Christmas Morning

MS Update

I am writing this post to thank all of you who have been praying for me. I had an appointment with my neurologist this morning and received some great news....my MS has not progressed at all since my first brain MRI last March!!!! Praise the Lord!

Being pregnant with Grace did in fact protect my body from any further damage to my brain or spine. I must admit, I was a little worried when I found out I was expecting Grace last April. I had just been diagnosed, ready to begin treatment, and God surprised us with another baby.

Jordan was so certain that God was going to use this pregnancy to protect my body. It was hard for me to wrap my head around it at the time because all I could think was, "How will I be able to care for another baby when I feel so awful?" But I had to stop worrying because the situation was out of my hands. God had given us another baby and there was nothing that would change that.

I immediately began to ask the Lord for His grace to help me trust what He was doing. I knew, and know now, that God was over it all. He had a plan, and He was going to use Grace to accomplish it.

We quickly found out that pregnancy and MS are great for each other. Pregnancy offers a lot of the same results that different MS drugs do. So being pregnant was like treatment for nine months, but in the end I had a wonderful, sweet baby girl to show for it. It was also great timing to be pregnant because it bought us some time to be certain that Tysabri is the drug I want to go with.

Jordan immediately said that if this baby was a girl we should name her Grace. He was certain it was God's grace being extended to us during that very hard time last Spring. He was certain God would protect my body, and He did.

We were so excited leaving the doctor's office this morning. I had been a little scared to hear of my recent MRI results, but after hearing my doctor say that everything looks good, and that I am ready for treatment, it was like a giant weight had been lifted off my chest.

But it wouldn't be right if I didn't give God all the glory for the news we received today. He has been the one leading us, and answering the prayers of so many. He has been with us every single step of this journey. He has brought us closer to Him. He has used this trial to transform my faith and my prayer life. He has made me a better and stronger person through this.

We give God the glory, and are trusting Him for more answered prayer!

Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. James 1:2-8

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:4-7

A Sweet Time

It will be four weeks tomorrow since we welcomed Grace into our family. Since then, the older three have been in and out of the house, spending a lot of time in Beaufort.

It has been a nice break. I feel like I have been able to get some much needed rest, and I really have been able to get to know Grace. I have been able to respond to her every need. I now know her cries. I know when she is tired, hungry or happy. I know her daily routine (for the most part). In some ways it has felt like I am a first time mom, having only one to care for.

It was also a great time for the older three to spend extra time with Amma, Granddaddy, and Aunt GraceAnna because I started treatment last week. It wasn't the "real" treatment that I will be doing on a monthly basis, just a three day steroid treatment to keep my body from having a relapse. The relapse rate is high in postpartum women, so the doctor wanted to treat my body before an attack could happen.

I was nervous. I didn't want the steroids. I was worried about the side effects.

But, once again, God was so faithful to answer our prayers and the prayers of our family and friends. With the exception of the first day, I felt terrific. I had energy during the day, but would crash at night. Even little Grace started sleeping 6-8 hour stretches the night of my first treatment, and she has been since! Praise the Lord! God is so good.

During the past four weeks I have had a lot of time to pray. Having a nursing baby has always been a sweet time for me. Those night time feedings allow me to get close with the Lord. There are so many things that go through my mind in the middle of the night. I am able to have devoted times of prayer for my husband and each one of my children. The Lord brings others to mind, and He always brings things to my mind that need to be done, changed, or incorporated into our family life. It is truly an awesome time.

I feel like my relationship with the Lord always grows deeper with each baby, which I am thankful for because I know I will need the Holy Spirit's help this year! I want this year to be filled with devotion to the Lord. I want to be shaken to my core with the things of God's word. I want to be more knowledgeable of the Bible at the end of this year. I am asking the Lord for a great year.

I want to have lots of joy in our home. Lots of laughter. Sweet times with each of our children. I don't want to miss out on the every day moments that take place in a house with four children under five. I know I will only be able to achieve this if I am walking close to our Lord. I need to be sensitive to the Spirit's leading. I want to be.

Last year was tough, but I don't write it off as a year to forget. In some ways it was the most difficult year of my life, but it was through the trials I faced that my faith became rock solid. So I am thankful for 2011. Yes, it was hard at times, but God sure did put a happy ending to the year by blessing us with Grace Catherine!

"Bless the LORD, O my soul,
And all that is within me, bless His holy name.
Bless the LORD, O my soul,
And forget none of His benefits;
Who pardons all your iniquities,
Who heals all your diseases;
Who redeems your life from the pit,
Who crowns you with lovingkindness and compassion;" ~ Psalm 103:1-4

Jack, Luke, and Claire will be home today! I am excited to see them, and I know they are excited to see us and their new sister!

Grace Catherine

Grace was starting to get tired by the end so we had to put her pacifier in!


This is one of my favorites!

My sweet friend Brooke came over and took some adorable shots of Grace. I will only be sharing two because I haven't decided which one I am going to use for her birth announcement!

Thank you, Brooke!