For Unto Us A Child Is Born....

     First of all, I want to wish a very Merry Christmas to all my friends and family! This is such a special and tender time of year. Despite the rush and madness of people shopping for gifts, I think people are a little more compassionate to others and open to the message of Jesus Christ than at any other time of the year. You hear the message of Christ's birth and salvation proclaimed on the radios and in shopping malls, which doesn't happen the other 10-11 months of the year. This truly is my favorite season and time of the year. I know I get that from my mother. She loved Christmas, and for those of you who know me pretty well, know how she passed on to me her love for It's A Wonderful Life. I know it is one of those movies that some people tire of watching and can be overplayed during this season, but I could literally watch it everyday and not get tired of it. We used to watch it at least 3 times at Christmas, right up until she passed away. The movie has such a powerful message that is lost today...that your life matters.... how you live it and how you treat others. Life is a gift and should not be taken lightly. There is power in who you are and what you choose to do and say everyday. I also love that in the movie, George Bailey has all these dreams and plans for his life that never turn out the way he expects. In one way, he sees the absence of these things in his life as a failure and it leads him to confusion and depression. But through it all, he sees that his life is the way that God intended and he has everything he ever REALLY wanted in the end.  This is a good message for all of us, not just at Christmas, but all year long.

      As for an update on Zoe, we finally have a c-section date scheduled for January 10th, 2012 at 10:00am. I can't believe how soon she will be here. It has been a long road and God has been faithful through it all. The last two OSU visits have been encouraging with minimal fluid growth on her brain. She is very healthy and active in every other way and we've gotten many ultrasound pictures that make us even more anxious to meet our little girl. I have hit that stage of pregnancy that can only be described as miserable. My tummy is big and I've been experiencing some pains in my abdomen that have made it very hard to function at times. I ended up going to OSU to have everything checked out and thank God all is fine with Zoe and me. The Drs couldn't really give me an explanation for my pain except muscle stretching and maybe scar tissue pain from my first c section. It was scary, but we left with a little peace of mind to get us through the next two weeks. We even had the blessing of hearing Zoe have the hiccups while I was hooked up to the monitors. It lasted a while, but the Drs told us that hiccups are actually a good sign with a baby like mine. Hiccups mean that her brain, heart, and lungs are all working on the same connection and functioning normally. We have had many little blessings like this along the way that have encouraged us that Zoe is doing fine, despite the hydrocephalus. Of course, we won't know the full affects of everything until she is here and the shunt is put into place. I have been encouraged by many prayer warriors that we love and respect that Zoe is God's hands, which we know. We know that God works miracles all the time and we believe and trust Him for everything!
     At this time of year, and considering that I am 9 months pregnant, I can't help but think of Mary carrying the baby Jesus. Now, she was a lot younger than me, but I can't even imagine hopping on a donkey right now and making a long journey to end up having a baby, naturally mind you---no pain relieving drugs :-), in a stable with animals, and unsure of the future. However, she did have God's promise that Jesus would be great and would save people from their sins. I think that would help, but it had to be so hard, so I will suck up my misery and little pain I'm dealing with for the next two weeks in anticipation of my little one, who I will know will change our lives in such an amazing way. I think of that moment when I will hold her and look into her little face and be overwhelmed with love and thankfulness. How much more did Mary, while doing the same thing, feel the emotion of not only holding her son, but her SAVIOR.  It is pretty mind blowing and humbling.
       I had a good friend send me link a little while back for a song written and performed by the lead singer of Sanctus Real. He and his wife went through a difficult pregnancy and were told that their son had many heart issues and may not live at birth. The song is perfect for describing the emotions of it all and how I feel. I also would like to share some Christmas pics of our family and the most recent ultrasound pic of Zoe. May you have a very Merry Christmas and a happy and blessed 2012!
All of Me

Giving Thanks.....

