Katie turned 6 last week! Here she is the day her kindergarten class gave her cards and a hat to celebrate her birthday.
Katie was our miracle baby. On October 12, 2004, I had my first miscarriage. One year later, on October 11, Katie was born. This was my first time to really appreciate Job's words "The Lord gives and takes away. Blessed be the name of the Lord." Job's words are astounding considering all he had lost. I was especially able to see the truth of the Lord's giving and taking away because of how God sustained Katie's life through difficult circumstances.
When I was 25 weeks pregnant, our family was getting ready to return to our Central Asian home. We were vacationing on the Arab Gulf. One morning I suspected I was leaking amniotic fluid and went to see the doctor. The doctor confirmed that I was and told me that I would probably go into labor and lose the baby. Though the baby would be viable in the States, she wasn't necessarily in country we were in. I was heartbroken and spent the day crying as I traveled to 3 hospitals that day.
To make a long story short, we flew back to the States (along with a wonderful American doctor who flew with us) and I spent 2 weeks in the hospital (and 9 weeks on bedrest in total.) I should have gone into labor or at least had other complications or birth defects because of the loss of fluid. But instead, I was able to go full term and then ended up getting induced at 39 weeks! The doctor made sure we knew how unusual that was and that Katie's birth was indeed a miracle.
It was a difficult season for us, but God used the time to slow us down and help us to focus more on our family. He is so good!
Since Katie's birth 6 years ago, I have had 3 more miscarriages, which makes the fact that we are now have baby Will in our arms so precious. It has been a hard journey, but we are able to say again "The Lord gives and takes away. Blessed be the name of the Lord." I hope that in all things, my heart will choose to say "Blessed is the name of the Lord." The ability to say that, like Job, in the midst of great suffering and loss, is only possible by God's grace and Spirit.
Katie had a fun birthday party at Chuck E. Cheese with her friends.
Here she is on her actual birthday with a gift from Bibi. Sadly, she was sick on her b-day but thankfully, she was better within a couple of days and ready for her party!
Scott and I got married 12 years ago the Saturday after Thanksgiving. So, whenever this time of year rolls around, it is easy to think of what to be thankful for! God has given me a wonderful husband. 
