The Gift

Brian in 1980, I met him soon after this!

Just before I was married, my then boyfriend came to me and said he had something he needed to talk to me about. He was so nervous; I could tell this was something that he was scared about my reaction. Watching him I started to worry that maybe something really bad was going on.He said let’s sit down and talk, so we did. He said Sandie, when I was in high school; I had a girlfriend that I really loved. I said ok! He said: after I graduated from high school she gave birth to my son. So, I'm telling you that I have a son. Given what I “thought” it could be, all I could say was "is that all"? He let his breath out and said so you’re ok with it? I said of course.

I met Brian when he was 3 years old. This little boy had the sweetest dimples and smile that you could imagine. He had a southern accent so thick, we had so much fun., being with Brian just made me happy.

We moved from Savannah Georgia in November of 1981 right after Matthew was born. We didn't see Brian again for 20 years. Laura was emailing Brian in the spring of 2001 and we were able to get reacquainted with him. Of course, after years of not talking (Brian had been adopted by his step-dad, so legally we could not have any contact) we were so happy to have communication again.

Brian and I started devising a plan, a plan to surprise everyone in the family; thus having Brian fly out to visit. In May, I bought a plane ticket for Brian to fly out to see us. He was flying into Salt Lake City on September 14, 2001. We all know that Sept 11, 2001, shut down the entire United States air travel. I had to break the news to Loren, given everything that was going on. So, we called Brian and told him that maybe we should postpone it even for a month. He said "if there is a flight leaving North Carolina on Sept. 14, I will be on the plane." Well low and behold, on Sept. 14 his flight left and after delays he finally arrived to us about 16 hours later.

I told the kids that a good friend of mine was coming and that we needed to make the weekend really special for her. So, Laura and Jon came to the airport with Loren and I, but they were looking for my friend. When Brian walked up and started talking to Laura she about blew his ear drum right off. She screamed and cried, Jon was in total shock. He was a little unsure what was going on. We had our video camera so we could capture it all on video, but of course Loren only took pictures and no video (hello, we missed the whole moment). Because of the craziness of the airlines Brian's luggage was lost. We left the airport and drove to Village Inn (at midnight) where Matthew and Danielle were suppose to meet, us, but they were tired of waiting. So, they left. Then we drove up to our condo spent the night and went back the next day to the airport to pick-up Brian's luggage. We stopped by the car dealership that Matthew worked for and Brian went up to him as a potential customer. That was funny! After, we went over to see Danielle.

Brian has been a special gift in our lives. Although, the road is long between us and miles divide us, we love him and are so thankful and blessed he is in our life.

Mostly, this Christmas I want Brian to know how much I (Sandie) love him and appreciate him. I feel blessed that over the last 27 years I have been able to know you and watch you turn into a wonderful man. I feel so grateful and honored to call you my son. I feel so blessed to be part of your life even in the smallest way. Thank-you Brian for allowing us to be part of your life!Loren and I marvel at how life comes full circle. Thanks to you Brian our family is whole.

Our weekend in Utah!

This past weekend we had the wonderful opportunity to spent the weekend with our family in Utah. What a thrill is was to see our kids and grandkids in Utah just before Christmas so I could feel like I spent the holidays with them too.

We had some pretty funny moments! The grandkids were so fun! First just seeing Ryder was a miracle in itself. He is getting so big, he's the cutest thing ever! He was cooing and so happy. We had fun just holding him and loving him.

We had some funny (not so funny at the time, but in hind sight they were) experiences this weekend. Sariah, was a little naughty this weekend. She was into everything, but she found candy in places that I'm not sure that Laura and Wayne knew was there. She opened Christmas presents that we not hers every time we turned around she was downstairs with either candy or a present. She was so funny! So, Saturday night Laura, Saundra and I went shopping. While we were gone we kept getting calls from the men (3 of them with 4 kids) that the kids were being naughty. Then we get this distress call that, Sariah had climbed up on the bathroom counter broke the door to the mirror and it went tumbling to the ground. Good thing nobody was in the bathroom with her or it would have been a hospital visit. Laura asked her what she was doing, she said getting the toothpaste for Aurellia. How could you get mad at that? She is just so cute.

On Saturday morning I woke up at 6, I really tried to stay in bed as long as I could, I knew that my kids wouldn't be up. So, I slip down to the kitchen and while walking past the living room I noticed that Sariah was up, so she came in the kitchen with me, I just held her in my arms and I thought maybe she went back to sleep, so I quietly said I love you so much, she said I love you too grandma. She is so darling. So, we had cereal together and talked. Sunday morning Michael and Sariah had breakfast with me, we talked and had so much fun. Michael is quite a conversationalist when given the opportunity. Then I heard Aurellia, I went in the room to pick her up and she was all smiles, she must get that from her mom because her dad was one grumpy boy when he woke up! I noticed that Michael and Aurellia were eating with their left hands. What a glorious day, someone just like me!

Ok Amber this is for you!

Get to know questions
What is your favorite horror movie, do you like horror movies? NOT AT ALL~

Do you do dance crazy when no one is looking? I used to, but Laura said "tell her NO"

Do you like to sing in the shower? I sing all the time, but yes I do!

What do sing in the shower if you do sing? Ummmm I have no idea

Whats your fav colour? RED....because I love Americana, and Yellow because its so happy.
Do you like baths or showers? I like both, A bubble bath is awesome...I don't take near enough.
Do you blow dry your hair? or just let it dry on its own, or towel dry? My hair is spastic, so I have to blow it dry.
At the beach would you rather play in the sand, or play in the water? I love walking on the beach holding hands, but not playing in it or the ocean. I don't want to do more than wade in the water.
Do you think people should eat the fish they catch, or just let them go? I love fish so eat away, just don't waste it.
What do you like better hands or feet? Hands

Do you like curly hair or stright hair? I have super fine, thin, straight hair...I love curl.
What is your favorite thing to drink? My very favorite drink...Water

What is your favorite Male celebrity? gee, I have no idea I don't watch a lot of tv...so I'm not that into anyone! Robert Redford, except when he opens his mouth about politics, then I don't like him.
What is your favorite Female celebrity? My all time favorite Julie Andrews I love her, she's one classy lady!

