Feeling them Move!!!

So, I have been feeling flutters on the inside for a long time, but haven't really felt anything on the outside until about 30 minutes ago. I put my hand over where I felt the flutter and could feel the kick.

I'm so excited. I wish Mike were here. I want him to feel them kick.

Thank you, Lord, for giving me this moment that I never thought I would have the privilege of experiencing!

22 Weeks Along, Picture and Update

Happy 22 Weeks. I celebrate each week because it is a week more that God has allowed my body to carry the babies. There isn't any real big news since my last post since I haven't had any doctor's appointments and won't have the next one until Monday, March 19th.

I continue to struggle with sleeping because I just can't get comfortable and my back hurts. Last night during one of my short snooze sessions I dreamt that something was wrong and I had to go to the hospital. I distinctly remember crying and saying over and over again "it's too early" as I was being wheeled down a hallway in a hospital bed. Then when I started moving around this morning, I noticed a new achy and sore feeling going on which has me a little nervous. Here I am presented with another opportunity to trust God with my babies. I know it was a just a dream last night, but my human nature wants to turn those pangs of pain and soreness into something much more than that.

From the beginning we have known that God is the Giver of Life. These babies will be born according to His will and in His timing. If that is today, God is good and knows what is best for us. If that is 12 weeks from now when the doctors prefer, God is good and knows what is best for us.

As Christians, we are blessed with the gift of this knowledge. So much of what we have been through in the last 6 years seems impossible to deal with outside of the gift of the knowledge that God is in control.

So we continue on and wait to see what He does. When fears and doubts arise, I return to Scripture to comfort me and remind me that (Psalms 84:11) "For the Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly."

He will give us what is best...and only He knows what that will be.

21 Weeks With Triplets

Hey everyone, a picture will have to come later when Mike comes home.

Well, I'm officially 21 weeks and 2 days along. Today I had a doctor's appointment. I really expected to hear that bedrest is nigh because I've felt a bunch of twinges this past week that made me think that things were moving that shouldn't be moving. But, yay for everything still being long and together so no bedrest on the horizon just yet. :)

The babies all looked great. We got to see them a little extra because they were working to get good pictures of their hearts today. Mike and Jonathan were able to come with me today, so that was super great. Of course, Jonathan wasn't super enthralled for more than just a minute or so of seeing "Mommy's babies" on the screen, so Mike spent most of the time entertaining him.

I was hoping for them to be able to tell me their weight today, but apparently they won't check that for another two weeks because there is a margin of error and they only check it every 4 weeks.

The "funniest" part of the day was when I met with a delivery doctor who measured me to see how big my belly is measuring. And the result? 35 weeks! As mentioned in the first paragraph, I'm only 21 weeks and 2 days. So, there is some validation to the fact that I feel humongous. I told Mike that it is no wonder that I'm uncomfortable at night and going to the bathroom all the time. Most women at this point are nearing the end of their pregnancy. I have 13 more weeks to go just to make it to their 34 week goal for me. It really should be interesting to see where my body expands from here. If we could just avoid ramming any more organs into my ribs, that would be nice.

This past Sunday I did go to church only to have to leave early. I truly felt like I was going to pass out at any moment. I wasn't sure what could have caused it, but after talking to a friend who had twins this past year, I think maybe it was a low blood sugar/not enough breakfast problem. I had two pieces of toast and a banana and figured that after church there would be something at my Sunday School to eat. I think I really need to start carrying snacks with me so that I can eat throughout the day whenever that feeling starts coming on. I'm thankful for my husband who took immediate and excellent care of me on Sunday, including a quick pullover on the way home so that I could open the door before I threw up. I know I say this a lot, but I really am overwhelmed by the awesome man God gave me. He takes amazing care of me and of Jonathan every single day. Without a doubt, he was worth the wait. :)

So, I guess that is it for now. As for cravings, I have hit big time the "need a slushy" craving. 52 oz slushy. Sure. I'll finish it in less than an hour.

