Not the update I wanted to post today but......

So I have tons of wonderful updates from the past few weeks-We've had 3 baby showers including a surprise one from my coworkers and our wonderful small group. My best friend, Rebecca, is throwing our last one this weekend and we're so excited! 
But today, we have an update from a random doctor's appointment yesterday....I've been noticing some serious swelling just starting this week.....the following text is what I sent out to coworkers and some friends so it's pretty broken in thoughts but it will explain all the details best....

ok so when they are looking for preeclampsia in pregnancy they look for sudden swelling, extra protein in urine and certain bloodwork to come back with signs of distressed kidney and liver function
they also look for higher BP than normal
my BP has been perfect if not lower everytime I've been.....when I got in yesterday is was like 150/95 or something which is really abnormal for me....plus I had gained almost 5 lbs. in one week-obviously not all baby so i'm retaining too much fluid....thus the pain in my legs/ankles and the huge "tree trunks" i'm carrying around-they were also concerned and checking to see if any blood clots are pooling at my feet
I have something called pitting edema-basically you can press on my skin and it doesn't bounce back b/c i'm retaining too much.
so they did bloodwork which should come back today and they checked Liam-
Liam's heartbeat is perfect as always at 140 so they don't think he's in distress....but they are doing an ultrasound today as well to make sure. they just think I am having issue that would cause him to come just a tad early and we want to keep him cooking as long as we can. If he came right now technically he'd be full term but there is always a risk of lungs not being quite developed,etc. and he having to be in the NICU for a bit-we don't want that!
She also measured me and whereas my date says i'm only 36 weeks this weekend, he's actually measuring way ahead at 37 1/2 to 38 weeks....so definitely a growth spurt somewhere.....
They checked me and I'm already 1 centimeter dilated and 50% effaced-which means my cervix is thinned out-that is the most important number-I can sit at a centimeter dilated up until labor but 50% effaced at this point shows things are definitely progressing. She could feel his head yesterday but said he's still got a ways to drop down
So they had me lay down for 20 min and come back and check my BP and when they did it was normal again....thus the bed rest-obviously being on my feet and being too active right now is causing the issue so she wants me on modified bed rest right now in order to hopefully get him to sit tight for a while So basically off my feet all day and laying down-only up long enough to eat and pee-otherwise pray for poor Adam-he's gonna get the brunt of housework,etc. right now. If she sees signs of preeclampsia in my bloodwork today....then they automatically send me to the hospital and he'd have to come out-thus me being induced-not too happy about it but obviously God's plan is way different then our own right now....
The goal is to get me thru next week on bed rest and see if it helps slow down anything and then we'll reassess the induction again. She said this kind of thing happens all the time but if i had waited any longer, it could develop into something called Eclampsia which causes blackout and seizures b/c of all the symptoms. So he is healthy-mama's body is just tired and done-so we have to help support it-is how she described it.....not genetic or anything-can just come out of nowhere...so scary

So a bit of a change....and sudden but hopefully today we will know more....Please continue to pray for patience as we wait to see what our little man decides to do. For strength and patience for Adam as he leads us in a way he's never has before-he's so brave through all of this and his excitement about meeting Liam is infectious! I'll be at home on bedrest all next week-would love visitors if anyone feels the urge to stop by....just give me a call or email!
Love, 
Adam, Mandy and hopefully sooner than later, Liam

Liam's piece of the world....

We're getting close to crunch time with Liam. He's growing like a weed and a very active little boy already. At our 32 week appointment today, he is right on track for his due date and everything is perfect thus far. Over the weekend we headed to our Childbirth Prep Classes and had an awesome experience. Any fears I had are just getting easier the closer I get and Adam has been such a support during this whole process. We are in the process now of working on our birth plan and beginning to prep ourselves mentally, spiritually and emotionally for his arrival. We are both so anxious and excited to meet our little boy.
At our 4-D ultrasound we learned he's got his Grammie's nose (Grandma Stanley) and his daddy's lips. He also loves to have his thumb in his mouth and apparently finds his umbilical cord very soothing by placing it up against his face to feel the pulsating. He pushing the 4 pound mark already-I'm honestly nervously thinking he might be a BIG boy when he's ready to finally make his arrival.

 

We've also been having a great time putting his nursery together.....I can't wait for playtime in this place and rocking my little one to sleep in his chair. I am so in love already........

Sisters in Christ and in mommyhood....

Part of the past few weeks has been spent watching anxiously as 2 of my dear friends were awaiting their little ones. Annie and Elizabeth are amazing women that I am blessed to call friends. We've all come to know each other at Elevation and I have truly enjoyed being able to share this experience called pregnancy with them.

I am proud to say they both had gorgeous little girls within just a few days of each other. Annie had Miss Chloe Langdon and Elizabeth gave birth to Miss Leah Elizabeth. Both are gorgeous children who will grow to be true women of God. I am so excited to share this experience with these girls.... Here are a few pics of the most recent adventures while preparing for the babes to arrive.

Finally catching up....

Whew......what a whirlwind few weeks we've had....My last posts talked about Adam's hospital stay which I am proud to say is long behind us. We have new doctors working for Adam's care and he is on his way to new treatments and new healings.
In the meantime, we moved into a new home....we're so very happy here! We have wonderful neighbors and dear friends who are also sharing in being new parents with us and we're so looking forward to raising Liam in this place. Maggie and Buster especially love the back porch and being able to stay outside in the yard on sunny days and having more room to run. We couldn't have asked for better circumstances....we are so very blessed and somehow God just kept opening doors to get us here so we know this is where we belong for a long while.
Here are some pics of our progress on the house thus far:

Praise during our storms......

