My precious little boy is sleeping ever so peacefully right now, so I thought it a good time to write a little update. :) I have been overwhelmed by the messages, phone calls and texts that I've received from so many of you prayer warriors out there! All I can say is THANK YOU so much!! Your prayers are definitely appreciated and working! God has given me such a peace this past week. I was an emotional wreck after learning about Micah's heart condition and could barely talk to anyone about it without crying. In fact, I avoided phone calls from family because I knew that I was going to be a blubbering mess while trying to talk to them (I think we can blame at least some of this on post partum hormones). But, my spirit has been lifted and I know that it is all because of the Lord and you wonderful people that have been praying on our behalf.

This has also humbled me in a lot of ways. Reading messages and comments from so many people that are praying for Micah and his healing, has made me think about how many times I take a moment to write and encourage others that I know are going through a trial. Not a lot, to be honest. I often fail at praying for and reaching out to my closest friends. Yet, here I am receiving messages and phone calls from people that I've never even met! Wow. Thank you for showing me the love of Christ in such a powerful way.

We have also been blessed by our church families. And yes, I mean that plurally.

Josh and I have been a part of three different churches in the four years we've been married. This wasn't by our own intention - wherever God calls us to go, we go. And though it's been hard to leave the friendships we've made, the blessing comes now - when we need prayer, those church families are reaching out to let us know they care. That is truly what the body of Christ is about! So thank you to our FaithBridge family, Watermark family and Church @ the Springs family.

We go tomorrow for another appointment with the pediatric cardiologist at Shands. They will do another echo and monitor Micah's development so far. I'm no doctor, but this boy can eat! And I'm pretty sure he's gained a least a pound since birth. Maybe that's just the motherly sentiment in me that feels like "he's already growing up so fast!" But really, he is.

I met my son.

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It was the day after Labor day (my due date) when I went in for my weekly checkup with the doctor. She started off by saying, "He's not here YET?!" And then assured me that many women are now going at least a week past their due date and to be prepared for that. I was patient. Ready for her to check me and send me home again to wait.

But, not this time.

She checked me, eyes wide saying, "Have you been having contractions today?" I had. But I had been for weeks by then -- and I told her that. She told me she wasn't sure that I wasn't in labor "RIGHT NOW," that I was 5-6cm, completely effaced with a bulging water and needed to head to the hospital. I wasn't hurting too bad before we walked in for the appointment, but walking out I began to have pain. Josh's parents were already with us, our bags had been packed for a couple weeks, so we drove straight to the hospital while I called my family and got the news out that we would be having a baby soon!

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We arrived at the hospital around 3:30pm. I was hooked up to a bunch of IV's and given the instruction that I would be waiting on my doctor to come over and break my water for me - if it didn't break before then on it's own. We sat and waited, took some pictures and Josh started the playlist of music we prepared for my labor. Around 5:30pm, the doctor came in and broke my water (weirdest thing ever!) and since my "contractions" weren't progressing me any, they gave me some Pitocin to get things going. I didn't notice much of a difference between the "Pitocin contractions" and my "contractions" at first. When the nurse asked me for a number on the pain scale "if and when" I would want an epidural -- I told her 7 (our room number, which also happens to be the number for completion according to Scripture, seemed perfect). At this point, my pain level was a 3 - so she turned up the Pitocin dosage.

And THEN I got to 7 real fast!

Literally. I was 7-8cm next time she checked me and the pain was definitely at least a 7!! I was handling the contractions internally, humming and trying to concentrate on the music to help soothe me. But it was definitely the worst pain I've ever experienced. And all of a sudden I understood what nurses and doctors meant when they told me that I wouldn't be able to "walk or talk" through active labor contractions. Josh looked at me and asked if I wanted an epidural - I told him, "Don't ask me that! Of course, I am going to say YES!" Haha. He knew I was hurting and couldn't bear to see it. I hesitated having an epidural because I wanted to experience labor pains for myself and I didn't want to slow down the progress I had already made. But one more contraction hit and Josh was out the door asking for the nurse to get it ready. I love him for that.

The epidural was a breeze. I was scared of the needle - but by the time it came, I was having a contraction anyway and didn't even feel it! Talk about relief. The contractions with the epidural were exactly like the ones I had been having for weeks - painless tightening and nothing more. The best part is I only had the epidural in my system for about 30 minutes before I was dilated to a 10 and ready to push!

Pushing started a little after 9pm. I expected no pain, but unfortunately this was the most painful part of the whole experience for me. Mostly exhausting. I pushed for an hour and 20 minutes before receiving the best gift I could ever ask for! Micah.

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10:33pm, 8.1lbs and 20.5 inches long.

