I’m just a mom making my way, but my way is a little different. And yet, very much the same. I have a 5 year old daughter, Catherine, who was born at 25 weeks and weighed one pound, nine ounces. Despite a very severe brain bleed, she lived and inspires me every day with all she works so hard to do. She has to overcome a lot: total blindness, seizures, VP shunt, spastic quadraplegic cerebral palsy, hip subluxation, laryngo-malasia, massive global developmental delay, g-tube fed. Oh, and now significant food allergies.
I also have a 17 mos. old daughter, Sarah, who was born right on schedule after I hung out in bed for four months trying to keep her from being too much like her big sister. I picked the name Sarah because one of the lesser known meanings of the name isĀ “one who laughs.” Thankfully, she does – big time.
Brian is my husband and their stay-at-home Daddy. He is the love of my life, and we’ve been married 16 years. I still don’t know why he picked me, but I am so thankful that he did. I cannot imagine my life without him, and I want more than anything in this whole entire world for him to be happy. I still kiss him first when I walk through the door each night.
So, why the title: Just Wait And See? Well, we were in the NICU for 121 days with Catherine. Nearly every question we asked was typically answered, “We’ll just have to wait and see.” It became a joke. My Dad even had t-shirts printed that we gave to all our doctors and nurses when we finally graduated from Johns Hopkins Hospital. They read, “Just Wait And See.”
And so we are. Feel free to wait and see with us.

Ellen-
I just read your article in SmartCEO and then logged on to your blog and read every post. I am a single mom with three kids and work full time. You are a true inspiration! Your passion, love and devotion are so evident. I am local and would love the opportunity to meet you.
Jamie
Hey El
Thanks for being my inspiration on so many levels! You remind me to count my blessings… and I am forever grateful! Kisses for your girls and that wonderful man of yours.
Dawn
Ellen,
I am so glad I was able to “meet” you. You are an amazing, strong, inspirational mother, wife, daughter and person. This is a very special thing for you to put your thoughts, feelings and hopes into this blog to share with others, I feel honored that I get to be a part of this.
Tears stream down my face as I read it and realize how precious life is and little, simple things that we take for granted. Your family is adorable and seems to be so close knit with love, displaying such a beautiful picture of life. Catherine is adorable, I love special needs children, they touch my heart deeply, they are strong individuals that are so inspiring & never complain no matter what they are up against.
The more I read about you as a person and your family, I want to be like you and have a positive, loving attitude like you. I get negative with situations and fail to show my love because I let my emotions get out of control. Thank you for sharing your heart and your experiences they are truly awesome. You are a wonderful role model and your husband and girls are lucky to have you!
HI Jessica,
It happens to all of us! Have a great day.
Sorry for the delayed response. I’ve been off the blog for a bit due to work intensity. But I wanted to get back to you because I have those hard days too. Days when I get negative and let my emotions get out of control. I just posted about Catherine being observed today. I wish I were in Bmore so I could go to the observation. But actually, it’s probably better for me NOT to be there cuz my emotions would get WAY out of whack – trust me! And I’d be in a hugely negative situation
Ellen,
You continue to be inspiring in many ways. I am enjoying keeping up with you all thruthe blog. Enjoyed seing the picture of Catherine doing her latest new “trick”. Sarah is adorable. Hard to believe after all of that hospital time, I have not met her yet. Best to you and your family.
So, let’s get together soon! Miss you.
E/B:
Love the blog – a great way to stay informed of what is going on with you all. We appreciate you all and look forward to the warmer days with you.
JB
I’ve been telling you for years what an inspiration you are to me and to many others. I’m so happy you decided to start a blog, perhaps someday it will become that book I know you have inside of you!
Loved your Christmas card…I hope you have it framed and displayed somewhere in your life. ~p
Hi Pat – thanks for the encouragement. Still looking for that agent/editor type who can help me know how to do it.
Roomie!
I LOVE your blog! And I linked to the pics of Catherine surfing at the beach and cried! She is the smartest girl I know to have chosen the family she chose! And I LOVE the pic of the four of you at the bottom of your ABOUT US page…can I get a copy of that for my fridge? Roomie – I don’t say it often enough, but I think it daily: YOU ARE MY HERO! I will be an enthusiastic follower of your blog from now on! XO – Pat