BOY OH BOY…4th Doc Appointment

We have thoroughly enjoyed celebrating with everyone that we can expect a precious baby BOY to come this July.  I am personally looking forward to having another Davis boy to love and cherish around the house!
And believe us when we say it was DEFINITELY a BOY.  As the Doc pulled up the sono and moved around to get a good "looksie" before he could say anything I asked "Is that a boy"?  He said yes it is!!!!  Baby Boy was not shy at all, he was proudly showing off.  The Doc even pointed out the umbilical cord so we were positive of what we were seeing. We also got to see all 4 limbs, 10 fingers, 10 toes, the kidneys, the stomach, the liver, the face, the heart and its 4 chambers, etc.  It was so vivid and everything was so obvious to us, so fun to see our baby in such detail.
As for the appointment, we had good news!  I had gained a couple of pounds...YAY.  I'm still not back to my pre-pregnancy weight, but this little weight gain was encouraging to Dr. Harris. The baby was weighing and measuring above average and technically looking like a 19 week old baby boy.  The Doc said this is fantastic development and he is weighing in about 8oz.  The heartbeat was strong, but did skip a beat every now and then.  Harris said this is something he has seen every year or so throughout his practice and with a healthy developing baby he expects it to go away either during pregnancy or right after delivery.  He didn't seem concerned at all, however he did want some blood work done to check into a couple of options.  Those results came in today and everything was normal.  He also said he doesn't want to leave any stone unturned, so he's sending us to a specialist sonographer.  His name is Dr. David Gore and he is a MFM (Maternal- Fetal Medicine) at Presby Plano.
Dr. Harris said he can take a look at the heart just a step further than he can.  Harris sees all 4 chambers of the heart and said everything was functioning normally, but he wants Dr. Gore to look a little deeper.  That appointment has been set for this Friday at 11am.
Despite the heartbeat news, we were not worried or discouraged.  Glad that Dr. Harris wants to check into it and said we'll watch it closely throughout the pregnancy, but we feel no concern and know that the Lord is protecting this baby and is sovereign over the tiniest of details...like 1 child's heartbeat on this earth.
Thanks again to everyone for celebrating with us this weekend, it has been such a joy to think of what this boy means to our family and we continue to be so grateful for this gift God has entrusted to us.

Never thought I’d hear “Gain some weight please”…3rd Doc Appointment

Well we had another Doc appointment this past Thursday, February 2^nd.  Our little sweet-tart is doing so well, heartbeat was strong (and fast), baby seems to be gaining weight, and Doc was pleased.  I on the other hand am continuing to lose weight, which concerned him a bit.  They did test me for dehydration, but said that wasn't popping up in the results.  So he said whatever I'm doing, I'm doing it well and keeping myself hydrated, which is great.

Because of the weight loss, he wants to see us back in just 2 shorts weeks (instead of 4).  He wants to move it up so the sono on February 16th will show him all that he needs to know about the baby just to be sure it is doing just as well as he expects.  The good news is we will find out what gender this sweet-tart actually is and we cannot wait to finally call this child by name, start the nursery plans, and before we know it - hold it in our arms come this July.  A wise friend of ours recently said “nobody looks good in yellow”.  So we are just trying to spare our little sweet-tart this horror and get to buying that blue or pink!

A few prayer requests at this point would be that this nausea continues to subside, that I'm able to eat and drink well, that this baby remains protected each day and that we can stay focused on the Lord - giver of comfort/peace/joy and life!

We love you all and can't wait to share the gender with each of you after February 16th (I have to say, it might arguably be one of the coolest birthday gifts I'll receive).

