Happy 3rd Birthday, Alethia Joy!

Happy 3rd Birthday in Heaven, sweet little Alethia Joy. In my mind I still think of you as a baby - because that's all I ever knew you as - but it's amazing to think that you would be a big 3-year-old by now, preparing to welcome another little sibling in a few months.

As I see pictures of some of my friends' daughters who were born right around your birthday, I am reminded of how much time has passed.

In some ways it seems like it's been so long since I held you in my arms...so much has happened since then...and I miss you so much. Other days it seems like just yesterday that you were kicking in my womb.

A quote I had written in my journal from a book I read...

"In time, as you heal, you will begin to see the many ways you have been forever touched by your child's brief time with you."

I have seen the Lord's hand of healing in our lives over the past 3 years as He promised in Psalm 147:3-"God heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds."

The pain never goes away but the Lord's comfort is sure and near and He is slowly, little by little, healing our wounds. And through this we have certainly seen the ways that the brief life of Alethia Joy has touched our lives as well as the lives of others.

An excerpt from one of my journal entries, dated March 7, 2009:

"Lord, help me to trust in You more through this.

Help me accept our loss & help Tony and me to continue to draw closer together.

Let us day to day begin to see Your plan.

Help us trust [even] when we can't see through the tears.

Let us know You are here."

I can truly say that the Lord has ~ and continues to ~ answer our prayers.

"...for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.”  (Deuteronomy 31:6b)

(most recent picture taken at the cemetery during Christmas 2011)

Continually looking forward to the day when we will see our Savior and our loved ones face to face...

And as a sweet friend said to me today,

"Forever will be nice."

It's a........

BOY!!

(Belly picture taken a few days ago at 20 1/2 weeks)

Our ultrasound Monday went really well - praising the Lord that everything looks healthy and normal and baby BOY made his gender VERY clear! haha. Tony and I both knew right away that it was a boy once the u/s tech starting scanning the "lower region." It's a good thing we weren't hoping for a surprise because that wouldn't have worked out so well. 

I was really nervous at first to go to a brand new clinic and be seen by totally new doctors, nurses, etc, who haven't been through all of my history with me. I was so comfortable with the clinic in NC and wish that I could go back there again. They were all so very understanding and kind and though the place held many difficult memories, we also created some happy memories there during my pregnancy with Hannah Beth.

So...starting over again here in the Midwest with an OB/GYN was something I wasn't quite so comfortable about ... but praise the Lord, it has been a good experience so far. I was assigned to a female doctor who I really like - she's very thorough and genuinely kind - and the first time I met her she was holding the large stack of my medical records so she already knew some of my history. Without my even asking, Dr. L reassured me that they would take extra precautions during this pregnancy, especially during the 3rd trimester (i.e. non-stress tests, weekly visits starting at 30 weeks, regular bio-physical profile ultrasounds, a possible 38-39 week induction, etc.) -- all the same precautions that I experienced during my pregnancy with Hannah Beth.

I was very relieved to hear that they will do these same things again this time around just to make sure that everything is going well with baby - especially when the due date is closer.

Isaiah 26:3

"You will keep him in perfect peace,
Whose mind is stayed on You,
Because he trusts in You."

A Birthday for Tony

Happy Birthday to my wonderful husband, Tony!

Hannah Beth & I love you so much! Hope you've had a great day :)