Weeping With Those Who Weep

Well, hello! After quite a long hiatus, I'm breaking the blog-silence to write about something that has been on my heart. I have been contacted several times over the past year and a half since Elizabeth Grace went to be with Jesus by people who have recently learned that someone they know has lost a baby, or has been given a fatal diagnosis for the baby being carried. These people want advice on what to say and what to do. They want to know what things ministered to me the most during my time of sorrow. They want to know how they can best be there for these families who are facing crushing pain and grief. Onan and I were surrounded by incredibly compassionate folks throughout our time of mourning. Friends, family and even strangers came alongside us to offer encouragement and support. I am honored to share some of that which was especially meaningful to me, here on my blog. I certainly don't have all the answers, and please keep in mind that everyone grieves differently. Some things I suggest should only be done by very close friends or family members. Some things that I really appreciated may not be the same gestures your own loved one will appreciate. I am simply recalling how I was blessed by others on my own journey. It's not an easy task. The tears flow as I am taken back to a time of deep sadness, and as I imagine other women enduring such heartache. But it struck me this last time someone contacted me for advice, that writing this all out -- getting it in one place where I can refer those who may have future inquiries -- would probably be beneficial. I am always open to God using Elizabeth's story to bring glory to Himself, and am praying this will be another way He will do so. Deep breath, and here goes...

If you know a mom who has been given a bleak or fatal diagnosis for the baby that she is carrying, the best thing you can do for her throughout the rest of the pregnancy is, of course, pray. Never have I needed intercession as much as I did during those remaining twenty weeks of my pregnancy with Elizabeth. Countless people told me that they were lifting me up. I needed to hear that. So pray. Pray every time she enters your mind. Let her know that you are doing so.

There are many other thoughtful things that can be done. Shortly after we received Elizabeth's diagnosis, a sweet friend of mine set up a photography session for me to get maternity photos -- something I treasure. Another dear friend made me a couple of CD’s of beautiful, hope-filled worship music. I listened to them over and over and over again. I took them with me to the hospital and played them throughout our stay. I still listen to them and it takes me right back to my time with Elizabeth. I was given a “blessing shower” and received precious gifts for myself and for Elizabeth. Handmade clothing and little hats made especially for my baby girl meant the world to me, even if she would not get to wear them. Personal and "pampering" gifts were also appreciated: gift certificates to the spa for a massage or mani/pedi, lotions, cute, comfy pj's, journals, and jewelry that has significant meaning all make wonderful presents.

If you think the family may be interested in having professional pictures taken after their baby is born, be sure to tell them about Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep. I can't say enough about this amazing organization. I am so thankful for the pictures that our NILMDTS photographer got of us with Elizabeth Grace. They are gorgeous.

Also after we were given Elizabeth’s diagnosis, several people mentioned to me that I should read “I Will Carry You: The Scared Dance of Grief and Joy” by Angie Smith. I did, and it was a wonderful encouragement, as well as an important resource of practical ideas from someone who had been in my shoes. I would recommend it for any mom who is in the position of carrying a baby who will likely not live long after birth. I would also recommend suggesting your friend find support groups online in an effort to connect with other women who are experiencing or have experienced what she is going through. I was blessed to find a network of pro life "anencephaly moms" on Facebook who chose to carry their babies to term. The support, counsel and guidance I received from these woman is invaluable.

After the baby is born, find out if your friend is accepting visitors at the hospital. Onan and I are so glad we decided to allow others meet Elizabeth, but we needed people to check with us before they showed up. We reserved the right to say that it wasn't a good time if we were too exhausted or wanted some time with just our family. Not knowing when Elizabeth would pass made things a little tricky. We appreciated the space we were given during the last few hours of her life, when we knew she was deteriorating quickly. Let your friends know that you want to be there for them, but make sure to do it in ways they are comfortable with. 

After the baby goes to Heaven, there is much to be done. If a memorial service is being held, find out what you can do to help. Get together with mutual friends to plan and organize. I was not in a state to do much more than show up for Elizabeth’s service. I’m still not sure who all did what on that day, but everything was beautiful. We are so grateful.

