Thankful

I just have to tell you all how INCREDIBLY WONDERFUL my husband is!! I've been on bed rest for almost 2 weeks. When I first got put on bed rest, he was battling a nasty cold but it so didn't slow him down. He immediately took over running things around here!! And since that time, he hasn't stopped!! Including the few days he came down with the stomach yuckies that Zeke and I had!! He has cooked for us. Cleaned up our messes. Changed more diapers than I think he's changed in Zeke's entire 2 years of life (maybe an exaggeration but I think I've changed like maybe 1 diaper the past 2 weeks!!). Made sure Zeke was fed, dressed, bathed, teeth brushed, and entertained. He has done it all. All the while telling me, go sit down if I tried to get up or do something I shouldn't!! He's done it all without complaining and has been a real trooper!! I am so blessed and thankful that God picked me to be Arnett's wife!!! I am a lucky, lucky girl!!! Thank you so much honey!!Bed rest or not, I so couldn't do this without you!! So looking forward to spending the rest of my life by your side!!

Our newest little one (sorry we haven't come with with a nickname for this one yet!!) seems to be doing okay. I hit 14 weeks today, so I'm officially in my 2nd trimester!! WOO HOO!! Grow baby grow!! In my last post I mentioned I had started bleeding again, well that bleeding hasn't stopped. It's not like that first big bleed, just some spotting. We called my doctor this week and she said that was normal. We have an appointment with her on Tuesday. We're praying the 2 spots of blood are gone and we can resume normal activities around here!! If it's not, we're praying that God would give us wisdom about what we should do next. Our term is ending soon and there's no sense spending the majority of our remaining time stuck at home on bed rest. Even though, I'm the one on bed rest, Arnett isn't able to get anything done except taking care of Zeke and I. Please pray that God would give us discernment in the days to come!!

One thing that I can do while sitting...fold diapers!! At least I'm doing what I'm supposed to be doing...sitting!!

Zeke hasn't done any more baking!! He's getting so big. Talking more and more, in both English and Bambara! He's also a true Southern boy as he's now addicted to sweet tea!! When he and I came back I brought back some decaffeinated tea bags (you can't get those here), so we've had sweet tea a lot lately. Well, besides milk, it's now his drink of choice!!! He's so cute saying, "Tea! Tea! Tea!" Good thing it's decaf!!!  He's in love with animals too!! Maybe he'll be a vet one day! So, I have to tell you a Zeke story that just happened:

At least once a week Zeke goes with our house helper to the boutique right down from our house. Now, don't think like "chic clothing boutique." This is like an African convenience store but more like a shack. The boutiques here come in all shapes and sizes, some small and some large. They sell can foods, dish washing soap, batteries, candy, eggs, bread, and a plethora of other goods. Well, today, Zeke saw some money laying on our table. He climbed on the chair, took the money, and then went and grabbed our house helper by the hand. Then he headed to the door, saying "I wanna Taa, tik. I wanna Taa, tik." "Taa" means "go" in Bambara. Once they got outside he told our house helper to put her shoes on and took her to the door of our courtyard, all the while saying, "I wanna Taa, tik!" I just sat here and laughed!! I have no clue what he was going to buy but he was on a mission!! He wanted to go to the boutique!! Poor little guy didn't understand that he couldn't go because right now the boutiques around here are closed because they are all at the mosque (Friday, is the day they all go to the mosque).

Zeke and his Daddy eating Rice and Peanut Butter Sauce, African style!!

Until next time...

Our little baker

This morning Arnett and Zeke were playing outside and doing some laundry. Well Arnett came in to check on me back in the bedroom and Zeke stayed outside. Which is a common occurrence around here. Well, after about 5 minutes or so, he went to check on him. Well, Zeke was no longer outside, this is what Arnett found...

 

Eggs and Chocolate Coffee Creamer. Guess he was wanting to bake us a cake!!

Who needs a mixer when you have your hands!

So proud of himself!!

Notice the cracked eggs in the egg carton.

Never a dull moment around here!!!

On the bed rest front we're doing well. Just doing lots and lots of hanging out, watching movies, and resting!! My bleeding did start back up again last night but not bad. I've done some research and that is pretty normal. We're going to be sure to take it extra easy the next few days, pray the bleeding stops, and pray that all is well with our little one!

Until next time...

Being honest... I'm having a selfish day...

First, I Praise God that the spotting has stopped!! WOO HOO!! Also, some friends of ours that live out of town bought a recliner from a couple that's retiring. They needed a place to store the recliner while they go to meetings in another country next week. So, we are "recliner sitting" for the next week or so!! What a huge blessing!! No more uncomfy couch to sit on!! Arnett's cold is getting better!! Our supervisor and dear friend, Shirley, has decided to miss out on the meetings and relaxation next week to stay with us! It's nice to know we'll have help if the need arises!! So you see, Praises are abounding all over the place!!