Oh yes, one more question...for those of you who have been there (have been gigantic in pregnancy), what product did you use for stretch marks and when do you start (probably I'm already running late on that). I am already getting dark purple stretch marks and would like to do whatever is necessary (on a tight budget) to make that better.

Also, be prepared, I have a "deep thought post" percolating in my head that is getting ready to come out one of these days.

Twenty Weeks with Triplets - Update and Picture

Well, here you go. This is me and the babies at 20 weeks. Definitely feeling huge and wondering where everything will go in the weeks to come. My favorite is the look on strangers' faces when they ask when I'm due and I tell them July 10th. I usually give a minute for that to sink in before I tell them it is triplets. :)

This week the pain started on my right side too up near my ribcage. The dr. told me last week that this would happen due to my organs getting pushed up. Thankfully it hasn't been horrible.

I have had another several days of morning sickness, which hasn't been fun, but I've survived.

Jonathan continues to be cute with things he says about the babies or times when he comes and kisses my tummy without prompting. He will be a great big brother. I know it will be a shock to his world, but he will survive too.

Nothing big on the schedule this week. I do have the All-Star games on Saturday to oversee for basketball season and then my basketball responsibilities are officially done. I'm thankful that God allowed me to finish the season and finish my responsibilities.

Jonathan and I are still fighting sickness. It seems to be coming in waves. Please pray that we are both better for Sunday so we can go to church. I'm definitely ready to get there and I've heard lots of great things about Pastor's sermon series, so I'm praying we are healthy enough to go this week.

Next dr. appt. is next Thursday. At that point I'll be just over 21 weeks. Hoping for good results yet again.

Thanks for continuing to pray for us.

100 Days

Yesterday I saw on the top of the blog that I had 142 days to go, but they count complete term and the doctors will be happy if I make it to 34 weeks. So, I subtracted those extra 6 weeks and that left me with 100 days to go. In some ways that seems like a short period of time and in other ways that seems like a really really long time. I know it will go by quickly.

At this point I'm just praying that God allows my body to carry these babies for another 99 days. I desperately want to meet them, but not until it is safe for them to come out.

Big Brother

Jonathan continues to keep us entertained. He LOVES hats of every nature and sometimes wears them normally, but often finds unique "gangster style" ways to wear them. He also likes to hide toys in his hat. We went to the school the other day and got into the gym and I turned around to find that he had smuggled one of his toys from home in his hat. He was proud of himself.

He likes to kiss the babies by kissing Mommy's belly.

He has a big lego truck that can hold toys in the back. Lately anytime Mommy gets up to go to another room, he jumps up and chases me with the truck, laughing hysterically the whole way.

Today I've been organizing a few things and he follows me and then wants to help, so I let him. He starts singing "What's gonna work, teamwork. What's gonna work, teamwork." while he hands me things to take care of. So cute!

Of course, he does have his naughty moments, but in the scope of the whole day, those moments are few compared to his stinkin' adorable moments. We are blessed and I can't wait to watch what an amazing big brother he is going to be.

19 Weeks Picture and Update

Happy 19 Weeks!

Praise the Lord for some great things that came out of my 19 week ultrasound:

1. I didn't pass out because the technician realized in time that I was about to and had me sit up. Apparently it is a somewhat common thing when the weight of the babies plus the pressure down from the ultrasound cuts off circulation somewhere.
2. All 3 babies look great anatomically.
3. Everything is staying in place (as in no one is trying to escape yet), so they extended my next appointment for 2 weeks, which means I have at least 2 more weeks before potential bedrest.
4. All 3 babies weigh 10 ounces each, which is great since the boys share a placenta. One of the reasons that could cause them to take the babies early is if one of the boys starts aggressively growing and leaving the other behind. That would mean he was taking all the good nutrients from the placenta leaving not enough for his brother. The fact that all 3 are the same weight is a great thing.
5. My blood pressure was in good range.
6. One of the doctors I saw yesterday said their new goal for me is to make it to 34 weeks. That would take us to May 29th. I saw pictures at the office of a set of triplets where each baby weighed over 5 pounds at birth and completely avoided the NICU. NEW GOAL!!!