Send a sympathy card. This simple gesture will mean more than you know. I truly cherish each and every sympathy card that someone took the time to send. There were many special gifts as well. Some of Onan's family had trees planted in Elizabeth's name. Some friends from church had a concrete bench made for us with her full name and Psalm 56:8 engraved on it. Other friends sent gifts from Etsy, including some precious blocks with her name, birthday and birth stats on them. Another Etsy gift that I love is a plaque with Romans 8:28 painted on it that I display in our dining room. Monetary presents are a blessing as well.

 Books and devotionals make really nice gifts. Here is a list of my favorites:

~Safe in the Arms of God: Truth from Heaven About the Death of a Child by John McArthur is excellent for parents who have experienced the loss of a child.
 ~Glorious Ruin: How Suffering Sets You Free by Tullian Tchividjian is just a great, theologically solid book on why the Lord allows us to suffer in general.
 ~One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are by Ann Voskamp is a grace-filled, hope-filled read that meant a lot to me.
 ~Tear Soup: A Recipe for Healing After Loss by Pat Schwiebert is illustrated beautifully and an exceptional book for parents and children who are in the midst of grieving a loss.

 A meal plan is a must. Take Them A Meal is an amazing resource for coordinating meals, as it allows you to customize dates, share with everyone what you are planning to make, etc. Really, the very last thing you want to have to think about after suffering a loss is what to prepare for dinner. Try to get at least a week or two of meals planned for your friend. There are other practical ways you can help. If she has other children, ask if you can take them for a playdate or sleepover. Go to her house and clean it for her. Get her grocery list and go shopping for her. Mundane, everyday tasks can seem overwhelming after a loss, so think about what you can do to make life easier.

 Finally, don’t be afraid of saying or doing the wrong thing. Chances are that if your friend knows you are speaking out of love, she will be prepared to give you grace, even if what you say isn't “perfect.” Also, don't be afraid to invite her to go out, but give her the option of saying no if she's not up for it. It's more hurtful when friends purposefully stay away at times like these. So, let her know that you are praying and that you love her. Give her your sympathy. Weep with her. Acknowledge that what has happened hurts deeply. That this is not how it’s supposed to be. Thankfully, we know that this is not how it will be always. Remind her (and yourself) that we are not meant for here -- that a day is coming soon when we will see our babies again, when Jesus will wipe away our tears, when there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain -- and when all things will be made new. (Revelation 21:1-5) The Gospel is the best thing you can give to a friend who is suffering the loss of her child, because it's the best thing that we've been given. And it's the only thing that can truly bring hope and healing.

From a Father's Heart

My wonderful Dad, Ken Lopez, wrote this shortly after Elizabeth's passing. It is a strong and beautiful testament to the sovereignty of God and the sanctity of life. (And, if I possess any writing ability at all, it was obviously inherited from him.)



It is what one does as a father. It is part of his DNA to provide, protect and if one matures in the role, we as fathers learn to nourish and support the emotional as well the physical needs of our children.

The overwhelming weight of protector and provider first gripped me as I gazed on our firstborn, Leah, through the hospital glass when she made her appearance on the planet some 32 years ago. On an intellectual level I realized my role changed when she walked down the aisle and gave her heart to the sub planter, our son-in law. A fine man, yes, but as fathers know, the new man can’t change the way a dad holds a daughter in his heart.

Good protectors do all they can to shield their children, especially their daughters. It means holding their hands, drying their tears, teaching them to drive, providing ample warnings regarding the male species, and taking the sting out the worst that life can bring. But even the best intervention will not insure a life without pain for any of our children. So, we fathers do well, not only to protect, but to prepare our sons and daughters to meet the inevitable heartbreak that weave their way into the tapestry of the lives of our offspring.

Sufficiency of preparation for the tragedy is only revealed by the onslaught of the tragedy. The purity of the gold is revealed only by the raging of the fire. The trial for Leah, our son-in-law Onan, and our family began soon after the news that another child was being added to our family.

We felt so blessed to learn that a fourth grandchild would soon join the burgeoning Coca tribe. Four kids under the age of five might cause questions regarding the parent’s emotional stability, but to us as grandparents it only meant more hugs, holding and craziness at the family gatherings.

