Shouting from the rooftops!

It's 4 am. I've just had 5 hours of uninterrupted sleep and I feel great, not tired at all. But it's 4 am and my husband and child are both asleep. Blog? sure!!

I went back and read through my blog posts from the beginning of our journey. I'm floored by God's providence and faithfulness. A dear friend commented to Jimmy on why God chose us for this testimony. I know God has chosen us for this and I know he must have confidence in us to give us such a task (sharing our story, giving God glory, making him more famous). As I read my blog, I notice a few things. First of all, I'm pretty optomistic. I shared the truth but usually a positive spin on the truth. Looking back now, as I watch my princess sleep, things were pretty bleak. They gave us all the facts but I think God blessed me with blinders that only allowed me to see the positive. So, thinking about our task and my optomism, here's the REAL story....

Our doctors told us at week 20 that our child probably would not make it. She would either die of a genetic abnormality or the lung mass would keep her from developing healthy lungs. They asked us if we would consider termination because she would either die in my belly or I would carry her full term and she would be stillborn. Jimmy and I looked at each other and knew pretty immediately that we were not okay with termination. Even if I would be at risk, we weren't okay with that. We began to pray.... not just pray... CRY. Crying out to God for him to heal her, give her life, bless our doctors, etc. We, family and dear friends, fasted and prayed for weeks, months, and God showed us favor throughout the process. I want to say... I NEVER doubted God's ability to heal our daughter. I wondered if it was his will for us.

At this point, I could re-hash her whole story. But i'm not going to. Read past blogs if you want the full version.

Jimmy and I took Ruthie to see her surgeon for a follow up appointment on Monday. She had an x-ray. Smiling ear to ear, he said she was totally fine. No residual mass, no air in her chest cavity, and no fluid in her lungs. God is AMAZING!! He has completely healed my precious daughter. Our doctor, who is Buddhist I think, says... I want you to know.... If you hadn't had the procedure in July, Ruthie would not be here. If you hadn't had fluid drained at 30 weeks, Ruthie would not be here. If you hadn't come here to deliver, Ruthie would not be here. There is no other hospital that could have cared for her needs the way our team did. If you hadn't delivered via exit procedure, Ruthie would not be here.

We said.... God. God orchestrated all these events. I'm not sure what he has in store for our little gal... but it has already been glorifying. We continue to pray for all our doctors who have various religious beliefs. We know our GOD is in the healing business. I don't know where you are in your belief either. But whether or not you believe in the miraculous, you can not deny this healing. My daughter is well, breathing, and thriving. She was heading toward death and she is now living. You may say, God didn't zap the tumor away. HA!! I say that's exactly what he did. God working through two surgeons literally ZAPPED that tumor with a laser. God heard the cries of his people and showed favor, providing life and life abundantly. Miracles do happen. I'm watching one breathe right now.

Cont...

I must confess... I was writing the last blog and toward the end Ruthie started crying. So, it was cut short. I tried to tie it up but I realized later that I only talked about the rough part. I wanted to continue with this blog and share the good parts.

Ruthie sleeps! She pretty much sleeps between every feeding. I feed her, she's awake for about 20 minutes and then she passes out for hours. About 2-3 feeds a day she will stay awake longer. She sleeps so much that I worry that she sleeps too much. But I have to remember she's not a typical 2 month old baby. She is really only 1 month old because she was born a month early. AND has to work harder than the average kiddo to breathe. So, worry dissolves away.

Sometime while she sleeps I put her down in her bassinet, the pack-n-play, or on a mat on the couch (while I sit right next to her)... but sometimes I hold her. I love to hold her. She seems to like it too. I don't want to spoil her. So, I eventually put her down. But I remember a time when I couldn't hold her. She was just laying there with all those tubes, IVs, etc. I held her hand and prayed that she didn't think I had abandoned her. I was afraid she wouldn't want me to hold her once I could. Praise God! She likes to be held now. Don't get me wrong.. she has a limit on how long you can hold her. She doesn't really use her diaper unless she laying down and sometimes she just likes to be left alone.

Also, I kind of like being the one who can soothe her. If she is crying or fussy, everyone passes her to me and I can usually help. It just feels so good to love this little baby so much and then for her to return the love with snuggles and coos.... ahhhh! Now, when I can't do anything, that kind of hurts...i hate constipation/gas.

