Church Sign

My first ever attempt at a creative church sign:

I wasn't trying to make a political point, but a spiritual one.

By Your Side

Two Sundays ago, I sang this song in our Sunday morning worship service. I recorded it at home with our new camera and wanted to share it with you. Listen to the words. Good stuff!

ER Adventures

Well...I didn't make it to the cardiologist yesterday. Here's the story:

Well, THANKFULLY, Marc was driving me to the appointment yesterday morning, and I started feeling very faint. I was very close to passing out for about 5 minutes. It was terrifying to not be able to breathe and just see blackness for that long. I had no clue what was going on and got really worried about the baby. Each little kick during that five minutes was PRICELESS. Needless to say we called the cardiologist and they said take me to the ER, which HAPPENED to be connected to the cardiologist office. So glad we were close!! The nearest hospital is 30 minutes away from where we live. I was okay to walk by the time we got there. I spent three hours there, and they were so nice and thorough. They tested everything related to my heart: blood work, EKG, etc. They monitored the baby too, who was nice and active. =) The ruling was that I was probably dehydrated and they gave me a heart monitor for 24 hours to wear, and I'll go to the cardiologist on Monday. WHEW! I think all of this is mainly my body getting used to having a little parasite in me. =) Lesson learned...drink water!!

I'm glad I just need to wear the monitor for 24 hours...it's a pain in the butt! =) I didn't sleep well last night, but that was partly because BITO was kicking/hitting me in the ribs. It's the most active he/she has ever been...and to think a few days ago I was worried. =) Yesterday was quite humbling, and it is tempting to worry about me fainting when I'm by myself, but GOD IS SOVEREIGN. Please pray for the lady next to me in the ER. She had a brain anurysm (sp?) and was rushed to surgery. Marc and I pretty much heard them giving her the low down about possibly dying. She wasn't even able to say bye to her husband...he had left to go get something at home and wasn't feeling well himself because he had recently had a heart attack. How's THAT for a wakeup call?? Every day carrying this baby and being healthy is a blessing!

Thank God for your blessings today!

Stephanie

25/26 Week Appointment

Welp...here I am at 25/almost 26 weeks. I've grown a lot the last two weeks for sure. Today has been a challenging day, but I am thankful for our baby! I went into this appointment with some concerns about not feeling the baby move as much the last 24 hours and also pretty frequent episodes of what I would call a racing heart beat. I was nervous to say the least.


I LOVE the doc I saw today. I saw him before I got pregnant, and this is the first I had seen him in a while since I have been trying to meet all the doctors at the practice. He is very compassionate and yet tells you like it is. The best part was that I didn't feel like he was in a hurry like most docs are. He said a few times, "Is there anything else I can do for you today?" Anyhoo, the baby is FINE. I am measuring right around 26 weeks and the heart rate is fine. I need to cling to that and not get overly worried about the lack of movement the last day or so. I gained another two pounds, putting my total to 13, which is reasonable for me. =)





As far as the racing heart beat is concerned, my blood pressure was fine. However, I have been referred to a cardiologist just to be safe. The racing heart feeling happens most when I am merely relaxing, and it gets hard to breathe too. I can't even concentrate on reading an awesome book about Tony Dungy called Quiet Strength. =) So tomorrow I get to see the cardiologist and might need to wear a monitor for a week or something. Surprisingly I am still more worried about the baby's health than my own. I keep telling myself, "The baby's heart rate was FINE. Maybe the baby moved to a new position or something." I'll update you all with any news tomorrow.

May these verses challenge you today as they have me!:

"My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken." (Psalm 62:1-2)

"Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." (Isaiah 40:28-31)

"Can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life? If then you are not able to do so small a thing as that, why do you worry about the rest?" (Luke 12:25-26)

An AWESOME song by Tenth Avenue North called By Your Side:

Why are you striving these days
Why are you trying to earn grace
Why are you crying
Let me lift up your face
Just don't turn away

Why are you looking for love
Why are you still searching as if I'm not enough
To where will you go child
Tell me where will you run
To where will you run

'Cause I'll be by your side
Wherever you fall
In the dead of night
Whenever you call
And please don't fight
These hands that are holding you
My hands are holding you

Look at these hands and my side
They swallowed the grave on that night
When I drank the world's sin
So I could carry you in
And give you life
I want to give you life
(Chorus 2x)

Cause I, I love you
I want you to know
That I, I love you
I'll never let you go
(Chorus 2x)

Steph

Babies, Babies, Babies

This post is all about babies...go figure. =)

First, my sister just found out she's having a girl in July....yay! Since I can't do much shopping for my kiddo, I can make up for it with her's. =) Keep praying for Rachel, Matt, Aubrey, and the new little gal in the coming months.

Second, there is a sweet, sweet couple named Zach and Sarah that are the best friends of Mike and Lindsay (Marc's brother and our sister-in-law). We have met them on a few occasions and have always enjoyed our time with them. They are looking to adopt one, maybe two, children from Rwanda, and are in need of prayers and financial support. Marc and I have been dearly blessed to be able to conceive on our own, and we feel like the LEAST we can do is pass on this story so that you can be praying for them and consider supporting them financially. You can click on the Skidmore Adoption ticker below to donate. Honestly people, how often do we waste money on frivolous things or get obsessed with saving for the future when there are needs in other's lives RIGHT NOW? This is a worthy cause. I am so thrilled for them! Please visit the following links to learn more about their story:

Intro to Zach and Sarah

http://www.not2us.net/blog/lindsay/2009/feb/sothrilled

Getting to Know Them and the Adoption Process http://www.not2us.net/blog/lindsay/2009/mar/meetzachandsarah

Enter in a Giveaway for Donating http://www.not2us.net/blog/lindsay/2009/feb/letsmakedeal

Third, in other news, BITO (bun in the oven=) is doing great! I go to the doctor next week for my 25 week check up. I am getting very antsy to say the least. I have my first shower in April, so Marc and I did a registry at Target yesterday. It's so fun but very exhausting!! I am definitely obsessed with baby stuff. My prayer lately is that I stay humbled and not get TOO excited as I know that the health of this baby is out of my hands. There is a delicate balance of not worrying too much but still realizing that God gives and takes away. In addition, I cannot let the excitement of "stuff" get in the way of my excitement of this life growing in me! I am still not showing a ton, but I definitely feel like my stomach is very full!! Digestion has been an issue to say the least. =) Here are some photos from the 20 week ultrasound. BITO gave us a thumbs up!

Fourth, please pray for my friend Melanie who I mentioned earlier this month. I taught with her in Louisville. She ended up giving birth at 24 weeks, and Jackson died a week later. I cannot even begin to imagine her grief. My burden for friends and people who I don't even know struggling with infertility, difficult pregnancies, and/or the death of a child has been overwelming the last few months, and it once again humbles me to no end that I currently have a healthy baby (as I know it) growing inside me. May I never take that for granted!!

Finally, I hate to post without turning to God's word. I have been learning a ton lately out of Proverbs. I have specifically been challenged regarding how I use my words and how I respond when people hurt me with their words or rebuke me in a godly way in order to help me grow. This verse really stuck out for me in Proverbs 17:27...it says, "A man of knowledge uses words with restraint, and a man of understanding is even-tempered."

A second theme I have noticed in my devotional time is how to respond to hardship. It is the desire of my heart that I handle hardship the way that God instructs me in the Bible, and I am thankful that I am learning this now rather than in the midst of tough times. Proverbs 19:23 says, "The fear of the Lord leads to life: then one rests content, untouched by trouble." I could expand on this, but I will let you meditate on this verse yourself, as I am tired. =)

Thanks for reading!

Steph