My Baby’s Lullaby

The other night, James and I had an evening of “realizations”.  We’re seeing my belly begin to grow, realizing we have about 6 months until Baby arrives, and already into my second trimester…wow it’s happening so quickly.  As I laid down, my mind was racing with thoughts of to do’s and projects and plans, I could not turn it all off.  I laid there praying for rest and peace, but did not receive it…or so I thought.  Among those desperate prayers for sleep, my mind began to wonder – towards sweet-tart and imaging rocking it to sleep in my arms so soon.  Immediately the image of Dumbo being rocked by His mother’s trunk popped into my head, as well as the lullaby sung to Him in that moment.  It’s called Baby Mine.  I knew the first verse of it, but couldn’t remember the rest.  In that moment I had another realization…this would be the song I chose to be sweet-tart’s special lullaby.  To sing when baby can’t stop crying, or go to sleep, or feels sad, or just needs to hear momma’s loving voice.   Below I’ve listed out the lyrics and a video of the song. 

Baby mine, don't you cry.
Baby mine, dry your eyes.
Rest your head close to my heart,
Never to part,
Baby of mine.

Little one when you play,
Don't you mind what they say.
Let those eyes sparkle and shine,
Never a tear,
Baby of mine.

If they knew sweet little you,
They'd end up loving you too.
All those same people who scold you
What they'd give just for the right to hold you.

From your head down to your toes,
You're not much, heaven knows.
But you're so precious to me,
Sweet as can be,
Baby of mine.

As I’ve listened to it over and over already being sure I have it fully memorized, it began to remind me of how God feels about us.  What a sweet relationship a child has to its parent, and how honored we are that God calls us His children.  1 John 3:1 “How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!  And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.”  Wow, John puts it beautifully, how great is our Father’s love for us that we get to be His children.  I just imagine Jesus singing this sweet lullaby to me in my moments of sleeplessness, sadness, or pain.  Can you picture Jesus cherishing you in the same way?  What a peaceful reminder of our Father’s care for us, praying we can rest in this truth tonight.

Son…Daughter…Blessing

Today, 1.22.12, I saw a commercial of the moment when a mother says goodbye to her son…possibly because he was leaving for college, but honestly as my thoughts of this tender image consumed my mind, I forgot the rest of the commercial.  Their hug was just precious to me.  He was much taller than her, huge long arms, and a loving smile.  His embrace just engulfed her and her eyes welled up with tears.  I couldn’t help but image myself in that moment someday.  Up to this point, I haven’t really tried to guess what the gender of sweet-tart is, nor have I given it a lot of thought, just praying for its health and safety.  But this illustration of love between a mother and her son got me thinking how special that really is.  James and Connie have a very sweet relationship, full of love, respect, and fun.  Oh how I long for a relationship just like this.  His hugs cover her up, he speaks with kindness in his heart for her, and he has learned so much about his own faith because of her actions.  It is so easy for a “girly girl” like me to want a baby girl.  All for the fun of decorating her nursery, dressing her up, and having an excuse to play dolls again someday.  But now, my excitement to have a sweet little boy is just as much as my excitement to have a sweet little girl.

God has given me a wonderful mother/daughter relationship as well, and to experience that someday with my own little “peanut”, as my mom calls me, would be so exciting.  But truly at this point, I already have the best niece and nephew an aunt could ask for, so whatever gender little sweet-tart is will be such a blessing, and they’ll have a fantastic cousin to show them the ropes.

Progress...2nd Doc Appointment

The latest on sweet-tart from our second doctor appointment on 12.29.11 was all wonderful news!  We heard the heartbeat again; it was so fast and precious.  After the Doc found it he said "wow that was fast, easier to find than usual. This is awesome, it's very strong."  We were both very pleased to hear him say that.  I had lost a little weight, but that was to be expected, but my blood pressure was fantastic.

The Doc was encouraged by my progress, He said I'm very healthy (according to my blood work done last time) and he's expecting a smooth pregnancy and delivery.

He was also so sweet to describe his recommended traveling restrictions and thoughts on genetic testing.  It was so helpful and he related everything back to the Lord and believing in life and keeping our minds free from worry. We both appreciated his take on all this; it's everything we wanted in a doctor who has a relationship with Jesus.  If you’d like a detailed explanation of why we have chosen not to do any genetic testing, please ask, I would love to share with you what we learned from Dr. Harris and why we believe this is the best decision for the Davis family.

