A Happy Leap of Faith

Last year as I took Jacob to register for kindergarten, I remember feeling nostalgic and a little sad. My neighbor teasingly said to me, "I guess it's time for a dog or another baby." I never would have guessed that almost exactly one year later, I'd have/be getting both!

We are expecting Baby #4. True story.

We are thrilled to be welcoming a new baby to our home just before Thanksgiving. Rob and I always wanted more children. My last pregnancy took a lot out of us. There were quite a few times I thought that we couldn't do that again. But then there was this tiny little voice in my heart that kept fanning my hope for another baby. After seeing literally over a dozen specialists hoping to end my pelvic pain from my last pregnancy, I finally realized (and had quite a few doctors tell me) that if we wanted another baby, we were just going to have to go into it with faith that I could handle the pain (which means that Rob has to handle everything else -- perhaps a larger load than the pain). That, and the knowledge that we would have lots of help.

After years of prayers, pain, hope, and tears, (all while hoping for a miracle to fix my pain) we finally felt God tell us that the time was right. What is so great about trusting in the Lord's timing? First and foremost, the peace that comes from submitting my will to the Lord. Second of all, things work. They do. For example, all of my children will be in all day school during the final months of my pregnancy. Blessing. About 2 months ago, we decided to bring Erica back (and keep Robby here) from the gifted/talented school to our neighborhood school next year, just one block away. Blessing. We live 3 blocks away from my brother and his wife (not to mention my oldest nieces) who already have been and will be a boon. Blessing. We live less than an hour away from two sets of our parents. Blessing. While we are at it, we even have a basement apartment for "helpers" to come and stay in. :) I turned down some highly involved PTA positions for next year and also handed off the school newsletter. Blessing. I had just lost 13 pounds and was exercising regularly for the first time in many years. Blessing. We got a puppy just two weeks before I found out I was expecting - I believe Zoe will be a blessing to our kids (and maybe even me) when life gets a little more difficult. Blessing - especially because if I knew how the smell of a dog could contribute to morning sickness...  Rob will hear about his third review this month, allowing us to plan for the future. Blessing. I have a PT and a surgeon that think they can help me heal after this little one is born. Blessing. My kids are old enough to understand when mom doesn't feel well and help when help is needed. Blessing.

This has been a spiritual journey for me. One where I've had to learn to trust God and His timing. Sometimes when my pain flares, I get a little nervous. But then that once tiny little voice in my heart whispering of hope swells a lot louder and I am reminded that God knows me. This is His will. How wonderful when God's will aligns with your own.

And who knows? Maybe the pain won't be so bad.

Our kids reactions:
When we told our kids we were having another baby, they were so excited and shocked. Jacob first said, "How do you know?" (as if the past 7 weeks of throwing up wasn't enough!) then he said "I like being the youngest, but I'm really excited to be a big brother. Now I need to practice reading so I can read to the baby." Robby got teary eyed and kept repeating, "I can't get over this. I can't go over this. I couldn't even get over that we got a dog. Now we get a baby?!" Erica exclaimed in joy and then said, "Oh no! I'm old enough to change diapers!"

This baby is already so wanted and loved!!

Now if I could get over my aversion to chocolate and stop craving Chick-fil-A...