Ah, April

New school year!

Disclaimer: this month’s update is a little different, focused only on one snapshot of our lives, and fairly personal. Thanks for walking with us.

This has been a season of strange stillness for us; a near complete displacement of our usual lives and patterns. We’re struggling with hope, but also trying to stay realistic. My Bible study, making our way through Hebrews, came to chapter 4: “We received the same promises as those people in the wilderness, but the promises didn’t do them a bit of good because they didn’t receive the promises with faith. If we believe, though, we’ll experience that state of resting. But not if we don’t have faith.” And later: “the promise of ‘arrival’ and ‘rest’ is still there for God’s people. God himself is at rest.” (Peterson, The Message)

  

While I don’t feel God has been completely silent during these past few weeks, we are in a period of intense waiting and uncertainty. Not without comfort and community, but definitely without answers.

So, here goes: as a few of you know, for the past 17 weeks, we’ve been working through a very high risk pregnancy. Doctors have diagnosed an intrauterine subchorionic hematoma, which is very large and has not yet naturally reabsorbed, (although hematoma often do, allowing the rest of the pregnancy to proceed normally). The baby is healthy and growing normally, and my health is otherwise fine. But the presence of the hematoma means a constant threat of miscarriage, early labor or growth restriction. Thankfully, we’ve made it this far, and we’re grateful for each healthy day.

First day of school

While hematoma are somewhat common in pregnancy, large and persistent ones seem relatively rare, and we can’t find much information about either the causes or the solutions. The only response is modified bed rest, wait and see. Which is about as easy as you can imagine with three small children and very busy lives.

If the baby grows safely until the point of possible viability (23-ish weeks), then the doctors can attempt to intervene and save the baby. Obviously, staying in utero until the due date (October) is the best and safest possible outcome, but we have to take one day at a time. Would you join us in praying for the safety of our baby, specifically until June 8, when the baby will reach 23 weeks? We’re hoping that doctors will have more insights and suggestions if we make it to that point.

We believe in a God of resurrection and hope and we know that the ultimate outcome of this season will bring God glory in some way. And God, having created time itself, is at rest, not in a hurry.

Thank you for partnering with us.

Further requests:

-       Please pray for Ryan’s health and classes during this time, as he is taking on so many extra responsibilities to allow me to rest

-       We’re grateful to have found someone who is willing to move locally to help us on a daily basis. Please pray for her as she adjusts to living in Tokyo for this season.

-       Our community is very generous, but replacing a mother is expensive. We’ve had to dip into our savings to pay for extra medical bills, grocery deliveries, extra child care and the salary of our helper. If you feel lead to make a special donation for this season, please let us know! We would be most grateful.