Well, we have broken the news about Carrigan's brain damage to our four year old daughter; predictably, she cried.  No, we ALL cried. 

Now the order of the day is to learn to accept our son for the way he is and try to think of ways to help him reach his full potential, even in light of his disabilities.

Carrigan will probably remain in the hospital until he is a little bigger: right now he is still a little fella: only three pounds and ten ounces.  Getting closer to the goal of five pounds, but not quite there yet.

We have already started looking into several "early childhood intervention" programs and therapy programs; we want to do all we can to help maximize our son's chances of having some semblence of a normal life.  We are not quitters; we O'Tooles are like that.  Maybe it's our Irish heritage, but we have never been known to give up, no matter how big or unsurmountable a problem or situation seems.

It is still unknown at this time whether our baby boy will end up learning to walk or talk or even see, hear, or eat on his own, but then again, we will do all we can to help him.  He is as beautiful as ever, and his ears are still a little funny looking, but as I said earlier, in the first chapter, iti could be attributed to his rough journey through Brooke's birth canal. 

Well, I hate to cut this short, but it's about time to visit Corrigan at the hospital.  Brooke is going to stay home; she is not feeling her best today.  Hopefully she isn't coming down with something like a cold or the flu.  Take care and continue to pray for us, but especially Corrigan!  I, Daniel Michael O'Toole, and our family would greatly appreciate any and all prayers!

~To be continued!~