C-section scheduled

I found on Friday that my boy is sort of pear shaped....normal sized head, big belly. I think of him affectionately as "Pudgy Pie". Anyway, what that all means is that he likely won't be born the traditional way. The doctor has scheduled a c-section for Joshua's birthmom on Tuesday, August 12th at 1:00. Of course, she may go into labor before that, as he is now full-term (37 weeks) and could come at any time. Even if he came now, they would most likely still do the c-section. I will be able to be there at the hospital, though not in surgery with her. I'm hoping to follow him to the nursery and watch those first few moments, and get lots of pictures. Unfortunately, you won't get to see them until later that evening. Chris plans on coming to the hospital after work that evening to spend a few hours with our baby. Then, assuming all goes well, we will come back later that week to pick him up and bring him home.

If you pray for us, we would appreciate prayers for good sleep and freedom from fear and worry. Those who know me know that my bent is toward worrying. I'm really working hard at not doing it, but it creeps in once in a while. I know that my God is in control and that He plans for my good. Thanks in advance for your prayers.

4D ultrasound pictures

I don't know how familiar you are with the world of ultrasound technology. Generally, ultrasound pictures of babies or anything else for that matter are the pretty grainy looking black and white ones like the one I posted previously. That's what we expected to get at M's ultrasound appt. on Friday (34 weeks 5 days). Well, they were training their techs on a new machine, and so we got 4D pictures. Normally, these specialized ultrasounds are a couple of hundred dollars, but since we had to put up with the training going on, we got free ones. They're quite amazing. I've added some labels to help you see, but it might take staring at it for a while before you can really make out Joshua's face.

In other news, he weighs 6 lbs. 4 oz. and is evidently quite chubby. For this reason, the doctor has decided to schedule a c-section on Monday, August 11. This news was met with mixed reactions. I'm not sure any mom welcomes news of surgery, but it does put a more definite date in the mix (although she could still go into labor before that). I may not be in the room when he's born, as we had planned, since she's only allowed to have one other person.

M is still having difficulty regulating her blood sugars and so they are seeing her twice a week for careful monitoring of her and Joshua. We continue to hope and pray for the best, and for each unknown circumstance to be worked out according to God's perfect plan for Joshua and for us.

Vacation

We had a wonderful relaxing time...here's a recap and a few photos.

Friday, 6/27 : Drove up to Cedarville, Michigan (Upper Peninsula) to Loon's Point Campground. We stopped in Peshtigo, WI on the way up to visit the Peshtigo fire museum. Drove up along the shore of beautiful Lake Michigan.

Saturday, 6/28 : Drove to St. Ignace, MI, and took the ferry across the Straits of Mackinac to Mackinac Island. The ferry stopped out by the Mackinac Bridge, a 5 mile long bridge connecting the Upper Peninsula to Michigan. There are no motorized vehicles on Mackinac Island, so we took a horse and carriage tour of the island, including the butterfly house and old fort. We saw the "Grand Hotel", made famous by the movie "Somewhere in Time", but as it's $15 just to get on to the porch, we opted to eat lunch at the fort instead. Here's us on the carriage.



Sunday, 6/29 : Had breakfast with cousins who live in Cedarville and attended church with them. In the afternoon, we visited a small Maritime museum, and also the Cedarville historical museum. Spent the rest of the day relaxing at the campground.

Monday, 6/30 : Drove up to Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan with cousin Norman Perkins to cross the International Bridge into Canada. In Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, we caught the Agawa Canyon Tour Train. This train took us 114 miles north into Ontario, passing beautiful lakes and scenery. We crossed several train trestles as well. After a 4 hour train ride, the train took us to Agawa Canyon, where we ate lunch and took some beautiful pictures of waterfalls. We then journeyed back to Sault Ste. Marie by train, across the bridge, through Canadian customs, and then home to the campground.

