On Thursday July 14, the Lord saw fit to allow my sweet friend, Diane to come visit for the weekend. She had visited about 3 months ago after we first found out about the concerns with Sadie. But this was a last minute visit and it was truly a gift from the Lord. The morning after she arrived, I had my Friday doctor's appointment and she went with me. When they did the ultrasound Sadie's fluid was back down to a 5. I was dilated to 1 and Sadie's head was very low. I had been having contractions, but nothing too serious. After conferring with the doctors at UVA, the perinatologist at Roanoke suggested that I go to UVA the following Monday rather than seeing him. That weekend went smoothly, although I was honestly just exhausted. I knew that I was at a point where I could not be at home alone with Isaiah while Sean was at work. Because going into labor would be dangerous for both me and Sadie, I knew that I could no longer care for the simple things Isaiah needs throughout the day. The thought of trying to organize people to take me to UVA, plus people to come and stay with me while Sean was at work for the next 2 1/2 weeks was overwhelming. That night before bed, I cried on Sean's shoulder and told him I just didn't know how I was going to do it. Organizing all the details of appointments and such is so exhausting and now I was at a point where I was going to be even more dependent on others. Sean assured me that, as always, the Lord would work it out and not to fret.
The next morning I woke up a couple of hours before everyone else and just laid there and tried to pray instead of letting my thoughts overwhelm me. I knew that Diane had to return to work, but I prayed that if it be the Lord's will, He would put it on her heart to stay longer than planned. I knew if she stayed she could help with Isaiah, take me to doctors appointments, and just be there to pray and encourage. When she woke up, I went in her room and she said, "I've been thinking. I am going to call my work and see if I can get off for at least the next week and stay here to help you." HOW GOOD THE LORD IS TO ME!! The sweetest part about this is that I knew that Diane wanted to be here when Sadie was born, as she was when Isaiah was born. She is "Grammie" and she loves them as her own grandchildren. However, if she stayed now, she wouldn't be able to take off work and travel to be there for Sadie's birth. She was sacrificing her own desires to be able to be there for me. I so badly want her to be there when Sadie is born, as there won't be any other family there with us... but I knew that trying to get through the next few weeks without her would be very difficult. - (Side note: Though no family will be there to welcome Sadie into the world, our church family, who truly are our brothers and sisters, will be there.... we will not be alone.)-
So over the last week Diane has cooked and done laundry and driven to UVA and played with Isaiah and I have been able to rest. It is amazing how much different I feel over this last week of having her here. When she first arrived I physically felt so exhausted, getting up to just walk to the bathroom was difficult at times. But after several days of just being able to truly rest, I feel so much better. I even feel a little spunk. She will be flying back home on Tuesday the 26th, a week before Sadie's "scheduled" arrival....... leaving only a week to figure out what to do while Sean is at work. The doctor has posed the possibility of me spending the last week before delivery in Charlottesville, but honestly, I would rather be able to be with Isaiah as much as possible before Sadie is born. My next appointment is tomorrow at UVA. We are still just taking it one appointment at a time and deciding what to do as we go. If at any point I dilate further or the doctor feels like I need to be in Charlottesville, then I will go and stay there.
I write all this to give God glory for His sweet provision. I am so grateful that the Lord has place people in our lives that love us so dearly. I know I have spoken of how kind our church family has been with bringing meals, watching Isaiah, and taking me to doctors visits. We are truly blessed. The Lord has surrounded us with brothers and sisters that are like family to us. He has provided for us in every way. There has not been a single need that He has not met. How gracious our Lord is to us!
I would just ask that you would continue to pray that I not go into labor. Also pray that the Lord would work out those final days before delivery.... whether or not to stay in Charlottesville and if so, arrangements for Isaiah here at home -or- whether to stay home, and if so... what to do while Sean is at work. Again- these are all details that I know the Lord will work out, as He has with everything else. Pray for the delivery and the care of Sadie afterwards. Pray that the Lord would heal Sadie's little body and that she would be healthy and strong. We are in awe that she will be full-term.... I am now 37 1/2 weeks! I can't believe we are 9 days away from meeting our little girl!!!!! Sean and I simply cannot wait!!! Thank you for sharing in this journey with us. I will keep you posted!
The next morning I woke up a couple of hours before everyone else and just laid there and tried to pray instead of letting my thoughts overwhelm me. I knew that Diane had to return to work, but I prayed that if it be the Lord's will, He would put it on her heart to stay longer than planned. I knew if she stayed she could help with Isaiah, take me to doctors appointments, and just be there to pray and encourage. When she woke up, I went in her room and she said, "I've been thinking. I am going to call my work and see if I can get off for at least the next week and stay here to help you." HOW GOOD THE LORD IS TO ME!! The sweetest part about this is that I knew that Diane wanted to be here when Sadie was born, as she was when Isaiah was born. She is "Grammie" and she loves them as her own grandchildren. However, if she stayed now, she wouldn't be able to take off work and travel to be there for Sadie's birth. She was sacrificing her own desires to be able to be there for me. I so badly want her to be there when Sadie is born, as there won't be any other family there with us... but I knew that trying to get through the next few weeks without her would be very difficult. - (Side note: Though no family will be there to welcome Sadie into the world, our church family, who truly are our brothers and sisters, will be there.... we will not be alone.)-
So over the last week Diane has cooked and done laundry and driven to UVA and played with Isaiah and I have been able to rest. It is amazing how much different I feel over this last week of having her here. When she first arrived I physically felt so exhausted, getting up to just walk to the bathroom was difficult at times. But after several days of just being able to truly rest, I feel so much better. I even feel a little spunk. She will be flying back home on Tuesday the 26th, a week before Sadie's "scheduled" arrival....... leaving only a week to figure out what to do while Sean is at work. The doctor has posed the possibility of me spending the last week before delivery in Charlottesville, but honestly, I would rather be able to be with Isaiah as much as possible before Sadie is born. My next appointment is tomorrow at UVA. We are still just taking it one appointment at a time and deciding what to do as we go. If at any point I dilate further or the doctor feels like I need to be in Charlottesville, then I will go and stay there.
I write all this to give God glory for His sweet provision. I am so grateful that the Lord has place people in our lives that love us so dearly. I know I have spoken of how kind our church family has been with bringing meals, watching Isaiah, and taking me to doctors visits. We are truly blessed. The Lord has surrounded us with brothers and sisters that are like family to us. He has provided for us in every way. There has not been a single need that He has not met. How gracious our Lord is to us!
I would just ask that you would continue to pray that I not go into labor. Also pray that the Lord would work out those final days before delivery.... whether or not to stay in Charlottesville and if so, arrangements for Isaiah here at home -or- whether to stay home, and if so... what to do while Sean is at work. Again- these are all details that I know the Lord will work out, as He has with everything else. Pray for the delivery and the care of Sadie afterwards. Pray that the Lord would heal Sadie's little body and that she would be healthy and strong. We are in awe that she will be full-term.... I am now 37 1/2 weeks! I can't believe we are 9 days away from meeting our little girl!!!!! Sean and I simply cannot wait!!! Thank you for sharing in this journey with us. I will keep you posted!
