Haven’s Homestead

05/26/2023

Photos from Baby Haven Greyson's Angels's post

05/21/2023

Haven loved the farm 🐓🙏🏻💕

05/20/2023

Photos from Baby Haven Greyson's Angels's post

05/17/2023

05/11/2023

Angels 👼 we safely arrived to Haven’s Homestead. It’s so nice to be a family all together under one roof. I can’t wait to share pictures of Haven on the farm, but sometimes life throws unexpected curves. We recieved a call right after we arrived from Stanford Hospital that my family and I have been processing.

We decided to genetically test Haven since so much is unknown about his absent father. We had to fight with insurance to get it approved, but they finally allowed it. Yesterday we got the genetic results back for Haven. Haven has 22q11.2 deletion syndrome.

Apparently, it’s the second most common genetic condition next to Down syndrome, but very few have ever heard of it. I know I had not. His 22 chromosomes pair is missing some genes. His is the rarest type of 22Q as the genes he is missing are not as common. So we will have follow-ups with a genetic counselor when we return to California specifically for Haven’s type and treatments.

This diagnosis explains so many of Haven’s symptoms (heart issues, food and speech issues, ASD, one kidney, hypospadias…); which we have been assuming all resulted from his extreme prematurity. Most known symptoms of 22q11.2 deletion syndrome - we have been addressing already. Haven will require some growth and immune workups when we get back.

As a mother have mixed feelings about learning all of this. On one hand now we know and we can treat Haven preventatively. Since this is a more studied genetic deletion there are thankfully protocols for both children and adults.

On otherhand I’m sad. I hate that Haven will have to deal with so much. There is inherent sadness and perhaps guilt that I somehow caused this even though the reports show there is nothing I could have done to prevent it from happening. I just remember getting abnormal results after abnormal results in early pregnancy genetic testing, opting for the amniocentesis and them still not finding anything. Haven dealing with and inuterine growth restriction and now after four years of random issues — we now find out the underlying issue for it all.

I promise we will post more happy pictures of Haven on the farm soon - I just needed a day or two to process this news in my heart and head.

Like many things this will not define Haven. It’s simply another puzzle 🧩 piece in his journey in this magical thing we call life. His and Papaw and Nanny’s smile say it all - life doesn’t stop moving forward and diagnosis don’t prevent love and living from happening. 🙏🏻💕

——

The 22q11.2 Deletion occurs in an estimated 1 in 2,000-4,000 live births, although this is possibly an underestimate of the prevalence of this deletion, making it almost as common as Down syndrome. In addition, it is the most frequent cause of syndromic palatal defects and it is found in 1 of 68 children born with a heart defect. Despite this prevalence, many physicians are still not familiar with the diagnosis or its extreme variability. Because of this, a family may search for years for an explanation for the child’s problems, as well as for meaningful help. Sometimes patients are in their late teens or even adulthood before the diagnosis is made.

05/08/2023

Sometimes it’s about the journey and not the destination…

Many have traveled the old cross country trail of Route 66. Many have shared in the joys of unique sites along the way, breaking up would be hours of straight endless roads. However, few have had the experience of life Haven has.

Haven spent the first eight months of his life in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit never getting to experience life outside a hospital. Instead because he was born less than a pound his journey was one of survival against all odds. Multiple surgeries after surgeries, too many life threatening events to count - yet through prayer, faith and thousands of Angels this little Dragon slayer made it through.

Then COVID hit. The world as we know it - locked down. Despite intensive safeguarding, Haven caught COVID and fought again for his life for over a week in a zero gravity room at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital. Due to his pulmonary hypertension, they were unsure if he would make it, but our little fighter proved even a world plague won’t keep him down.

Much of Haven’s first four years of life has been endless therapies, doctor appointments, procedures after procedures, but Haven just wakes up so joyful to even be alive. He is a thriving beautiful little boy and quite intelligent despite his humble beginnings.

His journey has not been ordinary by any stretch of the word, but his heart and tenacity has touched countless and he grown surpassing all expectations of him. From a baby with less than 10% chance at life to a child that might never be able to walk, talk or have some type of normal life — to a four year old getting to take off his food pump long enough to run after his Nanny at a rest stop in the panhandle of Texas; Haven has shown that life is actually extraordinary!

He is a sponge absorbing all the open road has to offer him, and it’s not ironic that our Dragon 🐉 Slayer would find Dragons galore along the way! In many was his freedom and fascination with this precious thing called life has me realizing that it doesn’t really matter the destination- it’s the journey - it’s always been the journey that matters for Haven.

It so beautiful and such a blessing to get to share it with you all. We have shared so many stressful, sad and anxious tears over the years. It such a remarkable miracle to be able to now share so many beautiful happy tearful moments we hoped one day would be possible.