So I had a great appointment and I'm praising the Lord for getting us to this point without any further complications.

My schedule is about to get a lot simpler because we lost our playoff game last night. The girls fought hard and had a chance, but it wasn't meant to be. One of my seniors, Amber, scored 19 points for her last game, including 5 three pointers. I was very excited for her that she finished so strongly. With the end of basketball season comes only a few more meetings and an All-Star game to coordinate and oversee next Saturday. Now I can officially go into my own modified bedrest routine while taking care of little man and working on organizing and getting the house ready for doubling occupancy. I am thankful that God allowed me to finish my season with my girls.

The doctor yesterday did tell me that the pain I have been experiencing is most likely due to the expanding uterus pushing my spleen up into my ribs. He prepared me that soon enough my liver will do the same thing on the other side. I feel myself stretching and wonder where in the world everything is going to go in the next 15 weeks.

Sleeping is becoming a challenge, but I figure this is great preparation for the initial months after they come home. I'll have to learn again to function on 1.5-2.0 hours sleep in broken up segments throughout the night.

My fingers are officially swollen enough that my wedding ring had to come off before we got to the point where it either took off my finger or had to be cut off. I didn't like though the idea of walking around gigantically pregnant without a ring on that finger. I did end up finding a bigger ring in my jewelry box that is going to work for the mean time. It doesn't have a diamond but it is gold and fits my ring finger. So I'm happy about that.

As far as food, it is amazing - I could eat a normal breakfast and literally within an hour start feeling the need to eat again. If I don't eat, I get sick. So, I've definitely increased the caloric intake right now. I have to intentionally plan food around times that I'm leaving the house so that I don't end up stopping at every fast food restaurant in my path. :)

Thanks again for praying with us on this journey. We know that we wouldn't be at this point without God overseeing this pregnancy each step of the way.

18 Weeks Ultrasound Picture

Praise the Lord for a great appointment today.

Everything is staying where it needs to in order to keep me off bedrest.

The babies all have great heartbeats.

I had them check my blood pressure because I have been having higher blood pressure lately and it was lower than normal and in good range.

They got me in and out fast enough that I didn't even have to pay for parking.

All in all, a great appointment that was very encouraging. I have had kind of a rough week as far as comfort levels and concern over my blood pressure. So to be able to go in and see that all is well with the babies was a blessing.

As much as I was frustrated during the 6 weeks of zero care while I was waiting to get in to this office, I must say that I'm thankful now that they have been helpful since then. I feel privileged to be able to see the babies each week, hear their heartbeats (which still every time brings a giant smile to my face) and know that for now, God has given me more time to carry these precious ones.

Lately I've heard several stories of friends and acquaintances who haven't had the same privilege to continue carrying their babies. My heart breaks for them and it reminds me to be thankful for each day. I've probably complained more about pregnancy symptoms and lack of comfort in the past week than I have in weeks and weeks and Mike lovingly reminded me last night that this is what I've prayed for and longed for with all my heart. As I was lying there, I thought back to all the times that I had read other blogs and comments from friends who were frustrated with one point or another in their pregnancy and I thought about how much I would give anything to go through what they were experiencing - it would be all worth it to know that I was carrying a precious life. Now God blessed us above and beyond with three of them and I was giving in to a complaining spirit. So, my goal for this next week is really to have a more joyful spirit in the midst of whatever God brings along in this pregnancy.

I haven't forgotten to post my 18 week picture...I just wasn't in the mood to have Mike take it last night, so I'll have him take one tonight.

Thanks again to those who are praying for us. "The effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." James 5

17 Weeks Picture and Update

Okay, so here is the 17 week photo. I am still fighting sickness and had just returned home from a basketball game we lost that we should have won. So, disregard the sickie/cranky look on my face. :)

This last week has just been a week of trying to survive. I'm still fighting this cold and still longing for Nyquil, but staying away from it for the good of the babies. Jonathan has improved immensely, so that helps. I feel like I'm finally starting to come out of it.

