Brett Pritchard Family Blog

We would like to introduced all our friends and family to a little girl that we love already even though we have not actually met her yet. This is Mariela, she was born the day before our son Eathyn at the same hospital, on August 25, 2008. She weighed 7 lbs. 8 oz. and was 19 inches long. Shortly after she was born she was checked into the neonatal intensive care unit. She was born with a cleft lip and a cleft pallet. After sending her home with her mother and father, her father was not very gentle with her. One way or another, she ended up with  11 broken bones. He broke her right arm completely in half, five of her ribs, both of her legs in two different places and he also broke her pelvic ring.   Her birth mother and father are now in the Bell County Jail. Her cleft lip really bothered her father. He didn't know how to react to it in a healthy way. Little did he know after 4 surgeries she will look as beautiful as their other child, but now he will never know, he will never see

Bringing Mariela home was such a wonderful experience for our family. We all loved her instantly, despite the fact she looked so different. We all could not wait to bring her home so we could LOVE her pain and hurt away. She is so beautiful !! We can hardly believe the miracles that have escorted this little angel to our home. What a privileged it has been for us to have another one of our Father in Heavens children in our home. We hope we can do all that is asked of us to help protect and care of her.

Today is November 4, 2008.    At 11:30 a.m  Mariela's custody hearing was canceled and reset for two weeks from today. We were very sad and disappointed for Mariela. We wanted to get her to a home where she can start bonding. Brett and our attorney set to work to arrange an emergency hearing.  They were successful in their efforts.    At 4:50 pm our hearing was heard.  We were awarded temporary custody of Mariela Ruby Arismendez, that evening at 5:15 p.m  Mariela was released from her current foster home and put in our care. It's going to be an interesting year to say the least. I hope the Lord will help and sustain me as much as I believed he will. We are happy that this first hearing is over and we can shower her with love. On ovember 5, 2008 at 4 :30 pm, Brett and I  picked up Mariela at the CPS office. I will never forget the way I felt on the way to their office.  It made me think of the dread I felt the day I was driving to the hospital to get a D-n-C.  I was walking ar