Not too long into Leah’s pregnancy, my wife, Robbin, mentioned at dinner that she had some news regarding Leah’s recent visit for a checkup. The news was unanticipated and unwelcome. I was not able to comprehend what my wife was saying. How could the fate of a baby not yet 4 months along be determined and sealed as her life had just begun? There had to be a way to protect my daughter and my granddaughter from the prognosis of anencephaly. How could a baby grow in everyway except the development of brain function? Surely a specialist would provide a better outlook and change the unthinkable to what new life is supposed to bring.

But no, further testing confirmed the certainty of anencephaly. Researching the meaning of that word brought nothing but stark, horrendous revelation. The clinical descriptions of what my granddaughter would experience left me struggling to breathe. This condition is “not compatible with life,” “the outlook for babies born with anencephaly is extremely poor.” “Most infants are stillborn or live only for a few minutes or few hours.” As I read these, and additional fateful descriptions and viewed pictures of babies born with this condition I realized this was not a fraternity I wanted to join, not something I wanted to experience and something I was powerless to prevent in the lives of those I loved.

I suppose that is why 90% to 95% of couples who discover this reality during pregnancy opt to end the life of the baby. For Leah and Onan this was never on the table. To many this would seem ludicrous. Why carry a child with no hope of survival? What could be accomplished by allowing this baby to grow, be born blind, deaf, and without the cognitive abilities to think or perhaps even feel? Are there not better ways to use the resources and staff in the medical facility that will be forced to accommodate the end of this decision? Why would time and money be wasted on such a fruitless, painful exercise? What are the motives behind people who decide to go through this ordeal?

These are logical questions to those who consider life through the lens of our 21st century. To be burdened with these complications seems pointless and certainly out of step with what is condoned in the mainstream of the politically correct. But there were sound and compelling reasons that prompted Leah to make a decision to bring a child into the world with no promise of life as popular culture expects or demands it to be.

Certainly God could change this path. We believe He has the power, and as a good God would do, reward the fruit of our faith and prayers with a healthy baby. There were countless prayers humbly offered in this vein, and that would surely verify the decision to bring Elizabeth into the world. This would dramatically prove the power of God; One who can do anything above all that we ask or can imagine.

That was not the plan of God, but it does not diminish His power, His goodness, or His care for Leah, Onan, their families, or for all those who have become a part of this story. There are many indications that God’s plan was perfect for the road that brought Elizabeth into the world and for the soon passing shadow of her existence. The testimony of this experience has stirred the hearts of countless individuals. The body of Christ has exercised the call to prayer, to lift up feeble hands and to bring comfort to the broken hearted.

The testimony to those still outside the body of Christ has been evident as well. The memorial service for Elizabeth included a clear invitation to the gospel that allowed many to hear, perhaps for the first time, and to consider the claims of the only way of salvation from the one who has conquered death. What a comfort to know that the grace of eternal life that God provides through the death and resurrection of Jesus is a reality for Elizabeth Grace.

But do those results satisfy the question of why God would allow this? Is the question answered because of the testimony of God’s grace, his people’s compassion, the furtherance of the gospel, and for other reasons we may not ever come to know? These are a comfort to consider but they are not essential to the issue. The path that Leah and Onan have chosen is right for essentially one reason. God is the Creator of life and only he has the power to give and take life, and he is glorified by those who are obedient to that reality. One passage of scripture that speaks to that fact is Deuteronomy 32:39 (NIV) “See now that I myself am he! There is no god besides me. I put to death and I bring to life, I have wounded and I will heal, and no one can deliver out of my hand.”

God also makes clear from his Word that the life he gives begins with conception. Several Old Testament passages confirm those thoughts. Jeremiah 1:5 (NIV) states, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” The book of Job emphasizes this as well in chapter 31, verse 15, “Did not he who made me in the womb make them? Did not the same one form us both within our mothers?” (NIV)
The text that is paramount to this truth is Psalm 139:13-16 (KJV) “For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.”

