Meet the moms
Jessie- Abel's Mom
I’m Abel’s mom. I am also a mom to Violet, Amelia, Levi, Oren and twins due in August. I’m a stepmom to Jacob and Gabe, an adoptive mom, angel mom, NICU mom and medical mom. I have a complicated story of rags to riches, to extreme loss, but on this journey of life, I have learned that the only thing that truly matters is love. This blog is just a glimpse into our home and the intentional focus of love and simplicity.
My journey to motherhood was far from typical. Join our family as we manage grief and find happiness in simplicity through homeschooling, organic eating, amateur gardening, living simply and running the foundation, Born Abel.
Let’s share recipes, parenting, motivation, and lift each other up on this journey of life.
Debbie- Theo's Mom
I’m Debbie, a former Midwesterner who now calls the beautiful Santa Cruz Mountains in California home. I’m a full-time working mom with a background in law enforcement, healthcare, and education. My life is a whirlwind with my four amazing kids—Ashlyn (16), Jack (13), Theo (forever 7 months), and Grant (2). I’ve been married to my incredible husband, Casey, for 18 years, and together, our faith in God is at the heart of everything we do.
In addition to my role as a mom, I’m a passionate advocate for parents facing a life-limiting diagnosis and who are looking for support as they walk their Trisomy journey. My son, Theo, was diagnosed with Trisomy 13 and lived for 7 beautiful months in 2022. Our family cherishes every moment and uses Theo's legacy to help others in similar situations. I’m also proud to serve as the Born Abel Trisomy 13 Liaison, and spreading awareness for Trisomy 13 is a cause close to my heart.
When we're not juggling life’s chaos, you’ll find us soaking up the sun at the beach, painting and leaving "Theo rocks", relaxing in the redwood forest or making magical memories at the happiest place on earth- Disneyland!
Adrienne- Riley's Mom
I’m Adrienne, a 42 year old ginger living in Chesapeake, VA. This summer my hubby, Daniel, and I will celebrate 20 years of marriage so far! We met in 2001 attending Bible college at the Univeristy of Valley Forge. We got married after graduation and moved to Virginia Beach where he has been a youth pastor, as well as head of security at the city’s largest high school, and I was an elementary educator for 17 years. Fun fact: growing up I always said I never wanted to be a pastor’s wife or teacher, but I’m very happily both! I was just starting my switch into educational administration the year we became pregnant with our rainbow twins, Riley & Willow, who will turn 2 this summer. We have two older boys, Micah and Judah who are 15 and 9. Outside of school and church, Micah and Judah are both working toward their black belts. We love roadtripping together and spending time with our extended families who all live nearby. In our late 30s we finally decided to have another baby, hoping for a girl. Our 1st IUI was a spontaneous miscarriage due to Trisomy 3, and the 2nd IUI gave us Willow; our 2nd ultrasound was Riley’s debut and we learned we were having twins! A few weeks later an NIPT test revealed he would be born with Trisomy 21, which changed nothing for us as we knew he would complete our family. Due to Riley’s medical needs, I’ve stayed home with the twins as our family’s Product Manager of Human Creation and Development. It’s been a wonderful blessing! For the past six months I’ve also enjoyed moderating and creating content for the Trisomy 21 Club by Born Abel as their T21 liaison. I’ve learned so much from this growing community and love having the opportunity to support others in their trisomy 21 journey!
Alex- Addison's Mom
Hi there! I'm Alex! My husband Chad and I are from Massachusetts and are the proud parents of our beautiful daughter, Addison, who is now 19 months old. Addison is our little miracle, conceived through IUI and making her grand entrance into the world early at just 34 weeks. While I always knew motherhood would be an adventure, nothing truly prepared me for navigating life as a NICU mom, a medically complex child’s advocate, or balancing my own mental health along the way.
Motherhood, Mental Health, and Advocacy
If there’s one thing you should know about me, it’s that I follow the pediatrician’s orders, trust modern medicine, and generally go with the flow of social norms—but if something seems off with my child, I will stand up and question everything. I’ve learned that no one knows your child like you do, and trusting that gut feeling is one of the most powerful tools a mom can have.
I’ve also learned that being a mom with ADHD and OCD brings a unique set of challenges, especially when pregnancy hormones throw everything into overdrive. My mental health took a serious hit during pregnancy, and even now, as we navigate toddlerhood, I’m constantly working to find balance between being the best mom I can be and taking care of myself.
Motherhood is messy. Some days, it feels like I have it all together, and others, I’m just hoping to make it through the day with everything I have to do. Here, I’ll be sharing my personal experiences with managing mental health, handling the unexpected, and finding the little victories in the chaos.
Traveling With a Premature Baby
As a family that loves to travel, having a premature baby didn’t stop us—it just meant we had to adapt. I quickly became an expert in sterilizing bottles on the go, packing the perfect carry-on to ease my anxiety, and finding must-have products that made traveling with a premature infant feel more manageable. I know firsthand how overwhelming it can be to leave the safety of home, and I’ll be sharing my best travel tips, packing guides, and little hacks that have helped us continue our adventures while keeping Addison safe and my mind at ease. I can't wait to share more!
Lindi- Hutt's Mom
Hi, I’m Lindi. I’m a wife, angel mom, mom and medical mom. Whew, that’s a mouth full. My husband, Shane, and I have been married for almost 9 years. We have 3 children. Major, our angel, who we lost at 20 weeks gestation. Gray, our spunky, vibrant 7.5 year old (I had to add the half, because she said so). And last but not least, Hutt. He is almost 3 and is our medically complex babe, born with a rare genetic syndrome. Shane and I have endured a lot in our short time together, from child loss, to pregnancy after loss, miscarriage and now navigating life caring for Hutt and making sure we provide all he needs to be successful in life. Nothing will ever prepare you to be a medical mama, but through this blog, I hope to show you how extraordinarily different is extraordinary; and that no matter the limitations one may face, you and your child’s diagnosis doesn’t define you or your ability to be extraordinarily amazing.
Whitney- Terry Ann's Mom
Hi, I’m Whitney. My husband Corey and I have been married for 15 years, facing typical challenges like balancing time and finances, plus the added strain of me becoming a full-time student while working three jobs. After four years and multiple miscarriages, we welcomed our son, Donovan. Life grew tougher when I started teaching Special Education with a one-year-old, and then my dad was killed in the 2017 Fort Lauderdale airport shooting, shattering our world. Amid grief and a strained marriage, I longed for a second child—a girl. Corey reluctantly agreed, and seven months after losing my dad, I was pregnant with Terry Ann. Despite a high-risk pregnancy, early tests were clear, but at 20 weeks, anomalies appeared. At 33 weeks, I delivered Terry Ann unexpectedly; she spent 254 days in the hospital. Named after my parents, she thrust us into a medical whirlwind we weren’t prepared for. Now, I juggle being a wife, mother, teacher, and caregiver to a medically fragile child, surrounded by medical supplies and a new circle of doctors and therapists. Despite everything, Corey and I remain committed, choosing to live fully. We’ve adapted Terry Ann to our lives, ensuring Donovan’s normalcy too. She’s thrived on countless trips since coming home, from cruises to RV adventures. I’ve spent seven years perfecting ways to travel with her complex needs and can’t wait to share tips so others can keep making memories too!