For the last nine months my wife Brooklyn has been carrying our baby boy. Early on we learned that he was very sick. Around the three to four month mark doctors told us that he had severe hydrocephalus. In the old days people called it water on the brain because there was too much fluid building up. We were eventually referred to Cincinnati Children’s Hospital where some of the top fetal specialists in the country gave us devastating news. They said his condition was off the charts bad. It was so extreme that they stopped measuring the fluid levels because it didn’t matter anymore. The MRI images were heartbreaking. We were told there was more than a ninety percent chance that our baby would either pass away shortly after birth or survive with such severe cognitive impairments that any quality of life would be nearly impossible. We sat through gut wrenching meetings with palliative care about breathing tubes and the unthinkable decisions we might face. Brooklyn relocated to Cincinnati to be close to the hospital while I commuted back and forth trying to juggle work and take care of Sophie and Lily at home. On July 8th Brooklyn went into labor. Just fifteen minutes before the C section we sat with doctors again and talked about when we might need to remove life support and let our baby go to heaven. And then it happened. Charlie Edward Schnarr came into the world crying. That cry was the sweetest sound I have ever heard. Charlie stayed in the NICU until yesterday and now we are finally home together. He is a beautiful baby boy doing all the things babies should do. He has mild ventricular enlargement that we will monitor but otherwise he is thriving. The doctors told us they cannot explain what happened. Somehow his brain cleared the blockage on its own and rerouted the fluid. Seasoned nurses and highly respected doctors kept using the words miracle and divine intervention. We know that thousands of family members, friends, clients, colleagues and even strangers were praying for us. I believe with all my heart that God heard those prayers. I believe He stepped in and gave us this gift. I am grateful beyond words. Thank you to everyone who prayed, who reached out, who loved us through this journey. Prayer is powerful. God is real. And He still performs miracles. "This story will make you believe in miracles."

This game seemed like a good idea at the time, little did mom know…..

Double Check!! Yep it’s Friday! 😃