"The Lord is my strength and shield. I trust Him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving." Psalm 28:7

     The Archer family is coming off a very busy, but blessed Thanksgiving weekend. Not only did we have some yummy food and time with family and friends, but we have been extra thankful for the news we received at our last OSU visit on the 18th. The visit before last, we saw the fluid level almost double on one side of Zoe's brain and we felt a bit discouraged. This visit we left rejoicing in the news that the fluid levels were stable and had not grown. We were told at the last visit as well that we would probably be delivering her at 36 weeks, which is the week after Christmas. With this latest news, we will now be waiting until closer to her original due date, January 17th. Considering she is going to be a baby who will undergo surgery probably a day after she is born, this is good news. The longer she can grow and become stronger helps her longtime prognosis. We still do not know what the future holds, but every little bit of news like this strengthens our faith and our hope that all will ok. Of course we know that all will be ok - no matter what....because we believe God made our little girl and has wonderful plan and purpose for her life. Our next visit to OSU is Friday, December 9th and I will probably get a concrete c-section date that we can start counting down to. We also are praying that the fluid continues to be stable and not grow. We of course, always pray and believe that the fluid can still go away. God has sustained us and been so faithful and we trust Him even more as we wind down this part of the journey and begin another part after she is born. 
     Words cannot express how thankful we are first to God, who has been our comfort and strength through this and will continue to give us what we need in the future. Without Him, we are nothing and can do nothing. I was reminded of this when I read this passage in Acts 17:24-28 this morning....

  “The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands.  And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else.  From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands.  God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us.  For in him we live and move and have our being."


We are also thankful for all our family, church family and friends for their love, support and prayers. We are truly blessed! 
     Emma continues to be super excited about her Baby Zoe coming and she is looking forward to Christmas! She is singing lots of Christmas songs and of course, telling us all of things she wants Santa to bring her.  We put up our tree this weekend and did some shopping, so we are officially in Christmas mode and counting down! I'm also looking forward to seeing if my Bobcats can win the MAC Championship on Friday, December 2nd. 
     In the midst of uncertainty, there is so much life to live and love to give. In the meantime, I'm reminded in 1Thessalonians 5:16-18 what God's will is for my life....
   ^"Rejoice always,  pray continually,  give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.  " 
   So in the end, Thanksgiving should be a way a life and not just a holiday or a season. Thanksgiving is living a life of worship and submission to God, who is worthy of our everything. It is a life of rejoicing, prayer, and thanksgiving in the hard times. 
   We are heading back to school tomorrow after some much needed rest and time at home. We appreciate all of your prayers as we head into the remainder of this pregnancy and delivery of our daughter. God is faithful!

 Faithful by Chris Tomlin
 

And if our God is for us.....

     Chris Tomlin's song "Our God" has been Emma's favorite song now for many weeks. Everyday we play it during our morning drive into Preschool or to Dee's house (our friend and sitter). She really can rock out to it...it's great. She sings really loud and gets her head bobbing in a good groove "And if our God is for us,then who could ever stop us. And if our God is with us, then what could stand against?" It is really awesome. It has been awesome for me as well, to get that truth into spirit every morning that my God is greater than anything...He is healer, He is stronger, He is higher than any other, and He is AWESOME IN POWER!
It usually takes a song like this to set me straight when I've been off course or not thinking right. The past few weeks have been extremely busy and extremely trying on my soul and my mind.
      We had a wonderful Saturday Oct. 15th at Ohio University for Homecoming. OU is my home away from home. My mom was an alum and started taking me down there for visits when I was very little. There was really no question where I wanted to go to college when the time came to make a decision. It was 4 years of great memories and good friends, and also a place that started a passion in my heart for teaching and sharing my faith when I joined Campus Crusade for Christ. I really love Athens in the fall and there have been very few years where I have not returned in October for Homecoming. It is now such a huge blessing to share this with Troy and Emma and next year little Zoe. I sometimes fear that Emma will be horribly confused about Ohio teams between Troy and I and our Buckeyes and Bobcats :-) She was really scarred when OU played OSU last year and Rufus the Bobcat attacked Brutus the Buckeye. She would tell us that Rufus was really mean....but she left Athens that Saturday with a Rufus doll that she now cherishes and sleeps with so I guess...all is forgiven:-) I always think of my mom when we are down in Athens....she loved OU so much and would cry everytime the Marching 110 took the field. Now I usually cry and can understand why she did now :-) I sure do miss her and will always have a hole in my heart until I see her again.

