Pregnancy Update and Other Happenings :)

Daniel and I and our children thank you all so much for your prayers for us and our little baby boy. We've spent much time praying ourselves, asking the Lord for wisdom as we make some important decisions. We know the Lord will lead us in His time as we seek to do as He wills and it is so comforting to rest in His precious promises.
I thought I'd first give you all an update on the pregnancy and answer some questions we've been asked. I am 19 weeks along today and while I'm still having some bleeding, I've been taking my vitamins/iron and am feeling good for which I am very thankful. The doctor has given me, at this point, the "okay" to be up a little bit provided I do no housework, lifting, or a lot of walking. I am thankful as this allows me to sit in the dining room or living room as I teach the children each day, or sit outside and visit with our neighbors. Every night before I go to sleep and every morning when I first wake up, our little baby boy is quite active, and I just love every little kick (since he's small still, they don't hurt yet :) ).
We appreciate those of you who have encouraged us in saying that the placenta can move and are praying to that end. We too have asked the Lord if it be His will, that He would take away the problem as well. But due to the fact that I have had 2 big bleeds so early in the pregnancy (normally, bleeding with placenta previa doesn't happen until the end of the 2nd or beginning of the 3rd trimester), we were led to go to the hospital in La Paz and there found out what the problem is. Daniel feels the Lord was gracious in allowing us to know this early so we can seek His direction and have time to plan accordingly. It is true that many if not most placenta previas do move; the placenta doesn't actually move, but as the uterus grows, the placenta goes with it and tends to migrate over to where it should be. But with complete placent previa, especially the position of the one I have, it is very, very rare for it to move at all. So while we do know the Lord can do anything, we also want to "take care of mommy and baby" and so with the knowledge we have, we are asking for the Lord's direction.
What we do know is that if the condition stays as it is, I really need to be by a hospital that can care for me and little guy, at the latest, by 28 weeks...possibly sooner. I will put on complete bed rest around that time as well. Since the hospital here isn't prepared to give blood or care for a preemie, our options would be to either have the baby in the capitol city here or go back to our home town (Redding, CA). We are leaning toward going to the USA as we don't really know anybody in La Paz (the capitol), would have to find a place to rent ect... While in the states, we have family/friends/our church who are always such a blessing and encouragement and we would most likely need help with at least child care at some point...since we have a few children ;). But we just want to do what the Lord wants and He's always so faithful as we seek Him to guide us accordingly.
We received a few comments that we chose not to publish as they were quite sad and unkind. But I thought I'd address a couple of concerns:
*Placenta previa can show up in any pregnancy...whether you've had 0, 1, 3 or 19 children. While those who have had c-sections do tend to have more previas than those who haven't, there is a very wide variety of ladies who have had this. The doctor told me that just because you have had one pregnancy with a previa doesn't mean you will have another.

*We are thankful that this is the first high risk pregnancy I have ever had. While I had a complication during labor once with Susannah, my pregnancies have always been very easy (so to speak :) ). While the hospital here in our town is nothing like a USA hospital, we know the Lord has wanted us to have our last 3 babies here. I am very thankful that they have been able to deliver those children and for the Lord's gracious hand in caring for us.

*We've had some people tell us things as sad as we should terminate the pregnancy (kill our son) due to the risks. You know, the wonderful thing is, that even when the Lord allows difficult things into our lives, or even if things happen that are sad or we would never want, God is still God and the truth is still the truth. And while I want to be here to be a helpmeet to Daniel and mommy to our Timothy, Elijah, Rebekah, Benjamin, Abigail, Isaiah, Josiah, Noah, Susannah, Nehemiah, Eliseo, and new baby boy more than anyone else does, I know God loves me, I'm in his hand, and nothing can happen without Him allowing it. So all that being saved, please just pray for the Lord to direct us in the days ahead and of course, for mommy/baby's safety. _______________________________

Well, there is more happening in our little neck of the woods than just a pregnancy. :) My husbands brother, Jonathan, came down last week bringing Daniel a little pick up truck that a man gave us for use in the ministry here. Daniel is so very excited because he goes so many places by himself without the whole family and if he isn't walking, he has to drive the van which likes to drink a lot of gas! We are so very grateful to have this truck!
It's been a blessing to spend time with Uncle Jonathan who many of our children did not know that well. We have lived in Mexico for almost 5 years and Jonathan was in the Navy for 5 years, so even when we made it "home" to visit, we didn't see him.
He's been a tremendous help around here with the many never-ending projects, and it is especially helpful for Daniel to have another man around. There are some things that the children and I just can't do :) The other day, Uncle Jonathan, Daddy and the boys took an afternoon trip to the ocean and Uncle Jonathan speared us a big fish for supper! Our older boys have now been spending some of their free time working on making themselves a spear gun . :)___________________

SHOEBOX WEEK!!!!!
I think last count, we have received over 230 boxes! And some more have still come in this week! And don't worry, even if a box comes in "late" we will make sure to get it into the hands of a little boy or girl here once we receive it.
Thank you so much for your labor of love in putting these gifts together and your generosity in giving the postage as well to send them. I pray you will all be blessed just as much as the sweet boys and girls into whose hands we will soon place these boxes.
We want to also thank those of you who sent some special treats for our family. We were so very surprised and brightened our day. I am again and again reminded how the Lord cares about even the smallest things. We had been without baby wipes for several days last week. They were out of stock here in our little store, so we just made due. :) Then, in the middle of the week, we got a box of shoeboxes with a few extras for our family~ included was a package of diaper wipes...which lasted until our little store got some more in stock! :)
Yesterday, Daniel made his weekly visit out to the village of Jesus Maria to preach and as there are 3 children who have been coming out to each meeting with their parents, we brought 3 shoeboxes with us for them! Somebody sent their shoebox items inside of backpacks. One of the boys, Israel, travels from his little home in the middle of the desert out to the village each week to go to school. He stays with a family in the village and goes home on the weekends. Daniel has been picking up Israel's dad and mom on his way into the village each week as they want to hear the preaching too. How special it is to see Israel's face lite up each time we drive into the village with his parents. Daniel thought we should bring one of the backpack "shoeboxes" out for Isreal as he has to travel and doesn't have anything to carry his things in other than a plastic grocery bag. He was so happy. His friend that also comes to the meetings got a little train whistle and Timothy said that he ran off to play and you could hear him blowing his whistle for an hour. The little girl, Julisa, got a box with 2 little baby dolls in it and she wouldn't let them go. :)

This Friday, we go out to deliver the majority of the boxes. Daniel wants to go to the poorest area of our town and deliver them house to house. He also wants to use this as an opportunity to make contact with a new village or two. We are praying about which ones to go to. And then finally, we are having a big children's Christmas service Sunday morning and we will be giving out a box to each child who comes. If we have any left over after that, we won't have any trouble finding a home for them too :) So look forward to some pictures soon of some very special boys and girls who will be so very blessed to receive what may be their only gift this Christmas. And please, most of all, please pray for the children who receive them, that they may one day receive the greatest gift of all~ Jesus Christ!

When your sisters get you ready for bed, you just may end up with a night cap :)

Uncle Jonathan speared a fish!
Taking the shoeboxes from our bedroom and loading them into the trailer. Our bedroom now looks so empty!

Isaiah is always a very cheerful helper!

Loading them up to be given to many new homes this Friday! :)