nathan and our struggles. I am so happy to see Eliot doing well. You all have been in my prayers!

Anonymous said...

Hi,

My SIL sent your blog site on to me...thinking I would be interested and I am! Eliot is just precious, and you both seem like very special people. Your attitude is inspiring and so is your trust in the Lord. My husband and I have a little girl (our firstborn and oldest child) who has a rare genetic disorder which affects her fourth pair of chromosomes and she also has a trisomy as well. Her particular syndrome is called Wolf-Hirschhorn Syndrome and it is pretty rare, about 1 in 50,000 births. She is doing well and is almost six! Anyway, even though our little girl didn't have a lot of medical issues when she was born (though she's gone on to have a few), we've walked down a similar path to yours. I too love the "Holland" poem and it hangs in our kitchen :) Eliot is so sweet I just want to reach out and kiss him. Even though we don't know you...please know you're being though of and prayed for. God Bless you all!

Jen and Dan Thayer

mommy to six J's said...

Hi my name is Char and your story of your precious little boy isjust incredible. You can tell that you have the joy of the Lord in your hearts. You also have the peace that passes all understanding. Your son is so precious and I will be praying for all of you.God bless the three of you.Char

Anonymous said...

Matt and Ginny,

I was just forwarded your post today and have read it all. I am in awe at the love and joy that radiates from this blog! It is amazing to see how you two have embraced what God has given to you even though it may not be what you planned. Eliot is so lucky to have a home filled with so much love, patience and compassion. Without knowing what the outcome of your situation will be it is obvious that you have been blessed and will continue to be so for all of your days. Thank you for being a blessing to all who read your blog and for helping to keep all of our lives in perspective!

Praying His will for your family,

Tana Maule

Anonymous said...

Hey guys. I just wanted to remind you that we serve a mighty big God. I know you know. He can do anything. Two of my grandchildren are twins. One weighed 2lbs. and the other weighed 14ozs. They each had to receive intestinal surgery immediately after birth. There was only one doctor who would even attempt the operation. That was was nine years ago. Today Michael (2lbs.) is being removed from the "Special" list of at risk children. Brittany, although still small for her age is developing a voracious appetite for things like ketchup, yogurt and pepperoni. She is rarely tube fed although it still remains an option. The doctors had no idea what to expect from these two, either. Don't stop believing. Don't stop believing that "all things work for the good..." I'm believing with you. Kim Wise

Anonymous said...

Matt and Ginny,
I just visited your blog site for the first time on my own. Ms. Emmy, the librarian at the law school, is the one who told me of all that has been going on in y'all's lives over the summer. She said that you had a blog site, but I have never been a blogger or visited many blog sites in my life, so I prayed for y'all, but kind of let it go after that. However, I kept wanting to e-mail Matt, but I thought I should probably visit the site first, so I got the address from Ms. Emmy, and went to the site. Honestly, I was only going to scan it to find out what was going on, but I ended up reading every single entry. After I finished, I prayed for Eliot, and you, and Ginny. I am so thankful that I got to meet you and Ginny and that the Lord would let me share in this time in your lives. I am actually in Little Rock now. I am a visiting student at UALR Law School. However, I e-mailed Kassandra Bentley, Denis Dean, Sara Criss, and Professor Brill with your blog site address because they are the ones I left in charge of CLS in Fayetteville:) I hope we can get more and more prayers lifting up.
This "comment" does not do justice to how I felt as I read about y'all's journey so far. Thank you and Ginny for so honestly posting your thoughts and feelings.

Anonymous said...

Hello Eliot, Mom & Dad! My name is Erin. I am Katy Orender's little sister and fellow Arkansas Grad (GO HOGS!). My husband and I are also new parents. Connor is now 6 months old. Katy told me about your story and let me tell you how it humbles me. Your strength and courage leaves me in awe. I almost don't have the words. Reading about the joy and elation that you have for each little mile stone reminds me and convicts me of the things that I take for granted. How truly blessed we are to have these little ones in our lives. I truly admire you both. Eliot is a beautiful little boy. Thank you for reminding me of the blessings that God has given me.

Anonymous said...

love reading about Eliot and your continuing faith. a child is such a precious gift.will keep you in my prayers.
claudia woods

Anonymous said...

There are so many words to say and so few words that need to be spoken. I am praying for the three of you each day. You are precious and strong and courageous. Thank you for sharing your lives and your miracle baby! I love you two!

Tanya said...

What a beautiful baby. Your family is in my prayers.

Anonymous said...

I know you don't know me, but I am a relative of one of your friends. I have been keeping up to date since I heard of your circumstances. I too have known heartache mixed with joy. At 5 months in pregnancy I went in to have an ultrasound and the baby had died. Our first. After being induced into labor and a 48 hour long labor, my husband and I saw our first born son for the first, last, and only time here on this earth. That was July 13, 2003. How to cope? How to go on? Why did this happen? All things are revealed in time. Exactly one year later July 13, 2004, our second baby boy was born. Our miracle baby. Since then, many we have been able to open our hearts and share what all we felt and went through with other who were going through the same thing. Since, we have been blessed with another baby boy. Our third miracle. Know that we are praying and so many have you in their hearts.

Anonymous said...

Dear Matt,Ginny and Eliot, What an incredibly beautiful family you have. My wife is a dental hygenist and she came home this evening telling me about your site that a patient had told her about. We have experienced many unexpected emotions as we have read through your site. Please know that you have another Christian brother and sister praying for the three of you. May the Father fill you with peace and joy and may His blessings and favor be on your family always. Blessings. Steve and Angie Gonzalez.

The Walkie Talkie said...

Just shutting down for the day and wanted to say Hi! Ginny- glad Alabama pulled out a "W" against Vandi on Saturday. Let's hope the piggies can do the same. Still praying for you guys daily and thinking of you very often. Hope things are good in "Holland!" Much love and many prayers, JB

Anonymous said...

Eliot, you are a gorgeous little boy and I'm sending you a big (((hug))). God bless you.

Anonymous said...

Eliot, i think you are just the cutest little thing ever and I want to wish you lots luck.