As I considered the last verse, this phrase, “Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect,” spoke to me about Elizabeth. Yes, in the minds of many she was tragically “unperfect,” to be cast aside and ignored, too much of a burden, but God had ordained her being in every detail. His eyes were upon her and he was mindful of every moment of her existence.

Our time with Elizabeth was far too short, but I remember as I held her sometime during her brief life and she clutched my finger I was struck by this powerful thought,… she deserves to be here. No, she didn’t look like my other grandchildren and I wasn’t going to enjoy her in the same way I did her siblings or her cousin. No trips to the park, no free for all wrestling matches on the living room floor, no bedtime stories. But she had breath, she possessed a strong heartbeat, and she was here because she had been granted a measure of life by her Creator.

At no point in her existence, from the moment of her conception, to the last minutes of her 48 hours in that hospital room did anyone but God have the right to say that she did not matter, or did not deserve the right to her limited life. I’m glad her mother and father embraced that truth, and granted so many of us the opportunity to see obedience to that truth brought to life.

As her earthly father, I have been quite powerless to shield Leah from the pain and sorrow that she, as the mother, has felt in the way that only a mother can. But I see the comfort and grace that a heavenly Father has manifested in her life and I am thankful. Thankful for the blessing of seeing God’s goodness, God’s mercy and for what Elizabeth Grace has taught us about her Creator. We give God the glory and say, “Blessed be the name of the Lord.”

Memorials

I have always loved Easter Sunday. A day to celebrate our Savior’s triumphant resurrection, His defeat over death. It’s the reason for our hope—long term and day to day. This Easter has held even more significance as I reflect on the gospel, knowing that it’s because of Christ’s death, burial and resurrection that I will see Elizabeth Grace again. I am so thankful for His gift.

These weeks since losing Elizabeth have not been easy, but God has continued to be faithful. His sustaining power and presence are undeniable. And this is not some crutch that I’m leaning on to get me through—not some illusion I’ve bought into because of desperation. Oh, I am desperate for Him, but it’s because I know how real He is. This life here on earth is full of pain and ugly. Babies shouldn’t be born with fatal birth defects and parents shouldn’t have to watch their child struggle for breath. This is not how it’s supposed to be. So we long for heaven and cling to the Father, knowing that the trials are always for our good (James 1:2-4) and His glory. That He is sovereign over all things and fully trustworthy. This testing of my faith has driven me closer to the Lord and I have found Him to not only be there, but to be good. He has revealed Himself in ways I never could have never known and has comforted like I could not have imagined. I am so thankful for His love.

Please continue to pray for us. Onan and I are overwhelmed with the sympathy that has been expressed by so many, the gifts given to us in honor of Elizabeth Grace. We were blown away by the number of people who attended her memorial service and so grateful to our pastor for boldly proclaiming the gospel. My husband teaches and coaches at a large public school and so many of his co-workers and fellow coaches came—not to mention just about every baseball player at the school. Truly amazing and humbling to have all of these precious young guys come up to hug us after the service. It’s something I will never forget. Here are a few pictures from the service…















We also shared a slide show at the service. A family friend has recently added a few more pictures and put together this beautiful video for us:

Saying Goodbye

I have been writing and re-writing this post in my head for days. I knew that it would be the hardest, and honestly, I’ve kind of been avoiding it. Watching our baby girl slip away was much more difficult than I could have imagined, although I’m sure there’s nothing I could have done to “prepare” myself for it ahead of time. There is no man-made preparation for this—only the grace the Father so graciously gives, each moment that we need it. And His grace was there. Poured out on us as my husband prayed aloud, desperate for it.

By Sunday morning, I knew that our time with Elizabeth Grace was drawing to a close. Her color was very dusky, her breathing shallow. I was going to be discharged from hospital that afternoon. I had always said that I wanted to be able to take her home with us if possible, but now that it was almost time and she was doing so poorly, I felt uneasy about this prospect. We had been in touch with pediatric hospice, but the nurse was unsure if she’d be able to get out to us that day. The initial meeting is apparently a three hour ordeal. There was the option of taking Elizabeth to a hospice facility in Atlanta, but it was unclear if Onan and I would be allowed to ride in the ambulance with her, and I couldn’t bear the thought of her passing without us there. I began to feel stressed. I prayed for God to work out every detail.

