Over Due

I have meant to say a few words about my new niece for a very long time. Malulani was born by C-section weighing 3 pounds and 14 ounces. She took her first breath 6 and a half minutes after she was delivered and surprised the heck out of her mother and father. Ke'ala and Candy were thrilled. Malu has a rare disease called Trisomy 18, or Edwards syndrome. It affects 1 out of 3000 babies and is considered non compatible with life. It has something to do with having an extra chromosome that pretty much ruins the body's blue prints for a working internal system.
She is a miracle.

Here she is 10 days later, still breathing (with help), still living and still letting her mommy and Daddy love her. I haven't ever lost a child, but I did lose my father and I am so thankful to have the knowledge that families can be together forever and that our relations with each other don't end in death. I am thankful to know of a Heavenly Father who loves us. I am thankful to know that heaven isn't just a fancy place that people talk about in stories but an actual place. I am thankful to know that we can return to heaven to live with our loved ones who have gone before us. Knowing this doesn't completely lessen the grief that comes with the passing of a loved one, but rather it gives hope that the separation is only temporary. I can't imagine coping with grief without this knowledge.

We had a baby shower for Malu on Saturday. Since she wasn't expected to be with us, her parents didn't really have any supplies, plus it gave us a chance to celebrate Malu and the blessing that she is to all of us.

In other news, this is a picture of Bubba and cousin Devin. Devin is a month younger, but he is just as big. Bubba kept trying to take Devin's toys, but Dev was a good sport.
( I removed the picture of the below story for safety reasons)

No, this is not a little Laie boy running around the North Shore, this is my daughter Cambria! It was really hot on Saturday and the pool was irresistable. We didn't come prepared however so Cambria borrowed some boy shorts. We giggled as we put them on in the bathroom and as we walked out of the door Cambria said, "oh, I hope I don't look ridiculous!"