Today I had another dr.'s appointment and it looks like they will have me coming in weekly from here on out. The ultrasound technician was surprised to see me back again, but the dr. ordered, so I got another quick look at the babies. I just can't hear enough "all three look great and their heartbeats are strong." I find myself grinning each and every time I hear a heartbeat. Next week I will have another quick appointment to check heartbeats and make sure nobody is trying to escape just yet. On February 14th we will have the big 19 week ultrasound that measures all of their organs.

We continue on. :) The heartburn has mostly gone away for now. The nausea too (with only a few exceptions each week). Mainly I just feel stretching, but I don't really see that changing anytime soon.

Thanks for the continued prayers. We realize that God is in control of this pregnancy from start to finish. We trust Him and pray that He allows us to rear these little ones for Him.

To quote a song we used to sing in Sunday School when I was little: "My God is so BIG, so strong and so mighty, there's nothing my God cannot do. My God is so BIG, so strong and so mighty, there's nothing my God cannot do. The mountains are His, the valleys are His, the stars are His handiwork too. My God is so BIG, so strong and so mighty, there's nothing my God cannot do."

We have seen His hand in allowing me to carry these babies, in providing for us financially and in so many areas. Our God is faithful.

16 Week Ultrasound Pictures

Hey, sorry this is late, but I just got a scanner hooked up again today.

This first picture is of Baby "B" (one of the identical twin boys).





This one might be my favorite so far. This is the two identical twin boys face to face. I love it!






This is also the boys face to face. Not quite as clear, but she was trying to get it.





This is a straight on view of Baby "C" (the other identical twin boy).













These two are side views of Baby "A". She is enjoying her space down low away from the boys. :)

Dr. Appt, A New Sonogram & Cold Fighting

Yesterday I met with the first high risk doctor. They did take my blood pressure three different times and it was high every time. Not sure where that came from...

After that, they did an ultrasound. I was excited. I wanted to see the babies and know everything was okay. The ultrasound tech asked if I wanted to know the gender and I said that we think we already know, but I would love to hear what she thinks. She almost instantly confirmed what we had already been told. As soon as she put the wand over our little girl, she waved. It was so cool. :) It was like her first "hi, Mom!!!" moment. The tech said that everything looked great with the babies. The girl and one of the boys are measuring at 5 ounces. The other boy is measuring at 6 ounces.

Then I waited to see the doctor. She did bring up the point that the risk with twins is much lower than the risk with triplets. I let her know that we would NOT be "selectively reducing" the pregnancy. She said she kind of figured but had to have the conversation with me.

She also had the chat with me about the fact that when I deliver I will be 35 and that makes me "Advanced Maternal Age" (yes, this is what every woman wants to think about - seriously, when did 35 become so old?!?). She said there is like a 1/80 chance that any one of the babies could have a chromosonal issue. She told me about the test that would check on that and it has some risks. I told her that even if the test showed that there was a problem, we wouldn't reduce the pregnancy, so there is no need to take the risks related with the test.

She asked if I was working and I did tell her about coaching basketball. Her answer was that at 20 weeks I need to quit. The good news is that I'll be done with basketball before the 20 weeks hits. So at this point, it looks like I should have no problem finishing the season with the girls. I'm very thankful for that.

They did schedule me for appointments weekly for the next three weeks. The next two will just be quick checkups to make sure everything is staying where it should. The one after that will be the 19 weeks ultrasound that thoroughly checks all the organs on each baby. They told me to plan to be there for a long time that day.

The cold fighting continues around here. Jonathan is still fighting it, though seems to be steadily improving. I have my moments where I can breathe and my moments where I'm choking because I can't breathe. The biggest challenge of it all is making sure I'm still eating. It is hard to be motivated when I can't taste anything, but I know my body needs it for the strength to win this war and the babies need it to continue growing as they should.

