Monday!! Here is today’s macro mystery. What is it? Comment below with your guess, and I will reveal the answer tomorrow. Happy Monday!
It wasn’t supposed to be this way.
Twenty weeks into their pregnancy, this beautiful, faithful young couple, full of hope and dreams for their first child, heard the devastating diagnosis. Their unborn son had Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia (CDH). The chances he would survive to full term were low. The probability that he would survive after delivery was low. Julie and Jeff were faced with choice of terminating the pregnancy, delivering the baby and allowing him to go Home, or fighting and praying that God would allow him to live through multiple surgeries and somehow heal his little body. They chose to pray. They chose fight.
It wasn’t supposed to be this way.
As weeks of pregnancy past, Jeff and Julie made the decision to do things with Jacob that he might never get to do. He went to a baseball game. He rode a Harley. He flew on an airplane. He served the homeless. He listened to songs and bedtime stories. When the day finally arrived, Jacob was delivered at Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital. Contradicting the predictions, he took two breaths on his own. They were told he wouldn’t cry, but he let out two little squeals.
It wasn’t supposed to be this way.
The following hours, days, nights, and months were filled with prayers, tears, fears, setbacks and victories. Jacob continued to fight. God continued to perform miracles. Jeff and Julie continued to celebrate every moment with their son. After months of intense medical treatments Jacob’s progress amazed even the doctors.
It wasn’t supposed to be this way.
Against long odds, Jacob eventually got to go home with his parents. He got to have a first birthday party. He got be a big brother.
It was my honor to photograph this beautiful family and share with you their miraculous story. Their life is full of joy and gratitude, and it wasn’t supposed to be this way.
To read all of Jacob’s story, click here to read the Tuley’s blog.
Click here to read more stories from CDH families and learn more about Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia.
The macro mystery for October 14 was a hermit crab! The kids and I have been catching them and holding them hostage for a couple hours just to watch them. Don’t worry. I make sure they don’t get too hot and that they have fresh sea water. It is so interesting to me that each one has a different personality. One would bury itself in the sand while the other would desperately try to find the way out of the bucket. Another was content to just hang out. They are so tiny and so detailed with their intricate little mouth parts. They are beautifully and wonderfully made. Thank you so much for guessing!
It’s Monday again! Here is the macro mystery. What is it? Comment below and I will reveal the answer tomorrow. Happy guessing.
Last night, my family and I visited the LIGHT display by Bruce Munro at Cheekwood in Nashville. Cheekwood Botanical Garden & Museum of Art is a 55 acre estate built by the Maxwell House Coffee fortune. It is a beautiful property, and they regularly have special events and art exhibits. I have never regretted the money spent on admission for these events, and the current LIGHT exhibit is no exception. My 3 year old nephew loved it and cried when it was time to leave. That speaks loudly of the beauty of this event. The grounds are also packed with mums of every color for fall. I wish we had arrived before dark just to see the mums better! Don’t wait any longer if you haven’t seen this exhibit, because it’s almost over. November 10th is the last day for LIGHT by Bruce Munro, so get to it. You will want to go back when Cheekwood puts up their Christmas trees.
