Doctor update

Thanks to all of you who left encouraging notes on my last blog! I am feeling much better and am starting to get my mind wrapped around a few, new "projects" that will help me to use my time more wisely and am generally enjoying life more. Except when my baby cuts naptime short, which has been happening a lot lately...

Anyway, I wanted to let you all know that our big prayer for a doctor has been answered! We visited "Eli", as she likes to be called, yesterday and really liked her. She's a bit wacky but really seems to get the idea of letting your body do what it does naturally during child birth and is really open to a VBAC. Although my expectation is not super high that it will work out this way, the desire is there and I know she is my best option. It's the first time I feel like I'm on the same page with a doctor. So, that is such a relief and I thank God for bringing us to her!

Walking

When I was pregnant with Natalie, I would walk most mornings around the neighborhood- up and down the steep hills, and usually ending with a breathtaking (literally) climb up to the Mallasilla lookout. I haven't felt well enough to do this in this pregnancy and was still going from time to time to the gym to do my spinning class. Since my membership was up last week, I decided to pick up the walking again while Scotty spent his ritual half hour or so making oatmeal and eating it together with Natty. So I set out on the familiar route this morning with my medium weight jacket, quickly realizing that I would need something heavier tomorrow. The wind is quite cold and even though the sun is already blazing by 8:00am, it just isn't warm enough yet. It was great to feel good enough to actually do some hard walking and hill-climbing and to see all the people off to school and work. The neighborhood is quite active at that time of morning. I also saw a single mom who comes to our church, waiting with her kids for the public van to come by and pick them up. Later, I passed by a couple that lives in the best spot in Mallasilla, with incredible views of both our town and the city of La Paz. She is Bolivian and he is an American and we have been talking about getting together for months now. I realized that I don't see these people unless I'm out and about walking around...such a good way to spend my morning. After climbing up to the look-out, I gazed at the beautiful city of La Paz that spread out below me. Cradled by high mountains, the tall buildings and mostly dry river that rest in the canyon are quite a beautiful sight. On the other side, below me, is Mallasilla. We're surrounded by softer mountains, not quite as high, and varying shades of brown. With the rainy season long over, it doesn't take more than a week or so for the intense sun to dry up any living plant. Pastel and brightly-colored houses nestle in between the brick ones like Easter eggs and I gaze at our own property that still lays empty. It's mostly in the shade this early in the morning and I wonder when the sun will stream in our future kitchen windows while I start working on lunch. Although it's mostly quiet as high up as I was I could hear the banging of hammers coming from different parts of the town- our little neighborhood is being quickly filled up by new homes and new families...a good opportunity for our church to grow and reach new people. It was great to spend some time watching and praying, my desire to see the Lord working around me renewed. I think I'll do it again tomorrow.

Confession.

Ok, I haven't been writing much on the blog lately, but there's a good reason. Baby Miser #2 is on the way!! So, I haven't been feeling great and haven't been doing much of anything that is blog-worthy. In fact, I've been doing so little of anything that it's starting to become a little bit depressing. When you're mildly sick most days, all day and very lethargic to boot, taking care of the one baby is about all that happens. But, I don't have the energy to do anything fun with her or to be creative, so I kinda start to feel like a bad mommy. Throw in a little crankiness and I start to resemble a bad wife, too. I won't even get started about how lame I feel as a missionary. Anyway, these are just some feelings that come and go and I know I'm not completely useless and, of course, God's grace is so much greater than I often remember and covers me even in these times of pregnancy "icks". I should have started by saying how thrilled we are, how blessed we feel to be welcoming another baby into our lives and family and how good God is, all the time. I'm on the doctor hunt at the moment, hoping to find someone in La Paz that would be willing to give me a good shot at a VBAC. So far, I've been a bit discouraged in that area, too. A missionary friend of ours who has lived here for over 20 years says he's never heard of anyone having a VBAC before. Not good odds. But, maybe I'll be the first! So, if you want to pray for us- ask the Lord to send us a doctor we can trust that has been able to brush up on what "new" things have come out medically in the last 20 years or so....cause most doctors here haven't had that chance. So, hooray for our Christmas baby! And, P.S.- we're not ready to go FB public yet- so keep your comments to the blog. :) Thanks.