Learning more about how to care for her/being a mom, my first realization is being a mom is the opposite of selfishness. It requires the complete surrender of the first place status in your own life. Don't get me wrong... I still struggle with selfishness. AND I am in no way unhappy about this... it's just very different. I still get a shower but now i shower with a bassinet right outside the shower. I still go out on dates with the hubby, but it takes more planning and foresight. I can sometimes take her out with us. It's just easier to take her to Nana and Pa's.

Sidenote: Nana and Pa are the best babysitters in the world! They are lifesavers and I don't know what I would do without them!! I love you and please continue to spoil my child!

Back to anti-selfisness/being a mom, it's great and I am NOT complaining. Just sharing how I'm learning all this new stuff.

Update on Ruhie's health.... well.... she looks pretty good to me. She still struggles to eat sometimes. As poor Lori Vaughn witnessed last night, she gets choked and shuts down. She looses the color in her face and her lips do turn a shade of blue. She gets back into a breathing rhythm and then falls asleep. I think it scares me more than it hurts her. She seems fine. And she recovers very well. The next time she eats, it's as if it never happened.

And in case you haven't seen it... Here's a picture that our friends Zach and Sarah Henson took of Ruthie. They are so creative and talented at what they do. Thank you so much to them. Also, if you have a second, go to their website and check out how great they are and book them for a wedding, senior pictures, newborn, etc. They are the best and the sweetest! zachandsarahphotography.com

Home and Adapting

I haven't blogged in quite a while... Lots of changes have come our way. As you probably already know, we are home. We are so glad to be here. Back in good ole Tennessee. Number one comment has been.. I bet you are so glad to be home!! Well..... Yes and No.... I am so happy to be close to family and friends. I'm glad to be in my house. I'm glad that Jimmy and my mom don't have to drive so far to see me and Ruthie. BUT... it is way easier to watch her oxygen levels while she's attached to a monitor. I KNOW she's fine but my only clue now is her lips turn blue and her face gets a little more gray than pink. I don't know about you but that freaks me out a little. Really, her oxygen has been fine. She's only changed color maybe twice and it was while she was eating... she was so hungry, eating so fast, she forgot to breathe.

The first week home was pretty tough. I was constantly checking to see if she was breathing. I couldn't sleep. I would ask Jimmy to check on her even when I was sitting right there. A totally irrational fear. I felt like calling the hospital NICU and asking... Seriously?? Seriously.... you trusted me to take her home. Then I would snap out of it and remember how protective our surgeon was and I know he would have NEVER let her go home if he had any doubts in her or me. I, also, had a wonderful friend talk me down one day. I think I may have freaked her out a little but I was at that point... the point where exhaustion meets hormones and I lost it on her. I felt so bad afterwards but that's what friends are for. I would have totally understood if it were her. It was really nice to have someone to talk to about it. After I was able to get over the fear, it's been pretty nice. I've been feeding her and burping her and changing her diapers...... so pretty normal newborn stuff. We went to get a check up at the pediatrician and she's 8 lbs 2 oz and gaining. We're headed back to Cincinnati for a check up on Dec 19th. She'll have a couple of x-rays and meet with the surgeon.

The pictures are two of her most common faces. She is very expressive and has lots of faces but these are the most common!

the Last Mile

Here we are. We have made it through the toughest part. Ruthie is "out of the woods" so to speak. She is no longer in critical condition. We are still in the Intensive Care Unit but she is no longer a critical patient. She looks fine. Well, I mean she doesn't appear sick. She looks nice and chunky. She has no tubes sticking out of her. (right now anyway... they may have to put her feeding tube back in. We're not sure how she'll eat the next few days.) Jimmy said it best today when we talked on the phone. We have been running a marathon and we are on the last mile.

Ruthie is a champion. Two weeks ago, she had a nurse named Barb. Barb took care of Ruthie several days. Then, she went on vacation for 2 weeks. Today was her first day back and she was nearly in tears at the accomplishments Ruthie had made. Barb's been a nurse in the newborn ICU for years and years...She won't tell us how long exactly.... She said today she's never seen anything like it. Ruthie is a real over-achiever!

