Just one week

[Just slipping in for a quick hello...]

As we were driving to church this morning I was reflecting on all that has changed in our lives in just one week.

Last week on the way to church I was fully pregnant.
This week I am no longer pregnant.

Last week I was wearing maternity clothes.
This week I was wearing regular clothes.

Last week we had an empty seat in the van.
This week our infant seat was buckled in with a tiny cutie inside of it.

Last week we wondered if the baby was a boy or a girl.
This week we held our baby girl.


Last week we got four children ready for church.
This week we got five children ready for church.

Last week I wasn't breastfeeding.
This week I am. [And, um... Ouch. I'd forgotten how sore new breastfeeding-breasts are. And Audra is a vigorous little nurser with a strong suck. Yipes!]

Last week they announced the birth of a new baby during church.
This week they announced the birth of OUR baby during church.

Last week my water broke at church.
This week I held our Audra in church.

One week.

It's been wonderful. I am sore, exhausted, emotional, and quite honestly feeling a bit overwhelmed at the prospect of these two littlest ones needing mama so much of the time-- and yet, I am so incredibly grateful, joyful and content.


A good friend of ours has organized meals for us for these first two weeks, and several have also delivered freezer meals.

Mark has two full weeks off, and then works part-time for the next two (how wonderful is that? I know it. I am so blessed.)

My mom has been over every.single.morning to help with the laundry, the dishes, the cleaning, the kids... whatever needs to be done. And that has been a HUGE blessing. This is the first time I've had regular help after the birth of a baby- and it has been *wonderful*.

Ella, Isaac and Adelia have been sick all week long (the congested, coughing variety), so that has been a little extra taxing. We are hoping and praying that Audra won't get sick, and trying to keep the kids as separate as we can without making too much fuss over it. Mark has held off until today, and now he's feeling sick, too. We'd love your prayers for health in our home!

I can't wait to tell you the whole birth story. I'm working on it-- in little snatched moments, here and there. [Fewer and farther between, those moments.]

Thank you all for rejoicing with us in the birth of our Audra. She is precious, and we are so grateful for yet another gift from God. I wept this morning in church as we sang a song with words from Psalm 30:

You have turned my mourning into dancing,
You have turned my sorrow into joy.

The tears fell because I well remember being in that same building, years ago-- worshiping through tears, and praying for God to answer our heart's desire for children.

And this morning? Surrounded by them.
Our first: a delightful seven-year old Ella, tall with a blonde braid down her back.
Our second: a sweet five-year old Isaac, lean and smiling.
Our third: our adopted nearly-four-year old Isaias, standing straight and handsome.
Our fourth: our adopted one-year old Adelia, beautiful and snuggly in mama's arms.
And now, our fifth: lovely little one-week old Audra, cuddled in her proud papa's arms until mama was able to pry her away for the last five minutes of service.


Every single one of our children: given by God in His perfect timing.

My heart is so full, friends.