Easter....Baby??

Easter weekend was quite an eventful weekend! Since we are officially on Baby Watch 2009, both our respective families decided to stay and/or come to the Houston area for the holiday. We were so blessed to spend great time with the Blundells and the Jones crew. The families were hoping for an 'Easter Baby' given the latest progress.



I have tried to remain very guarded in my expectations for Caris' arrival. It's hard to prepare for the possibility of an early arrival while also balancing the idea that she could still hold out for a few more weeks. Garrett and I did not think that our 'Easter Baby' was possible, even though there were several signs indicating that it could be in the cards.


So....Sunday morning at around 2:00 a.m. I started having pretty regular and painful contractions. I have had several episodes of contractions over the past few weeks that lasted for a few hours, so I figured it was much of the same. Around 7:00 a.m. the contractions became less than 5 minutes apart and after over an hour of that, I called the doctor and they directed me to the hospital to be monitored and checked. I was kind of in disbelief as I thought there was no way that this could all be happening after all the speculation of the Easter baby! But I followed all the instructions and all signs pointed to labor, so we trekked up to the hospital. They got me all hooked up to the monitors and contractions were pretty consistent at 2 minutes apart for the next hour. However, I had not progressed enough to be considered in active labor, so they sent me home. (With dishcarge papers directing me to return when my contractions were 2 minutes apart....??) I had contractions for the next 6 hours that were about every 2 minutes. But no Easter baby! Sweet Caris gave it her best shot to come meet everyone :) She wanted to be part of the celebration.


Our doctor's appointment on Monday indicated that progress has been made to the point that there is no more to be made other than to have this baby! So here we are, wondering if that will be hours, days, or weeks. It feels strange to be in this holding pattern of waiting and speculating. This week of hospital visits, doctor's updates, work, and continued baby preparations have begun to take their toll on this momma. I am so grateful to have the continued support and presence of my family and we know that Caris will arrive on God's perfect timing.


My sweet husband just sent me a message containing the statement 'Your body's sacrifice will soon reveal its joy'. The truth in this not only offered great comfort for my current circumstance but also serves as a wonderful conclusion to our 'Easter baby'. The sacrifice made for us on this day exemplifies this sentiment. Jesus did exactly that; sacrificed his body for the hope that we may all experience the joy that is salvation in Him and in our relationship with our Creator. I am so thankful that I am able to experience one of God's most perfect creations in the form of the new little life we are about to meet and am humbled by the bodily sacrifice Christ made for me so that I may live a new life in Him. I am truly overwhelmed by the joy bestowed on us through 'sacrifice' . Easter. Baby.