Now, the last mile... Feeding. She has been given her food (milk) through a feeding tube since she was born. We have now started her on a bottle. She has to work for her food. She can now breath on her own. But, not only does she need to breath, but she has to eat too. It is interesting thing... she has to get into a pattern of eating and breathing at the same time. It generally takes a preemie weeks to learn this vital skill. Ruthie has been working on it for about a week and a half. She is doing well. She is taking about 85 % of what she needs. If we can get her endurance up and she's taking all her food without tiring out, we can go home. We want to go home but we want to take home a little girl who knows how to eat. The last thing I want is to be back here in two weeks because Ruthie can't eat correctly. We need to set her up for a win. So, we're letting her set the pace in this last mile.

Thank you everyone for your continued prayers and support. Here's the latest picture of tube-less Ruthie.

Hello from Baby Camp!

First, THANK YOU for all your cards, emails, financial support, facebook comments, etc. YOU and THE LORD are encouraging me so much! I pretty much cry every time I think about how amazing God's love is being shown to us. Thank YOU and Thank the Lord.

Let me explain the title of today's blog....I feel like I'm at baby camp. I was pregnant, sent away to have her, and now I'm in baby camp watching her heal and learning how to care for her (i.e. watching for a color change in her face while she's feeding to make sure her oxygen levels aren't dropping). I like baby camp. I'm learning a lot. People keep asking if I'm going crazy here in Cincinnati... Well... not yet. I am just focusing on Ruthie's care and living one day at a time. Every day is a new adventure.

As far as her health, she's healing very well and quickly. (All praise and honor to our Father!! He is healing my daughter!...it's pretty cool to watch.) As of now, she is being weened off oxygen, getting some routine scans, and learning to feed. This could take a week or 2 weeks. So looks like the end of baby camp is in sight. She knows how to eat. She just has a hard time because she gets winded super quick. She's building her endurance and learning how to pace herself. Slowly but surely, we are making progress.

She is getting some oxygen through the tube in her nose. They keep turning it down...eventually getting her used to room air.

Today, she got more scans. I don't know why but I was more of a mess today than the day of our surgery/birth. She had an MRI and a ct scan. Not a huge deal. She had to be put to sleep, intubated, and paralyzed. I was nervous because she had a hole/leak in her right lung that was causing some problems and I didn't want the intubation to cause any more problems. The leak went away on its own after several days of watching it and 3 chest tubes. No worries...It was okay. No new leak. These are called "before you go home" scans. They are to check to make sure everything looks good before we start the process of heading home.

Now, don't get too excited... We have several milestones to pass before we turn in our keys to the Ronald McDonald house. She has to take a full feed every 3 hours, the scans have to be clean, and they want her to be off the oxygen. BUT, the end is in sight and life at home is becoming a reality.

Just to give everyone a heads up... They have told me that through flu season we have to be very very VERY careful about where she goes and who she is around. If a newborn gets a cold, it's not fun. If Ruthie gets a cold, it means a trip to Cincinnati and possible pneumonia. I don't know about you guys but we didn't kick that tumor to be taken out by the common cold. So, we may be staying home a lot. And when we do go out, I will be supplying everyone with ample amounts of hand sanitizer (doctor's orders). Honestly, I have worried a little about being rude when we go out places. Every time I see a newborn baby, my first instinct is to touch their little hands and kiss their little cheeks. Well, now I'm going to have to be the mom who is asking everyone to use hand sanitizer before they touch her. How rude! "I'm sorry... you are dirty and you can't touch my baby." I mean really?!? I even have a little sign that the hospital gave me that hangs from her car seat that says "Please wash your hands before touching mine." Please please PLEASE do not be offended if I offer you hand sanitizer before you touch her. It's the only way they will let me bring her out of the house. Now, obviously, if it's cold or really big crowds, I may stay home or keep her tucked in her car seat or moby wrap.

I love you all you prayer warriors out there! ...and you are not dirty. :)

Ruthie Grace: Part 2

Coming out of anesthesia, in pain, and super foggy, my first question was "How's Ruthie?" I knew the plan was Jimmy would get to see her immediately after she was taken out of the surgery room. So, I hoped he would have an update for me. He did. He let me know she was doing okay, made it through the surgery, didn't have to have ECMO (by-pass breathing mechanism- not a good sign), they had gotten the mass out, she had some right lung after all and it was working along with a semi-healthy left lung. The best news possible. She was still in critical condition and would be for weeks but our best case scenario was happening. In my fog, I was so relieved. But continued to ask questions, pretty much the same ones over and over.

