Happy Birthday Mary Glenn!

Well I have dreaded the next couple of days for a year now. Today marks one year since I gave birth to my sweet angel Mary Glenn. Tomorrow marks one year since I said goodbye to that same angel and she met our Lord and Savior. Wow what a year makes. Every time I even begin to think of what happened a year ago it brings tears to my eyes. God forever changed my life November 13, 2008 and I am forever grateful to Him. This morning has been filled with many tears...happy and sad. I smile every time I think of her opening her eyes. Most chromosomal babies don't open their eyes much...Mary Glenn was different. It was like she knew she wouldn't be here long so she wanted to check us out good. I laugh every time I think of what she thought of us...I think I was crying every time I got to lay eyes on her so she probably thought her mom is a little on the wacky side. I cry every time I think of her suffering for those few minutes before we decided it was time for God to take her home. I smile every time I think that each of us got to hold her free of wires and tubes...and how she went home while I was holding her. I cry because I miss her more than words can express. I smile when I think of how Dr. Henderson prayed with us and we sang Jesus Loves Me.

As I type this I wipe tears away from my face. I can't help it but I want her here with me. I want to see her face to face. I'm selfish. Oh but I know that she is not sick right now and she is dancing and singing God's praises right this very moment. She is having the best birthday that any of us could ever ask for...she is celebrating with our Lord and Savior. I know that Mary Glenn would not want me to be sad this day...so I will try my best to be strong for my baby girl. I often feel guilty when I feel these times of sadness...because I know I shouldn't. I should be so proud that she is in Heaven...the most beautiful place...with a healthy body...no sickness...no tears...learning about her grandparents...and celebrating with God.

As I think over the year...God has done so many amazing things in my life. First and foremost He has brought me closer to Him. I am learning each and every day more and more...and it will always be a learning process, but I have grown so close to our Lord and Savior and I am forever grateful. He has made Shea and I stronger. Shea is truly a man of God. To have watched him grow over the last year is so wonderful. He is my best friend and my husband and I love him so much. He has blessed our family. When life gives us trials to face you really see the people that mean most to you. Our families have been there for us every step of the way. God has given me such wonderful friends. Friends that care about me...my feelings and emotions. He has blessed us with a pregnancy. Baby Morris will never know his sister in this time, but I pray that Shea and I can tell him one day about how wonderful she was...how strong of person she was...and how she changed our lives for the better. So many more things that I could go on and on about...but right now my heart is too sad to gone on.

As I look back on November 14, 2008 I am forever grateful that I got to tell my sweet Mary Glenn...THANK YOU! God let me give birth to the most precious angel. WOW!!! I remember me telling her all things I wanted to say...God gave me that opportunity. We were not suppose to have one minute with her on this Earth and instead He gave us 20 hours! God is good! I love you all and I thank each and everyone of you for helping us through such trying times.

Blessed be this day that the Lord has made...let us be glad and rejoice in it!

Praising God!
Bethany

To God be the Glory!

I don't know how to start this post...I am overwhelmed with emotions...and so grateful to all my prayer warriors. Today's visit in Jackson was a great success. From the mouth of Dr. Perry...Baby Morris is doing good. He doesn't see any major birth defects. His kidneys are still dilated...well atleast his left kidney is borderline dilated. His right kidney is looking better. We will continue to monitor with ultrasounds...probably in a month or so...and then ultrasounds after he is born. Dr. Perry is 90% positive this will correct itself at birth...so that will be our prayers!

As many of you know I have dreaded this doctor's appointment, but I am more relieved now. I am sure there will be anxiety until I see him face to face, but I am only human. Dr. P surprised me with some 4-D pictures of my little man. He is too cute if I don't say so myself. Someone asked Shea who he looked like and Shea said he looks like a baby...haha!! I am sure he will come out looking just like Shea...which is perfectly fine! Shea's a handsome guy!!! Mary Glenn had a good bit of Shea's features and I am sure this baby will be the same.

Words can't express my gratitude to you all. Please continue the prayers...they are working!!! Continue to pray for healthiness, growth, kidneys, peace and comfort, and God's will. Thanks to you all!

Praising God!
Bethany

Please Pray!

This post will be short and sweet, but please remember Shea and I in your prayers. We will be going to Jackson for a morning appointment with Dr. Perry (high risk doctor) tomorrow. Please pray specifically for:

1 - Healthy Baby
2 - Good Weight/Measurements
3 - No Chromosomal Abnormalities
4 - Kidneys to look better
5 - Dr. Perry and his staff as they perform the ultrasound and give diagnosis
6 - Comfort and Peace for Shea and I
7 - God's will to be done

Thanks for the prayers!!!

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. Psalm 139: 13-14

Praising God!
Bethany

Doctor Visit Update

Yesterday was a day filled with many emotions. For some reason I had a lot of anxiety about this visit. I prayed and prayed asking God to give me peace and comfort...in which He did!

