Samuel Wesley Hague

Samuel Wesley Hague was born October 14, weighing 8 lbs., 8 1/2 oz.
When Sam was born 5 weeks ago, the doctors noticed a loud murmur in his heart. It’s not uncommon. They didn’t panic. But when it didn’t go away after two weeks they sent us to the University of California San Francisco hospital to get it checked out. The doctor took an extensive echocardiogram examination of his heart and the result was disappointing, to say the least.

Sam has a condition called “Tetralogy of Fallot,” meaning he has a large hole in his heart (8 mm wide) and the main artery to his lungs is partially blocked. It’s a condition that does not correct over time. He will require open-heart surgery in his first 6 months. As far as infant heart problems go, TOF is not entirely rare, which is good. They’ve been operating on it for over 40 years with a high success rate. If all goes well, Sam will have the surgery in the next 6 months and it will be the only one he will require. He should go on to live normally, although he will have to see cardiologists for the rest of his life.
Since the initial diagnosis, he has had weekly doctor's visits (1 again in San Francisco) and a 5 hour trip to get special prayer.

Sam is doing really well. His oxygen levels are perfect, and he is gaining weight and strength like any other baby. The cardiologist was pleased enough to decrease the cardiologist appointments to once a month in Santa Rosa (instead of San Francisco... thank GOD!) Still, we have to keep him healthy, which means he stays at home with Sara away from the crowds.

So what now? We are staying here in Mendocino, moving into a larger cabin where it should be easier to stay healthy. And besides that, all we can do is wait for Sam to get big enough for surgery (the longer the better, up to around 5 months) or better yet, for him to be healed. How cool would that be?

It's great to live in a day where we can see this type of thing coming before it turns fatal. What an awesome age! We're thankful for doctors, and hopeful that God just might see fit to fix our boy before the they have to fix him with a knife. Please keep praying with us in that way.

Blessings on you all,

Jason & Sara

Graduated travels

After an early May whirlwind tour of Asbury Seminary in Kentucky, Jason's graduation in Arkansas, and a 40-hour visit to Tyler before flying back home, Jason and I tumbled back into DTS-prep and recruit mode.

Jason's summer teaching travels included a moving week in the Belize DTS in July, and a quick trip down to Guadalajara, Mexico to climb a mountain and inspire a group of about 25 high schoolers from the peak. During the first week in September, he'll bring along his youngest disciple for some on-the-job DTS teacher-training: Emily will join him in the classroom before heading over to the children's home most afternoons to hang out and practice what she's learned (Dora didn't adequately prepare her for this internship).

DTS starts in a month! Keep praying for students to fill our new classroom (as well as materials and carpenters to finish the building)!

We're looking forward to the arrival of our fourth little Hague sometime around Oct. 12th! Appears to be a masculine playmate for Jack.

Our spring garden

The past 3 1/2 months have been full of clean up from the January storm, building projects, gardening, weekend youth encounters and adult seminars, a passion week full of teaching, worship, and other activities, along with all the other day-to-day tasks.

Jack's turned 2 and is displaying his independence and manhood by taking off on great adventures as soon as our heads are turned: He disappeared on Wednesday for almost 15 minutes. He crossed the entire land (at least 300 yards), made his way into the cabin up the hill from ours, curled up on a kitchen chair, and was snuggling down for an afternoon nap, when I discovered him! His most famous quotes are taken from Nemo ("Daddy, help me!") and Veggie Tales Little Joe ("Guys? Hey guys? A goat must have bumped me or something, a little help?")


Jenna's cut the apron strings and now enjoys "running with the gang." She still comes home for a good snuggle most afternoons, and to tell me a good story. She's ever the princess, but while running around with the others, she wears pants quite a bit these days!


Emily's working on her second loose tooth, reading, and philosophizing ways to "save the world" while she races across the Lord's Land on her bike one-handed. She enjoys homeschool and puts out about 15 new works of art every day!


Some of you may not have heard our latest: our little family is expanding once again, to make room for a fourth little Hague. This is a bit surprising, I know, but a blessing, of course! Aside from the tight but workable squeeze in our cabin (we may resort to “the baby in the dresser drawer” idea some of our grandparents may have employed), we're outgrowing our 95 Ford Explorer, and Jason's getting used to the idea of being the proud owner of a mini-van! So we're on the lookout for our next mode of transportation.

Love you all, and would love to hear from you!
--Sara