He was just beautiful. And perfect. I was shaking all over and feeling tremendous pain, but I didn't care. Micah was the best pain medicine ever. His eyes were wide open and he was gazing at me and Josh like he already knew us. Oh, the love.

My recovery took quite a bit of time - and I held my baby boy for most of it. When they finally took him from me, I had a few moments alone in the delivery room to just thank God for this precious gift. He was the child I had prayed for.

The night went on as the outpouring of love from our family flooded our room. It was a beautiful sight. (Me, on the other hand, not so much! ha) I couldn't sleep and just stayed awake until around 3am looking at him. They finally came to take him back to the nursery to do some routine check ups, and I rested about an hour.

So many nurses were in and out that night/day... whatever it was... telling me so many things. About my personal recovery and about Micah's health. They said he appeared absolutely healthy! It wasn't until the following day that we were told that they heard a heart murmur. But even then, they brushed it aside saying this was very common and he had no other signs of problems. On the day of our discharge, they could still hear the murmur and recommended that we see a cardiologist to follow up with it. We were, of course, worried -- but so reassured by how healthy and perfect he appeared that we couldn't possibly believe this was a murmur that would affect him.

Yesterday we had our appointment at Shands and were told that Micah has two holes in his heart. One is very small and will not be a problem for him, but the other is a VSD and is medium to large and can cause problems over time, starting in as little as four weeks. They said he’s going to need open heart surgery to fix it and they want him to grow as much as possible before then. The ideal time for surgery would be 3-6 months, but they could do it now if it was necessary.

I won't lie to you. I am a wreck over this. Emotional, can't even describe how I'm feeling. But my only hope is in my Lord who saw it fit to even bless us with this child in the first place. I know Micah is here for a reason and if this heart defect and surgery is going to be a way for God to show Himself through us - then so be it. We want to make Jesus known to this world. We desire to leave a legacy through Micah and any future children that we may have.

One thing, the doctor said he's never seen a VSD hole Micah's size close on it's own. So right now, that's my prayer - God, show them a miracle.

Here's a highlight video my husband made from Micah's first week!

I am sitting here 39 weeks and 2 days pregnant, typing with my swollen hands and trying to find a comfortable, elevated position for my ankle-less feet. It's a bad day when my feet are so swollen that I can't put my shoes on (happened just yesterday). Of course, I knew this was all part of it. The joys of pregnancy! And I am truly so glad and thankful to be experiencing these moments firsthand. Since we moved halfway through this pregnancy, there are a lot of new friends we've made that don't know the story and journey behind our wonderful blessing. I thought it might be a good time, seeing I don't know how many more chances I will get to sit down and write before Micah's arrival, to recap what God has done in our lives and how excited we are to look back on His faithfulness and perfect timing!

It doesn't seem like almost a year ago, that I was impatiently waiting in a doctor's office to find out what could be a life-altering diagnosis. It doesn't seem like almost a year ago, that I underwent a surgery to remove endometriosis (an embryo-toxic condition). And it surely doesn't seem like just 9 months ago... that we were blessed with the amazing news that we would soon be parents!

If I only knew then what I know now - there would be less tears, less worries.

But those tears and worries produced a dependence in me to rely on the true Giver and Sustainer of life. If pregnancy came easily for us, who knows how my attitude toward it would have been. I want to say I would be just as grateful for these swollen hands and feet. But God used the waiting as a time to work in my heart and mold me into the woman and mother that He desired me to be.

I'm ready, Lord. Thank you for preparing my heart for this.

I want to leave you all with a song that speaks so perfectly about this season of waiting. I know there are others of you out there, waiting... maybe for a child or something else, but I want to encourage you with this little reminder from one of my favorite singer-songwriters, Bethany Dillon.

"He can do more in my waiting, than in my doing I could do."

I am waiting on You, I am waiting on You. You say You’re good to those who wait.

My heart’s discouraged, So I come to You expectant. You say You’re good to those who wait.

Lord, today You know what I need to do, But You can do more in my waiting than in my doing I could do. So I won’t run anymore. I’m waiting on You.

Oh, wretched man that I am! Free me from my distractions. You say You’re good to those who wait.

Then confession and repentance Find me in the quiet. You say You’re good to those who wait. Now I know You’re good to those who wait.

Lord, today You know what I need to do, But You can do more in my waiting than in my doing I could do. So I won’t run anymore. I’m waiting on You.

Oh, my soul, Wait on the Lord. Keep your lamp filled with oil. Oh, my soul, Be not deceived! Wait for Him. Don’t be quick to leave.

Lord, today You know what I need to do, But You can do more in my waiting than in my doing I could do. So I won’t run anymore. I’m waiting on You.