August 20th

A year ago, today was a very hard day for me. I spent August 20th of last year in day surgery having a d&c. But I am thrilled that God in His personal, detailed love for me, chose to replace that bad day with a great day. I had my regular OB appointment this morning. Everything looked great! Mali and I heard the heart beat, which is always such a relief. The baby was really low so it took him a while to find its heartbeat, but it was good and strong and he said the baby's movements (picked up by the doppler) were good too. I'm measuring a little small, but probably from the weight that I've lost from being sick. The doctor was concerned that I'd lost even more weight, but the great thing is that I've haven't thrown up in about a week, which is a blessing and I'm so thankful for that. So he was okay with me not taking medication or anything else, just eating whatever I can and want, as much as I can or want!:) (With Mali, my OB "prescribed" Blizzards every night...hmmm.) We will have a sonogram on September 10th and find out for sure what we are having and see our baby, I can't wait! I will go back to the OB every month, and that is another cool God thing. The 20th of each month has also been the day I had to get my blood draws to make sure the molar tissue had not returned, now that day is replaced with exams that we get to hear our baby's heartbeat. God is really so personal and amazing to me and so gracious. I look back at this year, and still don't know why everything happened to me/us, but I do know that the joy and contentment that I feel now is not because we are finally having a baby, but because of how God shaped me, brought me through that time, and ministered to me in this past year. Having a baby, being pregnant, having money, having a nice house, etc. is not where my joy or contentment lies, it is ONLY through Him. Life has been difficult, but God is not difficult, and has been with me, teaching me, holding me and ministering to me this entire time. And HE has chosen this time to bless us with a new Life in our family. I read through my blog from last year at this time and can just see how God was caring for me and for us. Overall though, I am SOOO thankful to have the bad memory of last year's date replaced with such a beautiful memory of our new baby.

On a lighter note, after my appointment, Mali and I went on a 'date' to the mall to pick out new, good quality earrings for her as she starts preschool. This was my "mommy gift" to her for her special day. I, being as wise and money conscious as I am, decided James Avery would be a great place to buy high quality, cute, long lasting earrings. And, assumed I could sacrifice the $20 they would cost for my big girl. Well, we chose earrings, but they do not cost $20, EACH earring cost that much! Uuugh! But it was too late. Mali looks really cute in them and we have told her that she has to leave them in and can't change them out all the time (which was my intent in buying her nice earrings anyway).

Also, this baby will have a cousin its same age. Jordan and his wife Chrissy are pregnant and due May 4th. It will be interesting to have two babies in the family at the same time.

Here is the latest "belly" picture of me at 16 weeks (4 months), with Mali being a great big sister already!