I took a quick shower around 8 am and was just finishing up in the bathroom when I heard Onan calling for the nurses in a panicked voice. Elizabeth had begun to cough up some blood. Our nurse, Madeline, who had also been with us all day Saturday, quickly rushed in and helped to suction it out with the aspirator bulb. She listened to her heartbeat and told us that it was very faint.

We took Elizabeth over to the window and turned on the CD that a sweet friend had made for us. We sat, listening to the beautiful worship music, looking out at Kennesaw Mountain, crying, praying, talking to our baby girl. We stayed this way for a long time. At one point I was holding Elizabeth and her breathing became very labored. I wondered to myself if she may experience seizures. As soon as I finished this thought, she began to seize. It was as if the Holy Spirit had whispered it to me, right before I needed to hear it. I remained calm as we again called for Madeline, who immediately returned. The seizing had stopped by then and her vitals were checked. Still breathing, still a faint heartbeat. Elizabeth was fighting, but she was struggling so much to do so. She made some little cries at this point—the loudest she made the whole time she was with us. It was like she was sighing, long and drawn out. I kept telling her over and over, "It's okay, baby girl. You don't have to fight so hard."

Madeline came back a short while later and administered some morphine, which Elizabeth took very well. This seemed to really help her relax and any seizures she had after this were much milder. She continued to hang on.

By now my in-laws had returned to the hospital and had been able to spend some more time with Elizabeth. I was seen by my OB and was discharged but told that there was no rush for us to leave, which I greatly appreciated.

I began to pack up our things while my father-in-law held Elizabeth with Onan close by. I heard my husband say that it looked like she was having another seizure. He took her into his arms and I went over to hold on to her as well. She finished seizing and made one more little sighing sound as she breathed her last. I knew that she was done fighting. I sobbed. They were tears of sorrow, of course, but also tears of joy. I was just so relieved that she was in the arms of Jesus, no longer struggling for breath, perfect and whole. I was consumed with the image. I told Onan, “I think she’s done.” We called for Madeline and I told her the same. She put her stethoscope to Elizabeth’s little chest and nodded, “I don’t hear anything,” she told us through her own tears. It was a little after 1:00 pm. She cleared out the room to give Onan and I some time with our daughter, just the two of us.

We took her back to the window. Onan prayed: “Lord, we need your comfort.” We held her and we held each other. We changed her into a beautiful little white dress. I had ink pads and we put her foot prints in our Bibles, on scrapbook paper, in my journal. We took more pictures. Our family and a few friends came in to cry and pray and hold us too. After awhile, we knew it was time for us to let her go. Everyone left, once again, and Madeline told us to take us to take our time. She would call the funeral home to come and get her. We would leave her there; she would stay on our hospital floor until they picked her up.

We spent just a little more time with Elizabeth Grace before we called to tell our nurse that we were ready. One last kiss for each hand, one last “goodbye for now” whispered. We left the hospital late afternoon on an unseasonably warm day in February. And we are forever changed.

Still Holding On, Sunday Morning







Saying Goodbye

The Gift of Forty-eight Hours

I had tried to prepare myself to say goodbye to Elizabeth. I wasn’t sure exactly what it would look like, or exactly how I’d make it through this, but for twenty weeks I’d lived with the knowledge that my baby girl would be born with a fatal condition and that we’d likely not have much time together. This twenty weeks was time that I’d graciously been given by God to grieve and plan and pray and enjoy Elizabeth as much as I could. I anticipated her arrival and inevitable departure with a mix of joy and trepidation. What I hadn’t really prepared for was watching my baby girl slowly decline over two day’s time.

Please don’t misunderstand. Those near forty-eight hours were the sweetest blessing I could have ever hoped for. Looking back I can see God’s sustaining presence throughout this time and how He graciously allowed so many precious memories to be made. We were able to talk to her and sing to her and pray over her and show her off to so many loved ones. We were able to change her diapers and her little outfits and feed her and take care of her physical needs and help to make her as comfortable as possible. She was so precious and beautiful and strong. I knew she would be strong. She thrived so in my womb. But when that life-support was taken away, she began to weaken.

