blessings still flowing

right up until the end.

on tuesday, march 4, 2008, i came to new beginnings.

on wednesday, march 4, 2009, we found out that victoria was further along than we had estimated.  victoria and i made plans to walk a lot over the next week as a means of inducing labor, so that i could be here when the baby is born.

jessi, vic, and i talked all afternoon about when we hoped she would be born, and i sent up quick prayers all day long that i would still be here.  

just like every wednesday, the girls and i planned our 'night out'.  this week we had planned to order pizza and make ice cream sundaes.  

as soon as i walked in the door, pizza in hand, i was instructed to sit down in the living room. they told me while i was gone, they had gotten a call from the midwife saying that because of some suspicious test results that they would be inducing her labor the next day.  

i fought back tears, and on wednesday night, i watched as victoria learned what she would be experiencing the next day, from our 'on-call' doula.  i watched as she introduced herself to the parents of her daughter.  and i watched as she said goodnight to her mom, and wondered what emotions could be coursing between the two of them as they hugged goodnight.  

on wednesday, march 5, 2008, jessi, kendra, and i went to my very first doctor's appointment with one of the girls, and i looked, in awe, at my first ever ultrasound.  

on thursday, march 5, 2009, just a few floors up from that doctor's office, jess and i sat together, again, waiting on a baby.  this time feeling like veterans.  

   "Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name; 

    make known among the nations what he has done, 

    and proclaim that his name is exalted.

     Sing to the LORD, for he has done glorious things; 

       let this be known to all the world.

     Shout aloud and sing for joy, people of Zion, 

       for great is the Holy One of Israel among you."

Isaiah 12:4-6