I don't even know where to start....Most of you have been following the past few days with us..what a whirlwind of emotions and unknowns. While we know that God's timing is perfect in all things, sometimes it's easier said than done to have faith in the midst of strong storms. We could not have survived the past few days without each of you.... your loving messages of hope and encouragement did more for us than anything. It means more than any of you will ever understand to know that we are surrounded by people who we not only consider family and friends but dear loved ones in a community that surrounds us. We are both forever grateful for everything...the offers of help, the visits at the hospital, the phone calls just to say hello...it helped us to not think, to live outside the moment and to breathe even if just for a moment. The whole experience was summed up best for me in a moment of weakness I had. After a long 24 hours of no sleep, I was finally given a break by Adam's family to leave the hospital and go home for a minute on Sunday afternoon...I was scared but so hopeful all at once...Adam was still bad and not showing improvement just yet and I just prayed. I prayed out loud in my car...I cried out to God to heal him in ways that we had not yet seen. I asked God to take this crutch from him and to allow him to finally be free from all of this. Free of hurt and constant health issues. And if it was not in His plan to completely heal him just yet, that He would show us ways to use this crutch to help others. To show the ability that God has to turn any situation into a positive even though we may not see it in the midst of our trial. To use our story and Adam's perseverance and incredible faith to help those who might be doubting their own. I was on my way back to the hospital for the "night" shift and suddenly this song came on the radio-I had heard it 10,000 times before but never ever truly heard it's message until that moment. The moment the chorus came on, I began weeping so hard it was hard to drive. But I was weeping not out of sorrow but with renewed strength. I came back and sat in my car in the parking lot at Mercy hospital and wept in joy and cried out the lyrics to the song in my car knowing that God would carry us through this storm and bring us to a stronger place on the other side. Just as He has so faithfully a million times before. I think my favorite line says it all....
"Every tear I've cried You hold in your hand, you've never left my side and though my heart is torn....I will praise you in this storm."

Praise You in This Storm
words by Mark Hall/music by Mark Hall and Bernie Herms
I was sure by now,God, that You would have reached down
and wiped our tears away,
stepped in and saved the day.
But once again, I say amen
and it's still raining
as the thunder rolls

I barely hear You whisper through the rain,
"I'm with you"
and as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise
the God who gives and takes away.

Chorus:
And I'll praise you in this storm
and I will lift my hands
for You are who You are
no matter where I am
and every tear I've cried
You hold in your hand
You never left my side
and though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm

I remember when I stumbled in the wind
You heard my cry to You
and raised me up again
my strength is almost gone how can I carry on
if I can't find You
and as the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain
"I'm with you"
and as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise
the God who gives and takes away

Chorus

I lift my eyes onto the hills
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth
I lift my eyes onto the hills
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth


We are not out of the woods yet...Adam and I are finally home late on Tuesday night but he still has a lot of healing to do. Continued medications as well as treatment for severe anemia is in order now as well as a bland diet and rest rest rest. I am exhausted and Liam is a bit mad at mommy for not sleeping more...he's fine-it just means he's off his sleep pattern a bit but we'll get back on track.
We are still in prayer over what the next step is with Adam's new position at CMS-obviously his job is still fine however he has to travel for training for the next 2 weeks into Rochester, NY and is supposed to fly out Friday...we're taking things day by day until we figure it out.
We can't thank you all enough-words cannot say enough....
Just know that we are praying for an outpouring of blessings for each of you....and
Love in Him,
Amanda

Late Holiday edition.....

I'm finally getting a moment to sit and talk about our holidays. We were so blessed this year as my parents and brother were able to come to Charlotte for the first Christmas here in a long time. It was so nice having everyone around....after an amazing Christmas Eve service at Elevation, we joined Adam's family for candlelight service at St. John's. And as tradition goes, we all venture to Nancy's house afterwards for soup/chili and telling Christmas stories along with a fun game of Dirty Santa with all the fam. There was so much excitement this year as well surrounding Liam being on the way soon....He got all kinds of cute stuff from his grandparents and aunts and uncles! We are so blessed! Here are some fun pics of our time together:

I want to see your face...

Liam,
It's mommy.....I know you can hear me now....I can feel you respond to my voice....I can tell you've grown so much and before I knew it I am now counting down to your arrival. Daddy turned over this morning and woke me up by saying "Happy 7 months honey...." I am so excited to be able to say that. It feels so close and everyday I am in awe of your constant growth and change even though I can't physically see you yet. You've already got quite the personality....you startle pretty easily and you love when your brother and sister, Maggie and Buster, curl up next to you on my belly. I know you'll just love playing with them and in turn, they'll be very protective of you. You are already a huge fan of great music thanks to your Daddy. We want to introduce you to this early because music is such a part of our lives already. I put headphones on my belly and I know you love dancing around to the beats even thought you have no idea the impact the lyrics are having on all of us on the outside. I stand in your room sometimes and run my fingers over the edges of your sweet little bed. I imagine our time together and how it will feel to finally be able to hold you, smell you, take you in...the life we've created....your life. You're already starting to have quite the wardrobe and you're gonna be one cute kiddo in all these outfits. Daddy is really excited about hats and tennis shoes for you....when you meet him, you'll understand why...he's quite the style maker himself and he's going to give that wonderful trait to you. You are kicking frantically in my belly right now as I type this-almost as if you feel the same way....we are so anxious for your arrival little boy...our sweet angel....you're going to be loved beyond words. Until then, just know that we're doing everything we can out here to get things ready for your arrival and to bring you in to this big world with ease. Mommy and Daddy love you monkey!