     Later in the week we went for another check up at OSU and did not have good news. Zoe's fluid levels on the right side continue to grow. One side of her head measures 19 and the other 42. You can imagine the disappointment and fear that grows when you hear this information. It is the same question we all have when things don't go the way we want them to....we are praying for healing...it's not coming right now....we are praying that things will be ok...we don't have that answer right now. It really messed with my head and then we had to start answering questions that we haven't really thought about up until this point.  How early will we have to deliver? How long will Zoe be in the hospital? What are we going to do about Emma during this time? How am going to shop for Christmas, get the house ready for Zoe, and prepare for a long term sub at school? How will Zoe's brain develop after the fluid goes away? Will she have severe disabilities? It just kinda felt like everything was closing in around me and to be honest.....I went there and just kinda felt sorry for myself for a while. I prayed, but felt no relief...I just couldn't get my head straight. But what is truly awesome is that even during this short period of time, God was listening and ready to answer and provide.
     Last week, we got to visit Children's Hospital in Columbus and met some pretty amazing people. We got to mee our neurosurgeon, Dr. Graundon, who will be putting a shunt in to relieve the fluid in Zoe's brain shortly after she is born. He was a very kind, gentle man who answered as many of our questions as he could right now. Shunting is actually a pretty common procedure for people like him, about 40% of his job, so that made us feel better. We also got to meet a wonderful team of nurses and counselors who will lead us through this journey after Zoe is born. We got to tour the NICU and see all the wonderful services that will be available to us while we are there. I was overwhelmed with love and hope....an answer to prayer and a little bit of heaven on earth in the midst of so many worries. We still don't know what is going to happen to Zoe after her shunt is put in, but we feel so much better about the care and love she will receive. I'm so thankful for God's provision for us here on earth. We go back to OSU for another checkup on November 18th and Dr. Landon will probably schedule my csection at that point. We were told that they will probably take her around 36 weeks due to the growing fluid. That puts us to either the week after Christmas or week after New Year's...we will keep you updated.
   In the meantime, we are still believing and still praying for God's healing upon our little Zoe. We still believe that the fluid can dissipate and we still believe that Zoe will have a normal life and normal abilities. We know that God is FOR US...no matter what we see with our eyes or what we are tempted to believe.

"He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?" Romans 8:32

Every question I have ever had about God's love and intention for me has been answered at the cross and I leave my mind, my worries, and my fears there and let God do the rest. So a big lesson I have learned from my daughter these past few weeks is to be excited about our God and who He is and the He is FOR US. There is another song on the CD called "I Lift My Hands". Our dance ministry at church did this song for our 20th Anniversary celebration and it's another song that Emma can't get enough of right now. This song has also reminded me that through these trying times I need to run to God instead of retreating into my own mind where I try to figure things out and solve all my problems. This leads to nothing but discouragement and defeat, which is not a place I want to live in.  There is a line in the song that speaks it all...."as I pour out my heart these things I remember...You are faith God forever".

"Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge"
Psalm 62:8

Pouring out my heart to Him and remembering all that He has done through my life brings so much comfort and builds my faith for what is to come...no matter what

"Let Faith Arise"

   Zoe at 25 weeks

Our God


                                                                               I Lift My Hands

Our Friend Philip "We've Come This Far By Faith"    He offers a brief message of congratulations to our church's 20th Anniversary before the song

We have come this far by faith,
Leaning on the Lord,
Trusting in His holy Word,
He's never failed us yet.
Oh, oh, oh, we can't turn back,
We've come this far by faith.

Don't be discouraged
When trouble's in your life,
He'll bear all your burdens
And move all discord and strife.

 

Just remember, the good things He has done

Things that seem impossible

So Praise Him for the victories He's won

Let The Blogging Begin!

