Wonderfully Made

One year ago this past week we found out we were pregnant.  I was so sick, I just knew it was a girl.  I never had sickness with Noah, but this was a different story.  The weeks passed...

July 14, 2010 we had our first ultrasound and found out we were having twins...

I sat in disbelief and doubt as the ultrasound tech showed me the screen and said "Do you see this?" as she traced around two sacks on the screen and had a huge smile on her face.  I knew in my mind what it was, but out of my mouth came "Yes, of course, it is one???".  To which she said "No, it is two, dear".  Jumping up and down and "Yes! Yes! Yes!" came from Josh.  My heart was jumping with excitement and feelings of utter fear and inadequacy.  "How am I ever going to make it through this pregnancy??", I said to myself, tears rolling down my cheeks.   The weeks passed...

I felt a "butterfly" in my right lower pelvis from about 16 weeks.  At our next ultrasound we found out that we were going to be blessed with our second son and our first daughter.   So excited, we had them named in 2 minutes flat.  "Josie" is Josh's grandmother's name.  "Ellen" is my mother's middle name.  "Elijah" a strong Biblical name of no family significance and "Webb" is Josh's mother's middle name.  We were going to be in trouble if we had two boys or two girls because we had no back up names.  Turns out the first "butterfly" I felt was Josie.  The second "butterfly" soon made himself known.  The weeks continued passing so fast and my belly began growing and moving in ways I never imagined. 

Winter came and with it the most snow that Tupelo has seen in years.  After the big snow in early January, all I could do was pray that I didn't go into labor because there was no way to get to the hospital!  Thankfully that week passed without event.

I worked my last day on Tuesday, January 18.  I was looking forward to some rest; however, at 1230am on Thursday, January 20, Josie broke her water.  Phone calls to grandparents at that hour only meant one thing--it was time.  So off to the hospital we went with bed-headed Noah in tow.  The babies were stable on the monitor so I elected to wait a few more hours which would give my parents enough time to drive from Arkansas.  Finally they wheeled me back into the operating room and I received my spinal which worked oh so wonderfully.  At 0608 Josie Ellen arrived at 5 pounds 10 ounces and Elijah Webb soon followed at 0609 weighing 6 pounds 10 ounces.  Oh the joy when I heard their distinct cries for the first time.  

Thank you, God, for your safe provision during what seemed to me an impossible pregnancy.  You displayed your mercy and grace through the birth of these children.  

The weeks passed and were filled with the challenges of learning how to handle two babies at once. 

Now with Josie's diagnosis and the prospect of a frightening surgery, I search for comfort in my Creator:

For you formed my inward parts;

you knitted me together in my mother's womb.

I praise you for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.

Wonderful are your works;

my soul knows it very well.

My frame was not hidden from you,

when I was being made in secret,

intricately woven in the depths of the earth. 

Your eyes saw my unformed substance;

in your book were written, every one of them, 

the days that were formed for me,

when as yet there was none of them.

Psalm 139: 13-16

July 14, 2010 was a day in which God dramatically showed us his mysterious purposes and plan for us as parents.  We had purposed a child.  A single child.  We had not planned for twins.  He powerfully and joyfully, conformed us to His plan as the weeks passed.  

There are no coincidences.  Exactly fifty two weeks will have passed.  

Josie's surgery date: July 14, 2011