the story behind the name "HOGAN"... and a quick update on things!

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous hand. Isaiah 41:10

hogan Name Meaning and History
Irish: Anglicized form of Gaelic Ó hÓgáin ‘descendant of Ógán’, a personal name from a diminutive of óg‘young’, also ‘young warrior’.

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY!

It is interesting to me, although this third child was a surprise to us, we picked out the name so quickly. When we found out we were having a boy in our first pregnancy it took us a long, long time of looking through different books and websites until we reached an agreement on the name just a few days before Noah Kipling's birth. Lily Rose's name didn't even come quite as "fast". We finally picked her name out just before Angie went into labor. We had wanted to honor our mothers with her name and decided to name her "Lily Rose" because both our mothers and grandmothers loved flowers. My grandmother passed away when I was in college but she owned a flower shop at one time and had a love for beautiful flowers. My mother loves making arrangements and loves pretty flowers just like Angie's mother. Angie's grandmother has some of the most beautiful flowers you have ever seen in her flower gardens. We decided it would be best to name our daughter "Lily Rose" in honor of them.

This third child was different in many ways, we had the freedom to name this child whatever we wished. We also knew that this would probably be the last child for us. Hogan Sayer was to be the name for our little boy while Kaytie Sayer would have been the name of a girl. The moment the sonographer let the words fall off of her lips "it's a boy" we knew his name was Hogan Sayer! Angie even looked at me that day and said "Hogan" with excitement! It was a blessing because when we found out that Hogan had a severe condition, we had a name to pray. We named this third child after both of our mothers and Angie's grandmother. It was my mother that God used to give me the Christian foundation that I would fall back on time after time in my life and trust me I fell and continue to fall! Angie's parents had an amazing faith in God and were grounded just like my mother. We were also amazed to find out Hogan's name had an interesting meaning. We had no idea that a meaning for Hogan's name was "young warrior". I was contacted by a person we didn't know through a good friend of mine Clint Harris letting me know that Clint's friend was a Hogan and that she wanted to make sure we knew of this information.

As I mentioned earlier, the name "Hogan" was chosen to honor my mother. The name "Sayer" was chosen to honor Angie's mother. I have realized that while we honor our mothers with the name we have chosen for our third child, it is that my wife that is the mother that I admire just as much but in a different way. I know that I am dealing with Hogan's birth different than my wife. Hogan's mother is such an amazing woman. She is being the best mother to Noah and Lily while still battling emotions of having Hogan inside of her with a condition that is supposed to quickly end his life after birth. She is feeling this baby kick everyday, many times a day. She talks about him often kicking while we are having fun family time. She has been an inspiration to me. I continue to ask God why I have been so blessed in so many different ways. I thank God for loving mothers like my wife and for the love and support that our mothers have always given us.

I believe there is NO good death and I feel that infant/child death is even more horrible. Every infant/child death is bad. I have always wondered if it would be easier if "X". We are thankful that we do know Hogan has a battle ahead of time. We are thankful that so many people continue to pray for Hogan. We are thankful for technology and the Dr's and nurses that have been so helpful during this journey. We are trying to prepare ourselves in case a miracle of life isn't given to Hogan and although we try and prepare ourselves for "what could happen", we know that we can't do it. My heart goes out to anyone that has lost loved ones and especially their child or children. My heart breaks for you. We know people are going through life events that are so much tougher than ours. We continue to be blessed. Hogan continues to fight!

Today started off with notification that our marker at the cemetery was being put down at Oconee Hill this morning. I hope that we won't be using this area for a long time! We had a couple of Dr.'s appointments this afternoon. We saw Dr. Rosemond after lunch and we were happy to know that Hogan seemed to be doing relatively good considering his condition. His heart beat sounded fine and his growth hasn't deteriorated to be alarming at this time so we march on with the pregnancy. Angie is going to be monitored again next week and see Dr. Lohman. The following week we will meet back with Dr. Rosemond to make plans for the birth! If things go well then it looks like April 5th might be the date that Hogan will enter this world. The date could change if things get worse with Angie or Hogan but right now we are tentatively planning for that date. Dr. Lohman and Dr. Rosemond talked this afternoon and decided that we might even get to try a normal delivery. It was unbelievable that when the sonographer checked Hogan's position, he was still breech. A normal delivery wouldn't be an option. In the 10 minutes that we waited for Dr. Rosemond to come in to do his evaluation.... Hogan had turned! He is now head down. Hogan had been turned head up for the past couple of months. This would allow us to maybe have a normal delivery now.. if Hogan decides he wants one! Dr. Rosemond was amazed that the little man decided to move and get into the correct position for birth while we were in his office. I think Hogan already has a funny personality!

We continue to be so thankful for all of the support Hogan and our family have been given over this journey.

Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know. Jeremiah 33:3 NLT