We've now reached a milestone that we had often thought of...25 weeks. 25 weeks was the point that Michele had to deliver Gunner. With so little known about HELLP syndrome, the doctors weren't sure if it would show it's ugly head earlier, same point, later, or not at all. With putting our faith in the Lord we have made it this far with about as much anxiety as expected, but have a sense of peace that surrounds us. Whatever we face in the upcoming weeks/months ahead we can handle it. When looking at Gunner's pictures it's really hard to believe that a baby that size, probably bigger is inside Michele. We have 3 more weeks to go to we reach the doctor's "safe zone". She's advised us that at 28 weeks she would feel much more comfortable delivering if necessary, but we aren't looking to much in to that...we're going further. We going into each day with hope and confidence that we will bring this little boy home. As far as Michele's health is concerned we do our unofficial checks at home daily: bp check, swelling check, overall feeling. Those checks help guide us and get us through while we wait for the next 2 weeks to pass by for the official check.
I hadn't had a chance to post since the last dr. visit so here's a little run down. Her blood pressure was very good, no protein, heartbeat was strong, and her gestational diabetes check was normal. Also, the most important thing was the doctor said that she looked very good and that she just had "a good feelin'" about everything. I know that's not very scientific, but it was nice to hear.
Another first that we had while we were gone to Lexington was we actually looked at baby stuff. Last time we picked a crib out, but never really looked at much else other than online. It was nice to actually go another step forward with anticipation of getting our house baby ready! The only problem that we are having is we aren't picky enough when trying to decide on things. All of it sounds nice and we would be happy with anything. As Michele said when looking at cribs, "it doesn't really matter, I just want a baby in it." Nevertheless we were able to begin picking out things and have set a date and place for the baby shower. We are going to have the shower April 2 at school. Also, some lovely co-workers are going to have a shower from the faculty for us a little later. We are constantly reminded of the love and prayers that surround us. I thank the Lord that he surrounds us with such caring family and friends.
One more note:
We have decided on the name Gabriel, calling him Gabe. Not really sure about a middle name yet, but it'll come in time.
I'll try to give updates a little more frequently, but as I have told some "no news is good news". As we face another week ahead I am looking forward to the great things in store for us.
Continued prayers for health, strength and guidance!
Ronn
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Sunday, February 20, 2011
A Little More Real
Hitting the 24 week mark this week is making everything become more real. At times it's hard to grasp that our little boy will be here before too long. After much debating on when to wait to do certain things, we've let our guard down a little and began to think preparation for bringing him home. We have looked at nursery furniture, started to try to plan a shower, and other little things that take time planning.
Monday comes time for another trip to doctor. This visit is for a regular ob appointment that they will do the usual checks: protein, bp, heartbeat, etc. It's also time for another screening for gestational diabetes. Michele continues to do feel very well and is starting to feel the occasional stronger kicks. We are coming upon the 25 week with some anxiousness that it will be surpassed. There's not too much to say right now....praying that peace, strength, and healthiness will continue to be granted to us.
I'll try to post some pics shortly!
Monday comes time for another trip to doctor. This visit is for a regular ob appointment that they will do the usual checks: protein, bp, heartbeat, etc. It's also time for another screening for gestational diabetes. Michele continues to do feel very well and is starting to feel the occasional stronger kicks. We are coming upon the 25 week with some anxiousness that it will be surpassed. There's not too much to say right now....praying that peace, strength, and healthiness will continue to be granted to us.
I'll try to post some pics shortly!
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Positive Thinking
One thing that I don't like is to hear or read about people speaking on ALL the negativity in their life. Sure we may face difficult times and circumstances...that's part of life that we have here. Would we actually look forward to Heaven if our time on Earth actually was as good as it gets? I don't think so. We aren't meant to bring others down about how depressing our lives are...we need to lift each other up and focus on the positives. As I heard Joel Osteen's message on declaring what the Lord has done for you, it couldn't have been a more uplifting sermon for me. So as I may look at the bad things in life such as the precious people in my life passing i.e. my grandfathers, dad, and Gunner....I use those things to thank the Lord for all the things that have happened in my life that has made me the man I am today. God doesn't make mistakes, all things are for the glory of Him. Looking outside the box takes a little faith. Don't focus everything on the small dot (we are the small dot in a huge universe) Thanks Danl.