So, why oh why do I feel the way I do? I'm just going to be honest about how I'm feeling today. I know I'm being selfish but it's just where I'm at right now. I'm on day 6 of bed rest and already, I'm starting to go a little stir crazy! I don't know if it's because I feel great, the spotting has stopped, and it's really, really hard for me not to be on my feet doing things around the house. Maybe it's because I feel like I'm supposed to be packing today and wondering why I can't be since the spotting has stopped. We're supposed to begin our 2 weeks of vacation tomorrow and now we aren't able to go! Please, please don't think that I am not so grateful that I am not packing, mourning the loss of our baby because I am so grateful that that is not the case!! I would much rather be sitting here in this comfy recliner incubating our little one than spending 2 weeks on the beach crying my eyeballs out!! It's just right now, I really wish I could have both!! You know the beach and a healthy baby!! I know that in 6 months when I hold this precious little on in my arms for the first time, I won't even be thinking, "oh I missed the beach." It will probably be like, "missing the trip of a life time would have been worth it to hold you in my arms!!" It's just I want that instant gratification. You know, I want that feeling now, not in 6 months. I guess that's the way life is though, always wanting more and wanting it now, not later!!

Oh Lord, please forgive me of my selfishness, my lack of contentment, and my lack of patience. I Praise You for this life growing inside of me. I Praise You that the problem was found last Saturday and not this Saturday, when we would have been miles from home and miles from a doctor. I Praise You that You are in control! I Praise You that You are constantly molding and shaping me to be more like You. I Thank You for Your love, Your grace, and Your mercy which are endless and limitless!!! I am truly not worthy to be called Your's.

Until next time...

Bed Rest Day 4 update...

Right now, my heart is over flowing with gratitude!! Here's why:

Sunday: My good friend Krista turned 30!! Last month, she and the girls next door threw me a surprise birthday party at the request of my incredibly, wonderful husband. Well, her husband contacted me and asked me to do the same, which I happily accepted!! So, the party was Sunday night at LaVerne and Shirley's house (our teammates, who have a bigger house). So, Sunday I was supposed to get up and make 3 pans of lasagna, cook some garlic bread, and frost a cake (thankfully, I baked the cake Saturday afternoon!). Well, of course I spent Sunday in the hospital, so my incredibly, wonderful husband cooked 3 pots of lasagna sauce... all from scratch!!! Ragu is not available here!! Then, he and Michelle (one of the girls next door) put them together. Michelle then took them to LaVerne and Shirley's, stopped and picked up 3 loaves of french bread, and cooked the lasagna and the bread for me!! Shirley had taken the cake and frosting home when she dropped me off from the doctor's and frosted it when she got home!! Praise God for my wonderful husband and wonderful friends!

Monday: Monday was somewhat of a down day, as in we didn't have much going on. Which was a good thing because I felt awful!! I caught Zeke's stomach bug Sunday night and felt bad all day Monday! Anyways, we had a going away party to go to for one of the guys who's term was ending. Arnett and Zeke went without me. My friend Heather, who lives about 3 hours away, was supposed to come in Tuesday but when she found out what was going on on Sunday, she called and told me, "I'm coming in on Monday to help you out!!" She came and totally saved me for Tuesday!!

Tuesday: My same friend Krista, is pregnant with their first baby boy but their 4th child!! I was throwing her a baby shower on Tuesday afternoon at our house!! Well, the baby shower would not have gotten thrown if it weren't for my dear friend Heather who came in and well, threw the shower for me!! I just sat on the couch and delegated!! Once again, Praise God for wonderful friends!!

Today: One of the ladies here was given a ton of Mary Kay products to pamper all of the ladies here with, so we are having a Mary Kay party today. I'm going to go but when I get there I'm going to plant myself in her recliner!! Tonight, we are having a retirement party for a couple that's leaving the field after 20+ years of service (can I get a WOW!!)! Sadly, Arnett and I feel it would be best if I sat that one out, so I'll be chillin' at the house tonight! I was supposed to help Krista bake the cake but she's flying solo on that one today. A job, she graciously agreed to do on her own. One plus, we were going to do a cake and cupcakes but after all the parties we've had this week, we decided people are kinda "caked out" so 1 cake would do the job! Praise God for the little blessings!!

So, I am just Praising God for all the "family" He's put into our lives!! We have received so much support over the past few days my heart is just swelling with gratitude. Arnett, is thankfully starting to feel better, another "Thank you Lord!" Praise God for quick healing, as my stomach bug only lasted about 24 hours!!

