"Do you know how your babies are doing?"

When I got this text message from my beloved cousin today, I started to laugh...was she trying to tell me I'm expecting twins??? I started to reply asking her this very question, when it hit me what she was really asking...

She was asking if I knew how my HAITIAN babies are...remember them, Ti Pot and Jinette? I immediately dropped to my knees, giving thanks to the Lord!

While I have been crying over the devastation in Haiti for the last two days, grateful to hear that there were no lives lost at the orphanage I visited 2-1/2 years ago, I had not stopped to rejoice that "my babies" aren't even in Haiti!

Back in October...October 12th to be specific...I was getting ready to head to bed when I thought "Maybe I'll just check email one more time..." and as clear as I've ever heard the Lord I heard Him say "Not tonight". And, off to bed I went.

The next morning I had a positive home pregnancy test...followed by a trip to David's office to share the news...followed by a trip to the doctor's office to have a blood test, which confirmed that I was (and still am) pregnant. Great rejoicing!

It wasn't until I got back home after lunch that I looked at my email...and lo and behold, the night before, I had received an email from my friend, Marlaine, who runs the orphanage in Haiti telling me that Ti Pot and Jinette had been adopted that day (10/12) and were leaving Haiti in the morning (10/13).

What amazing kindness the Lord showed me! If I had read that email the night before, I would have cried the night away...BUT, in His perfect timing I didn't read it until after I found out that I'm having a baby of my own. I had total peace that Ti Pot and Jinette were where they need to be (wherever that is, I don't know) and that I am now having the baby He has designed for me.

Isn't He SO good?

Today as I realized what my cousin's text meant, I was again floored by God's kindness and mercy...wherever my Haitian babies are, they are not in Haiti. They are safe. They may be crying over the news of Haiti...but they have a mom and a dad to comfort them and hold them and to teach them that God SURELY has a plan for their lives...He rescued them from that disaster before it ever happened. Oh how I wish I could watch their lives unfold! But, I guess I'll just have to wait until eternity to hear the whole story!

And, while we're talking about Haiti...please do pray for those who are still there. While I was most attached to Ti Pot and Jinette, there are MANY Haitian babies that I carry in my heart, and hope to see again on this earth. They are scared to pieces right now...may God comfort them through this time of trial.

6 weeks, 5 days

It's a horrible picture, I know...but it's the best I can do right now.

It was SO exciting at my sonogram this afternoon...I not only got to SEE the baby's heartbeat, but I got to HEAR the baby's heartbeat. When we had Brianna's sonogram (13 years ago!) sonograms weren't quite so high tech, I could only see her heartbeat. When the nurse practitioner (Wendy) turned on the sound I was so surprised!

SO, baby's heart rate was about 140, good and strong.

David wasn't able to be with me today, but my friend Erin went with me. She can't wait to tell the baby one day "I saw you when you were in your mommy's belly!"

Today has been a day full of opportunities to trust in a faithful God...I didn't do so well at every turn, but in the end, He has proven Himself faithful in all areas. Shocker! ;D

Our baby's first bedroom...

Well, we had a sonogram on Monday, which showed the baby's first bedroom, otherwise known as the sac. I know, it's not a great picture, but I took a picture of the little paper they sent us home with, so it's the best we got. And since you probably wouldn't know what you were looking at, I added the arrow to point to the sac. It looks like a little black hole.

Dr. Lapiri said he thought he could see "a little grain of rice" coming in and out of view, but it's just too small to capture on the picture. According to the size of the sac I would be about 5 weeks and 2 days, but he is waiting until next week to measure the baby before assigning an official date.

It's amazing...at the last sonogram on 10/16 they couldn't see the sac yet...and next week they'll be able to see the baby in the sac...it's just incredible how God does it! The baby's size is multiplying by thousands of times each week...just amazing!

We go back next Monday for our next sonogram...We'll let you know how it goes!

A whole new season...

Well, last Tuesday(10/13/09) was a very exciting day! (As I'm sure you can see from the picture.)

I got up just as David left for work and took the test. As it was "processing" I washed up and brushed my teeth. Then I went back to it and couldn't believe my eyes! I kept turning it in all different directions trying to make sure I wasn't misreading it...the last time I had a positive test was in 1996! And there have been MANY negative tests since David and I got married in March of 2008. But, not this time, it really had a positive result!

