Trusting and Praising God

Praise God from whom all blessings flow!!! 29 weeks, 11 to go ~ this pregnancy seems to have flown by! Ever since we learned about the markers found on Landon's ultrasound to indicate complications, we have not stopped praying for God to heal him. My doctor did tell me that the technician was not 100% sure about the 2-cord umbilical vessel, so we decided to pray that she would prove wrong in that. It is something that we determined to trust God in no matter what the outcome. We laid it in His hands and we didn't worry or fret over Landon's health, or the complications that might arise. Last week I had another ultrasound and was informed that the bright spot on his heart had completely disappeared! Not only that, but they were also able to see a normal, 3-cord umbilical vessel this time! Whether the technician got it wrong to begin with or God decided to heal him miraculously, we don't know. But either way, it is a miracle. Lesson learned: trust God IN ALL THINGS no matter what. 

We also have been praising God for our sweet little Bella, as we fondly call Ellie. She is such a joy and a delight to us! She has grown up so much this year and it amazes us to no end the conversations we have with her on a daily basis. She has been loving this summer weather, soaking up the great outdoors. She loves blowing bubbles, drawing with chalk, going for walks in the stroller and swimming in the pool! 

Bless the Lord, oh my soul, all my inmost being - praise His holy name! 

Knitted Together In My Womb

I am 17 weeks pregnant now with a little boy! At my last visit, my doctor's office was 70% sure we were having a boy, and today they were 100% sure. Look at the sweet face! I am already so in love with him and can't wait to meet him! And he sure is active! I started feeling him move about a week or so ago and I am feeling him all the time - in fact he could barely hold still for the technician today during the sonogram! 

My doctor also found two soft markers (something seen on the ultrasound that may indicate an increased chance that the baby has Down’s syndrome or another chromosome anomaly but which in itself is probably of little or no significance), but she said she is not at all concerned about it and that the chances of Down's syndrome is very low. These are the markers that were found along with an explanation from Wikpedia:

1) "Echogenic Intracardiac Focus (EIF) - a small bright spot seen in the baby's heart on an ultrasound exam. This is thought to represent mineralization, or small deposits of calcium, in the muscle of the heart. EIFs are found in about 3-5% of normal pregnancies and cause no health problems. EIFs themselves have no impact on health or heart function. Often the EIF is gone by the third trimester. If there are no problems or chromosome abnormalities, EIFs are considered normal changes, or variants." 

However, 

"Researchers have noted an association between an EIF and a chromsome problem in the baby. Types of chromosome problems that are occasionally seen include trisomy 13 (Patau syndrome) or trisomy 21 (Down syndrome). In the case of an isolated EIF, and other ultrasound findings, some studies show that the risk for a chromosome abnormality is approximately two times a woman's background risk. Other studies report up to a 1% risk for Down Syndrome when an EIF is seen on a second trimester fetal ultrasound exam."

 2) "Single Umbilical Artery - Occasionally, there is only the one single umbilical artery (SUA) present in the umbilical cord. Approximately this affects between 1 in 100 and 1 in 500 pregnancies, making it the most common umbilical abnormality. It is more common in multiple births. Its cause is not known. 

Most cords have one vein and two arteries. The vein carries oxygenated blood from the placenta to the baby and arteries carry deoxygenated blood from the baby to the placenta. In approximately 1% of pregnancies there are only two vessels - usually a single vein and a single artery. In about 75% of those cases, the baby is entirely normal and healthy and the missing artery isn't missed at all. One artery can support a pregnancy and does not necessarily indicate problems. For the other 25%, a 20vessel cord is a sign that the baby has other abnormalities - sometimes life-threatening and sometimes not. SUA does increase the risk of the baby having cardiac, skeletal, intestinal or renal problems. Babies with SUA may have a higher likelihood of having other congenital abnormalities, especially of the heart. However additional testing can rule out many of these abnormalities prior to birth and alleviate parental anxiety. Echocardiograms of the fetus may be advised to ensure the heart is functioning properly. Genetic counseling may be useful too, especially when weighing the pros and cons of more invasive procedures. 

