hard days, big prayers, beautiful answers... yes, this is a gender-reveal!!!

15 weeks

Last Friday started as a nightmare.

By mid-morning I was experiencing agonizing back and abdominal pain... I cringe even thinking about it.  It was excruciating.  At first I tried to lay down and see if it would go away, but only a few minutes told me that wasn't possible.  My wonderful pastor's wife ran me to the ER.

"Where is the pain?" every nurse and doctor asked.

I would tell them... then inform them I was 17 weeks pregnant only to be met with pitying glances and the words "complication in the pregnancy, possible miscarriage".

My soul wept all morning.  As I tried to breath through pain that wouldn't leave, I prayed.  I prayed so hard.

"God, I will go through anything physically... please don't let it be the baby.  Keep the baby safe."

16 weeks

17 weeks... day before going to the hospital

I was given pain meds (after waiting for a LONG time), which didn't help much but took the edge off my pain.  My in-laws arrived and Andrew had been contacted at work.

I was wheeled into an ultrasound room, my wonderful mother-in-love in tow, and warm goop was quickly placed on my belly. 

 The device touched me and the most beautiful baby I have ever seen appeared on the screen in front of me.  My pain was instantly gone as I watched perfect arms and legs jerk in swatting and kicking motions.

"Is the baby okay?"

"Your baby is fine!  The problem isn't with your baby."

I cried.

Between the relief and seeing my baby for the first time, it was so wonderfully overwhelming.

The technician took her time showing me all of the arms and legs, the flickering heartbeat, the little face...  She told me she had figured out the gender and would I like to know?  I said yes, but I wanted my hubby to find out at the same time.  Pictures were printed and one was placed in an envelope to be opened later.

I was wheeled back into my room after being told the most likely culprit was my kidneys... more specifically, one or more kidney stones.

Andrew was waiting for me, pale and worried.  I was so excited about the baby that I forgot that he knew absolutely nothing about my condition and I blurted out that he needed to open the envelope and find out what our baby was!  The fear in his voice brought me back to earth and I explained to him what the problem was and watched his face flood with relief (though I could tell he was still quite worried about the pain I was in and the potential of surgery).

Then the moment came when he looked through the pictures, marveling at our child, and then opened the yellow envelope.

"It's a girl!"  he exclaimed.

Dear friends, this proud mama presents to you her BABY GIRL:  Serenity Faye.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We are over-the-moon.  We didn't care which gender we were having, but knowing is so amazing!!!  Calling her by name, planning a nursery with her in mind... it's beyond wonderful.

After finding out, I still had a few hours of pain ahead of me.  I ended up staying in the hospital on IV fluids (and continued pain meds) for 24 hours and did pass a kidney stone that night.  It was rough... but God allowed a bright light to shine through the pain of that day by letting us see our daughter for the first time!!!

First mother/daughter selfie!!!

I am now on a low-sodium diet and drowning in lemon juice... but I'm sure it will be worth it to try to keep more stones from forming.  REALLY don't want to go through that again.

18 weeks!!!

As of today I am 18 weeks along and had a wonderful midwife appointment this morning.  I am pretty much pain-free (yay!)!  Serenity is nice and big (about a week ahead... not enough difference to change the due date, but really encouraging to know she's growing well!).  I have gained back the weight I lost in the first trimester and FINALLY am putting on extra pounds (one of the few times in life when you're proud of gaining weight!).

Please continue praying!!!  My health is super important for this pregnancy to go well (obviously) and stress from pain is just no good.  Prayer for my new eating/drinking habits to help and for Miss Serenity to keep growing strong and beautifully into the little person God intends her to be would be so appreciated!

Thank you to those who have been praying.  It means the world to me!!!

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