My pregnancy test was positive. It was a few days after Mother's Day in 2005. In eight months or less our first child would be born. We were ecstatic!!! Instantly, we began planning our future with a baby.

I was four months pregnant and at the doctors office when the unimaginable happened. Less than two minutes into our routine ultrasound our Doctor diagnosed our baby with Potter's Syndrome. A rare condition that is incompatible with life and our unborn baby would die shortly after birth. We went from elation to devastation in 30 seconds! What happened next was a mixture of extreme emotions, complete disbelief and a million questions. We've never heard of Potter Syndrome, Potters Sequence or Bilateral Renal Agenesis. Which in simple terms is the absence of kidneys.

This certainly became the most defining time in our life. We learned so much about our relationship, our family and our friends. As well as, the compassion of complete strangers who have touched us so deeply.

I will be forever grateful that I had the foresight to keep a journal from the beginning of my pregnancy, the strength to be so honest and the knowledge to publish it.

As a dedication to Hope Angel, our precious daughter, we are sharing our complete experience. Our goal is to help other families and friends who have lost a child too soon. Please let us know if we can help you.

LOVE was all she ever knew!!!

We were planning on having a Baby...

but we have an Angel instead!!!

Hope's 3rd Birthday ~ 2008

Noon Tuesday... We went to our beach with these three star gazer lily flowers for you. We walked out on the pier and before we tossed them in the Pacific Ocean we took a picture of all of us holding a flower just for you.

(hover over the pictures to see others)

Love, Momma, Poppa & Sugar Bear

Hope's 4th Birthday ~ 2009

We visited you this afternoon at our usual spot!!!

~  ~

Our Pier was closed... so Plan B

We gave your flowers to this little girl statue.

Interesting... she looks to be your age!

LOVE xoxo, Momma, Poppa, Sugar Bear & Baby Bear

Hope's 5th Birthday ~ 2010

We all gave you a pink rose today. It was a tad more challenging with your two little brothers.

Tossing the roses over the railing while trying to get pictures AND not let them jump over to join the surfers was funny now that we are all home SAFE. :)

We were lucky to get a picture of us togther this year.

Happy and Sad!!! We Miss You Baby!!!

LOVE xoxo, Momma, Poppa, Sugar & Smiles