Barber Bustlings

We are having a little girl! Bailey is beside herself; I love seeing how excited she is. Landon is okay with it and Myles is sad. He wanted another "bro" but I think he'll come around. Scott and I are still holding back a little, keeping in reserve all the "what if's" that accompany loss and a not-so-stellar pregnancy history. Even though I can feel her move I still have to take this pregnancy one day at a time. As too many know, there is no guarantee, no truly "safe" point in any pregnancy. But, we move forward with faith. The ultrasound looked good; the high risk doctor said she looked, "perfect" and so we take that to heart. Now begins the deliberations over names. Not only do I have Scott weighing in (we NEVER agree!) but my children think they get a say, too. Who is the one doing all the work here? I think I should get 10 votes to each of theirs but I don't take it for granted, either, that we are so lucky to be in this pos...

Several people have recently asked me about a post I wrote in September regarding a blood disorder that was thought to cause my recurrent miscarriages. I have slight Factor VIII deficiency but it does not affect pregnancy or miscarriage risk. That myth has since been dispelled. I was really hoping for a magic pill or even a shot that would guarantee a healthy, viable pregnancy but that is not what we got. The high risk specialist explained that about 12% of women miscarry easily, regularly and for no known reason. After doing lots of testing we discovered that unfortunately I fall into that category. We just have to go by faith. I never would have agreed to this one last pregnancy if I didn't feel that God was directing us to do so. Every day I struggle with the fear that the baby has died or that the end is coming but then I remind myself that we are taking this one day at a time. I choose hope, which is not the norm for me but I am hoping to make it so! Another reassuring gif...

(not our ultrasound, ours was garbage - thanks internet) We are expecting a baby in August of this year. Wow, I never thought I would type those words again but here we are, on a journey that is both difficult and joyous. I am taking it one day at a time; today I am pregnant so that is a good day. I am starting to feel the baby move once in awhile and am excited to feel more movement as we get further along. The short version of the story is this: we met with adoption agencies. We met with someone about foster care. We both knew we wanted to have another child but we certainly didn't want to get pregnant or try this route ever again. However, the Lord had a different plan. As we would pray about it I could feel Him nudging me, as if saying, "You don't have to do this, but if you want another baby this is how it needs to happen." How we fought that, me especially! How much I would have preferred to take out a loan and adopt a baby, not that there isn't pa...