During that Lent, our parish had some special visitors who came to give a Lenten Mission. Probably because Fr. Jeff is friends with everyone in the world, there's someone new every year it seems. Father Kevin Scallan and Sister Briege McKenna from Ireland had arrived to give the mission, which included talks and Mass for about three nights if I remember correctly. I don't remember much of the content of their talks, but what I do remember was Sr. Briege's message on the Eucharist. Coupled with her own story of healing and the development of her ministry, she emphasized on how to seek the Divine Physician in our ailments, to abandon yourself to His mercy and trust in it. She didn't negate seeing doctors here in the world, but in her case how the Lord can lead you to the right doctor to help you even if you were unaware of an ailment (like in her case). We also got a couple of books, one by each of them, detailing stories of their lives and how their ministries came about. Very good reads, by the way.
Fr. Kevin gave some pretty good homilies, although that's all I remember about them, not really what was said. I just remember his simple way of connecting with you as you listened. He's quite a jolly fellow, sort of like St. Nick, minus the beard and with an Irish accent.
On the last evening, there was a nice reception for them with dinner, where everyone got to visit with them a little more. Several people in our parish suggested that we ask for Sister Briege's prayers for healing (her special gift / ministry) for Becca, and so we could have children. So once we got our turn, she said she would most certainly pray for us, and did right on the spot. But before she did, she said that we should go and talk with Fr. Kevin, because apparently "he has quite a knack for getting babies for people". So afterwards, we did, and Fr. Kevin explained that in one instance a husband got in touch with him, jokingly to tell him, "We're on our fourth child, can you please stop praying...". That was a genuine laugh-out-loud moment. But he also prayed with us and for us, on the spot. It was a great memorable evening. And so, life continued.
In May of 2013, I needed a serious break from work, so I took a well-deserved retreat, of the fishing variety. It was sponsored by the local Catholic radio station, and the 'host' was Fr. Mitch Pacwa. It was a good getaway down to Grand Isle. Four days full of quiet, prayer, daily mass, eating, and fishing. Couldn't have been better, and it was exactly what I needed. At some point during the retreat, I expressed my situation to Fr. Mitch. He said that I should write to Mother Angelica and the Sisters at the Monastery in Alabama, where he lives right outside of EWTN. According to him, "there's been a whole slew of babies prayed into existence by those nuns!" If you've never heard him speak, he's always quick to laugh. But a very encouraging thing it was. He said he would even offer mass for her on the day of her surgery.
I told Becca about what Fr. Mitch said when I got home, and she thought that was a great idea. So, as it happened to coincide with Mother Angelica's birthday, we wrote it as a birthday message to her, asking for her and the sisters' prayers. As some more time went by, and the surgery approached, we had kind of forgotten that we sent the card. Some time later we received something from the monastery in Alabama. It was beautiful little card that said the sister's there were setting aside an entire day of prayer, for our intention of healing and to conceive children, including mass, adoration, and rosaries. What an elating feeling it was to receive that wonderful gift. It was like we had a Holy SWAT team backing us up. (see more at http://olamshrine.org/)
So we were nervous for the surgery, at least I was. Probably more than Becca. I tend to have one of those overactive imaginations, likely stemming from all of the reading I do, but any-who. We planned to drive to Houston on a Thursday, have the surgery on a Friday, and recover through the weekend at an extended stay hotel down the road, and have a post-op appointment on the following Monday. She was a miserable wreck the whole way there, that night and the day of the surgery. She was on a clear liquid diet for the trip, then couldn't have anything after midnight, not even water. In all the miracles of modern science and medicine, you'd think by now they would have come up with an alternative to starving the patients before surgery. I felt bad eating dinner around her, and I tried somewhat to not joke too much about eating when she couldn't.
And then the surgery was delayed. For three hours. We were a little peeved, to say the least. She feels terrible and has a splitting headache, oh why, because she's had nothing for 12+ hours, not even water! It was a trying day, for sure. And just to compare the standard laparoscopy she had two years before to this one, time-wise (and I know this one included 2 other procedures, but the scope I believe was the majority) it took the other one twenty, maybe thirty minutes. With this procedure, as I explained before, being much more thorough and careful, lasted just over three and half hours. Needless to say, I was a Nervous Nancy in that waiting room. I did venture over to the chapel for a while during, and it was comforting. And besides the episode with surgery being delayed, our experience at St. Joseph's Medical was great. After a grueling weekend pent up in a hotel room, assisting my patient, we went for the post-op. We got to see lots of 'interesting' photos, and even a video of the surgery. Pretty cool. The doc was able to remove several spots of endometriosis, and the test on her ovary-flow came back looking good. (You'll have to ask Becca what the third test was; she may have even mentioned it in her post about NaPro.)
