This is Gayle Richardson writing.  I am sorry for not writing in such a long time; have been busy getting things in order, for when the new baby comes.  Yes, you heard and read right:  I am expecting a new baby.  It's another boy, the little brother Shawn Patrick would have met had he lived.

My first son, Shawn Patrick, would have been two on January 12, 2010.  He only lived for three hours:  he had a horrible brain malformation that was fatal.  If he did live, he would have been a total vegetable, unable to do anything for himself. 

It's been hard, but I think I can move on with my life, concentrate on this new child inside my belly.  I am due in late November or early December; so far, everything appears to be in order. 

No sign of anencephaly according to the ultrasound; this baby appears to be in excellent shape.  I pray with all my heart that the baby I am carrying inside of me doesn't have to go through what my firstborn child did when he was born.

This new baby will be named Josiah Cade. 

Steve and I have been educating other people about anencephaly, and that even the worst tragedies can make people stronger.  I know it has made us stronger; we are more able to handle any crisis that may come our way with a suprising sense of strengh I never knew we had.  I owe it all to Shawn; he is the reason for our living, as is the arrival of little Josiah in a little under two months from now.

What a wonderful Christmas gift we've been given:  a new life, a new child to love and raise as our own!  God is indeed worthy of all the praise; we have been praising Him practically nonstop ever since we found out that I was pregnant!  We've been granted a miracle!!

Well, Steve is going to take me out to eat; he's getting the wheelchair packed into the van.  (Too big now; too hard to walk, so I have to depend on wheels of a totally different kind.  :)  )  I will write in here again, probably before Josiah Cade makes his appearance!  Until then, this is Gayle Richardson signing off!  So long and God bless!

~Love, your friend, Gayle.  :)