Full

Right now, my heart is full to the point of bursting.  I keep thinking about my little girls at home.  Last night, as I was getting them ready for bed, I witnessed the most tender moment between them.  I had them both laying on a blanket, and I was trying to put diapers and lotion and pjs on their squirmy bodies.

Vala had her hands clasped together and in her mouth, as most 3 month olds do.  Abby saw this and grabbed Vala's hands in her own and said, "Dear Jesus, Amen."  Then she folded her own hands together (making sure Vala's were still together), touched her forehead to Vala's forehead, and repeated her little prayer.  She was trying to teach Vala how to pray!

I cried as I watched all of this happening (big surprise), and I sent up my own prayer thanking God for giving me these precious girls and for already pulling Abby close to him.  I pray that she will follow Jesus all of her days and that she will be a good example to her little sister, who already looks up to her so much.

Now we just need to work on what comes between "Dear Jesus" and "Amen."  :) 

Linking up to Five Minute Friday with Gypsy Mama!

The Great Placenta Scare of 2010

My pregnancy with Vala sucked.  There is no other way to put it.  I had SEVERE morning sickness, which I really think was Hyperemesis.  I lost 25 pounds, because I couldn't even keep water down. 

When we went in for the 20 week ultrasound to find out the sex of the baby we heard what no parents want to hear at any ultrasound.  "You need to have a level 2 ultrasound, because there is a heterogenous area on your placenta."  Um, what??  What does that even mean?  The midwife didn't even know, because it is a very uncommon thing.  So I googled.  I know that one should never do that for any medical abnormality, but I did it.  And I wished that I hadn't. 

Basically, a heterogenous area on a placenta is an area that is gel-like and thick.  It doesn't function like the rest of the placenta.  If the area gets bigger or spreads, it can keep a baby from getting the nutrients it needs via the placenta.  I didn't find much when I googled, but what I did find was scary and disheartening.  It many cases the baby didn't get enough nutrients because the placenta wasn't working and they died.  In other cases, they were born extremely early and died of complications from that.  In other cases, the baby and the mom died.  I was terrified.

I had to have an ultrasound every 4 weeks until she was born.  I prayed like I never have before.  Lots of other people prayed too.  Miraculously, the spot never spread or got any bigger.  I think that is a true testament to the power of prayer and the goodness of God!