Happy Birthday to me!!

Today is my 28th birthday and I am blessed to celebrate it with my parents!  This morning we had pancakes after sending Shawn off to work and I was blessed by a surprise flower delivery too!  We then headed out to meet with my new Obstetrician in Calgary at the hospital.  My dad got the fun task of entertaining Sadie while my mom and I were meeting with the doctor.  She was a very nice woman and seemed willing to spend time with us to answer questions.  My mom was able to hear little Hope's heart beating for the first time.

Hope continues to measure a little small on the outside of the belly but measures perfectly in ultrasounds, which are more accurate for growth.  On January 18th we go for our next Echo of Hope's heart and will also meet with the Obstetrician once again that morning.  At this point it still appears that Hope is not battling any other health conditions or defects and we praise the Lord for that.  We are blessed to know that although she has a severe heart defect, she doesn't have the added burden of other conditions as far as they know.

This afternoon my mom and I are going to have lunch with a couple of my girlfriends and my dad is again being kind enough to keep Sadie busy while we're gone.  Going through this trial in life, I have a new appreciation for my friends and family and value them in a special way.  When Shawn gets home we'll go out and celebrate my birthday together in my favourite way, at a restaurant!!

Christmas was nice and relaxing this year, that is always a gift.  It was nice to wake up in our own home and have a slow relaxing day of puzzles, games and good food.  We feel very blessed by the gift of God's son and the salvation we have in him.  It is a blessing to know that, although Hope will only have 1/2 a heart while she's here with us on earth, she'll have a perfect body in heaven for all eternity.

With Christmas over and the new year around the corner, we know that our due date will arrive quickly as well.  We have an appointment booked in early February to meet with all the surgeons and specialists we'll be working with in Edmonton to plan for our delivery.  It will be great to picture where we'll be and have some of our questions about delivery answered.  It will also be hard though, as reality will set in once again of what is ahead.  Thank you for continuing to lift us up in prayer, it is the greatest gift.