Baby #4 is in the arms of God

Friday, May 4, 2012

Baby #4 is in Mommy's belly!!!!!!!!!

Saturday, May 5, 2012

We got some pictures of everyone at Hilton Head.

Say, "Cheese!"

 Say, "Cheese!"

  

Say, "Karen's Pregnant!"

It was great fun telling the Cronin family that we were pregnant!  Getting excited about having a baby next January.  Talking about how we probably won't be traveling this Christmas.  Looking forward to next weekend when the Culpepper family would come visit for Ben's birthday party and we would be able to tell them the same way.

Sunday, May 6, 2012

We went to our church's annual outdoor service, featuring many baptisms - one of the best days of the year!  We got to tell a few friends about Baby #4 afterward, who were all so happy for us!

Jay called Morgan, "There's a baby!" he said.  "Where?"she asked.  "In my mommy's belly!"

Ben learned to point at my belly and say "Baby!"

Monday, May 7, 2012

I wrote this journal entry:

I truly want to love Baby #4. But I'm too afraid to commit. Last time I committed with my whole heart and when Baby #3 died my heart crumbled. Can I handle that again? YES! Of course I can, because I know what it is to be pregnant and I know what it is to miscarry and I know what it is to have life with my child and I know what it is to have life without my child- I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation; whether listening to my child sing scripture or digging a grave for my lost baby...

I can't finish that statement the way Paul does.  I want to so badly.  And that makes my body shake with weeping.

Tuesday, May 8, 2012

I got out of bed and discovered that I had miscarried.  The tears poured.  I called Shamus.  So many questions.  Are you sure?  Were we pregnant?  How do you know?  Did you call the doctor?

We went to the doctor that afternoon.  "Yes, this was another miscarriage." said the doctor.


That night I began putting my heart on paper.  So much fear.  I wanted to love the baby but now it was too late.  Already gone.  Gone.  But I am still that child's mother.  I will always be that child's mother.  It's part of my identity.  Shamus's wife.  Jay's mother. Ben's mother.  Baby #3's mother.  Baby #4's mother.  Each new relationship redefines my identity.  Who am I becoming?  Do I get to choose?

"It's okay, mommy.  Now Baby Number 5 can come live with us,"  says Jay.

Sunday, May 13, 2012

Mother's Day

I cried this morning.  Before church.

Peter preached on Philippians 4:4-7

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.


These verses are just before Paul says this: 
Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
(Philippians 4:11-13 ESV)

That's the secret I wanted to say I knew last week.  And I couldn't.


We sang.
"I'll set my gaze on God alone,
and trust in Him completely,
with everyday pour out my soul,
and He will prove His mercy"

I cried more.  With Shamus.

Monday, May 14, 2012

Who am I becoming?  Do I get to choose? I am becoming more like Christ.  I get to choose.  My identity is primarily defined in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  When my child in my womb dies, I get a choice.  To become angry, bitter, discouraged, depressed.  Or to become more like The One Who Died For Me.  To say, "Your will be done."  The One who gave everything to love everyone.  The One who knows that many will reject Him, hate Him, yet while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.  

Oh, to love like Christ!  Do not be surprised if Shamus and I commit "too early" to loving another baby.  Do not be surprised if we "get too excited, especially after miscarrying twice".  Do not be surprised if we "put ourselves through pain" if we miscarry again.  Our hopes are UP!  Hope, that is.  For hope does not disappoint! 

Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

(Romans 5:3-5 ESV)

If we miscarry again, we can rejoice.  Which is not the same as being happy.  We can rejoice in the midst of deep sadness.

Can I say that I am content in any and every situation?  I can say that Christ died for my sins and I am redeemed and reborn and growing to be like Him and saved from eternal punishment, no matter what my situation.  And that brings joy every time I say it.

Every good and perfect gift is from above.  A child is a good and perfect gift.  If God puts another child in my womb, it will be like Christmas morning when you're 7 years old!  A gift!  The one we wanted most!  

We know that we will struggle with anxiety and fear apart from a particular miracle.  But we will refuse to struggle with love.