So the countdown begins.
55 days..... 55 days!!!! 55 days?????
does the punctuation at the end of each of those little sentences describe how I am feeling about that number?
I am can't stop thinking about it and I am very excited... and I am freaking out a little bit!
Here is the latest on the medical front.
I have a scheduled c-section for November 18th.
I am freaking out about that word too... C-section.
I don't like the sound of a c-section. I usually turn the channel when they are showing them on "A Baby Story" Or "Maternity Ward" or on "Nightmare Delivery" or whatever baby show I am watching.
I know that other people have had these c-sections and they survive on a fairly regular basis,(Aimee.... I am happy you are still here.) but I have never had a surgery before besides my wisdom teeth and let's face it... that's just NOT the same.
Plus I keep having dreams that the c-section is horrific. That one of the doctors in the practice I go to keeps telling me (in the dream) how the c-section is going to hurt REALLY REALLY REALLY bad. I found out today that will be the doctor performing the c-section!
I am sure I will be over all of this on November 19th (if I survive that is :) )
but never-the-less... please pray for me and my crazy brains!
We have another Ultrasound next week too so we will keep you updated. Hopefully we will get a good picture of our little girl that we can proudly show to you all!
Also, I found another family that has a little girl named Ella who is now 31/2 weeks old. She was also born with an omphalocele. You can see here blog by clicking on this link!
Please pray for their little girl and for a speedy recovery so she can get home!
Hope you are all having a blessed day.

PS Here is a funny video my husband showed me. He is so mean to make fun of good clean Christian music... but it is pretty funny!

I can't believe that the 70's were real.

I just started a new Beth Moore bible study, Stepping Up: A Journey through the Psalms of Ascent (which are Psalms 120-134), through our church and it is already amazing.
The memory verse for this bible study is so timely to what Sam & I have been experiencing with this pregnancy and I just wanted to share them with you.

I raise my eyes towards the mountains,
Where will my help come from?
My help comes from the LORD,
The maker of heaven and earth.
He will not allow your foot to slip,
Your Protector will not slumber.
Indeed the Protector of Isreal,
does not slumber or sleep.
The LORD protects you;
The LORD is a shelter right by your side.
The sun will not strike you by day,
or the moon by night.
The LORD will protect you from all harm,
He will protect your life.
The LORD will protect your coming and going,
both now and forever.
Psalms 121:1-8

God is our protector.
God is your protector.
God is Madeline's protector.
I just put Madeline's name in where ever it said you or your and it brought me so much comfort.

I have been spending the last month thinking and thinking about how sad I will be that Madeline won't come home with us right away.
Don't get me wrong, I feel blessed because I know sometimes babies never get to come home,
but still, it breaks my heart to know that I will leave that hospital without our baby girl.
But I also know that even when we aren't there that HE is.
That HE will protect Madeline from all harm,
that HE will protect her life.
That is His word and that is our rock.

Both of these pictures were taken at the same spot at the zoo.... just a year apart!
What a difference a year makes!Ava 2007

Ava 2008

Sam and Auntie Emily ran in the 10K (6.2 mi) at the zoo over the weekend!
We are so proud of them. They both worked really hard and they both had great running times! (Sam: 51:17 & Emily:1:02:12)
Afterward we walked around the zoo & we were able to feed the giraffes finally! (Everytime we go they aren't doing it or they are sold out!
Here are some pictures from our day!

That guy wasn't so sure if he should come get crackers!

Ava & Daddy... Do you like Ava's butterfly?

Ava & daddy feeding Raspberry

Raspberry the Giraffe
Ava & Chardo the Giraffe

We just got back from our latest ultrasound.
Everything went well. There was no change really which is GREAT news :)
Maddie is growing really great. She is currently about 3 1/2 lbs, which is the 75th precentile.
I am not sure what that means for when she is born. I am guessing she is going to be on the big side like Ava was, but we shall see!
The omphalocele looks about the same. It is now 5cm (which just means that it is growing in accordance to Madeline's growth) but it still contains only her bowels.
We were able to see her a little on the 3D US but were weren't able to get a very good picture, because her hands & umbilical cord were in front of her face :(
She was moving all over the place, but she would NOT move her hand.
She is sassy already!
We will have another U/S in 4 weeks.
Thank you again for your prayers and words of encouragement!
Hope everyone is having a great day!

These little girls are so pretty! I just wanted to share a few of the images with you!
Hope Everyone is having a blessed day!