2 Weeks, 3 Days - It feels like 2 months, 3 weeks

I am a little self centered, I have to admit. I think that I am an exception to a lot of rules. That gets me in trouble a lot. I start thinking that I deserve special treatment and reprieves from stuff that happens to normal people and then I get mad when stuff happens to me. I thought that maybe since the first trimester of this pregnancy was so miserable that maybe the last two-thirds would be easy. Well, the second trimester was great, the beginning of the third was great. This last stretch is not as fun as I had imagined in my little pea brain. FATigue, sore hips, swollen everything, leg cramps, 2oz. capacity bladder, breathless, anxiety, psychotic bouts of cleaning and list making, and general discomfort, sounds like fun right? I find myself saying things like "I'm done", "I'm sick of being pregnant", "I'm soooo ready to have this baby". I rationalize it by thinking that it is okay. I have always felt sympathy for women that are "this" pregnant, no one is going to judge me for feeling like this, every woman that has ever had a baby knows exactly what this feels like. But God whispered in my ear and reminded me of something...

Last year on MLK day, I came home from a professional development day and found out that I was pregnant with number three. This was at the end of the 2 surgeries and six months of fertility drugs. I thought that number three was FINALLY the one. But that wasn't the case. God had Isaac for me. He lovingly reminded me of all of the tears and disappointments and prayers of rescue that I had prayed, asking for a baby. There was a time that I NEVER thought I would carry a baby to full term. And here I am, almost 38 weeks when 37 weeks is considered full term. And I am sorry for the complaints, it doesn't make the symptoms go away but I am going to try and concentrate on the blessing of being a big uncomfortable walrus. It means that all that I thought was broken has been repaired by a loving and merciful God. My once despised body has become the hiding place for a miracle, and as unworthy as I am, I get to participate in it. So as much as I want Isaac out of my belly and in my arms, I am so thrilled and full of hope for the future of our family.

There hasn't been a Gurt update from DHS yet this month but we are still praying and waiting. God has done such a great job in taking care of Isaac that we trust He will do the same in bringing our other sweet baby home.

A week ago Saturday I had a beautiful baby shower given to me by the women at my church, Waterloo Road Baptist Church. It was decorated in teddy bears, had wonderful breakfast food and I got so many precious things for Isaac. He is going to be a sharp dressed little guy, that is for sure! I didn't think dressing a boy would be very fun, but you would be amazed at the cute things they have for little boys. I got a bible from our new pastor's wife. It is a picture bible, which I love, and it has cute little bible stories that Ryland and I can read to him. We got a phase 2 car seat which will save us a ton of money in the future and it will also prepare us for Gurt if he comes and is bigger. I cannot express how special this group of women are to me. From Cindy Bergren sharing her maternity clothing, to Priscila and Emily sharing their pregnancies with me, to the prayers offered up for Isaac, to the words of encouragement and advice, and the days when I just needed to cry or talk, these women have ministered to me in a way that I can never express enough gratitude for. I am so blessed to get to be part of a unit that truly works as God's hands and feet. I can't wait to bring Isaac into his church family where he will have so many wonderful surrogate grannies and aunts. To all of you who follow my blog - I love you very much- thank you again for sharing this great season of life with me.

I may have put this in a previous post, but we bought a selfish gift for our parents (and ourselves) for Christmas. We bought webcams for my parents in Barnsdall and Ryland's parents in Cabot, AR. Since none of them live close enough for daily or even weekly visits we wanted Isaac to be able to see them all at least weekly. Ryland I both grew up with our grandparents being in the same town. We saw them at church every week, they came to sporting event, plays, anything that we did, really. It would be fantastic to be able to raise Isaac this way, but unlikely. So with the webcams we can see and hear them whenever we are all home. Just yesterday I sat and talked to my parents while I folded laundry, it was great! We have been able to talk to Fred Cyndi, Hil and Hayden and see what they are doing at any given time. I am so excited that they will be able to see Isaac and that he will know their voices and faces even though we can't always be together. Technology is a huge pain sometimes but I think that webcams are a great piece of equipment for this family!

I have a big praise to share. My friend Miriam from Guam had her baby boy last week. I shared in an earlier post that he was at risk for having hemophilia, a rare condition that cause blood not to clot and puts the person at risk for bleeding to death even with a minor cut. Her husband is in the Air Force and had to stay behind in Guam when she and her daughter had to move here last October because there were no facilities in Guam equipped to handle such a high-risk birth. Her husband, Rob, got here at the first of the month and was able to be there when his 9 pound, perfectly healthy, little William was born. It still brings tears to my eyes. Rob will be here for a few more weeks before he returns to Guam and then back to the Mid-East in a few months. Even though everything turned out great, please keep them in your prayers. Miriam, her 2 year old Maggie and baby William will be headed back to Guam at the end of the summer when William is old enough to travel. Rob won't be there when they get home and it will be a hard adjustment for them all. But Miriam is a terrific mother and God has blessed her with an amazing attitude and spirit and I have no doubt that she will be fine.

Please keep the following in your prayers:
1) Dr. K and the hospital staff we will be working with - that they will continue to make wise choices on behalf of Isaac and me.
2) Ryland - that God blesses him for all he has endured with me and that he will be able to deal with all the Daddy moments ahead. I am so blessed to get to share parenthood with him. Also that Isaac doesn't come during the United conference that Ryland has scheduled for the week Isaac is due- we could use the money- we are going to have so many new expenses!
3) That God will prepare my body to do what it needs to do to get Isaac here safely. And that I be brave and calm, not anxious and freaked out.
4) Traveling mercies for all of the traveling new grandparents who will be coming to meet Isaac.

Love to you all. I hope I am posting pictures of a sweet baby boy soon! I can't wait!

Mindy