Friday, September 28, 2007

Awesome Opportunity

Children's Cup is a ministry my church supports. You can check it out at http://www.childrenscup.org/. It's purpose is to take humanitarian and spiritual aid into places where war, natural disasters, and disease epidemics have devastated societies. Many children that this ministry reaches have been sexually abused, beaten, and some have even been forced to murder and maim as child warriors. This particular project through Children's Cup is an awesome opportunity to show them the love of Jesus. You can get a Christmas card from them by going to their website and clicking on the Children's Cup Christmas in Africa logo in the right hand navigation bar. You then take the card, write a note in it for one of their kiddos at one of their CarePoints, put $6 in it and send it back to Children's Cup. They'll take the card to one of their CarePoint kids, who will write you a note or send you a picture. The $6 will ensure that the kiddo gets a Christmas gift, dinner, and an awesome Christmas party! What a great use of $6. I just thought I'd share this opportunity! We are so blessed!! Even those months when the money is stretched thin and going out to eat happens a little less frequently, we are blessed beyond belief! What an awesome way to serve God and His children!

Monday, September 24, 2007

Party Boy




Jacob had a great birthday party! I think my cake turned out pretty well, too! He was so excited. About 9:00 that morning, he told me if he had to wait much longer his head might explode :) Funny kid! We had fun visiting with family and the padawan pizza was great. So now we have an eight year old. Does that make us old?

Baby face

What a cutie!?! This isn't the best picture, because I had to scan the picture in order to post it here. You can see his little eyes, nose, and mouth. You can also see his little arm above his head. Looks like he has the Dougherty forehead (also known as the "fivehead")! Enjoy this picture of the newest member of our family! I know I can't stop staring!




Friday, September 21, 2007

Great news!!

We have just come home from the doctor and are pleased to announce that we are having a healthy baby boy!
We are so excited! I'll try to post some ultrasound pictures later today. The doctor said that everything looks great and we are right on schedule to deliver on February 15. Our little guy was adorable...I'm just in awe of what's happening inside my body! The placenta has shifted some, but is still low. However, the doctor said that as I grow the placenta will only shift up, not down. We are scheduled for another ultrasound at 28 weeks, just to be safe. The chance of a placenta previa in a first pregnant are almost unheard of, so the doctor did not seem concerned--yeah! So, everything's back to normal! Thanks for all your prayers. I'm off to prepare for a Star Wars party. Take care!

Big Day!!

Today's the day! Please cover us in prayer as we go to the perinatologist this morning. We have such mixed emotions--excitement, anxiety, elation, trepidation. We know we'll find out about the placenta, about any structural abnormalities, and the gender. That's quite a doctor's appointment! After we leave, we're swinging by Jacob's school to let him know first, then we'll head home and I'll post. Talk to you then!

Sunday, September 16, 2007

Baseball, baby, and birthday!

The Sloan family has quite a busy week coming up. School is back in full swing with the assignments that come along with that. Jacob has baseball games on Tuesday and Friday night this week. He is playing on the Rams this season and they are 1-1. Jacob is proving to be a great baseball player--he is the best catcher I have ever seen!! Matt and I have our level II ultrasound Friday morning. This test is performed by a specialized perinatologist and can identify if any structural abnormalities are present. It will also allow for the perinatologist to check on the placenta placement. Hopefully it has shifted!! Last, but not least, if little one agrees and behaves, we will find out the gender of our baby. (Don't forget to vote on your thoughts about our baby's gender on the poll on the left hand bar of our blog site.) I'll spend the rest of that day updating the blog so you will all know about our doctor's visit, basking in the glow of seeing our little one again on video, baking Jacob's birthday cake, and preparing for our Star Wars party. Which leads us to the undeniable fact...Jacob is turning eight. We can hardly believe it! I tell Matt that it seems like just yesterday that we were dating and Jacob was two. At that time it was Jacob's joy to bring me my keys to kick me out of the house, so he could have his Daddy back to himself :). He's now in third grade, playing baseball, and becoming so independent. His personality is just blooming and he's such great fun to be around. I just know he's going to be the most excellent brother to this new little one. With that said, off i go to take a nap. Pregnant women need their energy...especially facing a busy week like ours!! Love to you all!

Thursday, September 13, 2007

Gracious??

So, it's been a tough couple of days for me and I was searching online for some inspiration or encouragement when I came upon an article that included this passage.
1 Peter 2:19-25:19 For it is commendable if a man bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God. But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. "He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth." When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
Wow! That really touched on the struggle of my past few days. Have I been gracious? Have I extended high grace as Jesus would? I know this really pertains to exactly the situation I am dealing with personally, but it also speaks to dealing with people in general. I can be so quick to lash out or judge or get angry, but Jesus' examples in this passage remind us how to be gracious like He was, how to love unconditionally like He did, even to those who are undeserving! What an awesome lesson!


Tuesday, September 4, 2007

Pregnancy and placenta

I am officially 16 weeks pregnant. Every week I read about the amazing things happening inside my body. According to what I read, our little one is about 5 inches long now and weighs about 3 ounces (about the size of an avacado--which reminds me of how much I like guacamole and mexican food, but now I've gotten off track). Baby has fingernails and is growing hair, eyebrows, and eyelashes. The eyes and ears have moved to their correct place and the umbilical cord is attached to the stomach. I should be able to feel our little one moving soon--I can't wait for that! I am amazed at this whole miracle and feel so privileged to be blessed with this little one! However, after a recent doctor's visit, we discovered that we are dealing with a small, prayerfully temporary, problem. My placenta has decided to implant itself low in the womb, which is not desirable. As I grow, the placenta can shift to a more desirable location. So, we go for a level II ultrasound on Sept. 21 and they will let us know how things are progressing. In the meantime, we know that God has this pregnancy planned and we are trusting in Him! Take care and love to you all!