Thanks to all of you for checking on us over this last month.  It has been a tough few weeks in our home, but I've been so thankful for how we've dealt with it.  God has given us more strength and patience than I think either of us knew we could give.  Last year as I studied Romans, this time in my life reminded me of Romans 12:3 “For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.” What a humbling passage, that God gives me even my faith, that none of what I am comes from inside, but can only be given by my creator.

Consume me from the inside out Lord

Well as the yucky sickness has continued throughout December and the new year, this has drastically limited my ability to get to Sunday morning worship, sadly.  But in God’s sovereignty, it just might be possible that He was storing up my emotions for the evening of 1/7/12 at Raise the Mark, an evening dedicated to worship and prayer for Watermark’s membership.  This was my first moment of intimate worship while carrying my sweet-tart.  The first song played was “From the Inside Out”.  The chorus of this song repeats “consume me from the inside out Lord”.  These lyrics, along with many other lines in this sweet worship song, were gently overwhelming my heart as I held a child inside of me.  What a new meaning that song holds now as that night I tenderly asked my Lord to consume me, starting with my baby, from the inside out.  This was the first moment I asked the Lord for my child to know Him as its savior someday.  For this child to feel Christ’s love and sacrifice in a special way.

Tears flowed from my eyes as I realized that God was shaping me into a mother from the very beginning of this process, that he would mold me, break me, and love me through it.  This evening I began to feel and experience unconditional love for the child growing inside of me, and realized God would be the only one to draw sweet-tart to Him, all I can do is pray, guide, direct, and live for Christ.  It was a reminder to let go of my desire to control this area of my life and allow Him to consume my child, not me.

Do you feel like there are areas in your life where you struggle with control and giving God the freedom to consume it on your behalf?  Praying Psalm 73:28 today “But as for me, it is good to be near God.  I have made the sovereign Lord my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds.” Sweet Father give us strength to submit to your sovereignty!

Reality sinks in...1st Doc Appointment

From Thanksgiving through the beginning of December was very difficult, I was tremendously sick.  My nausea and fatigue had been very prevalent throughout most of the day, which made it difficult to eat much and even to function well.  But thankfully I have an understanding and flexible job and supportive serving husband...so with all this and by God's grace, I'm making it!  I have my down moments, but I'm learning to train my mind to eat early, quickly, and often.

Today, 12.1.11 we visited our Doctor for the first time.  We are using Dr. Steven Harris with Baylor Frisco and he was fantastic!  We absolutely felt at peace with our decision and know that God placed him in our lives about a month ago just in His perfect timing.  He was so bubbly and excited with us about the baby and the miracle it is to conceive.  You would think by now he would feel a little numb to the whole process, but not Dr. Harris, he was mesmerized by the sonogram just as much as us, explaining every detail and awing at the miracle a baby really is.

We got to see the sweet-tart’s little heartbeat fluttering on the screen, which was amazing - we didn't expect to actually see it that clearly.  Then we heard the heartbeat...which in turn made our hearts melt immediately.  It felt so real and so sweet to think that was growing inside my tummy, what a creative and generous God we love to entrust us with this duty!  Even just the sono today made all this iciness feel a little more worth it.  Seeing the start of our child’s creation couldn’t help but remind me of Psalm 139:14 “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”  To think each of us was created in His image and for His kingdom just warms my heart.  That He chose us from the beginning when we all started out looking like a little sweet-tart.  Aren’t His works truly wonderful?

Dr. Harris said the uterus looked great, no tumors or cysts, the placenta is developing well, and the heartbeat was strong.  With all that, he said I'm already at a 95% chance of not miscarrying, praise the Lord for comforts like that.  I will be 7 weeks tomorrow and my due date is July 20^th, 2012!!!!