Safe place.

Andrew and I took this picture Saturday. One of my dearest friends Mandy of La Bella Vita Photos did this final edit for me. Is is not perfect? This is the perfect portrait to remember Isaac's safe place, his safe time with me. And do I not have the most perfect grade school friend in my corner right now?

I have gotten nothing done today, when that should not be an option. I have to admit I feel like I am in shock, and in denial still. Can it really be my baby's time is coming to an end? In the midst of feeling like this sacrifice was going to last a lift time, it's about to end. And the worst is yet to come. Watching my baby die in my arms.

Lord, be with me now. Lord, carry me, my sweet husband, and tender children. We cannot do it alone.

Slipping away....

My husband and I took these pictures together today. I'm going to miss this belly. All the stretch marks will remain, but my sweet child won't be alive there any more. I feel like time is running out, slipping away faster then I can grasp it. My heart fully realizes the immense sacrifice that is coming. My heart aches in a different way.

For now we prepare, we wait, we sob, we dream, we hope..... We know Wednesday will be here all together too soon.

We'll welcome our sweet baby Isaac into our arms just like we have done our others, and some how.... some how God remains the same, and life moves on.... even if it drags us behind.

Baby is coming.....

Dear Family and Friends,

We wanted to let you know the latest development with our sweet baby Isaac.

I had my doctors appointment on Tuesday where I measured 40 weeks along, instead of 33 weeks. I had an ultrasound today, and had my fluid levels measured inside the womb. A normal fluid level is 25. A high/at risk fluid level is considered up to 35. My fluid level is 44. The baby is scheduled to be delivered on Wednesday, the 8th, by c-section. Our time with him will be extremely limited. The specialist said they will be ready with oxygen and will help him along as much as possible, so that we will get (God willing) to spend a few minutes with our child, while he is alive. We are in shock over how quickly this is happening.

We expect that the funeral will be held in Springville, Utah, on Monday the 13th, a private viewing beginning at 11am. I will be meeting with a funeral director with in the next day or so, so that we can make our casket and program selections.

Between many, many tears, we feel calm as we complete this sacrifice for Heavenly Father.

We'll be in touch. Email any questions or concerns, or contact us by phone.

We love you,

Misty and Family

Most Important....

First things first.

Please visit my friend Holly's blog: http://carleighmckenna.blogspot.com . She gave birth to her sweet Carleigh last week, and is in the midst of preparing her sweet angel child's burial. She needs support - - and I think she should have all that we can give her. She is a woman full of grace and courage. Tell her so. She deserves to hear it.

Which leads me to my next topic.

How on earth do women do it? How do women bare children, and hand them back to our God quickly after? My heart has ached for this sweet mother, and in the back of my mind, I know I am weeks away from the same journey.

How do these sweet mothers go on to have the same faith in the same God to, in the future, deliver them a healthy baby again, down the road? Yet one of my closest and dearest friends had a healthy baby after Anencephaly a couple months ago. God remains the same, as should our faith, but I'll admit to my sweet Jesus, I am quickly exhausting. The sadness is more this week. A reminder of what stands to come. May God carry us all through it, is my humble prayer this evening. Please let it be yours, too.

Pink. Green. Maybe a little brown.

Oh friends. Don't you love pictures when they depict that motherhood suits you? This is me and Hannah - - YEARS ago, yet it still remains one of my favorites.

Now.... the last couple weeks.... I cannot tell you how many loads of vomit wash I have done, how many pink (infected) eyes I have washed out, noses I have wiped and de-clogged, fevers I've tested and medications I have administered. Holy freaking crap.

And now.