"What do I do?!" was what I was screaming inside my head. I wanted David to be the first to know, but Brianna would ask me the result and I would either have to lie or...there really was no or, she would SEE the answer on my face. SO, while she was in the shower, I ran around a little crazy.

First, I got my cell phone and took a picture to show David, but that didn't come out clear enough. Then I got the digital camera and got a decent shot. Then I ran to the bedroom and threw on shorts and a t-shirt (yes, we can wear those here, at least on this particular day). And just as Brianna came out of the bathroom I told her I was going to the store for an item she needed. Which wasn't a lie, I just didn't tell her I was going to David's office first. =D

And, off I went. It was 8:15.

On the way I decided to try calling the doctor's office, although I did not know if they would even be open. They were! So I told them about the positive test and they said come in and have a blood draw and have results before the end of the day. OK!

As I was approaching David's office I tried calling his cell phone, I was going to ask him to come out to the parking lot, but he couldn't answer. So when I got there I went in, and thankfully no one else was in the entry way. I walked right to his office, just as he was hanging up the phone. I sat down across from his desk. He was telling me that call was why he couldn't answer my call...and then inquired as to what brought me there. I turned on the camera, brought up the picture, got up from the chair, and held it out to him - viewer side facing him.

He was looking at it, tried a few different angles, and finally whispered "So, is it negative?" I shook my head. "So, is it positive?" I nodded my head. "Really?" More nodding.

David came around the desk and wrapped his arms around me. yada yada yada

I told him about the blood test, and obviously we decided to wait to tell Brianna and anyone else until we got those results. And then, after a few moments off I went to the doctor's office.

At about 2:30 the nurse called and said "Congratulations!" And went on to tell me to come in on Friday (10/16/09) for a sonogram. Then I called David, who couldn't pick up. But just a few minutes later he called back and I was able to tell him it was positive. He asked if I had told Brianna, and I said no, and then he had to go. So, I went and told Brianna. She was SO excited! She just kept running around all afternoon saying "Mommy, you're pregnant!" or "Mommy, you're having a baby!" She is just too cute!

Once David got home we each got on the phone and started making calls...and pretty much didn't see much of each other until bedtime. He kept going outside to talk on his phone, and I stayed inside on mine. Obviously everyone we spoke to was thrilled. My mom said "I have been praying every night for this." And Tracy screamed and jumped up and down, at least it sounded like she did. And then she said "Who can I tell?" And after negotiating, we settled on the 4 folks she could be the one to tell. All I really know about the folks David spoke to is that "they are excited". lol That was his answer for everyone I asked about.

Oh, wait, there was one call I got to hear David's side of...When David called his brother, Michael, I got to listen in. David called him and said "I wanted to let you know, Colleen's having a puppy." (Old family joke...when David's mom was pregnant with David, Michael decided he wanted it to be a puppy.)

Needless to say, we all spent time thanking God before we went to bed...

One of the most precious things of the day was when Brianna said "I'm getting everything I ever asked for." Translation, "We moved to Florida, I got a dad, I have a big back yard with lots of trees and stuff, I got a puppy, and now I'm getting a sibling."

Even with all the excitement, I must confess that I did fight the temptation to be fearful. I had a miscarriage before Brianna, now I'm a whole lot older, blah, blah, blah. But God was faithful to remind me of that first pregnancy. I got up early one morning and was led by the Holy Spirit to pray a prayer of thanksgiving to the Lord. I told the Lord how grateful I was to be chosen to add a soul to His kingdom, whether I got to hold that soul in this life or not. No matter what, that soul was created, and I was honored to be part of it. It was later that day I found out there was no heartbeat. And I had SUCH PEACE knowing that I could never have prayed what I did if the Holy Spirit had not led me to...knowing that He had prepared my heart for what was to come.

I did spend some time praying for this baby too...I don't know what the Lord's plan is...But I do know this. There is a reason I found out on this very day that I am pregnant...just a couple of hours before I found out that "my two kids" in Haiti were THIS VERY DAY leaving Haiti with their new family. Again, God was preparing my heart for what was to come.

Like I said, I don't know what God's plan is...but I do know this...

He has always been faithful to me!