So, to update you all on the baby. Well, little one and I have been hanging out in the bed or on the couch since Sunday!!  The hardest two things so far about bed rest: 1) Not being able to pick Zeke up when he needs me. 2) Besides, Monday, I feel fine, so it's really, really hard to not get up and do stuff. Especially, when I see things that I think need doing!!! Thankfully, I've had a lot of great people here who've made sure I'm not doing too much and taking it easy!! Another Praise I have to tell you about is this:

We've met a lot of incredible people since we got to Mali. We have churches from all over America who send teams over from time to time. Recently, one of those teams was a medical team. One of the ladies on the team was a midwife. I had become friends with her via facebook. Well, Monday afternoon her name popped up onto my "wall". I was like, "Oh I can e-mail her and ask her what she thinks" Which I promptly did. I did tell her that I totally understood if she didn't feel comfortable giving me her opinion from across the pond. Thankfully, she didn't mind at all!! This is what she told me: It sounds like what your doctor is saying you have is called a subchorionic hemorrhage. . What typically happens is the spotting will finally clear up as your body reabsorbs the pooled blood. I was so thankful that God brought her to my mind and she was able to somewhat give me a name to what's going on!! Also, I was very thankful to hear what "typically" happens. I know that anything can happen and God is ultimately in control!!

So, there you have it. Thank you for remembering us in your prayers. God is definitely answering them in a big way!! Praise and Glory belong to Him alone!!! Until next time...

A miracle...

First, I must tell you that this blog may get a bit detailed and graphic, so if you don't deal well with that sort of stuff, please STOP reading!!

Second, as somewhat of a side note, I must tell you how our night started. Arnett has come down with a nasty cold. He despises Benadryl and any nighttime cold/flu medicine. They just knock him out for at least a day if not longer. Well, after much pleading on my part he finally agreed last night to take a Benadryl. He took one. After an hour it still wasn't working so he took one more. Of course, we picked the wrong night for him to take a Benadryl, only we didn't know that yet.

At about 2:30am I woke up. I immediately knew something wasn't right, as I felt like I had peed in my pants. Something in my gut told me I was bleeding. Sure enough, I was right. I was devastated. I just knew that I was having a miscarriage. I laid back down and went back to sleep about 4:00am. When Zeke woke up at 8:00am I was still bleeding but not as bad. I knew Arnett would be out of it still so I decided to let him sleep. I decided that there was no need to go to the doctor, I just needed to stay home and let nature take it's course. After being up for a few hours the bleeding got heavier. Finally, I decided for my peace of mind I best get to the doctor. I woke Arnett up, well actually, Zeke woke Arnett up. I told him I was going to go to the doctor. He said okay. I called our supervisor, Shirley, and she immediately came and off we went. Hospitals here are a little different than hospitals in the states. In the states there's always a doctor at the hospital. Not really the case here. On Sunday, they have only one intern or physician's assistant at the hospital. Now mind you this is a private hospital so only those who can afford that level of care go there, so it's not in extremely high demand. I was checked out by the intern guy and he called my doctor. She told him she was coming in. She got there and we headed to the ultrasound room. Now, I just knew when she started the ultrasound we weren't going to find a heartbeat and we'd start down the D&C road again. However, God, He's in the miracle business!! Once she got started she quickly said, "Basi foyi te i den la" English translation, "There is nothing wrong with your baby!!" I was like, "WHAT?" She said again, "The baby is fine!" Of course, my mind is going "HOW??" She then proceeded to do an extremely thorough ultrasound, taking lots of measurements, etc.. The baby was moving around and kicking and squirming. His/Her heartbeat was still at 160BPM. PRAISE THE LORD!!! However, the question, why the bleeding. The doctor found 2 pockets of blood sitting on top of my placenta. My question, "Why or How?" Well, as it turns out, I have done too much heavy lifting the past few days. No, I haven't been moving boxes or anything like that. I've simply been taking care of my sick little boy (he had a tummy virus on Friday) while my husband is sick as well!! So, for the next 15 days I'm on bed rest with strict "no picking up Zeke order". At the end of the 15 days I have another appointment with the doctor to check and see how everything is going. We were supposed to be going out of country this next weekend for a meeting and a week of vacation but that has now been canceled. Anything for our little one!!

Praises:

1. The baby is okay!!! THANK YOU FATHER!!! I just can't say that enough!!!
2. The doctor came in on a Sunday to see us. Makes me feel better about my doctor and the care here!!
3. We were able to find a pharmacy open on a Sunday to get the medicine that she prescribed. Most of the pharmacies here close on Sunday.
4. Our baby is okay!! Like I said, I just can't say that enough!!

Prayer Requests:

1. Arnett's health and strength. Please ask for complete, rapid healing!! Ask the Father to give him the strength to do it all the next 15 days.
2. Mine and the baby's health. Ask the Father to remove the pockets of blood and keep our little one growing.
3. My sanity over the next 15 days. It's not a long time but I'm a get up and do things kinda girl, so that's going to be extremely hard on me!! Ask the Father to constantly remind me to take it easy.