We do deserve goodness because God say's we are worth it. We were given the ultimate sacrafice because we are worth it. It's not being proud or boastful, it's simply understanding the word of God and trying to put it into action.
"Many, Lord my God, are the wonders you have done, the things you planned for us. None can compare with you; were I to speak and tell your deeds, they would be too many to declare"
Psalm 40:5
So when I start to ask myself "Why us?" I am going to try and remind myself "Why not us?" I'm thankful that God gave Michele and I the privilege of having Gunner for 13 days and being called his parents. I don't know about too much, but I do know God's plan is so much better than we can even understand, we just have to follow, trust, and have faith.
Declare the goodness of our Lord today.....I am!
Ronn
We do deserve goodness because God say's we are worth it. We were given the ultimate sacrafice because we are worth it. It's not being proud or boastful, it's simply understanding the word of God and trying to put it into action.
"Many, Lord my God, are the wonders you have done, the things you planned for us. None can compare with you; were I to speak and tell your deeds, they would be too many to declare"
Psalm 40:5
So when I start to ask myself "Why us?" I am going to try and remind myself "Why not us?" I'm thankful that God gave Michele and I the privilege of having Gunner for 13 days and being called his parents. I don't know about too much, but I do know God's plan is so much better than we can even understand, we just have to follow, trust, and have faith.
Declare the goodness of our Lord today.....I am!
Ronn
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Reminders
Valentine's day is right upon us and people celebrate in their own special way. V-day isn't something that we do anything particularly for, it's more of a reminder of what we do ALL YEAR long. Showing our love to each other isn't something that we need reminded of on one day a year, it's something that we do everyday. Reminders of our love are something that I think that has strengthened our relationship to what it is and what it continues to grow into. I believe Jesus gives us daily reminders of his love for us....although it might not be the big extravagant gift each day that we might think of, it's the small things that matters....constant reminders of his love. Some of our constant reminders to each other are our conversations to work, eating dinner together, or simply doing a small gesture to show each other that we care....those are our valentine moments and we experience them everyday.
Right now also comes a time that we once dreaded terribly. Milestones of first birthdays for so many of our loved ones. So many people were expecting around the same time as Gunner was born, and we just knew it would be more reminders of that he wasn't here to celebrate with us like we once anticipated. We often talked about how we didn't know how we were going to be able to face these milestones. "SLAP" How many times have we questioned "How are we going to do it?" or "How will get through all this?". A big slap right in my face is what I felt.....then arms wrapped around me and I heard a small voice speaking to me saying, "My child, I told you that you will never walk alone. For I am with you from darkest times to the brightest times. You will always have Me as rock to lean on when you are weary and I will carry you through the storms." Just another reminder. So.....we did what we continue to do, we knew God was in control and simply followed His path. We have been led through a journey that most couldn't begin to imagine and we know without Him we couldn't have made it. With this in mind we are grateful for friends and families that are celebrating the birthdays of their little ones, as I am grateful that we were chosen to be parents of a precious little boy...our warrior, Gunner. I am also grateful to be chosen parents of another little boy that we can't wait to meet and see what God's plan is for him.
As another reminder I have a final thought of the poem, Footprints in the Sand by Mary Stevenson
One night I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord.
Many scenes from my life flashed across the sky.In each scene I noticed footprints in the sand.
Sometimes there were two sets of footprints,
other times there were one set of footprints.
Many scenes from my life flashed across the sky.In each scene I noticed footprints in the sand.
Sometimes there were two sets of footprints,
other times there were one set of footprints.
This bothered me because I noticed
that during the low periods of my life,
when I was suffering from
anguish, sorrow or defeat,
I could see only one set of footprints.
that during the low periods of my life,
when I was suffering from
anguish, sorrow or defeat,
I could see only one set of footprints.
So I said to the Lord,
“You promised me Lord,
that if I followed you,
you would walk with me always.
But I have noticed that during the most trying periods of my lifethere have only been one set of footprints in the sand.
Why, when I needed you most, you have not been there for me?”
“You promised me Lord,
that if I followed you,
you would walk with me always.
But I have noticed that during the most trying periods of my lifethere have only been one set of footprints in the sand.