Haven looks up to me - spreads his arms like wings mimicking an Indian statue as if saying, “I was always meant to fly Mamma - just like the Angels👼 that surround me!”🙏🏻💕

05/08/2023

Getting closer!!

05/07/2023

Photos from Baby Haven Greyson's Angels's post

05/06/2023

05/05/2023

Safe and sound at our first destination- Bakersfield, CA. We even did an hour of virtual school in the car! All seemed to be going well until we realized we packed every possible thing we might need and yet didn’t pack the charger for Haven’s feeding bag. Luckily 🍀 our pharmacy is sending one fed ex to be here in morning before we hit the road again Haven’s Homestead bound!

05/04/2023

The car is loaded, Haven is dressed to the nines for his interview with Stanbridge Academy and afterwards we are beginning our journey across the country to Haven’s Homestead!! 💕

Prayers for safest travels 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

04/28/2023

04/23/2023

Haven you have come such a long way! May you never forget your journey and the prayers and Angels 👼 that lifted you up. 🙏🏻💕

04/17/2023

53 newest babies hatched 🐣 tonight!! 💕🐣💓

04/16/2023

Some more beautiful babies hatched tonight and some more beautiful orbs entered behind them! We cannot wait until fall to see what these beautiful babies lay! 💕🐥🪶

04/09/2023

Hope to win some beautiful Dino 🦖 eggs for Haven 💕

**Giveaway closed!**

🌸Hatching Egg Giveaway!🌸

As promised, we’re doing a hatching egg giveaway so those both near and far can be included. Giveaway is for one dozen Breeder’s Choice hatching eggs to be picked up or shipped (at winners expense) on Tuesday April 18th. Giveaway will run through Sunday April 16th!
How to enter:

Make sure you like/follow our page
Like this post
Comment & tag your chicken bestie
Share to your IG story or Facebook (make sure it’s public so we can verify this step!)

That’s it! 🥰 We will pick a winner at random on Sunday the 16th and be in touch to coordinate pickup/shipping! Shipping available to the contiguous US only.

PLEASE NOTE: We’ve unfortunately already had scammers on this post telling people that they’ve won. Please remember that we won’t be messaging anyone until next Sunday. Please don’t share personal info with anyone.

Disclaimer: As much as we love sharing with you all, we cannot cover shipping costs. Shipping is typically between $15-$30.
Not affiliated with Facebook or IG
Please be wary of scammers

04/09/2023

Happy Easter from Haven’s Homestead 🐥🐣🐰💗💜

04/07/2023

Happy birthday Uncle Ra Ra we love you 😘💓

04/07/2023

Sweetest babies hatched 🐣!!

04/06/2023

Harvesting Joy: A Song of Simple Pleasures
(Haven’s Homestead version of Favorite Things)

Theses are a few of my favorite things…
Freshly laid eggs of multiple colors,
New baby chicks emerging in numbers,
Sweet fluffy balls of chirping chorus,
Rolling farmland surrounded by forest. 🌳

When life gets quite hard,
And the winters too long,
When the rooster wakes early, 🐓
And some eggs get cracked,
I simply remember my favorite things
And then I don’t feel so bad…

Garden beds filled with fresh veggies and greens, 🌽
Honeybees buzzing with their honeycomb schemes,
The smell of fresh hay on a warm summer's day,
Watching the sunset with colors on display.

Cozy woodstove fires with crackling wood, 🪵
The sound of rain on the roof as it should,
The joy of a family gathered around,
Creating memories that forever abound.

When the day seems too long,
And the workload too great,
When the world gets too noisy,
And it's hard to find peace,
I simply remember my favorite things,
And then all my worries seem to just cease.

Homemade jam made with fruit from the orchard, 🍎
Warm blankets and pillows for a restful night's reward,
The sound of a creek flowing through the meadow,
Birds singing sweetly in the trees overhead, oh!

Fishing in the pond with the family, 🎣
Watching the butterflies and the bees flit and flee,
The rustle of leaves in a gentle breeze,
All of these things bring me to my knees.

When life gets too tough,
And the road gets too rough,
When the weight of the world feels like too much,
I simply remember my favorite things,
And then I can get back to being enough.

04/03/2023

Hoping to win some beautiful Dino 🦖 eggs for Haven 💕🙏🏻 from S&H Iberia Poultry 💕

04/02/2023

Hoping to win Dino 🦖 eggs for Haven from Cedar Oak Holler 💕🙏🏻

04/02/2023

Haven’s Homestead Uncle Ra Ra working hard and collecting beautiful rainbow eggs. He moves these handmade hoop coops daily so our chickens have daily fresh grass and they get to pasture range during the day. Thank you 🙏🏻 for supporting our journey in chicken breeding! 💕