Although the presence of an SUA is a risk factor for additional complications, most fetuses with the condition will not experience other problems, either in utero or after birth. Especially encouraging are the cases in which no other soft makers for congenital abnormalities are visible via ultrasound." 

Wow, that's a lot to take in! I am so thankful that my God is Almighty and sovereign, and fully trustworthy. He created this baby in His image, He created his inmost being, He's knitting him together in my womb. 

Our baby's frame is not hidden from God as he's being made in the secret place, woven together in the depths of the earth. God's eyes see his unformed body; all his days are ordained before he will even take his first breath. He is fearfully and wonderfully made! 

I can say with confidence that I do not fear the unknown, because I know who the Creator is. May His good and perfect will come to pass in our lives. 

Thank you Father, we praise you for this baby boy! 

Welcome Baby Nunez

Luis and I are thrilled because there is a lil' someone growing inside of me. We can't wait to meet this new baby! Ellie seems to understand that Mommy has a baby in her tummy because she frequently asks me if she can kiss the baby. And then she'll kiss my tummy. And she tells me often that when they baby comes, she's going to hold the baby. And kiss the baby and hug the baby. And she loves the baby. It's darling!!!! I have no feelings/senses to whether we're having a boy or a girl. If it's a boy, we know we'll name him Landon, after my Grandpa Saunders. Either Landon Jose or Landon Andres. If it's a girl, we have some ideas. Ashley maybe. I think I like Ashlie better. I love Savannah, but Luis is still getting used to the sound of that (he's not sure of it in Spanish). And a new name that my Aunt Gretchen told us about tonight: Paisley. I love love love it! And to my great delight I discovered that it means Church! It would be sweet to someday have an Ellie, a Paisley and an Ashlie. And a Maggie Alicia. :) Maybe I'll have all girls?! I still really want my Alejandro...but that classic Spanish name is hard for Luis to readily accept. Wow! Two of my sisters are also pregnant so this year my parents will have ten total grandchildren!!! Thank you Lord! 

Children are a blessing from the Lord. They are a reward from Him. Happy are those whose quiver is full of them.  

Maternity

"He gives the barren woman a home, so that she becomes the happy mother of her children.

Praise the Lord!"

Psalm 113:9 (New Living Translation)

This verse was my heart's cry two years ago - "Lord, give us a place of our own to call home, and give us a child!" I am so amazed at His goodness to us in granting both desires - a home and a child. We do not deserve these incredible gifts to us. But they call out glory to His name! He delights in giving good gifts to His children! I praise Him and adore Him for how He loves us. Oh Father of Light, all our joy is because of You! 

Baby Shower!

The pics tell it all! I just want to say thank you to everyone who came and showered Luis & I with gifts for our little girl! Also thank you to those who threw the party: Maggie Faull, Carrie Dunham & Dodo Nelson. Cheryl Buoni who led the devotional, Lynda Hawkins, who led the games, Megan Hawkins & Sharon Pallay who helped secretly, and Emily Dinsmore who took the photos! We are soooo blessed with so many wonderful people in our lives to support & love us, and to share in our excitment to welcome Ellie Sofia into our lives. We love you all! THANK YOU!

Last few weeks of pregnancy....

I'm 36.5 weeks now, excitedly waiting for our little princess to arrive in 3-6 weeks! We still have a lot to do before she comes, so I don't feel bored or anxious to be waiting around for her. ;-) We finished painting the nursery, but still need to set up her crib and changing table. Luis & I will be shopping for an area rug for the nursery this afternoon. We need to figure out how to install her car seat and eventually I will pack a little bag for the hospital.  Feeling pretty relaxed about it though and not really expecting her to come early....

I had a great quiet time with the Lord this morning. My heart was encouraged reflecting on Matt. 6-7, Zeph. 3:16-17 and Ex. 14:13-14. I am excited for Him to glorify Himself through my birth story. Whatever the outcome (natural birth, induction, C-section, complications, etc.), He is in control and I need not fear. 

He did an amazing work in bringing my Aunt Gretchen to replace me as my dad's medical assistant. She is an OB nurse and turns out she would be retiring from the hospital on Jan. 31st, the same day I had chosen to cut back to part time! That was certainly no coincidence. She heard my dad needed someone and expressed interest and she's been going with him now for the past month! My dad & I never imagined God could be so creative in bringing his own little sister to replace me. :-) I have been so encouraged by how God worked that out! 

