Today has been a wonderful day of great news that Lacie Grace is healthy and shows no signs of whatever the doctor's saw on the early ultrasounds. She has passed all her tests with flying colors...praise be to God.

We have had a steady stream of friends stopping by to see our new bundle of joy. Of course we miss our family and wish they were here to share this new baby with us, but God has surrounded us with some wonderful friends. Katherine and Leslie showed up first with a dozen bagles and breakfast was on. Clay and Erin along with Ves, Isaac, and Eliana arrived about noon. Isaac was happy to see us and a little suspicious of this new baby. He seem to quickly warm up to her and by the end of the stay he was sitting in momma's lap holding his new baby sister. Our next door neighbor Nicole and her little girl Haley was next to visit, followed by Chris, Jenny, Josh, and Baby to be Named later this week. Finally Tarah and Piper stopped by for some girl talk. We also recieved calls and emails all day from many more friends and family. We feel very loved.

Entry @ 11:45 P.M.

We have made it to recovery. Both Mom and baby are doing well and recovering. Lacie's check-up was good and both are currently sleeping. I took a moment and uploaded some images to flickr.

Born at 8:30 P.M. weighing in at 7lbs 6.6oz a beautiful baby girl.

Entry @ 8:05 P.M.

The doctor broke Sarah's water at about 7:10; at last check Sarah was at a little more than 5cm. She is feeling the contractions just a little and is trying to rest. Last night she got a little bit of a wild hair and went to craft store to get butterfly stenciles and picture frames. She then stayed up   too late painting in the babies room, and then she got up pretty early to make sure things were in order at the house just in case this was day - she's paying for it now. The doctor will be in again in about 25 minutes to check the progress... 

Entry @ 7:00 P.M.

We are awaiting the visit of the doctor, we think things are moving along pretty well. Lacie is handling the contraction with flying colors and Sarah casually looks over at the monitor to see her contractions are about 3 minutes a part. She can't feel a thing. That's not true for everyone on this floor as we can hear the screaming of two other women who have decided against the epidural. Why?

We think the water is broken naturally and the doctor will be in shortly to confirm. Meanwhile we are enjoying the movie and some very good hospital ice. The kind you just can't get everywhere. Shouldn't be long now...

Entry @ 5:55

Everything is progressing nicely. Sarah is on some medicine for a weird strepp condition some women carry - not threating to Sarah at all but could make the baby sick. We knew they would be treating her for this but she has to be on it for a few hours. So we are in 'wait mode' while the medicine works its magic. Sarah is missing the opportunity to go out with the ladies tonight for 'Girls Night out to the Movies" which was "28 Dresses" so we are watching "Stranger Than Fiction" on the in room on-demand movie system. They plan to break her water around 6:30 and we expect thing will go pretty quick after that point.

Entry @ 4:40 P.M.

Sarah is hooked up with the all the good drugs and feeling no pain. She is dilated to 5 cm and is progressing well. Will and Piper have stopped by to lend some moral support and prayer. The nurses have asked about 1000 questions and I was sweating that one about are you the victim of abuse or neglect. We have a great group of nurses and doctors attending us, all very caring and sweet.

Entry @ 2:50

We are at the hospital and have checked in to Baby delivery suite number 5. Sarah is nervious about what the next few hours hold and I am trying to avoid being slapped for having this laptop out. MUSC gets a point in my book for having in room internet service.

Entry @ 11:08 A.M.

We are Having a Baby Today!
We arrived at the doctor’s office today at 8:00 a.m. and the doctor was surprised to see us. He thought surely we would have already delivered by now. In fact he said he took a moment to look up the delivery records to make sure there wasn’t a mistake. -- Nope. Still waiting for the big day. Well that day is today. After a quick check Sarah is about 4cm and ready to go. They plan to induce labor beginning at 2:30 today. Excitement abounds as we are rushing to take care of all the last minute details. Hopefully I will be able to give everyone updates throughout the process.

We also received word that one our best friends is on the way to the doctor’s office because she has been having contractions 3-4 minutes apart for the last few hours. It might be a two baby day. Pray for us… more updates to follow.  

Today officially marks 39 weeks of pregnancy. And for the record it's the longest that I have ever been pregnant - how you girls who go late survive, I don't know, but you have my utmost respect.

As I sit here and try to imagine what life will look like with a little girl in the picture - I am overwhelmed at what God has already blessed me with in my boys. For 11 years now, I have had the awesome pleasure of being Chris' wife. I grow more amazed at how God continues to grow us closer to each other after all of these years. We just celebrated our anniversary at the end of December and I asked Chris if he was surprised that we had 'made it' this long. Of course, his practical response was - 'No, not at all - you?' To which I resonded, 'no, not surprised that we've made it, just that we still like each other so much.' He is truly my best friend. God has used him mightily in helping me grow spiritually, helping me not only to heal from many past hurts but to grow through those experiences, and in short helping me to become a better woman. Now don't get me wrong - he can be as frustrating as the day is long, he is far too level headed, and his innate need to be 'right' all the time, well - you can imagine. :) But how blessed I am that he loves me so dearly - and makes a point to tell me that often. He is an awesome father - whom Isaac adores! And he is a mighty man of God. I love this man so dearly.

Then I sit and look at our Isaac - who just knocks me off my feet a little more everyday. He is most definitely our 'overflow' and is living up to the meaning of his name - 'laughter'. He is constantly making us smile! (Check out a few pictures of him in our photo album) He has become mommy's little helper in a big way - to the point where he gets upset if I do laundry or cook without having first invited him to help. It was just a few weeks ago, when his buddy Eliana was over at the house and got very sick - that he showed Chris just what a helper he could be. Chris went to the laundry room and emptied the laundry basket on the floor so that he could go collect all of the sheets, clothes, towels, etc that had gotten 'hit' by Eliana. To save time, he also went ahead and put the detergent in the machine and got the water started. When he came back to the laundry room to throw his treasures inside - he found that Isaac had already filled the washer with all of the clothes that were on the floor. Isaac just looked up at him and said 'All done' and wiped his hands together pleased with the job he had done. Chris could only smile and say - yes, buddy, good job. When he's not being my helper - he's all about showing his daddy how big and strong he can be. He loves to 'tackle' his daddy. Each night - after dinner he runs upstairs and grabs his football. He flies back down and asks Chris - 'Daddy, you tackle me?' Chris will sit in our family room and Isaac will go to the far side of the dining room and run at break-neck speeds into Chris - get up and say 'I bigger and stronger'. There are a thousand little stories like these - one that I even told on our Journey Church blog last week called 'Behind the Curtain' - that continually remind us of what a gift this litte man is! He is painfully smart and hopelessly adoring. A strong debater like his daddy (sharing from that same 'I'm right' disease) and dramatic actor like his mama - he is more fun than I know how to express.

To say that I love these two boys is clearly an understatment! :) I can't wait to see how Lacie Grace will ultimately steal yet another piece of my heart. Perhaps, that is what I am most nervous about. :) I am certainly in awe of my God who has blessed me beyond measure!