Thank you for praying for us. God is Faithful and He is ultimately in control!! Just something to leave you with. The verse from my quiet time last night:

Psalms 54:4: God is my helper;  the Lord is the sustainer of my life. Thank you Lord for being my helper and the sustainer of my life!!

Until next time...

Doctor Appointment Update...

So, we had an appointment today to check in on our newest little one. I left the appointment disappointed and frustrated. We got there and saw the doctor. She handed me a set of my lab work that was sent directly to her (they do that with one of the tests here). Then we walked to the ultrasound room. She did the ultrasound and took lots of measurements, pictures, etc... Then, she left for me to get dressed and we walked out. She then handed me my ultrasound report and said, "See you in a month!" WHAT?? No, everything's fine, let me see the rest of your lab work (the lab had given me some of the results), nothing!! I said, "I have the rest of my lab results with me." She said, "Oh, come on." We went back to her office and she briefly looked at them and said, "Everything's fine, see you in a month!" While sitting in her office I briefly looked at the ultrasound report and could tell (it's written in French, a language I don't speak!) everything was fine. I was just hoping for a little bit more than, "See you in a month!" I am happy to report that our newest little one was moving around and kicking up a storm. His or her heart rate was 160 BPM. So I am Praising the Lord that everything appears to be going well!!

I know that my hopes for this appointment were really high. I suspect they were abnormally high due to the fact we lost our last little one. I was hoping to walk away with 100% peace of mind that everything was okay and I walked away with about 10%! The Lord is reminding me that true peace comes from Him and Him alone!! Also, any child He gives is truly His and not mine. They are just entrusted to me to look after and care for. Thankfully, God is in control and His plan is far better than our own!!

Here's a picture we got of our little one today:

Thank you Lord that all is well with our little one!! Until next time...

We're back...

Well, Zeke and I are back in Mali. We got back last Wednesday night. It's been good to be back. We both sure missed Arnett and he missed us as well. Our return flights went even better than the trip to America. Well, except the first one. Our first leg from Jacksonville to Atlanta was a nightmare. Zeke was bouncing off the walls.Once we landed in Atlanta, I thought to myself, "If he keeps this up, I'm not going to make it one piece!" My Dad was able to fly with us on that first leg so at least I knew the person sitting next to us!! However, on the next two flights Zeke did AMAZING! He slept over half of both flights! I had to wake him up once we landed in Paris and again when we landed in Mali! Another blessing, was for some reason we got upgraded to first class on the last leg of our journey. Talk about nice!! Thank you to all those who were praying for us as we made the long journey back! God heard and answered your prayers mightily. Praise Him!!

One downside to coming back is jet lag! Man oh man is it kicking my butt. I'm sure being almost 12 weeks pregnant isn't helping any either! So, we've spent the past few days catching up on sleep and just taking it easy. One exciting thing happening this week is we go to the doctor tomorrow and are scheduled to have our first ultrasound. I can't wait!!! Praise the Lord, everything seems to be going really well with this pregnancy!! Like my pregnancy with Zeke, I haven't had any morning sickness...Praise God!!!

Here are a few of our last pics in America:

 

Zeke and his Aunt Autumn

Zeke, Papa,and Mimi. Riding the big horse!! He LOVED it!!

My little cowboy!!

Being silly!!

Telling Aunt Julie something!!

Me and Papa

Daddy, Zeke, Mama, Papa, and Me.

Zeke and Nana getting in one last swim before we left.

Zeke playing with Papa's boots.

We ask that you please pray for us as we adjust back to life in Mali. Two weeks away doesn't seem that long but to me it does! Pray for our remaining time here. That we'll finish strong and well!! Thank you for joining us on this mission! Until next time...

Enjoying our visit...

Zeke and I are thoroughly enjoying are time here in America. I'm dreading having to say goodbye come Monday/Tuesday. Prayers are appreciated for that time!! Zeke and I spent last Saturday hanging out with my parents and sister. Saturday night we went and spent two nights with Arnett's parents. Monday, we headed to my papa's and spent 3 nights over there. We are so blessed that God has given us this time and it will be treasured for years to come. Now, for the pictures...

Zeke chillin' in the pool.

Zeke and Papa

Zeke and Nana

Zeke with Mimi getting to meet the horse for the first time.

Zeke and Papa with the horse

Zeke checking out Papa's newest toy.

Zeke riding a pony for the first time. He was a natural and LOVED it!!

Telling Mama "Bye!"

Getting kisses from Papa Jim.

Hanging out with Papa Jim

Riding the lawn mower with Papa Hubert.

 

Zeke and Mema

Zeke and Papa Jim hanging out again!

Until next time...