Me: My recovery has gone quite well. I've had some pain, but no more than would be expected after a pretty intense surgery. They keep telling me... take it easy... you had more than the average delivery. I really can't brag on God enough when it comes to how He's provided nurses and doctors. They have been the most attentive, knowledgeable, sweet, confident people and willing to explain in as much detail as we can understand. This goes for my doctors and nurses as well as Ruthie's. Transparently, the hardest part of the recovery was not seeing her and now not holding her. I am feeling a bit disconnected from her. It is getting much much better every day as I get to sit by her and hold her hand. But, in the beginning, I didn't feel like "mommy" yet. I wasn't caring for her. I hadn't touched her. Mentally, it was a rough first few days. I prayed a lot and continue to hand this over to God. I can't tell you how good it is for me to be next to her, be given updates on her care, and other little things. (I get to put lip balm on her lips so they don't get dry and I got to pick out her NICU sheets.) And like I said.. This gets better every day.

Ruthie: Praise be to our Father! My cup runneth over. She is the most amazing thing I have ever seen. I know you believe me when I say she is so incredibly beautiful. Like no lie, the prettiest baby ever. I know that my eyes may not be the most unbiased eyes, but honestly, she's pretty. I would love for you guys to see a picture but she's not at her best right now. There's lots of machines and tubes attached everywhere in the way. But, once those start to disappear, we will flood this blog with pictures of our little blessing. She's got dark hair, tan skin, jimmy's chin and nose, my ears, and we're still waiting for her eyes to open to get a good look at them. Since her arrival, she's had lots of medicines, machines, and whatnot. After surgery/delivery (the surgery was first, technically), her lungs did well, her heart was good, she had some problems with swelling, was on blood pressure medicines, she was hooked up to a machine to help her breath called an oscillator (gave her lots of short, shallow breaths), she was on lots of medicines. The NICU is critical care for infants. They have told us that her recovery will be a climb but to expect a few bumps along the way. Her first week has been just that.... Over all she's done beautifully. Better than expected. But we have had a few rough spots. But the good updates outweigh the bad ones. As of today, she has been weened off the oscillator and is now on a regular ventilator which helps her take her own breaths and does it for her when she's tired, she's only on a few medicines helping with pain, sedation, nutrition (IV nutrition so far- we'll work on feeding later), and breathing, she's not opening her eyes yet and still has lots of tubes, her incision is healing well, her lungs are doing good, and the doctors are slowly removing things every day. She's definitely an over-achiever. Doing wonderfully. Our next landmark will be getting her chest tube out (draining her wound) and weening her off the ventilator completely (so she can breath on her own). We will get to hold her after these things. At least, this is the plan. Again, there is no time-line. She has to take things slowly and recover. But, we are looking forward to these steps.

Her doctors and nurses keep saying how amazed they are by her. We keep telling them about the ARMY of people she has praying for her. I'm not sure they get it. Since she's doing so well, please continue to pray for her. She is so strong and is certainly a fighter, but I give God the glory. He's hearing and answering our prayers in so many ways. God is meeting us in the big ways and in the small. We've been given a place to stay a 5 minute walk from Ruthie's bedside. We have been blessed in so many ways. It's ridiculous. We praise HIM for all that he is providing and his favor. God has chosen me to be this girl's mother. I'm not sure why. I'm certainly not anything special. But, boy, I am honored by his confidence in me.

Ruthie Grace: part 1

Let all praise and honor be to God. He is great and worthy of ALL PRAISE. Not just because of His grace in our situation, but simply because He is our great God.

Second, we are humbled by the thousands of people all around the world that have rallied around our family in prayer. It is truly unbelievable. We are not confused to think that we deserve this. We are eternally grateful. We love you all. Ruthie loves you too, but she can’t tell you that because she’s just a baby.