Amongst your friends and family who do you admire the most? My dearest Friend Judy, she was the best! She endured more in her life then most will ever have to. I miss her
What is your favorite band or singer? Oh I like a lot, Faith Hill, Amy Grant, Tim McGraw, Brad Pasley just to name a few.

What was your favorite toy as a kid? I have no idea I was a kid, I'm old now!

Cooking or Eating out...Why? I used to love to cook...but the older I get the less I do that.
Cold or hot? Hot

Toast or cereal? Toast! With cinnamon and sugar (Amber, I eat that almost daily)
Cows or horses? I love horses, but I love cows too.

River or ocean? I love both, I have a healthy resect for water! I could sit and watch both for hours.

Our children and their families

Brian




Jon 2006




Laura and Wayne March 2007


Aubrey, Taylor, Danielle and Connor 2007

Michael, Saundra, Aurellia, Matthew and Sariah Spring 2007

Ryder

Ryder on ECMO after his surgery

Ryders scar's going to be big

All these machines kept him alive

Mommy and Ryder after birth

Ryder today!


Daddy and Mommy with Ryder 1 dayold



Going home! That sounds so good!



Our little grandson was born with a left diaphragmatic hernia. He is a special little baby, he's come so far. Subsequent letters followed with more updates.

Below is a copy of the letter I sent out to everyone about his birth I will also include a link for those that would like to learn more about ECMO (Extra Corporeal Membrane Oxygenation), http://www.ich.ucl.ac.uk/factsheets/families/F030174/index.html


Dear Family and friends,

We just wanted to update you all on our family. Matthew and Saundra had their baby on Sunday at 35 weeks gestation.

Ryder Matthew Ramos was born on September 9, 2007 at 9:51 am. He weighed 6 lbs 9 oz and was 20 Inches long. Ryder needs all your prayers. He was born with a Left Diaphragmatic Hernia, which means that he has a hole in the left side of his diaphragm. His stomach and his intestines are up in his chest cavity where his heart should be. His heart is on the right side. Ryder is at Primary Children's Medical Center in the NICU in Salt Lake City. Sunday afternoon Ryder took a turn for the worse and had to be put on a machine called ECMO, this machine is a heart/lung by pass machine, what it does is pulls blood out of his body oxygenates it and then returns healthy blood into his body. He has responded perfect to this treatment, and so far is stable, though still very critical. If Ryder continues to do well he will have surgery the end of this week first part of next week to repair his hernia (hole in his diaphragm). This surgery the doctors will use muscle to repair the hole and the wonderful thing about that is that muscle expands with the body so he won't have to go back for more surgery.

Mom is holding up well, though she had her 4th C-section and has been in a wheelchair between the University of Utah hospital and Primary Children's so this is tough on her healing.

Saundra and Matthew found out in June during a routine ultrasound the condition of Ryder so this was not a surprise though, nobody is totally prepared. Ryder is perfect in every way, if you didn't know he had anything wrong you'd never be able to tell.

Please pray for Ryders speedy recovery, he will be in the hospital at least of 6-8 weeks. Attached is a picture of Ryder after he was put on ECMO in the picture he is puffed up with fluid so he's bigger than he really is. You can also see the two lines of blood coming from his neck. I will send more pictures as I can make it to a computer. Thanks to everyone in advance for you prayers.

Love,

Sandie

Our Family

I thought it would be fun to show you all how much our family has grown! What started out as two is now fifteen.

We welcomed our new beautiful grandson in September. Now we have Aubrey 6, Michael 5, Connor 5, Sariah 3, Taylor 21 months, Aurellia 17 months and Ryder 3 months. We have the best grandkids EVER! What a blessing they are in our life!

This year we will have the opportunity to spend Christmas with each of them, we just can't do it all on Christmas day!

A year ago before Aurellia was born we all got together at our condo in Eden Utah, the grandkids had so much fun playing. Connor was not used to having so many cousins around so he picked on Sariah the whole time. Now, they play just fine together. Sariah is the cutest little girl in this world. She is so funny...my favorite thing about Sariah is when her mom Saundra tells me stories of things Sariah has done...I get to laughing so hard! Every morning lately I have had a chance to drive Aubrey to school, the other day it was snowing and while we were driving to school Aubrey said Grandma, be careful its snowing outside, and there are a lot of crazy people out there. Once while I was in Utah, I went shopping with Michael, we were looking for something specific, I can't remember what now, but whenever we passed by something with spiderman he had to have it. It would take me several minutes to get him away from the spiderman stuff, after awhile I would look down the isle and see spiderman and turn down another. LOL, I bought him something before we left, can't remember what now! One thing about Connor is he likes to talk with his eyes, he has the biggest smile and his eyes sparkle when he talks. "IF" he sits down long enough to talk, he is adorable. Aurellia walks around with a smirk on her face all the time, she's rarely even unhappy, but that girl can bite! When she starts to giggle she purse her lips and her eyes light up. I love eyes, seems like all the kids communicate with their eyes. Taylor has learned how to use her voice lately. She is getting a real opinion about things. Its so fun watching these kids grow up. Ryder is such a mellow baby, one day when he was still in the hopsital Saundra was holding him and he was just looking at his mommy, I remember even when I was holding him he was following her voice. He fought sleep that day because he was so busy watching his mommy. That was a special day for me! I love being a grandma!