November 28, 2009

TO WAIT UPON YOU, LORD

I'm not as witty as my husband, so I'm sure that my posts will be less entertaining. However, I do believe that you will know my heart.

“Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love,
for I have put my trust in you.
Show me the way I should go,
for to you I lift up my soul.”

Psalm 143:8 is my favorite Bible verse. This has been my prayer when all other words fail. Bryan and I have been immensely blessed in our seven years of marriage. We have also encountered our share of challenges.

Less than a year ago we were financially struggling. We were also emotionally, mentally, and spiritually at battle. In January, Bryan started the most amazing attorney job. I felt very humbled by God’s mercy, as the job fell right before we did. God provided when we needed His provision most. His timing was perfect. He was waiting for the right place for Bryan. God is so good.

In July, I had a laparoscopy done to search for endometriosis. After 2.5 years of trying various tactics, the surgery was to be one of the final efforts in trying to determine why I wasn’t getting pregnant.

In August, the “morning (brought) me word of (His) unfailing love.” The pregnancy test was positive. I’ll be honest. I doubted the test. I took another one that afternoon, and when I continued to see positive results, I fell to my knees. God is so good.

I wish I could say that two were enough, but I took a third test, one that was foolproof, one that read “pregnant.” I cried for a third time. I’m sure that I will cry many times as a mother, and I feel so grateful for those tears.

We have no way of knowing if the surgery was what contributed to my pregnancy. What I do know is that our baby had a birthday, and it was not supposed to be one minute, one month, or 2.5 years earlier.

I have learned a lot about patience and about God’s goodness. I have learned that God’s plan is better than any plan that I could devise. I have learned that God provides, even when it isn’t what I am asking Him for. I am so thankful to those of you that have been God’s hands and feet during our struggle, and I feel immensely blessed that you all will be part of our baby’s life as well.

November 27, 2009

Gratuitous First Post

If we are going to send out a link to this blog to folks, we should probably at least have one post up before we start getting visitors. Hence, this gratuitous first post. So that there is actually some substance to this entry, we have conveniently provided below some vital information/statistics for your reading pleasure.

Due date? April 24, 2010

How far along? 19 weeks as of tomorrow, for those of you who don't like math.

Conception date? too many possible choices to narrow it down to just one

How is Allison feeling? She hasn't puked yet, but it was dicey on a few occasions. The nausea is gone now, but so still is her energy.

How is Bryan feeling? I've had frequent beer cravings and night terrors about the possibility of having a daughter (who will inevitably want to date at some point), but I'm told these reactions are completely normal (and probably related).

Boy or girl?
TBA, circa 9 a.m., Tuesday, December 15 (we are going to find out)

Do you want a boy or a girl? Yes, one of those two would be preferable. But seriously, we just want the kid to be healthy.

Have you decided on names? Yes. A girl would be named Bryna Liesl (no, there aren't missing letters in the middle name - it's German, or so I'm told). Our name for a boy is currently classified, but I can tell you that he would not be a Jr.

Is there a "baby bump" yet? I have been trying to cut back lately, so I really don't appreciate the question. Oh, you mean Allison? I knew that. She says (and I quote): "I've gained about four pounds, but I don't appear pregnant to most people."

Any pictures? Yep. See below, from the week 12 ultrasound. The arrowhead looking thingee to the right is the body and the big round blob on the left is the head. Unfortunately, the kid so far resembles me the most (just look at the size of that noggin!).