A New Year and New Beginnings

Peace I leave you; My own peace I now give and bequeath to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

-John 14:27

 

As many of you will probably agree, the holiday season fills you with an array of emotions and mine has been full  of  anticipation, excitement, stress, worry, waiting and filled with many, many questions. That is one of the reasons why I haven't had the chance to post another blog entry. Over the past two weeks we have been anxiously waiting our little baby girl's arrival and are still filled with lots of questions and still, lots of waiting. Every day my phone vibrates with dozens and dozens of text messages and questions from friends and family asking if there is any baby update or any news. We are so thankful for being surrounded by so much love and support but at times it can be overwhelming when we ourselves do not know what is going on or have all the answers.   

I have had two doctor's appointments this past week and we know that as of Thursday, I am 4 cm dilated, 90 effaced, with a bishop score of 7. Although my water has not broken, this past week has been filled with lots of  serious back pain, mild contractions and a few late night phone calls to my Obstetrician. I have been trying everything from warm baths, walking, spicy food, a manicure and pedicure for my pressure points, bouncing on a medicine ball, even working, and nothing seems to work.  We have finally arrived at the answer that she will arrive and make her appearance into the world only when she is good and ready.    

Although I do not have all the answers and the Doctor's do not have all the answers, I know our powerful and almighty God is the only one who knows all the answers. What I do know is that we are exactly 6 days away from our original due date of January 7th.  We have been scheduled for an induction as last resort and the absolute latest date on Wednesday, January 4th. This also happens to be my husband Tim's birthday! Out of all the days that she could arrive, who would have thought that she would be full term, still growing at 39 weeks, and possibly born on the same day as her proud Daddy? Not myself, Tim, our families or any of our Doctor's would have ever predicted this amazing outcome and possibility. She is already defying the odds and surpassing the statistics that were given to us upon her first diagnosis of Trisomy 13 in August.  Even though we are still learning about her diagnosis, she is still teaching us patience and God is still proving to us that he is in control.

As we mark the first day of the New Year, many of you will make New Year's resolutions, and some may be hard to keep. Just before he was to go to the cross, Jesus told the disciples he was leaving them a gift- peace. Although I do not have a resolution for the new year, I do hope and pray for a new year with a new beginning. I pray that God gives us peace whenever obstacles and trials face us throughout the year.  Peace to calm our fears, worries, and anxieties that Tim and I will be great parents and do all things possible with his guidance for our daughter. So I pray in 2017 that God gives you, our loved ones, friends, parents, and fellow Trisomy 13 and 18 parents,  peace throughout the upcoming new year.