We arrived at Children’s Hospital in Cincinnati, OH at 5am. Kim was processed and placed in the room she is currently recovering in. Soon, we met with all the surgical staff. Well, not all. Later we were told there were upwards of 20 people in the surgery at certain times. Crazy. Carol and I said our sweet goodbyes to Kim and she went back for surgery around 8am.

Carol and I moved to the waiting room around 8:30am and met up with my sister Susan and brother-in-law Greg. Don came shortly after and we began drinking coffee and having hours of nervous conversation. Greg and Susan constantly reassured me, Don and Carol quietly listened remaining strong and optimistic, and I was kind of an excited nervous mess.

Ms. Judy (super nurse), would come periodically into the waiting room and give us updates. “Kim is under anesthesia now” or “The surgeon has made the first incision”, she would say. She was so great to do that. Each time she came out, we waited with baited breath as each update got us closer to our beautiful baby.

At about 12:15, Ms. Judy came out and changed our lives forever. She told us at 12:01pm at little baby named Ruthie Grace Thorpe was born. She showed us pictures she had taken with Carol’s camera. We were all amazed. At this point, I was hit with the amazing reality that our daughter was not only real, but very much ALIVE.

We were able to meet Ruthie for the first time by the elevators as she was being wheeled to the NICU. She was so beautiful to my eyes. It was bittersweet though, because she had to leave so quickly.

Soon thereafter we had a consultation with the main surgeons who had performed the operation. They filled us in on all the particulars. My head was still reeling. One of the Drs. made the point that it was still not clear what type of tumor it was. It would have to be sent of to testing. In a moment of clarity I spoke up and said, “Let me put it to you this way, if robbers broke into my house and put my family in danger, I called the cops and they run him off and put him in jail...I don’t need to know his name”. We all erupted with laughter and I finished by saying, “but if I saw him on the street, I would beat him to death with a bat”.

I finally got to see Kim as she was coming around from the anesthesia. She was in a lot of pain, but we got to hold hands and share a sweet moment together. Carol and Don got to see her too. There are just some things a husband can’t give his wife, but a Mom and Dad was all that she needed. We were all so happy that Kim was OK. We all exhaled a sigh of relief.

Cataloging these days

Jimmy, Mom, and I have been here (in the hospital) since Thursday. So far, the days been pretty uneventful. Mom and Jimmy have been traveling back and forth from here to the hotel/extended stay place we have for a while. I have to have special permission from my doctor to leave the floor. So, I've been walking the halls and visiting the nurses station from time to time.


I've been getting steroid treatments to grow Ruthie's lungs and hopefully shrink this mass on her right lung. They did find normal lung tissue on the right side. Not much, but enough to be promising. The left one appears to be functional but squished a bunch. So, when they remove the mass during the surgery they will be slowly unsquishing everything else.

Since we've been here, we've met lots of doctors and I must say I am very impressed with their knowledge and confidence. I love my doctors and midwife from Cookeville and Chattanooga...but it is comforting to be learning to love people here too. They are very smart and super involved in each case that they see. We had a consultation meeting with the team of doctors (6 doctors; 2 hi-risk OBs, 2 neonatologists, 2 pediatric surgeons, and a host of nurses) who would be with Ruthie and I on our delivery/surgery day. It was a 2 and 1/2 hour meeting where they explained everything thoroughly and explained the risk. We met again on Friday to sign all the consent forms and meet a few more doctors. The technical diagnosis for Ruthie is still up in the air. They think it is something called a CCAM/CPAM mass. But there is some friendly disagreement among our doctors on the actual diagnosis. They haven't really presented another option that is more likely but the course of treatment is the same for any other type of lung mass. If it is a CPAM, it's the largest one they've seen and it didn't respond to steroids the way it supposed to. (That's why I'm getting another round this weekend.) We're pretty sure the surgery is going down on Tuesday. We'll know for sure after some tests on Monday. But all the consent forms are signed and ready for a Tuesday surgery. I'm ready for it. I think Ruthie is too.

I know you must have lots of questions. I know we do. But to be honest, the answer to most of them is "We don't know." The lung mass/delivery/surgery are all so new and cutting edge that there aren't a ton of statistics on it. They see maybe 10-12 per year here at this hospital and it's by far the most in the country. Every baby responds differently and requires different treatment. Sure, Ruthie's mass is the biggest they've seen but she's almost full term and isn't showing signs of stress. Most babies with this type of mass have other problems (heart or diaphragm). They're masses are smaller but the babies are smaller too. So, if you have questions and I haven't addressed it in the blog, you may assume the answer is "We don't know."

