Baby Powell

Yes, that IS Rachel lying in a hospital bed! Looks like Rachel is going to get some big time rest for the next few weeks! Little Powell needs some extra COOKIN' TIME so that he can be born fat and healthy ! We don't want him coming quite yet! It was a trying day yesterday but things look better now. Rachel has had the steroid shots for Powell's lungs JUST IN CASE he decides to come early. Pray he doesn't! Powell is due to arrive January 22, 2008 (Powell's Aunt Natalie's birthday!).  So, we are hoping and (mostly!) PRAYING that he will stay right where he is, which is why Rachel is RIGHT WHERE SHE IS! In the hospital where she can be monitored every minute. Charles is doing good, but everyone who knows Charles knows he worries about everything, so pray for him, too!!!   He's just your typical anxious daddy! Rachel was very calm and looked so pretty lying there! Kadie sent her some knitting and knitting needles and an instruction book so maybe by the time I go back, Powell will have a little sweater! HAHA! .....Since she is trying to rest, they don't need visitors but they need prayers and cards and e-mails! So, send them all 3 ! They will be so appreciated!!! I will, of course, keep updating as often as possible. We know she will not move AT ALL for 2 weeks (not getting up for any reason). After 2 weeks Dr. Sharp said he would consider maybe letting her spend the remaining time at home in bed b/c they live right by St. Vincent's (in Forest Park). On top of everything else, they sold their house! Yikes, when it rains it pours! Thankfully, Rachel's sweet mom has recently moved her from Dothan , right near them, so she is here and I know Rachel is glad! I remember when I broke my ankles (when 7 months pregnant with Katie) and how, even then, I WANTED MY MOMMY! So, I'm soooo thankful Cathy is here now. Of course, I am here, too and will do anything I can to help...Rachel does have a great VIEW from her hospital bed! You have to check out the pix! (*once again, having problems with AOL pictures, hope to load the pictures later on today!!!)That view of Birmingham skyline is her view out her HUGE window!! AND, praise GOD for laptops! She has a beautiful white new APPLE (MAC) and so she can check e-mails (HEY, RACHEL!!!!) and keep up with her work. As you know, DR. RACHEL is a Psychologist and so she , of course, has patients. At least she can stay in touch with them via phone and e-mail.....Rachel loves to run; excercise and be active. This is going to be rough! Again, I REMEMBER sooooooooo vividly looking out the window , being 7 months pregnant and having , not one but TWO broken ankles (and 4 kids at home!), WILL I EVER WALK OR GO OUTSIDE AGAIN?? Well, of coure, the answer is yes. But at the time, it was hard. Harder than hard. You feel so helpless when you are other people's mercy to do EVERY little thing for you. NO privacy; no alone time; just lots of time to worry about everything.My family; my church ; my friends came to my rescue! I was prayed for and over! For 4 months! I delivered our  NOW beautiful BRIDE TO BE , perfect in every way,  and I healed so well that I almost forget (ALMOST) some days that I had to have major surgery on one of my ankles that included 2 pins; a metal plate and 8 screws (all at 7 months pregnant)! To complicate things, Katie was breech so I had a C-section. But, God was there (as He is here now) and sustained me and the family and not only that, provided friends who brought meals for 3 months straight!!! GOD IS GOOD. Sometimes it takes STRESS days like these, just to realize just how very much God loves and sends help to those who are faithful . Sometimes we forget just how miraculous and complicated the whole pregnancy thing is. Just think, that little angel is growing right this very minute, and the longer he can stay "put" the better! So, that is our prayer!

 Now, that little baby I had 22 years ago,(Charles' baby sister!),was last night busy looking for scriptures for her oldest brother and sister-in-law to comfort them! How amazing is our God............Please pray for Rachel and Charles and their precious little angel!