Could this next week be the week??!

We are 5 days away from the baby's due date!!!  This week we have had some discouraging moments, but we have also had a couple of HUGE answers to prayer!  Thursday, Mommy D was to have had a doctor's appointment, but when the social worker took her to the appointment, they said that she did not have an appointment.   Whether or not there really was an appointment, only the Lord knows.  But later that day, her MEDICAL CARD came in!  YAY!!  No matter if there really was an appointment or not, the Lord may have allowed this to happen so that we wouldn't have to pay for her visit and her next scheduled appointment on Monday, will now be covered by her medical card.  Please be in prayer as her next scheduled appointment is on Monday, at 11:00 a.m.  Our hope and prayer is that the social worker who takes her to this appointment will go back with her so that she can be another set of ears to hear what the doctor says and get a more accurate picture of what is going on with the health of both mommy and baby.

We received a call this afternoon by one of the social workers that Mommy D had gone into the hospital early this morning, and was discharged this afternoon.  However, she did not know why she had gone in.  She did say that Mommy D was still swollen, but hopefully since she was released from the hospital that that means she isn't pre-eclamptic (sp)? I have tried reaching the other social worker who might know more but so far have not been able to reach her. :)

Since we are getting quite close to the arrival of this precious one, we have had to take a serious look at the financial situation as a HUGE chunk will be coming due after the baby has arrived and the mother signs.  We are about $5400 short of where we need to be!  So I spoke with the social worker about some options, and praise the Lord, they will be willing to work out a payment plan with us!  God is so good!  Not too many agencies would be willing to do that!  We really did not want to take out a loan or pay by credit card, but would have done whatever needed to be done to bring home our little girl! We are so thankful that Skeeter's job will give him 4 weeks of paid time off after the baby comes!  What a huge help that will be to me to help us get into a BRAND NEW routine! :)

As more people find out about our adoption, they have been such a source of encouragement to us!  We have been so blessed!!  This could be a huge week for our family, but we are praying that the Lord will help us wait on HIS timing!  Ultimately, though, we are also heavy hearted about Mommy D.  We are so concerned about her lifestyle, and fear that her habits will not change after she delivers.  I know that we can not change that, but pray that in someway with what little time we have left to communicate with her, that we can be an encouragement to her and that she will see her need to draw her strength and identity in Jesus!  She so desires to have a place to belong and to be loved!  It breaks my heart to think about what she must daily face in not only her habits, but continually trying to run from the law.  We also pray for her that as her body goes through labor and delivery that she will have the strength she needs.  And then...the ultimate sacrifice of signing over her rights.  No matter what she has done, she is still a mother....who has to say good-bye to her baby.  I can only imagine how painful that will be for her!  We pray that she will have the strength and courage to do what is right for her baby!

Please continue to pray for everyone involved this week.  We will do our best to keep everyone posted even if its through quick little blurbs.

Lastly, our roof has been repaired and school has officially started!  Jonathan is loving Kindergarten, but Adia isn't quite as thrilled with 1st grade.  She would rather be playing. :)  Anne is in 7th grade and is excited about learning Spanish this year.