*Friday, June 6th*

On Friday, June 6th, Rance and I headed to my doctor's appointment and we had no idea what the next several hours would entail.  Since my due date was Saturday, June 7th and I would be 40 weeks - my doctor's decided to go ahead and do a nonstress test on Jayden that Friday.  It is just normal protocol at my doctor's office to start doing a nonstress test on the baby at 40 weeks every couple of days just to monitor Jayden's heartbeat, contractions and how his heart rate changes during contractions, etc until baby is born.  When we arrived at the doctor's office and they hooked me up to the machine to monitor Jayden over a 20 minute period - I was laid back in a recliner just relaxing.  His heart rate was in the 140 range as normal the first several minutes.  I was having contractions during the entire time (although they were not painful at all - just tightening of my stomach) and Jayden's heart rate was responding as it should during those contractions.  I could not see the machine during this entire process but Rance was intrigued by it and watched it closely!  The nurse had stepped out a minute when Jayden's heart rate dropped SIGNIFICANTLY to 69 and stayed there for what seemed like forever.  The nurse stepped back in during that time and obviously was very alarmed by what was happening.  She grabbed Judy, one of the midwives, and she too, was very concerned.  Within a little bit, his heart climbed back up but that did not dismiss what had happened.  

In that moment, I was completely calm.  Peace flooded.  I prayed.  I trusted Father.  All the prayers that I had prayed the last 9 months were re-playing through my head.  I had told the Lord over and over "I know Jayden belongs to you, not me."  I believed that wholeheartedly.  Why am I going to pray something that I am not willing to live out?  I told Him again in that moment, "Jayden belongs to you, not me."  I felt myself tearing up but I knew my emotions were not doubt whatsoever.  

Within minutes, they put me in an ultrasound room where they could check my amniotic fluid, his movement, and his breathing.  What's interesting is, they were ALL questioning me on 'have you felt him move lately???'  The answer was NO doubt a resounding YES because Jayden was constantly on the move.  He was moving during the nonstress test.  As soon as she pulled him up on the ultrasound, he showed the nurse quickly that he was a boy on the move.  She could not believe how much he moved.  Everything seemed to show up well on the ultrasound but that still did not explain the drop in his heart rate. 

I was so thankful even in these moments for technology to even be able to monitor Jayden the way they were and the ability to be able to remove him by C-section or whatever necessary if they saw that he needed to be delivered immediately.  They sent Rance and I across the street to labor and delivery at the hospital so they could hook me up to more machines and monitor Jayden over a couple of hours.  

During that time, my heart was so grateful and Rance and I just prayed.  The nurses and doctors were AMAZING and his little heart rate never dropped again.  It was literally one of those instances that we will probably never know what exactly happened - whether he turned or had his umbilical cord wrapped around him in some way or what.  It was definitely a test of faith and I hope we did well for His glory.  

In the meantime, I of course was STARVING in the midst of all this chaos and I am not sure if hospital food has ever tasted so delicious in my life.  

Thank you Father for your grace, strength, and love that enables us to endure ANYTHING if we so choose!

We're back!!!!!!!!!

A lot has been happening around here the past couple of weeks, you know, having a baby and all!  I am hoping to catch up journaling about life the last few weeks over the next few days (or weeks!) ha!  Let's be real, Jayden makes the calls on feeding and sleeping and needing his diaper changed so I must serve his sweet little self well.  In the meantime, I am going to start by walking through the few days leading up to Jayden's arrival!

My sweet friend Susie & her husband, Chris, traveled to Robbinsville on Thursday, June 5th on their motorcycles to enjoy a few days of riding and staying at the Ironhorse Mountain Lodge right down the road from our house.  I LOVE that they chose Robbinsville to visit and that they just so happen to be staying so close to our house.  We wondered if Jayden would arrive before their visit but since God decides the timing of EVERYTHING, He said it was not time yet!  We thoroughly enjoyed their visit while they were here and I found myself wishing we had more time to spend with them after they left because there is NO doubt we could all sit and talk for HOURS. 

Just a little background - I met Susie years ago through working at Dixon Hughes Goodman and her and I developed a special bond over the years through many conversations about the Lord and life.  She is SUPER special to me and I value our friendship even from afar! 

Meet Susie & Chris!!!





She has her own motorcycle by the way! 
She's so beautiful on the inside and out!

 



Love them all!

Until next time...

God's Grace

Oh I don't want to miss it each day.

You may remember a blog post a while back where Rance and I were challenged to wake up each day and pray to NOT MISS God's grace.  It's changed the way we view each day.  It's changed the way we proactively notice the smallest and biggest acts of grace all day long that Father lavishes on us.  Oh I don't want to miss His grace each day.

Over the last 2 weeks, we have been overwhelmed with God's grace and His timing on Jayden's arrival.  Yes, he's still hanging out in the womb at 39 weeks and 4 days but let me tell you about God's GRACE in that.  I mentioned in the previous blog post how Rance and I intentionally did not make any 'set plans' the last 2 weekends NOT knowing when/if Jayden would make his entrance into the world or not.  You all know for us to not have crazy fun-filled weekends is RARE!  With that being said, let me tell you just a little snidbit of God's grace in it all...

• I finished writing a bazillion thank you notes for all the amazing gifts we received over the last few months.  I wanted so badly to get these completed before Jayden's arrival but I honestly did not have the time and did not think it would happen, BUT IT DID!  GOD'S GRACE!
• Each year on our anniversary, I create a shutterfly book of the past year of our life.  This book is always the MAXIMUM number of pages shutterfly allows you to make a book (111 pages this year) and it literally recaps the last year of our life but takes FOREVER.  On our 3 year anniversary (Nov. 2013) - I simply could not get this book completed (or not much more than started).  Y'all, I FINISHED THE BOOK AND ORDERED IT ON SATURDAY!  God's GRACE!
• Rance LOVES to plant and watch a garden grow.  Last year, we were living in Indiana so we did not plant a garden.  For several weeks now, he has mentioned wanting so badly to plant a garden but again, lacked the time.  This past Saturday we hit up the greenhouse in Robbinsville and boo got his garden planted which according to Farmer's Almanac - was a PERFECT time to plant.

Taylor's Greenhouse

Using the old fashioned merry tiller to get
the garden ready!

Meet Farmer Shuler

I thoroughly enjoyed how excited he was

• We have been going through the book of Ephesians on Sunday mornings with a few teenagers and we FINISHED this past Sunday - another goal that seemed like it would not happen.  GOD'S GRACE!
• Rance and I have had quality time together.  We make each other a priority but often times with full time jobs and amazing ministry opportunities - it's a hard balance we are still learning.  The last 2 weekends have been FULL of quality time together.  GOD'S GRACE! 

Honestly, I could go on and on.  Obviously, if Jayden had arrived 2 weeks ago, not accomplishing any of the above would NOT have mattered at all.  The fun part is seeing God's grace in allowing these things to get done or completed because we do NOT determine the timing of Jayden's arrival - God does.  He knows what we need and He loves to lavish His grace on us.

My heart is full! 

Jayden - I am so ready to meet you little buddy!

39 weeks (last Saturday)