A Time for Thanksgiving

Wow how the seasons have changed since I last wrote on here!! I think the last time it was freshly spring and we were thinking ahead to Easter! Here we are in the middle of fall, and MY how much has happened!

About 3 months ago we received news that I honestly never thought I would hear...we were about 5 weeks pregnant! I had several doctors growing up say that it was just not going to be possible because of a slew of medical issues that had almost kept my mom from having my sister and I. One thing Momma always told me when I was a little girl and she would think back to the times that she thought that she would never have us was--"Creation is the Power of God." All I can say to that is AMEN. It's not up to doctors or to medicine (although sometimes it can help), it is purely up to God and His power. As I watch this baby grow inside of me and begin to feel his/her movements, it literally brings me to tears. What an amazing responsibility we have been given...what an amazing trust that has been instilled in us...what an amazing, perfect gift.

When we were about 8 weeks along, we almost lost the baby. They weren't sure if it was due to stress or overexertion, but I developed what they call a subchorionic hemorrhage, which turns into a subchorionic hematoma (like a blood clot that forms when the baby begins to separate from the womb)...they call it a "threatened miscarriage." I will never ever forget that day in the ER when they wheeled me into the ultrasound room-- alone (Michael couldn't go with me in case there was something wrong, they just want it you and the technician...) . The radiologist made faces for a while as she probed...it felt like an eternity. Finally, she whipped the screen around and turned on the doplar, and cranked it up full blast to reveal a perfect, STRONG heartbeat. I think it was at that moment that I realized that my life has definitely changed forever. The only thing I cared about at that moment was this little life inside of me and making sure that he/she stayed safe, protected, and well.

Luckily, things healed up quickly than they expected, and the baby is growing (faster then they have anticipated...they've bumped our due date back a week, and expect to bump it back up to 2 more!). We went for the ultrasound about two weeks ago and we could see the baby's feet swinging, and when I started to laugh, his/her hand shot up and looked like she/he was waving at us! I think my favorite part out of all of that though was watching Michael watching the monitor, he seemed totally awe-struck. He is totally into and loving the daddy-thing. Everyday before I go to work he kisses my growing belly and says bye to the baby. Sometimes he'll just sit with his hand on my tummy trying to feel her/him move...it's amazing to thing how much things have changed already...and we're only about 4 months along!

We'll find out if it's a boy or a girl so I can stop with this he/she thing hopefully December 3rd!!! Hopefully the baby will be posing appropriately for the ultrasound so we can get a good shot :) I'm ready to start calling the little one by name, and even more excited to see what he/she will look like. Will he have Michael's height? Will he have my hair? What will he like to do? What will he want to be? What an amazing gift...it blows me away.

finally!

After much wait and anticipation (well, not really the second one, mostly just the first), here we are again!! It has been a whirlwind of a summer and I can hardly believe school is starting in just a week from today! This past Friday was my last day at U.L. Coleman, and it was bitter sweet. My boss, Jan, pretty much became my 2nd Mom and I am going to miss her so much!! . . . but they hired someone full time to replace me so that will be good that she will have help when she has to go out for back surgery (she had a rod in her back the snapped in 2...she is one tough cookie!). Anyways, inservices at St. Joseph Catholic school began TODAY and kiddos will be arriving next week. It has been a mad dash getting the classroom set up and getting curriculum together (I am teaching the gifted and 504 supplement/learning center programs so all of the lessons/units are self-created)...cross your fingers that I don't fall on my face! Nonetheless, I am SUPER excited to get back into the classroom...I've missed it so much!
Michael is doing well..only something like 7 flights and 2 sims left until he is training complete...and then off to SERE...and then he'll be officially FINISHED!
Anyhow, just quick up date, more to come :)

"Tis the season..."

Easter was one of my absolute favorite holidays growing up. As a kid it meant easter egg hunts, dressing up in foo foo clothes and fancy shoes, getting to see family we weren't able to see too often, and of course way too much free chocolate. As I got older, my understanding of lots of things changed, and the more I learned and the more I grew, I realized what Easter really meant. Not only is it the start of spring, where we see new flowers sprouting up and the return of color and beauty to the earth, but the day in itself symbolizes the new life that is offered to us by the total grace of God. This past weekend our dear dear friends from Enid, Nate and Haylee Johnson, came to visit for the long Easter weekend, and we heard the WONDERFUL news that they are having a baby!!! During one of the conversations, Haylee was excitedly talking about how life will never be the same after the birth of their baby. I got to thinking about what she had said after they left and realized just how right she was on so many levels. They are now going to have a family of 3, and someone who will completely depend them in order to survive. They will sacrifice so much of themselves out of love for their new baby, and over the rest of their years they will have the opportunity to share their life, faith, and love with a brand new human being, and develop a relationship with him/her that only they will be able to understand. What a precious, precious gift. . . and what gift could come at a better time? Easter, the season of new life. What a huge sacrifice that God made out of nothing but love for us, so that we could have the opportunity to truly live and know Him. . . what a reminder of all of my blessings that I too often forget.