Now for the best part. I caught it. Caught it all. Even the pink-pussy-eyes. Do I hear an "ewwwwwwww"? Because really? Spell it with me. I look N-A-S-T-Y. Days upon days of about 2 hours of sleep per night does wonders for you..... NOT. Sleepless nights do, however, do wonders for my nerves AND my eye bags. Sleepless nights some how keep me from showering. I won't even tell you how many days it's been. Oh, Ladies.... what a rough week or so. But now, a Z-pack and lots of codeine cough syrup later, I feel 40% better. I am on the mend. Praise God. Seriously. I am not being sarcastic. I'm not cut out to be sick, nor am I cut out to be the "tender" of all those that are sick. Not my strong point.

It's dawned on me this week that I have 5 1/2 to 7 1/2 weeks to prepare for Isaac's arrival. Just those short weeks to plan his burial and memorial. Those weeks to plan for more photographs, packing my hospital bag, getting the children situated at school. The time has flown. Seriously it has. I have been reminded this week that no matter how huge this trial is to me, it is also a sacred honor to make this sacrifice for my Father in Heaven. I know we all believe so differently, but this I know to be true. God lives. He is real. His plan for our eternal progression is real. This child I am carrying is perfect. He is exempt from a life on this earth. Although we are desperate to keep him, I am willing to help create his body, allow for his breath of life, and will humbly pass him back to our Maker. This child will grow in the here-after, and there will be day that he is mine again. I will know him and love him. There is a great peace in following the plan which God has set before me. As much as my heart aches and my mind grieves, I have faith that there will be more children for me. There is happiness ahead. There is peace and understanding to be gained. As for now, I will cherish and enjoy each movement from my sweet child, and will cherish and love him for what ever amount of time God chooses to give me with him. I will look for the peace that surpasses all understanding, and will continue to believe I am walking hand in hand with the Savior, to give this sweet little perfect boy just what he needs.

Listen and Learn.

I know I've posted about this video before, and I tend to stay away from watching it because I sob until my whole body aches.

But.

Listen to the words of this song. It touches your soul in a tender way, and truly describes my feelings. Makes me want to dig my guitar out and write a song, such as this, like I used to.

Downhill.

I have found, through the last 8 weeks, that it is amazing what one can learn to live with. Some days I feel like I am sailing along, getting by, and some days I feel like I merely exist. I found myself feeling low today, and feeling the gravity of the situation, when some days I don't. I had the children out shopping with me tonight - the girls especially were in need of some new spring and summer clothing, which I have been ignoring the last few weeks. I came across the most darling piece of clothing for a baby boy, and I almost bought it, and then immediately thought "why bother". At some point, the preparation has to hault, and the realization has to come that I don't get to plan and shop for this baby like I have for the others. And while I hate to admit it, it's true. This child does not need the amount of clothing my other children have needed, this baby is going to die. And standing there, round as can be, thinking that in the store made my heart ache so. I want this baby so bad. So bad it hurts. I want to raise him, love him, feed him, rock him, sing to him, hold him, burp him, dress him, bathe him just like I have my other children. I want my baby to live. I want to feel joy every time he moves, but I feel reminded that although my child is moving, he is lacking the greater part of this brain. And along with that, I feel the exhaustion that not only comes from grieving, but from being pregnant. I can't eat, I can't sleep as well as I want, my body aches, my ribs hurt, my back hurts, I am tired of giving myself injections because my insulin levels are so off because of the constant stress I feel. I want to feel excited for the baby to be born, but I feel so frightened that he might not live long enough to bring him home, which is my most secret wish. I am afraid of how I am going to feel once the baby is born, and dies. I'm afraid to get pregnant again, although I want to, more then anything else in the world. I'm afraid to put my whole faith in knowing I'll bear a healthy child again. I still feel frustrated at the great lack of support I long for from my family and Andrew's, and I worry that this is going to change my relationship with some individuals forever. I don't know how to go back, and realize that I never can. Our lives somehow are being molded by our Maker and some day we'll know and understand why. I am willing to serve the Lord in this way, but every day I feel more inadequate to fulfill this sacrifice. Oh how we love this child and will be eager to meet him, and pray for many tender mercies along the way.