By Friday night I was exhausted. All our visitors had left and the fact that I’d just given birth was quickly catching up with me. Elizabeth was doing well and Onan and I needed some rest. I did not want to send her to the nursery. The thought of her being placed in a bassinet and left on her own was too disconcerting for me. She’d been in someone’s arms since the time she was born. But trying to sleep with her in my arms wasn’t working. I attempted it for a very brief while and had woken up feeling panicked about how she was doing.

My night nurse, Cindy, had the solution. She’d actually had it all planned out before I’d even voiced my concern. She would simply wear Elizabeth in a sling as she worked. If a patient needed her, Elizabeth would be temporarily handed over to someone else who could cradle her. The receptionist on our floor apparently loved newborns and would be thrilled to take a shift. She would not go to the nursery, she would not be put down. She would be held and cared for through the night. This wasn’t exactly “hospital policy”, but this is why Cindy worked the night shift on weekends--it was easier to bend the rules. I was able to sleep a solid couple of hours on Friday night and awoke Saturday morning to my sweet nurse pulling a rocking chair into our room because she’d discovered Elizabeth loved to be rocked. She’d figured out a new, more conducive head bandage for her and had her wrapped up in a knitted blanket that someone had made especially for NICU babies. I could not have been more content with how Elizabeth had spent that time away from me.

Saturday was a full day of Elizabeth Grace. Our children and families and friends came back to see her and hold her and love her. The neonatologist on call continued to check on her. We were told that as she became weaker there would be periods where she would struggle to breathe and that we should expect her color to become dusky. We nodded and said okay, not really grasping how hard to watch this would be. She also wanted us to know that as her breaths became more shallow and spaced out, Elizabeth would go into a “comatose-like” state and would not be able to feel any pain or discomfort.

Elizabeth gave us a few scares throughout the day. Just as predicted, her breaths would become gaspy and she’d take them further apart. Her color would darken to a bluish-purple and we’d call for our nurse. Then she would start to do better. Her normal color would return and her breathing would regulate. Elizabeth Grace was a fighter. We continued to care for her.

Cindy was back on Saturday evening and took care of Elizabeth the same way she’d done the night before. Before taking her late that night, she promised that if Elizabeth seemed to be doing poorly that she would bring her back to us immediately. Elizabeth held on through the night, but when she returned to us early Sunday morning it was evident that our time with her would soon be drawing to a close.

Here are some pictures of our day with her on Saturday, February the 4th.

Corby and Lizzy

Grandma and her Girls

Hanging Out (Charlie was such a proud big sister!)

Loving our Girl


Love from Aunt Bebby

Dear Friends

Holding on Strong

Elizabeth and her Favorite Nurse, Miss Cindy

Elizabeth's Birth Story

I’ve been gathering up my thoughts and my courage to write about our time with Elizabeth Grace. I plan to do so in a series of posts. I want to share the details because I feel like so many of you have been so invested in our story. The sheer amount of facebook messages I’ve received in my inbox from people I’ve never met are a testament to that. To those who have been praying so very faithfully for us and who have invited others to do so, Onan and I simply can’t tell you how much that has meant. How much we have felt those prayers. And how I know that’s part of the reason we’re still standing right now. Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts.

Thursday February 2nd, the second night I went in to induce labor, was the right night. God’s timing is always prefect. It was calm, quiet and we were immediately given a room at the end of the hall. My nurses were incredible. My night nurse for both Friday and Saturday only works weekends and I would not have had her if I’d given birth to Elizabeth on Wednesday. And, as it turned out, I needed her—which of course, God knew. It was the same situation for my day nurse that was on for both Saturday and Sunday. I cannot overstate the immense gratitude I have for these ladies and how much they came to mean to me during our hospital stay. My labor and delivery nurses were exceptional as well. Everyone was so kind and empathetic. More answered prayers.

