From the Couch - well, from the hospital bed

Some of you have heard this already, but we are back in the hospital. I am doing well and so is Lucy which we are very grateful for! I had some bleeding yesterday (hadn't bled for 11 weeks! yay bed rest!). I spent 24 hours in labor and delivery. The bleeding stopped and some contractions I was having have also stopped. So now we are back in a waiting game - now in the hospital instead of at home. Most likely we will now deliver at 36 weeks (7 days) instead of 37 weeks (test scheduled for Monday 12/6 to determine Lucy's lung maturity). Of course, at any time that could change if my condition or Lucy's changes. They moved me to antepartum, which is more comfortable and quiet, I'm thankful for that. I had an ultra sound today that shows she is roughly 5 lbs. 12 oz! Grow Lucy Grow!!

Please support us in prayer in these ways:
-perseverance - Matt and I are ready to be done, and this new hospital detail makes it harder. Please pray we'd trust God's presence and purpose and hope and joy in all of this! Pray for us as we wait - that we'd lean hard into the Lord!
-pray for our boys - matt's parents are here to help through Wed, and then my parents will come wed - wed. Pray that they'd do well with their grandparents and that they'd have much grace with each other and just in dealing with life in general
-pray for Lucy - that her lungs especially would continue to develop more and more every day so that we can deliver next week instead of waiting longer.

We'll keep you posted...

Words from Baxter

Baxter has said two things today that are very precious...I thought you'd enjoy!

-- This morning we were reviewing some of the Children's Catechism questions . One of the questions says "Where do we learn how to love and obey God?" The answer is "In the Bible alone." We asked B the question, knowing he'd never practiced this one before. He answered "at church". Then he answered "at the Brown's house" (the Brown's are good friends here in Richmond, Joe is on staff with Matt). Then he answered "at home." All very good answers!

--Just now Matt was putting him in his room for rest time (since he no longer naps!). Matt said "Have a great rest time." B said "Have a good talking time." M "Talking time? With who?" B - "With Mommy, you and her are sweet sweet friends."

He's a handful, but a precious one at that!

Boys

I figured I'd post a bunch of BOY pictures today since we'll have a lot of BABY GIRL pictures to post in a handful of weeks (3 1/2!!!). Here they are just enjoying God's world. I did not take pictures of the times in between these sweet moments where they were doing anything but enjoying God or each other or His world. But do you really want to see pictures of that anyway? We'll just be thankful that there are sweet moments thrown in there! God is good.

Making play-doh pizzas with daddy.



Enjoying some color wonder from Aunt Becky and Uncle Bryan. This was about 20 minutes of both boys coloring in quiet. It was glorious!



Snuggle/Snack time



Proud builders



Just hugging. This most often turns into a crazy tackle time - we're trying to teach the hug and release method.



B has been really into legos and puzzles - here he is peaking through one of his creations



Before O and B went up to bed one night, O asked if he could read "Good Night Moon" to Lucy. It was very sweet.



Just a day in the life of B, or shall I say "Rescue Man" ?!

Christmas Cards, etc.

I've been wondering what we are going to do this year for Christmas cards...with Lucy arriving 9 days before Christmas, I think we're leaning towards Happy New Year's cards OR just belated Christmas cards...we'll see. In the past we have used various picture websites to make our cards. This year I have noticed that Shutterfly has some great options. We have also used their website to make photobooks in the past. We have made a photobook each year for Christmas for the boys - they are so quick and easy and relatively inexpensive - especially for one who does not scrapbook! I also appreciate that they have all kinds of cards - including ones that clearly speak to celebrating the coming of Christ. which is what we celebrate most at Christmas. Here is one that we'd consider using this year. CLICK HERE

Just thought I'd share in case you are also realizing that it's the end of November, and Christmas is coming sooner than we think! Hopefully in the midst of Christmas cards and buying presents (and having a baby!!) we'll all be able to remember and rejoice in the fact that God sent His only son to be born a man so that He could live and die for you and for me!

From the Couch - no news is good news

It's been a while since I've posted anything - mostly because November has FLOWN by and there has not been any new news to report. In this case, no news is good news! Each of my appointments have gone well - Lucy is growing, and I am healthy and that is great! I start going to the doctor each week now, so we may have more to update as the weeks go by.

The boys and I made a paper chain (with help from our friend Anne Winston) the other day to help us count down the days until Lucy is scheduled to arrive. We now have 26 days to go. We will be 34 weeks tomorrow, and the c-section is scheduled for 37 1/2 weeks. Keep praying! God is good and faithful!

There have been more days recently where we are just done with all of this, but He is good to meet us there and provide grace or strength or Truth about who He is and what He is doing, and that has gotten us through those days.

We've also had some fun family visits in the last week (matt's little sister Megan and her husband Kevin and then my parents) and we are looking forward to Thanksgiving here at our house with Matt's parents, his brother Mark and my parents. We're getting Martins/Ukrops to cook for us, so we'll still get to enjoy a yummy Turkey dinner :)

Here is a picture of B from a trip to Target with my dad. They had fun together. My dad was tasked with finding some funny things including prenatal vitamins, iron pills, newborn diapers and paci's. He noted how helpful the MANY pregnant ladies that were in Target that morning were. It's a great place to hang out! :) He did a great job! Thanks Dad!

From the Couch - Doctors Appointment

This morning we went in for my 31 1/2 week appointment and ultrasound. We took the boys with us before we brought O to school - they enjoyed it, but were also very antsy. They enjoyed seeing Lucy on the ultrasound and listening to her heart beat!

She is growing really well - she's weighing about 4 lbs which is 43% - the doctor was really pleased with that! The placenta has NOT moved, so we will be going ahead with our plan to deliver via c-section on December 14 - unless I have any more bleeding or anything of concern between now and then. That is about 5 1/2 weeks from now...not too bad!

It was really good to see our doctor and have her confirm that the Lord is using all we are doing to help keep me healthy and keep Lucy IN and GROWING. We were thankful for that confirmation and are SO thankful for all of the help we have had and support we have received. It's made it possible for Lucy to keep growing stronger and stronger.

So please keep praying for perseverance in these next 5 1/2 weeks, for strength and health. Also pray for extra grace for us as we enter the cold/flu season that God would protect us and our dear friends who are helping with the boys from sickness.

From the Couch - A view of the other couch

Here was my view of the other couch today. Matt was playing the chords, Owen was strumming, and Baxter was looking through the hymnal in his own little world.