And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up. Tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders. Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
Deuteronomy 6:5-9

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Introducing Anna Marie

Our miracle was born November 19th weighing in at 7 lbs. 13 oz. 21 in.


After birth Anna was having trouble breathing with a host of other little problems. She was flown by jet to Children's Hospital in Little Rock. She has been there for 5 1/2 days. She has had some seizures but is not now on meds that seem to be controlling them well. More tests are on the way. We came home today to spend Thanksgiving with Livy. The docs and nurses are WONDERFUL at Children's. Anna is in SUPER hands!! We will be going back on Friday to spend another week there. We pray that she will get to come home soon. We know that God is asking us to trust Him again with the miracle he gave us. We trust and know that He is in control and will never leave us. God has spoken this verse over and over to me over the past 9 months, and even stronger now.

Psalm 46:10
Be still, and know that I am God.

I sense his presence so strongly right now. Like he is literally holding my hand.

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Oh Christmas Tree

We put up our Christmas tree last weekend. I wanted to get it done before Anna was born. Oh the fun of a box!




It was interesting putting up the tree. The past two years she didn't really know what to think. This is the first year I think she really gets what's going on. She was lots of fun and help. Although the bottom ornaments never seem to stay in the same place. Hmmmm...

Sunday, November 15, 2009

John to the Rescue!!!

Yesterday we were trying to put our Christmas tree and the base that holds the tree up broke. He build a new one today. Go John !! Livy was excited!! Here's what he constructed. He's so smart!!

Reflecting on God's Goodness

These 9 months have flown by (however the past three weeks, slow!). Looking back and seeing what God has done for Anna and and what he has done in us has been amazing! Over the past 9 months he has taught us to trust in Him alone. I think back to when I was 11 weeks a doctor (not ours!!) told us that he was 95% sure that I had miscarried her. We hadn't even had an ultrasound yet to confirm that, but some how I had a peace that God was in control and he was going to take care of us. Truthfully, I didn't even want to go back the next day and have the ultrasound, but we did go anyway of course. I can't even describe the feelings I had when I saw a living, kicking baby and her little heart beating like crazy on the screen. God is good! Of course, He still would have been good even if she had of died, but we rejoice that He has the final authority and knows more than any doctor. After that we anticipated another healthy pregnancy like we had with Livy (a couple of scares with her in the beginning too, but after that she was great!!). Of course we can't see down the road and God was going to ask us to trust Him again.

When we found out at 19 weeks that we were going to have another baby girl we were thrilled. Of course, John was praying for a son, but he was happy with whatever God decided to give us. After I had my ultrasound we went in to see our doctor and he said that the baby had fluid in the chest cavity. He thought it was caused by a hole in her diaphragm, possibly a hernia. When they he said we will have to refer you to the Angels program at UAMS I was flipping out on the inside (really!). It was a horrible feeling to not be able to physically see and fix it myself. After a few months of tests and ultrasounds she still had the fluid and they had no explaination of why it was even there. Through that whole process God was teaching us to trust Him as we did before when we thought she was gone. He was telling me that he can see and take care of her better than any doctor because HE made her. My OB doc told me that sometimes these things will clear up on there own. He has seen children come in with very serious health problems and then they clear up on there own. By the way..praise God that our doc. is a Christian and told me that God is the one who heals those children and the funny part is that the docs in Little Rock are totally amazed and stunned when children's health problems are healed unexplained. Hello! That the kind of amazing real God was have!!! After trips to Little Rock, more doctors, ultrasounds, and blood tests; we resolved to trust Him again and believe that he was going to take care of this. That's what happened with our Anna. In October, on John's birthday no less, I had another ultrasound here in town and they said her fluid was gone. "They say" apparently I had a virus and so she had the virus and that's what caused the fluid around her heart. Well, I believe God healed her. They didn't even know what was wrong anyway. I think I trust God on this one! Trust is still a factor today. During my 36 week ultrasound he saw just a little fluid still there. We don't know why it has come back, but we know that we are to trust him again. I have no problem with that. I'm trusting that she will be fine.

Right now, I'm trying to fathom that we are going to have her either this week or next Monday. John and I go in Tuesday to pick a date for sure. I'm also trying to fathom having two girls. One almost three and a newborn. Seems like just yesterday we had Olivia. My how time does fly. I have said it before "when life gives you lemons, God is still good." Reflecting as been sweet! I can't wait to hold our Anna Marie. Thank you Jesus for being so faithful!

Thursday, November 12, 2009

BIG Sisters

And what a super BIG sis she will be! I love my girls!!

Also....We got some great news last night! My brother Jason and sis-in-law Buffy (she is like another sister really..) found out they were having a girl. YAY another girl!! Our girls will be only 5 months apart and super friends. All these girls in the Spencer family.....what will Papa Bill do??
Bethany will be a great sis too!!

Thank You Amy!!

Thanks to the lovely styling of my friend and hairdresser Ms. Amy Jines, Livy and I have good hair!! YAY! Okay, Anna NOW you can come. Momma's got good hair! Hey, it's necessary!!




Tuesday, November 10, 2009

37 Weeks


Yesterday was my doc appointment. I'm dilated 3 cm and 50% effaced. Dr. Lawrence said considering all that Anna has gone through and how "favorable my uterus is" he wants to induce at 38 1/2 weeks. He wants to get an echo cardiogram on her when she is delivered to see about the small amount of fluid that still may be there. Which means I only have a week and a half to go! I'm ready. Momma is tired and I hurt! At my 38 week app on next Tues. we will set a date to induce. Of course, Anna could choose to grace us with her presents sooner. She was REALLY LOW!! Doc said she has hair. Hmmm, go figure. Hope she doesn't fall out before I can get to the hospital!!! I told myself I wasn't going to worry about that. God does have it all planned out for me. He has everything under control.

Got a praise!! Not really on "moderate bed rest" anymore. He told to take it easy and use common sense. So I have been up doing and when I get tired I sit for a while. But I'm thankful my hubby and family is still helping!

My Mom may come this week to help out again. I'm looking forward to that!! I could use the extra rest. Love my Mom!

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Family Pics

These are some of my faves. I posted most of them on my Facebook page.

36 Weeks

About to pop! She fighting to get out! Quite the mover.

Baby Anna In 3D

It's not the best picture in the world (taken by a cell phone). But it's a great pic of her nose! At least you can make out the face. My ultrasound said my due date is Nov. 28th. Since that's the most accurate that's what they are going by. I'm right on target. We'll see what little girl does in the next three weeks or so....