The visit was good. First I had to drink the lovely orange drink for my glucose test. Next up was the ultrasound. Baby McNease measured on scheduled. Praise God!!! He weighed in at a whopping 2 lbs. 11 ozs. Unfortunately, his kidneys are still dilated. We will go see Dr. Perry next Tuesday and get his opinion. From what we understand we will continue to monitor his kidneys on ultrasounds until Baby McNease is born. Once he is born we will have an ultrasound and then go from there. He can be treated with antibiotics at first...and then later if needed a stint...but hopefully it will be minor. This is very common in little boys. In saying all of this the fluid around the baby looks good and is in the "normal" range. The tissue around his kidneys looks good too. Please join us in prayer that the kidneys will heal on their own and we will have nothing to worry about. On another note...I passed the glucose test! Yippee!!! I had a visit with Dr. B too yesterday. He stressed to me that the kidneys will be ok and it is nothing to stress about...but if you know me I will stress no matter what!!!

Next week we will go to Jackson for the high risk doctor. I pray that this will be our last visit to Jackson (no offense Dr. P) We pray that there are no changes since we saw him in September...no abnormalities...no chromsonal markers...and kidneys regular sized. Pray for peace and comfort for Shea and I and ALWAYS pray for God's will.

Praising God!
Bethany

27 weeks....

So I just noticed that I haven't blogged since 19 weeks...SO SORRY! I'm really not sure if anyone reads this anymore or not but just in case there is that one person out there reading I will update! We have made it to 27 weeks. The last time I saw a doctor was 24 weeks and Baby McNease was measuring on schedule. I will go to the doctor in Hattiesburg (Dr. B) next Wednesday for the lovely glucose test, ultrasound, and doctor's visit. Then the next week we will travel to Jackson to see the high risk doctor, Dr. Perry. I am nervous about all of the upcoming visits, but honestly I think it is just normal for me to feel the anxiety...especially in Jackson.

If you still read this blog please pray for our next two weeks. I pray that Baby Morris is healthy and growing on schedule...I pray that his kidneys are looking "better"...I pray for peace for Shea and I as we go hear the news from both doctors...I pray for both Dr. B and Dr. P as they "check us out"...I pray that this "may" be our last visit to see Dr. P (sorry Dr. P no offensive to you)...and most important I pray for God's will!!!

I promise to post after each doctor's visit!

Trusting in God...

Bethany

19 Weeks...

To All...

Thanks so much for all of your prayers. Shea and I appreciate them and know this it is because of prayers we make it through each day. Our doctor's appointment went good...it wasn't perfect as I had hoped, but I will definitely take GOOD. Everything looked good except for a dilated left kidney. Dr. Perry explained all of the causes for this dilated kidney. We will watch closely in Hattiesburg and pray that this problem goes away. Dr. Perry told me that 19/20 times this goes away before birth. It is very common...especially in boys. Dr. Benton reassured me that this was common and we would watch it. Of course Dr. Perry had to tell me that this kidney issue is a marker for Downs Syndrome. If you all don't know me...my personality will now focus on this instead of the fact that it is common and the percentage of it being a Downs baby is 1 in 500. Because of my past history with Mary Glenn I will go back to Dr. Perry on Nov. 10th for a follow-up appointment. He explained to me before he scanned me that he would want me to come back around 28/30 weeks because things can change and he wants to scan again.

Please pray for me that I can relax and enjoy this pregnancy and focus on all of the positives with this baby. I am praying daily (most of the time multiple times a day) for peace and comfort to get me through each day. Will you please join me in this prayer? I have also had a pain in the back of my head (behind my right ear) and neck since Saturday morning. Everyone kept telling me that it was a tension headache and would probably go away after my doctor visit to Jackson. Well now it is still there and it won't go away! Dr. Benton called me in some medicine and I came home early today to get some rest but the pain is still there. Please pray that this will go away and give me some relief soon. I am now starting to get worried that it is something serious. I go to Dr. Benton on Friday so hopefully he can give me some advise on what to do next...or even better hopefully the pain will be gone by then!!! That would be GREAT!!!

Continue the prayers...as always pray for God's will to be done!

Praising God!
Bethany

Calling All Praying Warriors

I haven't posted in a month or so, but I need all of your prayers today. Shea and I will go to Jackson this afternoon for our high risk doctors appointment with Dr. Perry. So far in Hattiesburg the ultrasounds have looked good, but anyone who has been to the high risk doctor knows how un-nerving this can be. The ultrasound today will be clearer and more detailed and the doctor will be able to take a closer look for any abnormalities with our baby. Please pray for a good report and also strength and peace for Shea and I.

Also...we got some big news two weeks ago...WE ARE HAVING A BOY! Shea and I surprised our families with the news by letting our mom's open up a little boy outfit. It was a lot of fun for everyone.

Thanks so much for the prayers. I will post later today with our results.

OUR GOD IS GOOD!!!!

For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. Romans 15:4

Praising God!
Bethany