Dear friends,
Thursday morning has come to Mindoro, and once again I am typing away, with you on my mind, as I lay in my little hospital bed that is suspiciously filled with small hungry ants. There are three geckos playing on my wall and hiding behind the curtains, and cats wandering the corridors down-stairs, but other than the humorous differences that separate my hospital from what most of you are used you, I am being well cared for, and am so thankful for that.
Yesterday afternoon I was taken by stretcher for a second ultrasound, and once again tears filled our eyes as we heard our perfect baby's strong heartbeat and saw him (or her) continuing to wiggle and squirm. We were praying that the bleeding had stopped, and the mass of blood clots had not grown. The measurements were exactly the same, and my cervix was not further dilated. We are praising Jesus! So far none of the clots have passed, and we are praying that they dissolve and absorb rather than pass at all.
I continue to have strong contractions.
My blood count yesterday indicated that I most likely have a viral infection, and my fever continues. It also shows that my red blood cell count is low from the blood loss, but unless it continues to drop, we are not yet considering a blood transfusion.
I am ordered to continue to be on complete bed-rest, indefinitely, and to just wait.
France leaves today to make the two hour trip home to be with Jules for the night... it will comfort us both immensely to have even one of us be able to snuggle her. One of our staff, Ate' Cora has come to stay with me for the night in the hospital.
France and I starting this new day by thanking God for life, again. Life. A vapor, a mist, utterly uncontrolled by us, but perfectly held by our God who simply breathes and dead things rise again.
I am reading in Isaiah chapter 40 verses 11-12. “God will feed His flock like a shepherd, gathering His lambs into His arms, and carrying them close to His chest. He gently leads those who are with young. He has measured the seas in the hollow of His hand, and measured the heavens with the width of His hand. He has calculated the dust of the earth with a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales and the hills in a balance...”
I do not pretend to know the thoughts of God, as they are so incomprehensibly above my primitive ones, but I know His promises, and they are good. I do not pretend to know the plans of God, but I know that He tells us when we follow Him, the pieces all fit together for good, and not to harm us.
We continue to wait, but we restfully wait--- not with baited breaths or anxious hearts, but trusting the hands that hold us.
Thank you for praying, for battling with us, for loving us. Please continue. We are praying blessings over each one of you today,
France, Leah, Jules, and tiny baby.