Project Baby Update

Dan and I just got back from another wonderful vacation with his family! It was great to spend some quality time with each other, spend time outdoors in God’s beautiful creation, and just relax. Dan and I were also able to spend some quality time with each other reflecting on what God has been doing in our life and you guessed it, it mainly consisted of baby talk :).

First things first, a week and a half ago I had my 6 month heart check up and the doctor can now for sure put me in the moderate category for mitral valve leakage, which is a HUGE answer to prayer! That was one of the issues last time because I was heading towards the severe stage of leakage, which would mean another open heart surgery. Little did we know that in the past 6 months, God has brought some slight healing to my heart. My valve is starting to leak LESS – yes, it’s the slimmest of improvements, but to be able to be put in the moderate stage, is an incredible blessing. I was shocked. When the doctor came in, she said “we have a few things to talk about.” Those are words you don’t necessarily want to hear. At that point I thought we were going to have to talk surgery and to be honest, that is the last thing I wanted to deal with at this point in our life. Oh ye of little faith Kristin, it was just the opposite. Doc made sure I was feeling okay, what my exercise tolerance is like, how I feel on any given day, my breathing, any dizziness, etc. I could tell her my exercise tolerance has increased since I switched meds a year ago! She was surprised to say the least, when I told her I can run 3-4 miles a day. I asked her if that was okay and she said as long as I am not training for anything, doing anything organized, and if I can help it, exercising at my own pace and on my own. Running isn’t going to hurt – as long as I am careful; if I get tired, I have to walk. Honestly, I was like a little school girl when I walked out of there. God blew us away with that news! Ironically I had thought about signing up for a 5K run, but I knew deep down, I just can’t. I have to just let that go and honestly, if that is the only thing I have to let go of, I am okay with that (besides carrying a baby too). I can walk. I can run. I can live a normal life. If I can continue to live this life without another heart surgery, I am so okay with that. I am blessed.

As for project baby: I START MY SHOTS TOMORROW!!!!

Can you believe it? This past week we were thinking back to October 10 – the day Tim and Brenda sat on our couch and offered the gift of a gestational carrier. I think back to June when I received my meds, thinking it was only weeks away. Now sitting here, it is almost 24 hours away. I remember thinking that July was some far off month that would never come. We prayed for this “lull” time to go fast, and wow has God answered that prayer! God has given us such a peace about it all. Yes, even about the shots. I watched the “how-to” video on the shot I need to take this past week and I kept telling myself “I’ve so got this.” I find it a little strange that I am ecstatic to poke myself, but there is just so much “in” that shot. This shot is a leap of faith (we have no clue where this will all lead). This shot has been long awaited (so much has gone into this process already). This shot is a representation of how far God has taken us already and it is an affirmation to us, Tim and Brenda, our families, and friends, that God is not done yet – He wants us to continue to proceed. We always keep in mind that at ANY point, God could stop this process and we have to be willing and ready. Even with the significance of this shot, yet it is just another step. Just another little step in the whole grand scheme of it all.

So needless to say, I am excited and ready. I have to take this one for at least a week or so, have an ultrasound, and then go from there. I will definitely be giving updates on the progress as we go.

Continue to praise God that He has led us this far and for HIS faithfulness.