More recovery. A new regimen of medications. Another step. Another struggle. But no worries, right? That's what we as Christians do, because we know the ultimate goal. Knowing that we could offer our suffering as prayers was most comforting throughout all of this.
Another birthday (for her) passes, another Thanksgiving, and another Christmas season was beginning. Then, just after Christmas Day near the end of December, we realized that Becca's next cycle wasn't starting. Instead of detailing all that took place, read the story in:
(http://sheldensense.blogspot.com/2014/01/a-beautiful-life-with-napro-technology.html)
But basically after that fiasco, we finally got the word for the official blood test, that we were indeed going to have a baby! She called me at work, and I was driving through the plant so I had to quickly pull over and answer. She was crying and saying something that I couldn't understand, and my heart sank. I had to calm her a bit to understand her, but she said, "We aren't dreaming." It was one of the happiest moments in my life as she continued, "We're going to have a baby!". Oh yes, one of those feel-good, grace-filled, all the hairs standing up on your neck, kinda moment. So wonderful.
I really enjoyed when we got to tell our family, those were also some very memorable moments. I shot a video of her dad's reaction; priceless. Somewhere around the 8th week mark, we got to see the baby for the first time. And it's not like I didn't realize it yet, but the gravity of it took full effect. In a good way; I was totally pumped up. I'm pretty ready nowadays, we're just kind of waiting around.
So these many weeks later, 39 to be exact, Due Date is almost upon us. The time between has been filled with many preparation projects. Building a new porch over the entry to the house was one (and I quote from the wife, "I am not coming home from the hospital unless there's a porch to cover my baby's head"), which would have been impossible without Uncle Dewayne and Davy. Thanks guys. Preparing everything in the baby room was a lot of fun. Sometime in the spring we were able to find some awesome furniture on craigslist for cheap, and it was practically new.
We had two wonderful showers, and I felt the literal implications of being showered with stuff, or at least stuff for the baby. We're very grateful for all of the gifts and support we've received. But most of all, for all of those out there who prayed, and some who prayed unceasingly for us to be blessed with children. We kept our focus on God's will for us, and it never seemed to shy away from parenthood, so we knew it was the path. Then the Heavenly Father gave us a little someone to walk on the path with us.
Keep in touch y'all, and if there's ever a need for us to pray for you, do not hesitate to ask.
-Nick
On the last evening, there was a nice reception for them with dinner, where everyone got to visit with them a little more. Several people in our parish suggested that we ask for Sister Briege's prayers for healing (her special gift / ministry) for Becca, and so we could have children. So once we got our turn, she said she would most certainly pray for us, and did right on the spot. But before she did, she said that we should go and talk with Fr. Kevin, because apparently "he has quite a knack for getting babies for people". So afterwards, we did, and Fr. Kevin explained that in one instance a husband got in touch with him, jokingly to tell him, "We're on our fourth child, can you please stop praying...". That was a genuine laugh-out-loud moment. But he also prayed with us and for us, on the spot. It was a great memorable evening. And so, life continued.
In May of 2013, I needed a serious break from work, so I took a well-deserved retreat, of the fishing variety. It was sponsored by the local Catholic radio station, and the 'host' was Fr. Mitch Pacwa. It was a good getaway down to Grand Isle. Four days full of quiet, prayer, daily mass, eating, and fishing. Couldn't have been better, and it was exactly what I needed. At some point during the retreat, I expressed my situation to Fr. Mitch. He said that I should write to Mother Angelica and the Sisters at the Monastery in Alabama, where he lives right outside of EWTN. According to him, "there's been a whole slew of babies prayed into existence by those nuns!" If you've never heard him speak, he's always quick to laugh. But a very encouraging thing it was. He said he would even offer mass for her on the day of her surgery.
