I really like this picture of my Dad because if you look closely, you can see the brown backpack that he’s wearing.    It may not strike anyone else, but it strikes me because that is the backpack that I used in middle school.  Never mind that he has been a  engineer at TRANE company for the past 35 years, has designed and patented products, and in his free time started a side business.  It’s not as though my Dad can’t afford to buy a new backpack; but he’s a man of Read More

Darcy is four! Read More

In Iceland, kids go outside EVERY DAY for recess....It doesn't matter if it's hailing, snowing, raining, sleeting, or all of the above. I was asking Haley's teacher about this and expressed some of my concerns. Her response: "Well, if it's so windy that the kids can't stand up, then we let them come inside." Wow... how thoughtful. I'm not knocking the Icelandic way. Icelanders are the toughest people I've ever met, and toughening is something the Garman girls need a little bit of.   Read More

We're very grateful...1.  That the mid-wife in Iceland saw something wrong in the ultrasound.  Apparently this can go unnoticed in the ultrasound and obviously then be really upsetting to find out right after birth.2.  That we both got out of Iceland before the ash came to Reykjavik.3.  That we have a beautiful, FURNISHED house in a gorgeous area to stay in during this hard time.4.  That UVA Children's Hospital is only 1.5 hours from our house here and that the staff Read More

After explaining in depth with a heart model the different parts of a healthy heart, a heart with defect, and a heart in utero,  our Dr. said that we were now more knowledgeable than 95% of the people in the building about the heart.  I'm going to do my best to regurgitate what I've learned (knowing full well that people with a medical background may read this and critique...). Here are some basic terms and things that are helpful to know if you're tracking this situation:Stenosis= Read More

Yesterday morning, I went in to Darcy's new bedroom to wake her up (I'm too embarrassed to say what time it was...I guess they we're worn out).  She looked so precious, so I just watched her sleep and prayed for her and this whole transition.  She opened her eyes, stretched out her little arms, found my neck and gave me a classic, tight Darcy hug.  After a few moments of cuddling, she asked if she could wake up and sat up in bed.  Almost immediately, she fell into a little Read More

Thursday the girls and I headed to the airport in Keflavik, Iceland and said goodbye to Colby.  He'll be joining us in 2 weeks after he finishes up some stuff in Reykjavik.  Darcy was very angry and defiant after he kissed us goodbye, and it was obvious that she was just scared about the whole transition (especially without Daddy).  This was the kid's 22nd flight in the last 14 months, so they knew the drill.  They watched Angelina the Ballerina for the entire 5 hour flight Read More

 For snack time, Darcy went into the fridge and selected this as her afternoon snack.  It must run in the genes! Read More