I'll try to put up ultrasound pictures soon. There is a cute one that I got yesterday that has the boys face to face. :)

16 Weeks, Picture (on gross sickie day) and Update

Okay, so this picture is the "I am half dead with a killer cold and can't take my beloved Nyquil" version. Try not to judge me too much for the way I look. :)

So we are a week down the road. This week has brought relief from the nausea for the most part. The last few days has also brought relief from the stretching feeling that made it seem like the babies were trying to push out at every side.

Of course, the relief is a blessing and a curse, as Adrian Monk would say. Without those symptoms, my mind goes into overdrive trying to convince myself that something is wrong or that I've lost the babies. This is where trust and faith must come into play.

The last few days have been brutal with a capital "B". Jonathan and I both picked up colds. I have had a hard time breathing. So has Jonathan. I took him to the pediatrician today and he ended up with two breathing treatments. Thankfully it isn't RSV or the Flu.

Tomorrow I see one of the high risk doctors. I'm hoping she will at least use the fetal doppler to find heartbeats. I'm also going to ask if they will schedule the next ultrasound. Hopefully I'm feeling better from the cold and if not, maybe she can verify that I don't have the Flu or something more serious we need to pay attention to.

The next week brings a fairly big game for my girls on Friday night (also homecoming night) and a game next Tuesday. Other than that, it will mostly be rest for Jonathan, Mommy and the Triplets.

Thanks again to those of you who are praying. We take it one day at a time...

15 Weeks Picture & More

Well, today marks another week completed in which God has blessed us and allowed my body to continue carrying our precious triplets. With the ER scare on Friday, I'm especially thankful for that.

Today was the big day we've been waiting for since finding out that there were three babies and not two. We had our first appointment with the USF Health group that handles high risk pregnancy and will be taking care of me from here out.

The good news:
1. The nurse/midwife we had was actually just fine (though we had been warned that she wasn't "ABSOLUTELY horrible".
2. She wasn't at all concerned about my weight or size at this point. My measurement was right one track considering I'm having triplets.
3. She gave me a number to call for nurses during the day or an on-call number for a doctor at night should I have any questions (HUGE switch from "we can't talk to you - go to the ER").
4. She told me to make sure that I always only see the high risk doctors from here on out and not to let them schedule me with a nurse/midwife again.
5. They scheduled me to meet the first high risk doctor next Wednesday and scheduled the next follow up ultrasound for 4 weeks from today.
6. We were able to hear at least one if not two heartbeats today and Mike got to hear it for the first time.
7. I'm optimistic that now that I "am in", that they will provide good care and support for me.
8. They didn't put me on bedrest, so at least for the next little while I get to continue coaching my basketball girls.

The not so great pregnancy side effects:
1. I had the great privilege of throwing up in the doctor's office today (thankfully there was a trash can close).
2. I had the great privilege of throwing up in the bushes outside of the gymnasium where our game was tonight (thankfully I was close to the exit when the wave came and it wasn't during the game I was coaching).
3. Heartburn. Are you serious??? This is for real. It has hit me brutally the last few days no matter what food I eat. Apparently I'll be investing in Tums SOON.

In the end, I would take every single possible negative side effect that can come just for the privilege of continuing to carry these babies. I don't ever want it to come across as complaining. I'm only expressing what I'm going through right now (I'm not a big journaler, but I guess this has become my pregnancy journal that I've exposed all of you to).

For those of you anxiously awaiting the "secret news", here it comes. Keep in mind that the technician is only "mostly" positive that this is accurate and that we will know for sure in 4 weeks, but based on the pictures and the arrows and what they point to, we are "mostly" sure that she is right (and very excited).

So without further ado...

Secrets, Secrets

I'm not really sure how long I'm going to be able to hold the gender secret. I'm very excited and ready to shout it from the mountaintops.

The ultrasound tech showed me where each one of the babies are hanging out right now in my belly. So this morning, I could feel in one of those areas, this crazy constant fluttering and I'm sure I was feeling the baby move. It is cool now to be able to think, "Oh, I can feel him/her moving", instead of just, "Oh, I can feel a baby move." Does that makes sense?

So, I have a feeling I will be breaking out this news sooner rather than later. It might just have to be with the caveat that it is still early and maybe she read something wrong.