At 8:30pm I was given a drug called cytotec to help soften my cervix and get contractions going. It's administered every four hours and up to four doses are allowed to be given. By my fourth dose around 9am the next day, I was eight centimeters dilated, totally thinned out and in desperate need of the epidural! I received it at 10:30 and by 1:00 pm, it was time to push.

I prayed for peace and it was poured out on me. After only three pushes, Elizabeth was actually born in her bag of waters. One of my birth plan requests was that my water not be broken, if at all possible. From the research I’d done, it was clear that babies with anencephaly have a better chance of surviving delivery if this is the case. It wasn’t broken until she was safely out and I have no doubt that this helped ease the stress of delivery on Elizabeth greatly. It was 1:27 pm.

She was immediately placed on my chest. She was squirming, kicking and making little squeaking noises as she was cleaned up. She needed minimal suctioning and began breathing on her own right from the start. This was a huge answer to prayer. From the time we’d been given Elizabeth’s diagnosis, I’d been praying that she would make it through delivery and that we’d be able to spend some time with her. And here she was, pink and breathing, moving and alert. Five pounds and thirteen ounces of perfection.

We weren’t sure how much time we’d have with her, but we had this. These sweet moments where Onan got to stand with her and hold her little hand as she was dressed and swaddled. We had this. The priceless opportunity to introduce her to her big brother and big sisters and all of her grandparents and her aunt and cousin and so many friends.

The photographer from Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep had been waiting with our family while I delivered. He came in and captured all of these moments for us. I cannot wait to receive his pictures. As he left, he told me the count was "about three million" and I don’t think he was exaggerating all that much! I’m so thankful for the many pictures that were taken to document our time with Elizabeth and to help us remember. Until we receice the professional pictures, here are some of the "amateur" ones that were taken.

Thursday night, ready to begin the induction


Keeping a Labor Log on Friday Morning


She's here! Friday, February 3rd, 1:27 pm. 5lbs, 13 oz. 17 and a half in.


First Diaper Change, by Daddy


Totally in love...


Family of Six

Still Waiting

Well, here we are, last night, heading to the hospital after being told to come on in. We got there around 6:30 and were told to head to the waiting room. I knew things were busy because of how crowded it was. Lots of people, lots of noise, lots of waiting. Not exactly how I'd envisioned starting off Elizabeth's induction. I was called back after about an hour and checked in, given a wrist band, told I'd be in room 308, but that I'd need to head back to the waiting room for a bit. After another hour of waiting, the charge nurse came and got me. She informed me that since we'd been called to come in, there had been a rush of women in active labor who had also come in. Every room had been taken, and she had a couple other ladies on their way who were pretty sure their water had broken. She said I was welcomed to stay in the waiting room, but with no end in sight, it would probably be better to just go home. She would call me as soon as a room became available and she was so very sorry that this was happening. I told her that I understood, this was labor and delivery, these things happen, right? Right. So, off we went, back home.

We left our hospital bags in the car, came in and enjoyed some time with our family (my parents and in laws are here, along with my sis and nephew!)and went to bed. At 5:30 am, the charge nurse called me to say that they were still packed and suggested that they put me on the list to be induced tonight. So, same drill as last night, call at 5:30 to make sure a bed is available, go in if so, and start the induction tonight.

So, yeah. Kind of an emotional roller coaster, but through all of this the Lord has been faithful to remind me that He is sovereign over all things, even when they seem messy and chaotic. His plan, His timing, they are perfect. I got to sleep in this morning and am now enjoying these scenes:


(My dad with my kids. Nothing better!)



(Mom and Sophia)



(Kisses for Grandma)



(play-dough time!)



(Maria in the kitchen, of course!)



(My sis and nephew!)

Not too shabby, and much more fun than the hospital waiting room. :) Not to mention, this is one more day that I get to keep Elizabeth safe inside. She's kicking and wiggling and hiccuping as usual, and I am once again so thankful for this time that I have with her.

I know that I keep saying this, but I am profoundly humbled by the prayers going up by so many. Truly, it's overwhelming and "thank you" seems like too trite a thing to say. But we are grateful. Deeply grateful for your love, prayers, support and encouragement. We feel it and we ask you to please continue, knowing that you will. Thank you.