Just One

I am so thankful for a few blogs that are encouraging to me.  This is one, please hop on over and read this beautiful yet convicting post on listening to God.

Homebirth vs. the OB

So yesterday we had a wonderful appointment to check on mine and baby's health.  In case you didn't already know, we are planning our very first homebirth.  It will be attended by a very experienced midwife and we will have an emergency plan.  It's been eye opening the things that people are concerned about.  I have to just laugh most of the time and try my best to explain.  We are not being reckless, my midwife is certified with the state and would not want me to birth at home if there were any circumstances that were not normal and healthy.  She carries oxygen and blot clotting meds for emergencies and we know from Little Sis's birth that my body knows how and can do this naturally ;)  (we'll see if it all comes back after 6 years! AHH!)

So, for the state requirements, I needed to go have a check at 35 weeks, have some blood work done and get a good bill of health for mom and baby.  What I didn't need was the guilt trip that I got from the OB. Should have known it was coming....since at the beginning of my pregnancy, she made it clear that she didn't recommend a homebirth and my midwife has told me that my area is very anti-homebirth.

So, my OB tried her hardest, with her concerned look of disapprovement as she shook her head and said that she "hoped" that nothing went wrong.  Well, thanks for your vote of confidence.......

but she couldn't disappoint me too much.  I was on cloud nine for a couple reasons.  We had an ultrasound....totally cool this late in the pregnancy.   I don't think I've ever had one this late and it was awesome to see little baby's face.  We could really make out her features such as her lips and chin and cheeks.  (She's a cutie!)  And the tech told us that she has a head full of hair...like lots of hair!  Fun!  Some of the best news that we got was that the placenta was well away from the cervix which had been a small concern since a couple weeks ago I was told that it was pretty low.

So, despite my OB's well placed concerns we are headed for D-Day at home.  We are treating this like the natural thing that it is, but fully aware that it may turn into a "medical" thing. That's fine, we have a plan and I am resting in God.  And when baby and I are done with the big event, I will crawl into my own bed with her and have a nice relaxing nap, I won't have to listen to hospital sounds, she won't be wisked away for testing or a bath, it can all be done right there.

Let's get this party started, mom is ready!

A Quiver Full

The average family size in the US is down to 3.19.  Wow, that's a little crazy to me.  We have a family of 4 that will change in the next 2 months to 5 and again change to a family of 6 when we finally have Caleb.  We will almost double the family average in about 1-2 years. 

The sad thing is, people seem to not agree with this.  They seem to think that we might struggle financially the more children we have.  I disagree.  First of all, I know that God promises that He will take care of the needs.  

"That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? ²⁶ Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are?  Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?

  “And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing,  yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are.  And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?

  “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’  These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs.

Matt. 6:25-32

I know that we will have to be wise about our money, I know that we will not have all the extravagant things that people think they need to have.  But I also know that we do not need very much.  Really...if you took an inventory of everything in your house and everything had to have a label of either need or want.....I really believe the need pile would be pretty small.....if we were honest with ourselves.

Psalm 127:3-5

Behold, children are a gift of the LORD,

The fruit of the womb is a reward. 

Like arrows in the hand of a warrior,

So are the children of one's youth. 

How blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them;

They will not be ashamed

When they speak with their enemies in the gate.

But more than the needs aspect of having a bigger family, I am so comforted by  Psalm 127.  We are told that children are a blessing from God....why wouldn't I want to have many blessings?

Children are compared to arrows of a warrior....would a warrior go into battle with 1 or 2 arrows?  Really and truly, I know that God will take care of our needs, I know that God will bless us and the children that we have.

It's sad though, knowing that most likely, from here on out....we might not get the big excitement from others when we announce another one on the way, or the decision to adopt another might be met with skepticism rather than joy.  Maybe even from family members....

That's okay.

We are going to adopt sweet Caleb after we have this little one God has blessed us with.

We just might get pregnant...again....someday

We probably will adopt ....again....someday

If the Lord sees fit to bless us more.