ER Visit, Ultrasound & More

Wow, what a day was yesterday.

Everything started out okay and then around noon I had some complications that I won't get too specific about in this public forum. I called the doctor's office to tell them what was going on and to ask them what to do. Their answer was that since I haven't been in to see them yet for an introductory appointment (coming on Tuesday), that I would have to go to the ER and just tell them I am a USF patient. Being told to go to the ER started the waterworks. I called Mike and it is amazing that he could understand me while I was crying through telling him what was going on. I asked him where he was on several projects that had to get done and he immediately told me never mind and he would be there with me. What a relief. I hurried around the house getting ready while Jonathan followed me from room to room saying, "mommy crying? mommy sad?". Poor guy. I grabbed some clothes for him and got changed and headed to the car (with him still in his pajamas).

My friend, Julie, immediately volunteered to take Jonathan and even though I told her at first that I thought he would be okay with Mike, she took the extra step to talk to Mike and came to pick him up. What a HUGE blessing that was. At that point, we had no idea that we were about to spend 8 hours in the ER, most of it in a crowded, freezing cold waiting area.

I'm also thankful for the fact that my pastor, David Goforth, came out to pray with us at the hospital. This was a crazy busy week for him with revival services and a guest evangelist in town, but he took the time to drive 45 minutes each way to encourage us and pray with us. What a blessing it is to have a pastor who truly cares for the hurts of the congregation.

In the end, the diagnosis was "threatened miscarriage". They didn't give me any further restrictions that what I've what I have already been under and told me to follow up on Tuesday with my doctor (as already scheduled).

The good news that came out of the day is as follows:

1. I was able to have an ultrasound to see the babies for the first time in almost 6 weeks (though they didn't let Mike come back with me and I'm still mad at myself for not insisting that he had to be there).
2. The ultrasound showed that all three babies are fine and all three heartbeats are strong and I was able to hear the heartbeats for the first time (and cried).
3. The identical twins which were in the same sack and had extra risk because they could wrap each other up in their umbilical cords now have a membrane between them, which means they for sure aren't conjoined in any way and they can't hurt each other with their umbilical cords. They share a placenta, but the tech said that shouldn't be a problem. Praise the Lord for already protecting these two little ones.
4. I was able to see the "suspected" gender of the babies, though we will wait a few more weeks before we announce that until the next ultrasound confirms that the suspected gender is the for sure gender.

So, while I'm not a fan of freezing cold ER, I'm thankful for God's protection and ultimately His peace in a scary situation. The complications have ceased for the mean time and we are thankful for that. God allowed a fearful time to turn into a time of reassurance.

Thank you to those who knew and were praying for us throughout the day. One of my friends reminded me of a verse that I held in my heart all day. It is: Psalm 121:1 "I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help."

Stretching

Well, the last two days have brought with them a sometimes intense pain on the lower left hand side of my back. When it first started, in a stroke of pure brilliance (or NOT), I went to WebMD to see what I could find out. Of course, they showed it as a symptom of miscarriage, which left me not only hurting physically but stressing mentally.

I did put a note on facebook looking for a nursery replacement and explained why. After a bunch of my friends explained that it is probably stretching and very common, I mostly stopped stressing.

As I was thinking about that today, I was reminded of countless sermons I have heard through the years about depending on God where we have been asked "what do you do when something goes wrong - run first to your friends or run first to God?" I realized I had bombed this test pretty big yesterday because my first response was to put it on facebook and be comforted by others who said it was normal instead of praying about it, leaving it in His hands and being comforted by the fact that my Sovereign God loves me and wants what is best for me. Ouch. Conviction can sting sometimes. Ever noticed that?

So, the report for the last two days is that I'm stretching. Thankfully it isn't just physical.

14 Weeks, Picture & More

Happy Tuesday! We are now officially 14 weeks. With that comes a new picture (sorry about the light shirt and light background combo). I actually am down a little over a pound this week, so I've only gained 4 pounds since the start of the pregnancy. I really am trying to eat and do regularly, but I'm still having sickness, so it doesn't surprise me that I was down over a pound.

