As a background for some of the highlights, we have been getting busier at work preparing for the Asia Leaders Meetings coming up in a week or so. Preparing things for the meetings and trying to get projects finished off before we leave... such as a huge mailing (300-400) of cards with inserts.
In bright color over top of this busyness, came the discovery that I'm pregnant! Long awaited and much prayed for, this is rejoicing news!
Then, Friday morning I had to spend the morning waiting for doctors and ultrasounds after a scary night... I had begun bleeding, and since I've been cramping on and off all along, we were more than a little concerned! The news was all good though: the baby is alive, no visible anomalies in utero, etc. I came home with strict instructions to rest: "pretend you're in hospital" the ob-gyn said. Easier said than done, for sure!
Having just finished settling travel plans and arrangements for Thailand (Michael was supposed to leave Tuesday, and the girls and I on Saturday) this news completely undid it all.
But more was to come. Saturday evening the bleeding and cramping returned more than before and when it didn't settle down, we decided to go to the hospital. (Don't these things always happen at night?!) Thankfully, we had people to call on for babysitting and a ride there so I didn't have to go alone.
We came home on Sunday at lunch time minus a pregnancy - in fact, the baby was already gone by the time I got an ultrasound Saturday night. A tough way to begin the week. We've all had big and little cries as we work through the loss. Needless to say, Michael didn't go to Thailand on Tuesday! We are still planning to go all together on Saturday though.
A Good Things List:
Many of our colleagues, who are more often than not out of country were here to help - which they have done wonderfully and unasked for with
late night babysitting,
showing up at the hospital to wait with Michael,
groceries,
meals,
telling people so we don't have to over and over explain,
love...
Grace and Jasmin were not at all bothered to wake up to no Mom and Dad rather a lady they see once in a long while!
the resilience of kids to mourn hard all up front then go on playing happily (though their play often includes pregnancies and dying babies)
Happened here and not while we were in Bangkok
Happened over a weekend so people freer to help
Having told of our pregnancy early, we easily shared this hurt
Discovering the healing qualities of loving community during hard times: so often our hurts we have not been able to share - but this time we could
Discovering that we belong to a community here after all!
space to mourn - no work asked of us despite the need
good hospital care
hope for another - nothing wrong with Mommy
an awareness of the connectedness of events: God's planning
our friends, Shinji's family, also got help during their parallel tough time of sickness and moving preparations (they also were put on the list to receive meals for a few days when they were asked to make a meal for us!)
and many other things too, I'm sure
Many of our colleagues, who are more often than not out of country were here to help - which they have done wonderfully and unasked for with
late night babysitting,
showing up at the hospital to wait with Michael,
groceries,
meals,
telling people so we don't have to over and over explain,
love...
Grace and Jasmin were not at all bothered to wake up to no Mom and Dad rather a lady they see once in a long while!
the resilience of kids to mourn hard all up front then go on playing happily (though their play often includes pregnancies and dying babies)
Happened here and not while we were in Bangkok
Happened over a weekend so people freer to help
Having told of our pregnancy early, we easily shared this hurt
Discovering the healing qualities of loving community during hard times: so often our hurts we have not been able to share - but this time we could
Discovering that we belong to a community here after all!
space to mourn - no work asked of us despite the need
good hospital care
hope for another - nothing wrong with Mommy
an awareness of the connectedness of events: God's planning
our friends, Shinji's family, also got help during their parallel tough time of sickness and moving preparations (they also were put on the list to receive meals for a few days when they were asked to make a meal for us!)
and many other things too, I'm sure
