Happy 4th Birthday Naomi!

Four years ago today, I was rushed via emergency transport from Tuality Hospital in Hillsboro to Emanuel Hospital in Portland, Oregon. Within minutes, Naomi Grace was born weighing 2 lbs 6 oz. 

Born nearly three months early, Naomi came very close to being born in Haiti. I had organized a group and was leading a medical team into the country. Since I still had three months to go with no complications, my doctor was ok with me traveling, but he asked me to come in the Friday before travel just to be sure. 

At the last minute, the doctor informed me that I could not travel due to developing what they thought was pre-eclampsia. Thankfully, the doctor's wisdom (and God's grace and guidance) prevented me from traveling on that trip. Naomi was born the day after the team arrived in Haiti. 

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Naomi would not have survived had she been born in Haiti and I very likely would not have survived either. It turns out that I had HELLP syndrome which is a life threatening complication that requires immediate birth of the baby in order for the mother to survive.

Today, Naomi is a happy, healthy 4 year old little girl. She had heart surgery at 18 months and since then has had really no medical concerns whatsoever.

Naomi right before heart surgery 

She was at the medical clinic today helping out and then she walked back down the mountain with us. Last time, she walked the whole way up all by herself, but today she talked Dad into carrying her part of the way.  After all, she is the birthday girl! She is shown below styling with her new shades as we take a break on the walk home. Naomi picked out her clothes this morning and of course chose to wear something pink!  She LOVES pink.

Later in the evening, we went to the guest house and celebrated Naomi's birthday with the medical team. David and I made cupcakes- chocolate and also pink ones that were made with grenadine. Before we went to the guest house, Naomi ran to her room to put on her "party" dress.

Naomi waiting patiently while the team sings Happy Birthday! 

Naomi is our miracle snowflake baby. She was adopted as a frozen embryo from an amazing family in the Midwest. We have an open adoption with her family and are blessed to call them friends!

Naomi, Linda, Melissa, and Talitha

It's always a complicated math question when people ask us how many children we have adopted and how many we gave birth to. Well.....12 of our 14 children joined our family through the miracle of adoption, but I gave birth to three of them. It is always confusing to people. Please share the news about embryo adoption with friends and family: http://www.embryoadoption.org
There are an estimated 600,000 frozen embryos in storage.  Please pray for these little ones that are waiting for a chance of life on this earth.