Jimmy was able to pray with/over our doctors and nurses in our meeting on Friday. They were open to it. I think they were honored by it and hopefully they know that we and all of you will be continuing to pray for them. We were talking after the meeting with one of the surgeons. We were talking about pride in doctors and he said pediatrics is pretty different from other specialties. He said.. "It's easy to put your pride aside and ask for others opinions even if you think you are right... because it's for the health of a baby. We all come together around a baby." I like this guy. He and the whole team are a blessing to us.

We are doing well and keeping our heads and hearts up. Thanks for your prayers over the course of the week. I or Jimmy will keep you updated.

Too much to tell!

We've had such a full week that it will be difficult to get everything here on the blog. Here's one thing I know; God is in control and Ruthie, Jimmy and I are at the top of his list!

I guess I could start with where I am... I'm at Univeristy hospital in Cincinnati. We are across the street (literally) from Cincinnati Children's Hospital. On Wednesday, we came up here and had several tests; an MRI, in depth ultrasound, and a fetal echo. After a day of testing, we met with a room full of experts. They explained what they saw and presented a couple of options of treatment. The options are endless and none of them are free of risk. So, let me tell you what we've decided.

Ruthie and I will be delivering via an "Exit Procdure." This is surgery for her and for me. Basically, they will put me to sleep and open me up similar to a c-section. They will remove her from me but leave me connected to her through the umbilical chord. She will then have her mass removed while still connected to me. I will be acting as her life support while she has the surgery. After she has the surgery, they will secure her breathing and then, officially deliver her (cut the chord). They'll sew me up and wake me up. This is a bigger risk for me but will give Ruthie the best shot for her surgery. It's about a 6 hour surgery. Obviously, pray for Ruthie and me... but please also keep Jimmy in your prayers. I can't imagine how worried he must be. I would be a blubbery mess if it were him in an operating room for that long.

Well, if that wasn't enough, they also gave us our first information on how Ruthie will do after she is born. There's lots of maybes, could be's, and we'll sees. Basically, imagine the largest spectrum; the very best to the very worst. I'm trying not to think about the possibilities. I'm just staying positive and am excited about this precious thing that is kicking the time out of me RIGHT NOW. I thank God for every minute that she is with me. I have a friend who gave me that advice. Treasure every minute you have with her. That's what i'm doing right now. I know it is going to be a long journey. But I am excited about the next step. I know God is the Giver of Life and I know He's got our backs. No matter what happens. They did give us an estimate on how long she will be in the NICU.... 6 weeks to 12 months. Yeah. You read that right. possibly 12 months of NICU living. oh dear. I guess I'll just have to become a Bengals fan.

Again, this is just a synopsis of what we've heard over the last couple of days. a.) there really is too much to write. b.) I don't even want to repeat some of the negative things they've 'prepared' us for.

When is this big show happening?? With a CCam mass (the type they think it is... that's another story for another time.), they've seen moms deliver on average at 35 and 1/2 weeks. That's Monday for me. Not only does she have a CCam, but it's the largest one they've ever seen. I also have excess fluid that causes preterm labor. I was admitted today for observation and in anticipation this thing would go down near the beginning of next week. But there's no official schedule.

Thank you so very much for the prayers I know you are sending up on our behalf. I can feel it. No lie.... as far as physically, I feel okay aside from the occasional contraction... mentally, I'm focusing on the positive and anticipating the best outcome. I mean really.... at 20 weeks, things were pretty bleak. Look at her now! she's rocking every test! she's looks perfect. They did say... with this size of mass, she should be this or she should look like this. but she's not showing any signs of stress. Go Team! Seriously, thanks for the prayers and keep em' coming!! We love you so much and can't express how much love we feel from you!