03/31/2023

Haven creates some beautiful paintings for his Angels 👼💕🎨

03/30/2023

We were just blessed with 76 baby chicks hatched 🐣! More still coming 🐥💜🙏🏻

03/29/2023

Thanks for being so supportive of Haven’s Homestead and making it on to our weekly engagement list! 🎉 Sue Fereday, Irena Hoffmann, Sharon Hilton, Ionara Lunelli Jacinto, Kay Smith, Linda Thompson, Annie Penin, Adelia Despaw, Donna Savacool, Helena Bryan, Marja Moorman-Bos, Dannielle Thrift, Marcia Brewer Balchin, Cecilia Vilar Raposo, Juleemaree Wassenberg, Barbara Hagy, Bonnie Geiser

03/28/2023

Eating Haven 💕 🥣

03/25/2023

Prayers tonight for all those in tornado 🌪️ watch tonight… crazy winds and rain in Weir, MS tonight. All safe at the moment 🙏🏻

03/24/2023

Barb Knospe Castleberry received her sweet Haven’s painting today!

“I got your painting today haven. I love it. I have put it next to my granddaughter Courtney and an angel she gave me when she was little like you. I thought being I’m an angel that is where your picture should be next to. Love you sweet boy. Barbie from Stillwater, MN ❤️❤️❤️”

03/24/2023

Nanny got a beautiful gift this morning handmade by M&M Wooden Creations 💕💕💕 we love it!

03/22/2023

Please send up some sweet traveling prayers for these ten tiny travelers 🧳 coming from The Dreadhead Homestead in Florida to our Homestead in Weir, Mississippi. The Dreadhead took so much time and care planning for this trip. Double heat packs. Checking weather to pick best night temps. Plenty of GroGel, crumbles, and yummy grapes to stay hydrated and full on the trip. ❤️

It’s a long journey for these tiniest chickens in the world — Seramas. We are so excited to have them join the two we previously hatched. 🐣 This bloodline comes Mr. Grady Taylor’s personal line of exchequer birds. 1 of only 3 APA recognized colors and Haven approves! They are tiny but mighty like him!

Thank you, sincerely again to The Dreadhead Homestead for all they have done to help us start our farm. We highly recommend them! 🙏🏻

(Pictured is The Dreadhead Homestead’s beautiful Rooster Rico who sired these amazing chicks!)

03/20/2023

Awesome contest Scratch And Hatch Ranch 💕🙏🏻 Hoping for some Dino 🦖 eggs for Haven 💗

It’s give away time again! This time I will be giving away a dozen of Easter Egger hatching eggs. To enter your chance to win all you have to do is like my page, share this post, and comment done when you have done all 3 things(only one entry per contest). The winner will be announced March 31st, 2023. The contest starts now! Good luck!
Father is a TRUE Blue Wheaten Ameraucana. So they will throw off some beautiful chicks.
**If you like my page then unlike you will not be entered into the contest**
Horse Cave, KY!

03/19/2023

03/19/2023

Happy Haven and some beautiful music 🎶

03/19/2023

Spring is in the Air: Haven Recieves 48 More Dino 🦖 Eggs!!

Haven's Homestead received some very special eggs recently. Two big boxed arrived from Georgia containing 48 beautiful beautiful hatching eggs. We were thrilled to receive these special additions for our Homestead and couldn't wait to see what was inside.

As Uncle Ra Ra carefully opened the boxes, Haven was amazed by the variety and beauty of the new eggs. Our order included four dozen eggs, each with a different mix of breeds and colors. The first dozen included six Silverudd Blue Eggers and six F1 Olive Eggers. These eggs were stunning to look at, with their unique coloring and speckles.

The second dozen was made up of six F2+ Olive Eggers and six Coastal Blues-Spearmint Eggers. These eggs had a beautiful greenish-blue hue and were sure to hatch into gorgeous chicks.

The third dozen contained six Sea Foam Eggers and six Heavy Bloomers, with a mix of blush, plum, and silver colors. These eggs were truly unique and we can’t wait to see what they will produce.

Finally, the fourth dozen included six purebred BBS Ameraucanas and purebred six Blue Wheaten Ameraucanas. These eggs were stunning shades of blue and we are excited to see all those puffy muffs and bearded chicks.

We are incredibly grateful and can't wait to watch these eggs hatch and grow into beautiful birds for Haven’s Homestead. The colors and patterns of these eggs are truly breathtaking, and we feel honored to have the opportunity to raise them on our farm.

As Uncle Ra Ra carefully placed each egg into our incubator, we can't help but imagine the different personalities and characteristics that each bird will have. We are excited to watch them grow and become a part of our farm family.

Thank you to our fellow breeders in trusting us and for sending us these beautiful hatching eggs. We can't wait to see what the future holds for our growing flock.

Haven approves in the final picture! 💕🦖

03/17/2023

Look at this gorgeous egg we collected today! Speckles for days! 💕

03/16/2023

03/15/2023

Giveaway time Firefly Farm 💕