I told Becca about what Fr. Mitch said when I got home, and she thought that was a great idea. So, as it happened to coincide with Mother Angelica's birthday, we wrote it as a birthday message to her, asking for her and the sisters' prayers. As some more time went by, and the surgery approached, we had kind of forgotten that we sent the card. Some time later we received something from the monastery in Alabama. It was beautiful little card that said the sister's there were setting aside an entire day of prayer, for our intention of healing and to conceive children, including mass, adoration, and rosaries. What an elating feeling it was to receive that wonderful gift. It was like we had a Holy SWAT team backing us up. (see more at http://olamshrine.org/)
So we were nervous for the surgery, at least I was. Probably more than Becca. I tend to have one of those overactive imaginations, likely stemming from all of the reading I do, but any-who. We planned to drive to Houston on a Thursday, have the surgery on a Friday, and recover through the weekend at an extended stay hotel down the road, and have a post-op appointment on the following Monday. She was a miserable wreck the whole way there, that night and the day of the surgery. She was on a clear liquid diet for the trip, then couldn't have anything after midnight, not even water. In all the miracles of modern science and medicine, you'd think by now they would have come up with an alternative to starving the patients before surgery. I felt bad eating dinner around her, and I tried somewhat to not joke too much about eating when she couldn't.
And then the surgery was delayed. For three hours. We were a little peeved, to say the least. She feels terrible and has a splitting headache, oh why, because she's had nothing for 12+ hours, not even water! It was a trying day, for sure. And just to compare the standard laparoscopy she had two years before to this one, time-wise (and I know this one included 2 other procedures, but the scope I believe was the majority) it took the other one twenty, maybe thirty minutes. With this procedure, as I explained before, being much more thorough and careful, lasted just over three and half hours. Needless to say, I was a Nervous Nancy in that waiting room. I did venture over to the chapel for a while during, and it was comforting. And besides the episode with surgery being delayed, our experience at St. Joseph's Medical was great. After a grueling weekend pent up in a hotel room, assisting my patient, we went for the post-op. We got to see lots of 'interesting' photos, and even a video of the surgery. Pretty cool. The doc was able to remove several spots of endometriosis, and the test on her ovary-flow came back looking good. (You'll have to ask Becca what the third test was; she may have even mentioned it in her post about NaPro.)
More recovery. A new regimen of medications. Another step. Another struggle. But no worries, right? That's what we as Christians do, because we know the ultimate goal. Knowing that we could offer our suffering as prayers was most comforting throughout all of this.
Another birthday (for her) passes, another Thanksgiving, and another Christmas season was beginning. Then, just after Christmas Day near the end of December, we realized that Becca's next cycle wasn't starting. Instead of detailing all that took place, read the story in:
(http://sheldensense.blogspot.com/2014/01/a-beautiful-life-with-napro-technology.html)
But basically after that fiasco, we finally got the word for the official blood test, that we were indeed going to have a baby! She called me at work, and I was driving through the plant so I had to quickly pull over and answer. She was crying and saying something that I couldn't understand, and my heart sank. I had to calm her a bit to understand her, but she said, "We aren't dreaming." It was one of the happiest moments in my life as she continued, "We're going to have a baby!". Oh yes, one of those feel-good, grace-filled, all the hairs standing up on your neck, kinda moment. So wonderful.
I really enjoyed when we got to tell our family, those were also some very memorable moments. I shot a video of her dad's reaction; priceless. Somewhere around the 8th week mark, we got to see the baby for the first time. And it's not like I didn't realize it yet, but the gravity of it took full effect. In a good way; I was totally pumped up. I'm pretty ready nowadays, we're just kind of waiting around.
So these many weeks later, 39 to be exact, Due Date is almost upon us. The time between has been filled with many preparation projects. Building a new porch over the entry to the house was one (and I quote from the wife, "I am not coming home from the hospital unless there's a porch to cover my baby's head"), which would have been impossible without Uncle Dewayne and Davy. Thanks guys. Preparing everything in the baby room was a lot of fun. Sometime in the spring we were able to find some awesome furniture on craigslist for cheap, and it was practically new.
We had two wonderful showers, and I felt the literal implications of being showered with stuff, or at least stuff for the baby. We're very grateful for all of the gifts and support we've received. But most of all, for all of those out there who prayed, and some who prayed unceasingly for us to be blessed with children. We kept our focus on God's will for us, and it never seemed to shy away from parenthood, so we knew it was the path. Then the Heavenly Father gave us a little someone to walk on the path with us.
Keep in touch y'all, and if there's ever a need for us to pray for you, do not hesitate to ask.
-Nick
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