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

Baby Update...14 wks!

I know I haven't posted in FOREVER...but I do have good reason. I will continue to post on the blog with baby updates, but I am also now a Facebook addict...so most pictures will be posted there since it is a little more private.

Today I had a regular doctor visit with Dr. Benton in Hattiesburg. Things went well and we heard the heartbeat with the Doppler. The heartbeat stayed in the upper 140s and 150s. When I was leaving Krystal asked if I wanted to be scanned...what kind of question is that????!!!! I asked Shea if that was good with him and he said he was fine with it...so we got to see Baby Mc today. Things looked good. Krystal said that everything she looks for at this stage in a pregnancy looked good. PRAISE GOD!!!! We will go back to Dr. Benton in four weeks and then to Jackson sometime in September...around the 20/22 week mark. Most times you will go to Jackson around 17 or 18 weeks but I learned today that is only because if there is a problem with the baby there is still time to abort your pregnancy. With Shea and I abortion is not an option so Dr. Benton felt like I should wait til 20 weeks or so and get a better picture of things.

Shea and I are so grateful to our Lord and Savior and praise Him endlessly for our good report today. Thanks for all the prayers and keep them coming...we got 26 more weeks to go!

Love,
Bethany

New York Details....Finally

I can't believe its almost been two weeks since myself and two friends were heading off to the big apple...NEW YORK CITY! It was Rachel's 30th birthday...so she graciously invited Laura and I to join her in the city to celebrate. We left EARLY on Friday morning and returned Monday afternoon. All of us had been to NYC before and all had done most of the tourist attractions so this trip was very relaxing filled with shopping...Broadway shows...and of course eating! We watched a play each day...Little Mermaid on Friday...Rock of Ages on Saturday...and Jersey Boys on Sunday. We were the FIRST in line for Good Morning America on Monday...we got there at 5 AM! The sad news was we had a great spot outside to be on TV, but they didn't show the crowd until the last 15 minutes of the show and we had to leave early to catch our flight...BUMMER! At least we got some good pics!

Thanks Rachel for an awesome trip. I had so much fun!

Enjoy the pictures!

Bethany

The news is out....

Jeremiah 29:11 - For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

After three weeks of holding it in I am proud to announce the news that I AM PREGNANT!!! Shea and I couldn't be more excited. I have been nervous and anxious all at the same time...but when my emotions over take me I just turn it over to God and ask Him to take over...HE IS IN CONTROL! Praise God!

Shea and I found out three weeks ago and told immediate family and a few friends, but we have seen Dr. Benton and then yesterday my favorite tech at the clinic Krystal scanned me and we got a heartbeat. What a wonderful sound. I am around 7 weeks and my due date is January 26th.

Shea and I would be thankful of your prayers for a healthy baby. Philippians 1:3-4 says "I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy." I know that I have a special angel in Heaven watching over me, her daddy, and her unborn brother or sister. For this reason I am thankful.

I will leave with a few verses...

1 Chronicles 16:34 - Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love and his kindness go on forever.

Lamentations 3:22-23 - The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

Isaiah 41:10 - Fear not, for I am with you. Do not be dismayed. I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will uphold you with my victorious right hand.

Psalm 91:14-15 - Those who love, I will deliver; I will protect those who know my name. When they call me, I will answer them; I will be with them in trouble, I will rescue them and honor them.

And one of my favorites that I read with Mary Glenn...

Psalm 139: 13-14 - 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.

Praising God!

Bethany

Memorial Day...And Birthday Parties....

This past weekend I had high hopes of laying out by the pool and catching some rays...but for those who live in the Hattiesburg area know that it rained for THREE days straight! So instead I relaxed inside and spent time with family. Saturday we did run over to a friend's house to visit for a little while before going over to eat supper with my parents. For Memorial Day Shea and I went over to the Greer's house for Charles' birthday. We had a good time and ended the night with a friendly competition of boys vs. girls...in TABOO. Guess who won?? THE GIRLS of course!!!


Wednesday night we celebrated my friend Rachel's 30th birthday at Walnut Circle Grill. The food was great as usual and we had such a great time with just the girls.

I ask for prayers for my uncle who is being deployed to Iraq in a month. He will be gone for 6 months and will be leaving a wife and two precious boys at home in San Antonio. We will all miss him dearly but know that our Lord and Savior will be with him as his protector.

2 John 1:3 - Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, The Father's Son, will be with us in truth and love.

With Love,

Bethany

Playing Catch Up

I am going to warn you all from the beginning...This is going to be a long post full of pictures and update from the month of May. We have been going non-stop this month. The first weekend we had the Jefferson Davis Relay for Life walk on Friday night...a Homebuilder's Seminar at our church Saturday, and then we surprised my niece with Taylor Swift tickets!

Our relay for life team did exceptionally well raising over $13,000!!! We were the "GREASE" team..."Cure is the Word"!



The Taylor Swift concert was OUTSTANDING! The concert began at 7:30 with Glorianna peforming first...then Kellie Pickler...and last Taylor Swift. We left at 11:15! Taylor performed for over 2 hours! This concert was well worth the money! We surprised my niece Madison with the tickets the day of the concert. She thought that we were going to spend "special" time together that day...I dressed her up in a dress and cowboy boots...TOO CUTE! When we got in the car I turned Taylor Swift up loud on my IPOD and told her we were on our way to see her LIVE in concert...Madison was speechless! And for those of you that know Madison...her being speechless says ALOT!!!






The next weekend was filled with one of my best friends wedding festivities. Jamie Walker tied the knot with Scott Martin. We had such a great weekend with friends. Friday we had bridesmaid luncheon and rehearsal and dinner. Saturday morning Shea and I fixed breakfast for all of our friends in town for the wedding and then we all got to hang out by the pool for a few hours. Saturday night was the wedding and it was a BLAST!!! Shea performed his usual wedding song..."Never Been to Spain"...a special request from the bride. After the first song he had a double encore...too much fun! Sunday was such a hard day...much harder than I ever expected...It was Mother's Day. When we found out we were pregnant it was around the time of Mother's Day. I had such high hopes of my Mother's Day this year with Mary Glenn...holding her...and being so thankful to be a mother. Well as we know God had another plan for MG...so she spent Mother's Day with our Lord and Savior...but I can promise you that she was with me all day in spririt. I miss you so much MG...I can't believe it has been 6 months!

Here are a few pictures from the rehearsal dinner...




And the wedding...







Last weekend began with our nephew's graduation from Prentiss Prebyterian Christian school. Congratulations Ty! The rest of the weekend our friends Lori and Carson came in town to spend the weekend. Lori's husband Gerrod was off fishing so it was a good time to visit. I had so much fun with Carson. It is so hard to believe that he will be THREE in August. We swam...took naps...ate Hibatchi (Carson wants to be a Hibatchi chef when he grows up...haha)...visited with friends...and had a GREAT time!

Ty Daniels...



Here is a picture of Carson helping his "Uncle" Shea play the guitar.



Sorry for the long post...but I had a little house cleaning to do...I should be talking with you sooner next time! We don't have much planned the next two weeks...but I am preparing for my trip to NYC!!!! I am going to leave you with a few random pictures...

Here is Madison sound asleep on a raft in our pool on Mother's Day...She was totally exhausted.



Below is a picture of some friends that I work with...please excuse the fact that I am in a bar in my bridesmaid dress!!!



Without God it is utterly impossible. But with God everything is possible. Mark 10:27

Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2

Much Love,
Bethany