Spiritual Hospitals

Last night a friend and I discussed being wounded by the church. I know this experience is a reality for many families, but God is a Healer and a Restorer and can mend any wound in our lives. I have a desire to minister to those who've been wounded by the church. I've always thought that churches should be hospitals, well probably not the entire focus of ministry because that would be unbalanced for a church, but at least have an element of ministry that was specific for those who needed healing. A small group, a bible study, or a series of sermons.....something that addressed the need.

Years ago our family had to leave everything behind to move to a new town for Bo's job. Our hearts were broken, not by the church, but by circumstances and relational issues that were extremely difficult. God led us to a church affiliated with Hillsong Church in Australia. We attended that church for ten weeks and found God's healing touch in the powerful worship. We just sat in God's presence while He healed our hearts. We didn't serve there, didn't help in the nursery, didn't join any group. We never even really met anyone there. At the end of the ten weeks, we were strengthened and encouraged and moved on to the next phase of our lives.

This morning in prayer, it occurred to me that the Albany area has a great need for a spiritual hospital. Just as we'd need a physical hospital for a major wound in our bodies, wouldn't it be great to have a place to go for healing in our souls? A place that focused on ministering the love of God that brings healing and restoration.

God, may it be. Send the doctors and the nurses who can pour your love out on wounded hearts.

Occupational Hazard

Apparently it's the duty of every expectant mom to endure the embarrassment and inconvenience of constantly dropping things. Cruel irony, because it's difficult to bend over to pick anything up! Well, today's incident was the baby's fault.

I was at the library with Noah and Joshua. Just as I was leaning over the counter, handing the librarian DVDs, a sudden violent kick from Isaac startled me. I jumped and gasped and literally threw the movies on the librarian. I told her I was so sorry and she graciously picked up the movies and continued her work. I'm thinking "get me out of here!".

Chill, baby baby!

Eleven weeks to go......

My sweet friend Heather took some fabulous pregnancy photos for me this weekend. Here is one. We are both photographers and enjoy practicing our craft on each other's bellies and babies.

Isaac continues to bounce around like a gymnast in my womb, making his presence known. Feeling the baby move has got to be the best part of pregnancy. The weight gain, backache, and low energy level all tie for the worst. But, a small price to pay for such a huge blessing.

I have concerns about delivering my baby in Albany and would appreciate your prayers. I am realizing that most obstetricians in Albany are quick to do c-sections, especially if the mom has already had one (Caleb was my Cesarean baby). I want as natural a birth as possible, without lots of intervention. The doctors in Dothan are less c-section happy and they support family oriented births. I prefer to deliver in Dothan and am praying for God's perfect will to be done.

Baby Update

Here is Isaac's sonogram pic from yesterday's OB appointment, which went great. I took and passed my glucose test and according to their scales only gained two pounds since last month's visit. I am 28 weeks and measured the same, so although I look big, I am right on track.

Baby Isaac is doing great! He's 2 pounds, 11 ounces. The sonogram was to check the position of my placenta, which had been low, but has since moved away from my cervix. It's actually right beside Isaac's face and prevented good 4D images. I saw him yawn twice during the ultrasound. His tongue shot out when his mouth was wide open. It was so cute. I guess he's pretty comfy in there, all snuggled up, using my placenta as a pillow, taking long naps. And, as usual, his hand was up by his face. It will be interesting to see if he continues that habit outside the womb. Baby is head down, which explains that all the punching in my ribs is from little feet. He had hiccups over the weekend; my friend Laura got to feel those.

Wardrobe Challenges

Okay, I'm wondering....what is the deal with maternity clothes??? First, they don't fit. You're stuck in between regular clothes that are too small, and maternity clothes that are too big. No pants worked for me until about five months, unless I could endure the constant sliding down the hips as the day went on. The new styles fit under the belly, but what if there is no belly yet to hold them up???? Then finally in the second trimester, some relief. Everything fit. Shirts fit, pants fit, of course you need a new bra, everything is growing. Now my current challenge, the last trimester. The clothing I so anxiously waited to fill out, now is too small! Something is either hanging out of the top or hanging out of the bottom. Being seven months pregnant in a South Georgia heat wave, you kinda don't care what's hanging out, but I do have teenage sons so I try not to embarrass them to smithereens. It seems maternity clothing has a "shelf life" of about eight weeks! Somebody invent a better system!

Brother Love

Noah got to feel Isaac move for the first time! Usually my active four-year-old doesn't have the patience to wait with his hand on my belly, but this time was a winner. Isaac moved under Noah's hands and Noah said "he's tickling me!". Then he laid his head on my bare abdomen and got kicked in the face! Next step was to put his mouth on my belly button to communicate with his unborn sibling. Guess my protruding navel is the microphone or something. He asked Isaac how old he was.

Baby Face

Here is a sonogram of Isaac's face. It may be hard to make out, but it's a shot of his face looking straight on, and his right hand is beside his cheek. My favorite part though, is his mouth. It looks like it's open and he is smiling! :)

I feel like I'm the queen of sonograms with this pregnancy. I've had six so far. One at 8 weeks following a car accident; another at 12 weeks to confirm the pregnancy with my new OB; one at 16 weeks to allow a friend and her ultrasound class to practice 2nd trimester scans on a real pregnant subject; then another a week later with Dr. Edwards, Albany's only perinatalogist, to check for genetic abnormalities because I'm over 35; the routine 20 week sonogram at the OB (this one was my favorite, because Bo was with me, and the technician wanted to practice her 4D scanning because I was her only patient that morning....favor!); and another with Dr. Edwards to follow up and get better pictures of the heart (my friend Stephanie went with me to this one, she is friends with Dr. Edwards and I thought her presence might lighten the mood...Dr. Edwards is very technical and serious and is lacking warm bedside manner. Together we tried to crack him but it didn't work. He told me to be more careful in my choice of friends! :)

I have yet another sonogram next week, at 28 weeks, to check on my placenta. It was low-lying and they want to make sure it's moved out of the way to allow delivery. Can't wait to see my little man again!