Micaiah's Birth Story

When I think of Micaiah's birthday, I will always also be reminded of Hosanna
and this precious gift of life. 

I do not believe in coincidences.

I know that life is full of divine providence.

For me, October 24th just happens to be one of them.

In June of 2008 during the fourth month of my third pregnancy, I was diagnosed with a rare genetic blood disorder called anticardiolipin Igm (click for more info).  Not only had our family experienced the loss of a child (Hosanna at 8 months on Oct  24, 2007) and now we are faced with the uncertainty of future child bearing.  This genetic blood disorder is an autoimmune deficiency that has no cure and does not necessarily show symptoms.  It causes blood clots and elevated levels of antibodies that will fight and destroy healthy tissue.  I was at ease to finally know the reason for the stillbirth of my son and for the blood clot in his brain that had caused his demise.  Yet I was worried about how the current pregnancy was going to go.  Such mixed emotions ran through the course of this third pregnancy.  When my midwife found out the results of the test, I had to find a perintologist.  The first thing I asked was, "what is a perintologist?"  These are specialists who focus on high risk pregnancy.  After enjoying the first pregnancy, I never thought I'd be at a high risk for failure to carry out a pregnancy.   

At KU Med, I was put on a daily injection of blood thinner, baby aspirin, and folic acid.  It was so awkward to give myself shots every morning.  I just kept reminding myself that this is for the health of the baby and myself.  What the doctors kept finding was that the blood pressure going into the womb was very high.  This is where the blood clotting issue was given weekly attention and concern.  I am so thankful for the medical care and attention that helped me get through this pregnancy.  It seems as though this blood disorder may only affect me while I'm pregnant, with the chance of causing miscarriage, premature labor, heart attacks, and other possible complications.  Weekly visits to the doctor were hard on Anna and I, especially as the pregnancy progressed and I was fatigued.  

Every weekly visit consisted of a blood pressure check, weight check, 

growth check, sonogram, and 3-D video scan.

November 24th -- was the due date we were told.  A Thanksgiving baby would be a wonderful thing to be thankful for!  After getting to the 8th month, I found myself becoming more at peace in the expectation of the health and survival of baby boy Rich.

This little boy would show us his fight for life and be a reminder to us of the Lord's redemption at work in our family's lives.  On October 24th (4 weeks early, on the same day one year after we found out the sad news about Hosanna), came the unexpected early arrival of Micaiah.  I woke up that morning with heavy bleeding and headed straight for the ER.  I was sent to the maternity triage.  After a brief exam and an internal sonogram, the doctor told me that everything looked good but that I was in labor.  I didn't know it yet, but the laboring pains were just beginning.  This was scary to me because of the lack of growth that would be missed in the last month.  I was reassured by the doctors when they explained that all the sonograms had showed good development of his lungs, yet I knew he was going to be a small baby.  While laboring in the evening, the doctors became concerned when the baby's heart rate began to fluctuate and decrease, so they prepared me for an emergency c-section.  I really wanted to do a natural birth, so I asked to have the anesthesia given to me at the very last moments.  The doctors agreed to give me an epideral in the operating room.  This would also allow Brian to be present during the delivery.  As I was wheeled in to the operating room, I could see Brian's nervous look in his eyes as he was dressed in sterile surgery garb.  As I sat up on the operating table prepping for the epidural, I sensed a familiar urge to push.  It was time!!!  I was complete and fully dilated.  Since I had not been given the epidural yet, everything was stopped.  As soon as I laid down, I distinctly remember the doctor telling me that I had to wait to push.  I was ready and those were the longest seconds of the day!  At 10:39pm, he came out blue with a cord wrapped around his neck twice and making no sounds.  They unraveled the cord, cut the umbilical cord, and he finally let out a loud cry.  WHEW!!!  

From the very beginning of his life in this world, he has been a fighter.
I was so relieved that I didn't have the epidural because it was so wonderful to be able to walk to the NICU immediately after his birth to visit him in his "little house."  He was incubated for five days and had to do phototherapy in a special light blanket for jaundice.
We brought him home a week later and marveled at how precious the gift of life is.  

October 24th is a day that I will never forget.

From struggles of grief and surrender, to tears of joy and thankfulness.

My hope is in the Lord, and in Him I entrust all the days of my life.
And the lives of my husband and children,
no matter how short or how long their life may be.
He's got the whole world in His hands!

Anna means, "full of grace."

Hosanna means "save, we pray!" (an exclamation of praise)

Micaiah means "who is like the Lord?"

There is one thing that gives me peace and comfort through the turmoil, the struggles, and the great joy that I've experienced in this life...
...it is the unchanging love of Jesus Christ that has and is changing me and how I live my life.
I am so grateful to put my faith and trust in the Lord our God who gives and takes away,
yet my heart will choose to say, "Blessed be the name of the Lord."

