Thursday, 2/21/08

God moves in a mysterious way
His wonders to perform;
He plants his footsteps in the sea,
And rides upon the storm.

Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,
But trust him for his grace;
Behind a frowning providence
He hides a smiling face.

His purposes will ripen fast,
Unfolding every hour;
The bud may have a bitter taste,
But sweet will be the flower.

Blind unbelief is sure to err,
And scan his work in vain;
God is his own interpreter,
And he will make it plain.

William Cowper’s 1774 ‘Hymn of Confidence’: “God Moves in a Mysterious Way” has always resonated with my soul. I don’t understand God’s ways; I really don’t, but over the years, I’ve come to realize that I really don’t have to understand Him. I can’t. I couldn’t. I have times of profound overwhelmingness when I realize how small yet how cared for I am. Unfathomable . . . .

Many of you have wondered what is going on with baby Jace and Lauren and Dan. I am sorry for my delay and must honestly confess I struggled with words after Lauren’s 2/4 appointment with her perinatologist. I struggled primarily because I was angry with this doctor. I had to go before the Lord multiple times confessing my own blighted heart in my anger at what I assumed was sheer callousness. Yet, from a doctor’s perspective, the ‘job’ she has of dealing with problem pregnancies must be very difficult. Instead of anger taking over, we prayed. Oh sure, I vented. A very few of you heard some of my words of frustration, but as I confessed my own sin, I prayed for this doctor; I prayed for her to have a change of heart to really see Lauren and Dan and baby Jace as people, grieving for ‘the what-might-have-been’s’.

Lauren and Dan returned to the perinatologist on 2/19 for a follow-up ultrasound (I think there have now been 5, maybe 6, ultrasounds done) and evaluation. By God’s good grace, the doctor was much more communicative, answering many of the questions that have plagued Lauren and Dan yet remained unanswered these many weeks. We consider this change an answer to prayer and will keep praying for this better relationship to continue!

The ‘new’ news is that although in general, Jace’s condition has not changed for the better, it has not deteriorated any more except in one important aspect: his bladder continues to enlarge indicating a blockage somewhere in his urinary track. The strange phenomenon that the doctor doesn’t really understand (and she’s one of the best in the business) is that other indicators, such as too much amniotic fluid, do not appear to be present. His heart rate remains strong, too. He is active, except during ultrasounds.  And is a little toot! He recognizes his daddy’s voice with leaps and punches, dances to music, keeps Lauren awake at night with somersaults, and responds to rubs on his momma’s belly by curling up in a ball and refusing to move (unless it is his dad’s hand with that deep voice in tandem)! What a character! We’ve been delighted to get to know him already and praise the Lord that we have had at least this time with him. Lauren is now 34.5 weeks. He is still breech so a C-section is being assumed. They are now registered at St. Luke’s for delivery since it has direct ties with Texas Children. Their tour of the facility was reassuring (and a little overwhelming).

The huge praise (and more prayer) is tomorrow morning, Lauren and Dan will meet with a neonatologist who will give them some idea of the various scenarios that could ensue upon his delivery. The bladder will be of paramount and immediate concern with his heart a close second. No more mention of immediate genetic testing as occurred, but we are assuming those tests will be run as soon as he is stable to some degree.

Please continue to pray for healing of his little body. Lauren says her imminent C-section surgery is nothing compared to what this little guy may undergo upon entering the world.

Pray for some definitive news from the neonatologist tomorrow.

Pray for continued better relations between Lauren and Dan and the doctor.

Pray that the million details of the next few weeks will be according to God’s timing, and that we all trust that timing when the daily disruptions of life occur.  You all know what I mean! We all want to be at the hospital when Jace is born and of course of very busy besides!

Again, thank you for praying with and for us.

God is working in many, many ways. Pray our eyes are open to see His many blessings.

Kathy, for all of the Harts and Steinhauses.

BTW, Sean is doing well in Spain, missing all of us terribly, especially with all that is going on with his dear sister. He needs fellowship and has found out about a reformed fellowship church almost an hour away from his apartment, but he plans to visit this Sunday. He does a lot of sermon listening on the internet, so if you have suggestions, he’s pretty open to them! He has found some great cites!