Why, when I needed you most, you have not been there for me?”
The Lord replied,
“The times when you have seen only one set of footprints in the sand,
is when I carried you.”
“The times when you have seen only one set of footprints in the sand,
is when I carried you.”
So today, do a reminder for someone just to show them that you care and love them. Also, look for the little reminders that you are loved by others. Be reminded of God's love.
Continued prayers!
Ronn
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Off to a GREAT start this week
Sunday began the start of a great week. After missing a week of church, we both were in great need to go and hear His word and Praise Him. We actually began something that we had been discussing for sometime....but never found ourselves there, we attended Sunday School. Wow! What a blessing that was to go and dig deeper into the teaching and love of Jesus Christ. It wasn't scripture that was new to us, but it was a reminder of things we tend to forget or not think often of. The lesson was on The Good Shepherd, and it was a lesson that can grab hold of you and give you chills. I often feel like the lost sheep and The Good Shepherd will go and lead me back into his flock. It's such a security in KNOWING that He loves us that much, that he can call us by name and show us greener pasture. Serving the Lord is something that I look forward to showing and sharing with our son. No gift is greater that we can we give him than that of raising him in a Christian home.
Sunday didn't end worship time for us, nor should it for anyone. Roundtrip from Pikeville to Lexington, our radio couldn't seem to turn off the dial of The Message radio station. For those not familiar, you can find it on Sirius/XM radio, that features awesome contemporary Christian music. Some of the messages that come from the music are incredible. Driving on the mountain parkway I almost found myself having a revival inside. Just so amazing some of the songs were written for me or about my life.
Dr. Visit
Hadn't been too long since the last appointment, and thank God everything looked relatively the same. BP=good, no protein, strong baby heartbeat were once again an assurance that things are on the right track. No change to Michele's routine is necessary and we will once again make our trip in two weeks for another checkup. After some lunch and a long wait due to short on staff today, we got to have another ultrasound. This time they were checking the cord blood flow, uterine artery flow, and aortic arch. The scans all came back normal in that the blood flow was strong and consistent; this was an important scan as it can detect any early abnormalities that pre-e/HELLP may be starting. With pre-e the flow is restricted and the growth of the baby is hindered. With u/s we were also able to get a quick profile glance of our baby boy once again...always exciting!!
No u/s are scheduled at this time, just wait and see. Dr. appointment is scheduled for two more weeks and that will make Michele 24 weeks gestation. As the nerves try to settle in at the 25 week mark (Gunner's arrival), we are going to try to remember that we have A Good Shepherd. We know that when we feel like the weight is getting heavy we must "let go and let God".
Until next time....we are keeping faith and know all is in the hands of the Great Physician!
Continued prayers.
Sunday didn't end worship time for us, nor should it for anyone. Roundtrip from Pikeville to Lexington, our radio couldn't seem to turn off the dial of The Message radio station. For those not familiar, you can find it on Sirius/XM radio, that features awesome contemporary Christian music. Some of the messages that come from the music are incredible. Driving on the mountain parkway I almost found myself having a revival inside. Just so amazing some of the songs were written for me or about my life.
Dr. Visit
Hadn't been too long since the last appointment, and thank God everything looked relatively the same. BP=good, no protein, strong baby heartbeat were once again an assurance that things are on the right track. No change to Michele's routine is necessary and we will once again make our trip in two weeks for another checkup. After some lunch and a long wait due to short on staff today, we got to have another ultrasound. This time they were checking the cord blood flow, uterine artery flow, and aortic arch. The scans all came back normal in that the blood flow was strong and consistent; this was an important scan as it can detect any early abnormalities that pre-e/HELLP may be starting. With pre-e the flow is restricted and the growth of the baby is hindered. With u/s we were also able to get a quick profile glance of our baby boy once again...always exciting!!
No u/s are scheduled at this time, just wait and see. Dr. appointment is scheduled for two more weeks and that will make Michele 24 weeks gestation. As the nerves try to settle in at the 25 week mark (Gunner's arrival), we are going to try to remember that we have A Good Shepherd. We know that when we feel like the weight is getting heavy we must "let go and let God".
Until next time....we are keeping faith and know all is in the hands of the Great Physician!
Continued prayers.
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