So....as I quiet my heart in rest and seeking the Lord before I face labor/delivery, I am excited to see how He will work on my behalf. He is so good! 

I am also excitedly waiting for news from my oldest sister, Natalie. She is at the hospital right now, laboring to bring in my 4th precious niece to this world. I can't wait to meet her! She & Ellie will be so close in age and I'm sure they will be special friends. 

Nearing 30 weeks! Pregnancy ramblings & reflections.....

In just 2 more days, I will have reached 30 weeks! I'm amazed at how fast this pregnancy has flown by! I'm also so very thankful for such a great pregnancy. I have truly enjoyed being pregnant. In general, I have felt really good, energetic and emotionally so happy. I've also enjoyed watching my belly grow and feeling Ellie Sofia move all around. I had a doctor's appointment last week with a 3-D ultrasound. Our Ellie is 3 lbs already! And her little face is absolutely beautiful! Luis & I were both soooo thrilled to see resemblances of our family in her. Three different people told me that she resembled my dad. I could also see a lot of Cate in her! And there is no doubting the Nunez nose, which I am soooo in love with already! lol. We are SO IN LOVE with our little girl and can't wait to hold her, squish her and give her lots of loving! 

On January 31st, I am planning to start working part time - probably 2-3 days a week before stopping completely. I have felt great working for the most part, but I feel it's important to spend some time in reflection and preparation before Ellie arrives. I have quite a few books I want to read, plus I just want some time to draw close to the Lord and allow Him to prune me and prepare me before Ellie comes. I also want to start meeting regularly to pray with my friend, Jessica. She and her husband, Luis, have been mentoring Luis & I through a marriage course the past few months. They've really poured into our marriage and have blessed us so richly with baby things and advice during pregnancy and in preparation for labor, delivery and parenting. It's great cause they live one street over from us! They have 2 little boys, Sebastian & Emilio, and we have benefited so much from watching them parent. 

I have realized that I tend to be a post-griever. Looking back, I haven't felt sad to move away from friends or change environments, before the event. But usually months after the move or change, I've gone through periods of great sadness, grieving what I left behind. I feel the same will be true for leaving my job with my dad. The past 2 years have been wonderful - I have learned SO MUCH in working with him and would say it is definitely my dream job. But at the same time I have a strong conviction to be a stay at home mom, like our mom was for us, and like my sisters are for their kids. It is something that this culture is truly lacking, and needs more of. I can't even fathom leaving Ellie with someone else so I can go to work. I am thrilled about being a stay at home mom and beginning to truly invest more in the art of home-making and parenting. I do not feel like it will be a sacrifice or a chore. And up to this point I haven't felt at all sad about quitting my job. At the same time I know that months after Ellie is born, I will grieve the closing of the amazing 2 years with my dad. I am so thankful for him and all he's taught me. I love how we work together and I LOVE helping him. I will miss him - I will miss making his lunch every day and prepping his charts and driving for him. I will miss handling his schedule and doing his EMR charting, and sending orders and medications for him. I will miss the amazing experiences we have together with our patients, and all the wonderful people we come in contact with every day. I might even miss holding the light for him, as he cleaned out people's ear wax. (That was my least favorite thing to do!) 

I am praying that God will bring him a wonderful replacement for me. I just can't imagine him going back to his life before having a medical assistant! He was doing SO MUCH more, working LONG hours, then coming home to MORE WORK. Having someone to drive him and help with EMR charting has definitely made things more efficient for him. 

I do plan to try working again part time after Ellie is older. But I am only going to TRY it - and I'll be doing office work, probably from home with much flexibility to tend to her needs. If it doesn't work out for both of us, then I won't continue. I am thankful that I can have such flexibility with a job. I am also thankful for Luis' job and his ability to support us, not really needing 2 incomes. The Lord has been good to us, and I trust in Him to lead us and provide for our every need. 

Well, enjoy my pregnancy ramblings and reflections and the baby bump pics!