Bridal Veil Falls, Agawa Canyon, Ontario, Canada


Tuesday, 7/1: Relaxed in camp. In the evening, Chris & dad went on a charter fishing trip on Lake Huron. They caught 2 king salmon, and 7 lake trout, each at least 8 pounds, and 22 inches long. (Although the sizes change each time they tell the story, as all fish tales do!) If you're ever in that area, check out www.fishingwithnorm.com

Wednesday, 7/2 : Drove up to Sault Ste. Marie again and took the Soo Locks Tour. This boat tour takes visitors by the International bridge, through one of four American locks connecting Lakes Superior and Huron. The water level changes by 26 feet from one lake to another, so locks were built to enable the huge cargo ships to pass through. We returned via the Canadian locks. We then toured a cargo ship restored to how it might have looked when it was in use during the early 1900s, and also contained an exhibit about the Edmund Fitzgerald.

Thursday, 7/3 : After a relaxing morning, mom and I headed across the Straits of Mackinac into Mackinaw City, Michigan for some shopping and sightseeing. We toured a colonial fort, walked through the many shops, saw a movie, and had pizza and ice cream. Meanwhile, Chris and dad stayed at camp and dined on cereal (poor guys!) and organized a camp volleyball game.

Friday, 7/4 : Attended the 4th of July parade in the morning, grilled out with family, and watched the fireworks from the boat dock at the campground

Saturday, 7/5 : Long drive back to Wisconsin.

Now we are counting down the days (42) and weeks (6) until Joshua arrives.

Thanks for reading!

32 weeks 1 day

Joshua's birthmom had a non-stress test today, which Joshua passed with flying colors!! Everything looks good. I also got to meet the prenatal counselor who's been working with the birthmom through her pregnancy. The next ultrasound appointment will be on July 11. Hopefully, Joshua won't be shy, and we'll get some good pictures.

Chris & I are heading up to the Upper Peninsula with my parents camping later this week through next week. We expect to have a wonderful, relaxing time. I'll post pictures when we get back.

Thanks for your continued prayers and encouragement - we still need them!

30 weeks 5 days

I spent my afternoon with Joshua and his birthmom. We had lunch and shopped a little bit, and then went to the hospital for his ultrasound. He was feeling a bit shy today, and was hiding his face behind his hands, so we didn't get any good face or profile views. We did see (and hear) his heart (141 beats per minute), his spine, his brain, and his femur. The doctor said everything looks great, he's weighing in at 4 lbs. 2 oz. (with 9 weeks to go!!). His tummy is measuring a bit large, so they want birthmom to watch her blood sugar carefully. Otherwise, the appt was uneventful. No pics - but I felt incredibly blessed to be a part of it.

Thoughts

Mom reminded me I haven't posted in a while - so here's an attempt.

I've so many thoughts running through my head lately. The countdown to due date is 67 days. That seems like a long time, but it's really just 2 months. We're mostly ready. I have most of what I need to get us through 2 weeks or so. People have really been amazingly generous. I've received many items (some expensive) for free! I know that is a major blessing from God.

I told a friend yesterday that there's a part of me that's resisting putting the baby's name to things - right now, it's a baby's room, not yet HIS room. I'm making a Christmas stocking, and I won't put his name on it until later - right now, it could be any baby's stocking. A bit of self-preservation, perhaps. I know that my God is faithful and true. He promises to work all things together for good for me. He promises that He plans to give me hope and a future. My life is in His hands, as is the life of our future child. Whether or not this situation works the way I have it planned - He is the author of my life story, and he knows how it ends, and all the chapters in between. I will continue to lean on Him, in times of doubt, anxiety, joy, fear, frustration, uncertainty, overwhelmedness (is that a word?), unrestrained happiness. He's felt all those emotions before, and He certainly understands when I do.

That said - I do believe that Joshua will be coming home with us later this summer. I'm so excited to meet him. Joshua's birthmom invited me to come to her ultrasound appointment with her on Friday. I can't wait!! Hearing his heartbeat and seeing him move will be completely amazing, and definitely unforgettable. I'm praying health and wholeness will be evident on the screen. I've also been invited to be in the delivery room when Joshua is born. Wow. Now I just have to figure out what to do with him when he is home. I've always been able to send babies home before - this one will be with me 24/7.

Does the nesting instinct set in for adoptive moms? I don't know - but it will certainly keep me busy over these next 2 months...doing all the laundry, gathering the last few baby items needed. And just hoping and praying. For all of you who are hoping and praying right along with us, I can't tell you how much it means.

For now - that's all I have. I'll post again after the ultrasound on Friday.

20 week ultrasound picture