     I've finally created a blog....something I've wanted to do for a long time, but have not taken the time to actually start one.  I've been so inspired the past few years by some friends who have shared their hearts, souls, and daily life (challenges and all) through their own blogs. My teacher friend Katie has a wonderful blog. She has a little girl named McKenna who has Charge Syndrome. This is something I had never heard of until I met her about 4 years ago. McKenna is an amazing little girl and brings smiles to all who meet her. God also blessed Katie with a little girl named Cami who is incredibly cute and makes me laugh every time I see her. The link to her blog is on the right.     Another friend of mine who is truly an inspiration and encouragement to is my friend Crystal. She is a Pastor's wife and mother who lives in Louisville. She began a blog a few years ago to keep people informed when her brother, and friend of mine, was battling cancer. It always amazed me as she wrote her thoughts, prayers, and struggles as she watched someone she loved get so sick and fight for his life. The true inspiration was the raw emotion and honesty she put out there when her brother died and her journey to understand what God was doing through the whole thing. I saw myself in so many of her posts as I re-lived my own struggles and my mom suffered from Parkinson's and went home to heaven in 2004. She continues to blog and shares her beautiful heart, about daily life raising children and all that God is teaching her. Even though she is miles away, I still feel like I can have a conversation with her kind of like what we would do when we lived close in Dayton.
     One more blog that has been a huge inspiration to me the past year is one by my friend Jocelyn's husband Chris. They have a beautiful little girl named Julia who has Down's Syndrome and was diagnosed with a heart issue. She was born a year ago and underwent heart surgery at the beginning of this year. She is doing well and is such a blessing to everyone. Chris's blog is amazing...it has made me laugh and cry and helped me know how to pray for them. I have so many beautiful people in my life that I don't get to see on a regular basis anymore, but through Facebook and these blogs I feel like I"m walking along side them, feeling what they are feeling and most importantly seeing God work in their lives and use them in amazing ways.
    Over six years ago, my life was changed forever when I met Troy Archer, my husband and best friend, on E Harmony...something neither of us ever thought we would ever try. God brought such joy into my life after a season of illness and loss of my precious mother. In a matter of months, I was engaged, selling my house, resigning my teaching job, and moving to a new place. In 2008, God blessed us with a beautiful little girl, Emma Grace.  Even though things have not always been easy, I am so thankful and happy for the life that God has given us.
       Now we are going through a season that is requiring great faith. We rejoiced in May of this year when we found out we were pregnant with our second child. Emma was and still is excited to be a big sister. At 18 weeks, we found out that our baby was a little girl (which Emma told us she prayed for a baby sister by the way) and we are going to name her Zoe. We also found out during that ultrasound that she has fluid on her brain or hydrocephalus. We were in shock and disbelief and worry for a few days.  Going to the internet was NOT a good idea for me. Since that time we have been regulars at Ohio State Medical Center for ultrasounds, testing, and exams. There are no easy answers with this diagnosis. We had some good news at the beginning when we found out that the results of my amnio came back normal...no Down's, no Spina Bifida, no infections. We even had an ultrasound check up where we didn't see much change in the fluid growth and didn't have to come back to OSU for a month. However, our latest visit showed abnormal growth of fluid on one side of her brain...asymmetry in her head. Our Doctor rushed us into a fetal MRI and we are awaiting those results. In the end, there is nothing that can be done in utero for this condition and we will have to wait and see what happens.
       I daily have to trust God with this child. He made her and He knows everything about her and has a wonderful purpose for her. Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord. Plans to prosper you, not to harm you; to give you a Hope and a future". I have battled doubt, fear, and worry since the day I walked out of the OB/Gyn office, unsure of the path ahead. However, I believe what I believe and that is that God is good...God loves us more than we can imagine...and that He has NEVER failed me. He has always given me what I need to face many struggles and sadness. So now we must choose daily to trust Him and give Him our faith...faith that is pleasing to Him and allows Him to work even in the darkest of times and purifies us. I want everything I do to bring glory to the Lord and as many of my friends have done before me, I'm praying this blog does that and gives me an outlet for all He is teaching me and doing in our lives this season. I live my life to love God,my husband, my daughter, my family, friends, church, the kids I teach everyday, and anyone else God brings in my path. As my former Pastor, David Schooler, use to say every Sunday...."The Journey Continues".
    I chose We've Come This Far By Faith for this blog because it has been a song that has been giving me strength in these weeks since the diagnosis, It reminds me to dwell on the amazing things He has done already and to anticipate what He is going to do. We recently sang it at our church's 20th Anniversary celebration as well. Our good friend Philip Tabler used to lead worship at our church before I met Troy....he is like a brother to Troy as well. He is now the Minister of Music at Love and Truth church in Jackson, TN, Philip sent us a message and sang the song and it is just deeply planted in my heart. I did not grow up knowing many of these dear old songs of faith that some did, so they speak to me in a fresh way when I hear them. I hope his vioice and spirit bless you! I am going to link his song/video in the next post.