Hello! My name is Denise! As of today (9/29/19), I’ve been a Preemie Momma for 3 weeks! It’s been the most amazing, yet emotional 3 weeks of my life. Ryleigh Elizabeth was born on September 8, 2019 at 28 weeks and 1 day. Due to me going into labor early, my sweet girl landed a spot in the NICU at McLeod.
I’ve enjoyed sharing pictures and updates of Ryleigh on social media the past 3 weeks, so I decided to create a blog to share Ryleigh’s story and how I was blessed to become a Mommy!
**Warning: Due to this being my first post, it is rather LONG, but I hope it will help others who are suffering with infertility or going through a season of doubt!
Today, Landon and I attended ONE Church in Hartsville, SC. (We usually attend One Church or Newspring in Florence, SC.) Pastor Beck’s message was on spot today! It explained perfectly about how we go through seasons feeling like God hasn’t yet fulfilled our prayers, but just because he hasn’t yet...doesn’t mean he won’t! Jesus did his part by dying on the cross for our sins...we have to do our part by being faithful servants!
I will be the first to admit...during the 3+ years that it took for Landon and I to conceive, I battled with my faith! I questioned God...too many times and then beat myself up for questioning him when I knew it was wrong!
Why did people who didn’t care for their children get pregnant over and over? Why were single women able to get pregnant...I had a husband to help me raise a child! So many questions and feelings of anger built up inside of me! I became unhappy because the one gift I wanted to give my husband more than anything in the world, didn’t seem possible! Fast forward to late 2018, I decided to take a break from all of the science behind trying to get pregnant! The procedures, medicines, and Dr. appointments were mentally, physically, and financially EXHAUSTING!! I was also trying to finish my masters at the time. Landon and I agreed to take a break and just enjoyed life as husband and wife with our furbaby (Boxer), Annabelle. I began to pray not just for a baby, but for God’s timing and way of me becoming a mommy. Landon and I had discussed adoption and fostering...we wanted to be parents so badly! I began to question God less and feel hopeful in my prayers and his promises.
In March of 2019, we found out we were finally pregnant with our miracle baby! We were ecstatic! In that moment, I grew stronger in my walk with the Lord because not only was I blessed to be pregnant, but he showed me that in time, he would answer my prayer...his timing, not mine! My 6 months of pregnancy weren’t the easiest! I was sick for majority of the time and even had a scare at 19 weeks. Even when I was scared...I wondered why and prayed harder than ever! I heard God whisper, “I’ve got you”. I knew in my heart, the Lord didn’t bring us this far for heartache...he was still working in my season and teaching me to become stronger in my faith!
The Lord isn’t finished with me as he is continuing to help me grow! I’ve learned a lot about myself and faith during my pregnancy, but in the weeks of being a Momma...the Lord has changed my heart! I am thankful for the person he is helping me to become! I want to be the best Momma and person that I can be for sweet Ryleigh! I am excited to see what the Lord has in store for me, my faith, and my little family!
At the closing of the service today, the band played/sang ‘Jesus Paid it All’. A beautiful hymn for a powerful message. This song is a reminder off the price paid to resolve us of our sins.
“I hear the Savior say, ‘Thy strength indeed is small; Child of weakness, watch and pray, find in Me thine all in all...Jesus paid it all, all to him I owe; Sin had left a crimson stain, He washed it white as snow.”
I know I have and do sin, but Jesus died on the cross for our sins...that is why even though I know I fall short...The Lord answered my prayers to become a Momma! He wants to walk along this journey of life with us...we just have to believe in him and have Faith!
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart & lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways submit to him. He will make your paths straight.”
-Proverbs 3:5-6
***Below is the post that I shared on social media with friends and family (Friday, March 24th) to share our blessing of becoming parents!
This is our story of infertility changed to the promise of becoming parents because of our faith in Jesus Christ!
*** *** *** *** ***
(5/24/19)
BIG blessing!!! Landon and I are ecstatic! We are so happy and blessed to announce that we are expecting Baby King in November/December.
I can't post my praise about my blessing without sharing our story and giving God all the glory!
I can't thank our family and friends enough for the prayers over the years and past few months. As many know, this has not been an easy journey for us. Due to me having PCOS we have battled infertility for 3 years. However, God is so good (all the time) and has fought and won that battle for us.
My amazing husband and I are finally going to be parents after dreaming of this blessing for what seems like forever.
I have kept a journal over the last 3 years about our infertility journey. Exactly 1,099 days from when we first began praying for our journey to become parents---we FINALLY had a positive pregnancy test!
After 3 years of MANY negative pregnancy tests, failed IUIs, many doctor appointments, medicine after medicine, and injections...we have received our blessing!! Thank you Lord!! I know the Lord has been testing my faith for me to conceive. After last summer, I had some what given up on trying to get pregnant. After not feeling myself from different medicines, back and forth to the Dr, IUIs, out patient procedure, and lots of money spent I felt defeated and maybe I wasn't meant to be a Momma. Towards the end of last year, Landon and I began talking about adoption and fostering...we knew it was a possibility but we weren't sure if it was the route for us. Fast forward to this year and I decided it was time to be referred to a specialist. I called my Dr. and made an appointment to see him about going to Charleston to a fertility center to see what our options were. My appt. was for April 1st. All throughout March I was constantly sick (gout, acute sinusitis, and just yucky feeling). On Thursday, March 28th, I still wasn't feeling the best and just felt different...some would say they just felt pregnant. That morning before work I decided to take a pregnancy test...already assuming it would be negative. My, oh my! I was wrong! My very first positive pregnancy test! I was in complete shock! I cried in the shower praising the Lord. I tested 3 more times that day before telling Landon when he came home from work! He was just as shocked as I was! April 1st rolled around and I went to my appointment as scheduled. The nurse asked me what exactly I made an appointment for and I explained that I had originally made the appointment to be referred but that I thought I was now pregnant. The test came back positive again. Dr. Emerson couldn't believe it when he walked through the door. He said, "well I guess we just needed to give your body time to make its mind up." I looked at him and said, "this is ALL God!!!!!"
You see, I've been so wrapped up in the science behind what I thought was needed to get pregnant that I didn't give the Lord a chance. Of course I prayed faithfully for a baby but I just don't think I was giving the Lord the credit. I believe I am pregnant today because God wanted to remind me and show me how amazing he is and that he hears our prayers and answers them.
I know this announcement will hurt and sting the heart of several people of Facebook that are battling infertility. I know exactly how you feel because I have been in the same place 100s of times and it is okay to feel hurt and wonder why not me, but I ask that you keep praying and DO NOT give up! It will happen, in HIS time, his way of making you a Momma!
"Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, BELIEVE that you have received it, and it will be yours."- Mark 11:24
Please continue to keep Landon, myself, and the baby in prayer as we are just getting out of the first trimester. Pray for a continued healthy pregnancy and baby! We are so excited to share our answer prayer with you! We are thrilled beyond words!
*** *** *** *** ***
I pray that my story will touch someone in their season of wait or journey of infertility. I have been there...just because I have received my blessing, my answer to a prayer, doesn't mean I have forgotten the feeling. Please don't give up! Stay strong and keep the faith!
I will post again tonight with an update of Ryleigh and her stay in the NICU! Thank you all for the prayers! Please keep them coming!
Comments