Goodbye rash, Hello sleep!

Okay, so...the nurse at Micaiah's pediatrician's office and I were both wrong.

It was not an allergic reaction.

It was not even a virus or viral rash.

This little boy has a double ear infection that caused him to break out in an itchy, bacterial rash from head to toe.  (little sleep for three nights)  Then his eyes started to become infected making them puffy, swollen and itchy.  He is on medication now and beginning to feel better...and sleep better.  Four days of little to no sleep had everyone a bit on the cranky side in our house.

  

And some other good news is that Micaiah is up to 22 pounds!  He gained two pounds in the past two months, which is a great increase for him.  It must be from all the ice cream that Papa is feeding him!!!  :)  Praise the Lord!  And thank you for your thoughts and prayers for him.  It is such a relief to us that his growth and development is slowly, yet continually increasing. 

And some (not-so-much) bad news is that right now

Micaiah's favorite word is------'no!'

Okay thats probably bad news for Brian and I more than anyone,
but sometimes he does say it to answer a question.
I think thats just hopeful thinking that its
not going to be a tough year with training him?!?!?!?!?!!

"Train up a child in the way he should go, and even when he is old he will not depart from it."  (Proverbs 22:6)

Besides getting little sleep, working at the studio, and getting even less sleep...
this weekend was really fun!!!!

I'm looking forward to sharing more about it soon.

Enjoy the rest of your day!

Look what Anna learned this week!

This past week has been lllooooonnnnngggg!!!!

The reason being that Micaiah is sick.  He has a viral rash that is very itchy and it makes him very cranky.  He has had it for 3 very llllooonnnngggg days, so I hope it clears up soon.

 Anna has had quite a week.  She learned to sound out and spell a few words all by herself!!!  She gets so excited when she learns to do things on her own.  She asked me how to spell a word and I simply told her to try to sound out the word and write down the letters.  The next thing I know, she is writing MAMA, PAPA, ANNA, and CAR all by herself!!!  WOW!!!  I was pleasantly surprised and excited for her.  She is well on her way to reading. 

Since the weather has been nice, we've been going to the local parks.  Anna enjoys riding her bike and I found a walking trail that is nearby so Anna can ride and I can walk...until it gets too cold. We've had some nice warm weather, even days that didn't require a jacket or hoodie.

Juggling

I've often viewed life as a juggling act.  You know, putting all the different roles that you are in a day all thrown into a juggling rhythm that you try to keep going, even if you drop one.  Ah, wouldn't it be nice if it was really that easy.  Hmmm....until you actually try to do it!  So how is it possible to be a wife, mother, teacher, photographer, cooker lady, house cleaner, doctor appointment taker, and grocery shopper???!!!   Well, there are no easy answers, but there are solutions to time efficiency!  (thank you Lord!)  I thought I'd share a few time efficiency tips that would bring you encouragement and humor while you juggle through your busy day!

1) Take a deep breath!  The extra oxygen helps to clear your mind and focus.
2) When the kids color with marker on your dining room table, google search for remedies BEFORE the husband comes home.
3) Cook dinner during the day while you have energy so that all you have to do is heat it up later when you're ready to eat.  The kids can help too!
4) Keep a schedule and set time limits...kids and adults thrive better with consistency.
5) Know your responsibilities and manage obligations. (learning to say no is important for this one)
6) Purchase food and cook meals in bulk to save time and money.
7) Spend at least 5 minutes a day either tickling or dancing with your kids. :)
8) Always kiss and hug your husband when he arrives home from work!!!  (one of the best rewards after a day of work.)
9) Take walks around the block as often as you can for as long as you can.  Exercise is good for the body and soul.
10) Take the last half hour of the day to prepare for the next day, if possible.

I hope you have a wonderful weekend!

"A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones."  (Proverbs 17:22)

"Save, we pray!" (Psalm 118:25)

  

"The best and most beautiful things in this world 

cannot be seen or even heard,

but must be felt with the heart."  

(Helen Keller)

Recently, my thoughts and prayers have been for two of my friends who have both experienced a miscarriage of twins.  For these two wonderful ladies and their families, please know that I am thinking and praying specifically for you during this time of grief and surrender.  

Please join me in praying for these two ladies.

As we enter into the month of October, I am reminded of Hosanna, our son who did not survive in October 2007.  Throughout this month, I'll share more about our family's experience and about what the Lord Jesus has done in our hearts and lives through the past 3 years.

The above image is

in memory of Hosanna and the many precious little ones
 that are safe in the arms of Jesus.