Announcing Mackenzie, Marcus, and Vincent Chapman

     It's official: on January 8, 2009....I became a grandma to a set of triplets!  Of course, I am the proud grandma.  And though I live a good four and a half hours away from my son Jason and daughter (in-law) Samantha, I am so very glad that Samantha made it through giving birth to the triplets rather well.

     Yet, the triplet's delivery did not happen without a hitch: Mackenzie and Marcus are still hospitalised, and, were life-flighted to a peoria children's hospital right after birth.  Since their births, they have been diagnosed with congestive heart failure, and, although they are recupersting---they will have to take medication for the rest of their lives, just to hve "normal" lives.  It's been rough road for Jason and Samantha to deal with, but, they are coping as well as can be expected under the circumstances.

     The third triplet, Vincent Paul (Vinnie), was the last to be born, and, from what I hear, he's quite the little man.  He has already gained up to 8 lbs., and, is already drinking 4 oz at every feeding!!!  Jason tells me that he turns as red as a firecraker when he's angry...and I can just imagine what he looks like!

     It has been a tough year for Jason and Samantha---they've been dealing with a lot of serious issues, especially since Samantha's wrongful termination of employment while she was pregnant with the triplets.  Yet, even though it has been so tough on them, they are a very committed couple, intent on raising all of their children with values and moral conviction (they also have three older sons: Anthony (11), Johnathone (9), and Ethan (6). ).  It's a tough road....even tougher when there is more put on their plates because fate did not treat them nice.

    Yet, I do have hope...I have hope because I know that both Jason and Samantha are happy with their life together, are happy in regards to their children, and are determined to weather any storm thrown at them by fate/life.  Samantha will be returning to work once her physician agrees she has healed from the birth experience, and, she also has plans to further her education in the health care field. 

    I also believe that the triplets' birth on January 8, 2009 gave me much more than just hope for my son and his family: it also gave me the hope that their world will be much more different and open to greater possibilities than what were available to me, or my son Jason.  That the worl they grow up in and become part of in future generations will be less discriminating against all groups of people, that their will be opportunities available to all of my grandchildren---regardless of their personal life choices, the color of their skin, the hard economic times.

    Welcome to the world, Mackenzie, Marcus, and Vincent Chapman---we're all overjoyed by your arrival, and, we all plan to help you grow and mature into full, productive lives!  Not too mention that Grandma became impatient over the holidays...!