Proverbs 3:5-6; Jeremiah 29:11; 1 Peter 5:7

Well..... 2009 has arrived and Bryan and I were hoping for a less dramatic year.... however, it has not started off that way at all...... First the good news and then we will get to the "drama" and discuss the promises of hope and peace that come from the verses above.

The good news......

I am officially twelve weeks pregnant and was able to hear the baby's heart beat for the first time. I had a second ultrasound and the baby is growing and the heart beat being heard indicates my chances of miscarrying this baby are greatly reduced. I will remain on prometrium for the next two weeks-- until I finish week fourteen just to be on the safe side, but all looks well with this regard. The heart beat measured 174bpm during the ultrasound and when I got to hear it in the doctors office it was right at 170! Bryan and I were both thrilled.

Secondly......

My best friend whom I have never met in person but have been writing for sixteen years (since I was in Junior High) is coming to visit me. We started writing letters to each other while she was in a refugee camp in Malaysia-- having fled from Vietnam. She has been in the US for the last six years, but we have never been able to see each other and she flies in this Saturday. I am very excited about this and how God will work in both of our lives. Her name is Dao (pronounced Dow) and it is truly an answer to prayer that she is in the US and that we will finally get to meet. I am praying that if she has not accepted Christ as her savior she will do it while she is here to visit.

Now the "drama"......

Today when I got to hear the baby's heart beat for the first time and had my second ultrasound just to confirm all is well.... I found out I have a couple of complications with the pregnancy..... both may not turn out to be anything, but we have to be careful and keep a watch out......

First I have moderate placenta previa which means that my placenta is covering my cervix.... We are hoping it moves up as the baby grows and the uterus grows-- otherwise I may have a long last few months of pregnancy and a complicated delivery. Time will tell and it is in God's hands.

Secondly, the nuchol fold of the baby appears to be thickened. Thus, there is a possibility that the baby will have Down Syndrome. Needless to say this does not mean that Bryan and I love the baby any less, and we are not grateful for the precious life that is growing in me. This baby will be loved and adored no matter what happens.... it just took us by surprise. I am following my doctor's recommendation to meet with a Maternal Genetic specialist next Wednesday to learn more about this whole situation. Again, this changes nothing and I am excited about the baby.... So for now, we are going to research and educate ourselves with this possibility and trust in God and His sovereign plan for our lives and the life of our baby. We will love this baby and cherish this baby no matter what.

Now for the Bible verses......

Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust the Lord with your all your heart, lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight."

Needless to say we don't understand why we lost the first baby and why this pregnancy is as complicated as it appears to be at this point.... However, we know that God is in control and He has a perfect plan and He will carry out His plan.... He is simply calling us to trust and that is what we must do.

Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future."

God has a plan not only for our lives but for the life of our baby. He is the author and creator of life and He alone knows what is in store at this point. We know he has a plan for this baby which includes a hope and a future and for that we are very thankful. He is the one who is knitting this baby together in my womb. He has given us a very special blessing in this baby and we are forever grateful even now that God is going to use this pregnancy and this baby to bring glory to Himself and draw others to Him.

1Peter 5:7 "Cast all your cares upon Him, for He cares for you."

I wish I could say that I had reacted without tears and fear when I first heard the possibility that this baby might have Down Syndrome.... however, I would be lying. I am scared for the baby and afraid of the unknown. However, God already knows the outcome and He is going to take care of all of this. Will it be easy for me to not worry and think about this? No. But I have to give it over to God and trust that He will work all things out and that He truly does love me, Bryan, and our precious baby. Thus I am going to try to make this my theme verse every time I start to worry or read something that concerns me as I research this situation, I am going to read this verse and pray and give the situation over to God and trust Him to take care of it and of my precious little baby.

For now, I have another ultrasound on February 9 with my regular OBGYN to evaluate what is going on with the previa, and I will wait on my appointment on January 21st to see about the Down Syndrome. Until then, I must wait upon the Lord and know that He is in control.

We covet your prayers for peace and understanding through all of this and for protection for our precious little baby that we love. We pray that with or without Down Syndrome our baby will be born happy and healthy at the end of July.

Niki and Bryan