The big highlight is that we are now down to less than a week until I go to see the nurse/midwife. I'm already prepping myself to be firm about wanting an ultrasound/sonogram even if they aren't planning on giving me one.

The thing I've noticed the most this week is that I totally feel like I'm going to explode. My sides ache. My back has started hurting a little. I keep thinking that I can't possibly get any bigger, but I know that I will get a lot bigger.

And the biggest thing...I'm still pregnant! God has blessed us! This is the farthest we've ever made it and I'm praying He allows us to meet these precious little ones. I'm in awe that God would choose us and give us this privilege. Yes, there are already moments of sheer exhaustion. Yes, I've spent more time huddled around a toilet in the last 12 weeks than I think I have my whole life. Yes, finding a comfortable position to sleep in is already uncomfortable. Yes, there are so many more things about pregnancy that aren't bright and chipper, but I am SOOO thankful for it.

The verses that come to mind for me when I think of that are the following:

2 Corinthians 12:9-10 "And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong."

It has always been hard for me to put that "taking pleasure in infirmities" part and apply it to my life. I mean really, how many of us fall and break our ankle and think, "YES!!! I am so excited about that!!!", (without being sarcastic)? We don't generally like to have infirmities, reproaches, necessities, persecutions or distresses. I, for one, don't like feeling weak. However, when God brings things into our lives that are out of our control, we have the option of how to respond to it. I already find myself asking for strength and peace far more often than ever before. I recognize that I can't do this in my own strength, but how many times in regular day to day activities have I been willing to do that? So often we get this self sufficient attitude - like "I got this" and it doesn't require us to rely on God.

So, in this pregnancy, I'm already seeing that the weakness physically is growing me spiritually. And, I continue to be beyond thankful for every single pregnancy symptom. This is what I've prayed and dreamed of. My God is doing exceedingly abundantly above all that I ask or think.

And on a completely side note, I would like to publically just praise the Lord for His provision for Mike's company lately. We have been praying for God to build his business and there have been several big jobs that have come in this week. We are thankful for Jehovah Jireh - Our God Provides!

Countdown

I will have more comments later tonight after I have a 14 week picture, but for now, I thought I would let you know that we are down to only 7 more days until I can get in to see the nurse/midwife.

For now, I must psych myself up to get ready for practice then revival services, so I'll keep this short.

Longer post to come later tonight...

Doing Better Today

Hey Everyone,

Today is a better day. I have started the countdown to seeing the nurse/midwife and the magic number is now 12 days.

Yesterday I was able to get some good rest and a great reminder from Mike that if God wants us to have these babies, there is nothing that will stop it. If He doesn't, there is nothing we can do to keep them. Of course, we still need to be responsible and use the brains He has given us, but I've been working pretty hard to protect myself and the babies and not overdo things. There is great comfort in knowing that He has a perfect plan.

What an encouragement so many of you have been to me. From sharing your experiences, to giving me tips on how to make things work once the babies come, to praying for us diligently. We couldn't do this without you.

Thanks

Thanks to so many of you who have commented and left reassuring comments about having gone through cramps, understanding the scaryness of the whole thing and continuing to pray for God's peace for me.

After everything yesterday, I woke up today with no sickness or weird feelings, my tummy felt flatter than it has in weeks and I was down 2 pounds on the scale. So, I started my morning mentally freaking out that maybe I lost the babies.

One of my sisters called and I had told her about that and in the midst of our conversation, I suddenly had to cut her off to go be sick in the bathroom. :) I smile because it was just funny that here minutes earlier I was complaining about not being sick and wondering what that meant and it was like God said, "Okay, you asked for it..."

I truly believe that each day of this pregnancy is meant to test and build my reliance on Him. Some days I win that battle and other days I seriously lose, but I'm reminded that I serve an amazing God, Who has done already above and beyond what we could ask or think. He will continue to be amazing no matter what His plan is for us and for these babies. And I hope that in the end, I will be a stronger, more faithful Christian because of what these days bring.