No news is good news

Hello all! I didn't realize it had been so long since I have blogged. We have had little news to report. I see a doctor 3 times a week now. I see the high-risk specialist twice a week and my regular OB once a week. We are watching a few things; the size of the mass, the effect the mass is having on Ruthie, and the amount of amniotic fluid I am accumulating. So far, the mass is growing a little bit. There for a while it was plateaued but it is now growing again. Even though the mass is growing, it hasn't seemed to be effecting her badly. It is large enough to be shifting her heart to the left. Also, it is pressing on her esophagus making it more difficult for her to swallow amniotic fluid. That is what is causing the level of amniotic fluid to rise. But these things are not super-threatening for her or for me. If the amniotic fluid rises too much, as it has before, I am at risk for preterm labor. That's why they have drained me before. But as for now, I am staying about the same fluid level; high but not dangerous. At each appointment, we determine if we need to drain anymore fluid and if the mass is causing any problems that are bad for Ruthie.

We have discussed delivery of sweet Ruthie. There is no way to know what her breathing ability will be when she is born. Her right lung is most likely compromised and we have no idea what her left lung is going to look like. We have several options but have no definite plans for now. It looks like the most likely birth is something called an exit procedure. An exit procedure is a c-section where they will intubate (put in a breathing tube) her before disconnecting her from me. This will ensure that she is never without oxygen and her breathing is controlled immediately. She will then most likely have surgery to remove the mass from the right side. It may require removing some or all of her right lung as well. Even if they have to remove the whole lung, if her left lung is okay (which they think it is), she will have a fairly normal life; playing sports, running, jumping and such.

I'm currently at 33 weeks. They typically arrange exit procedures at 38 weeks. But if my fluid rises or Ruthie is in distress, they will do it a little earlier. They are happy that I'm almost to the 34 week mark. This is a big step! Looking back, at 22 weeks, I wasn't sure if I was going to make it this far! Ruthie is roughly 5 lbs and growing. We are super hopeful and ready for her to get here and be healthy!

Another busy day

As I had posted before, I had quite a bit of extra amniotic fluid. Today, my levels were at 38 cm. Normal levels are between 10-25 cm. So, I was super uncomfortable and if my levels continue to rise I would be at serious risk for preterm labor. Today, we and the doctors decided to reduce my fluid. This procedure requires a needle into the uterus and let the fluid drain out. Apparently, I have plenty because my doctor drained over a liter of fluid when we had to stop. They tell pregnant women not to lay flat on your back. Now I know why. I was in mid-conversation when all of a sudden I felt like I was going to pass out. Apparently my blood pressure had dropped. They took a quick glance over at Ruthie and her heartrate was super low. So, out the needle came. I sat up and drank a sprite. I rolled onto my side and Ruthie returned to normal. My doctor suggested we go over to the hospital and be monitored for a little while. I was having contractions about 4 minutes apart but they weren't too strong. After about an hour and a half and some medicine, the contractions stopped and I came home. I'm on total bedrest for two days. Just to allow everything to heal and to keep from contracting again. I'm feeling good...pray for Jimmy's nerves. I think he had quite a day. :)


Other than this little spell, I'm healthy and Ruthie is doing great. She still has the mass on her lung but she is growing and the mass is staying the same size. She is practice breathing and moving plenty. I'm 31 weeks. My doctor wants to get to 38 weeks but another doctor we see says 34 weeks is good too. Who knows who will win out??? I'm just waiting for the weeks to go by. On a good note, I feel much better after the reduction of fluid. Hopefully, if we have to do this again, we will be closer to term and will probably do the procedure in the hospital.

Love you all so much! Thanks for the prayers!

Holding Pattern

I've decided if i wasn't on maternity leave already, this would be one stressful time. We've had 3 doctors appointments this week and have 3 already on the books for next week. I can not imagine trying to get a sub for so many days. Or trying to work these appointments for after school. So, I'm thankful for these days off for allowing me the freedom to attend all these appointments.

People are so sweet and kind. They have been courteous and checking on us constantly. I got the sweetest card today and it just melted my heart.

I have noticed that my mid-section is growing at an alarming rate these days. A sweet lady at church asked me if I was having twins. I was not offended but I have seen my sweet Ruthie on the screens enough to know there is only one. So, I told her nope.. just the one. She, then, looking at my belly, says "Are you sure???" Still not offended, I did let her know that we've seen this girl and she's the only one in there. But my growing tummy is definitely larger in the last couple of weeks. I haven't been gaining a ton of weight... just moving it around mostly. We went to the doctor on Monday and found that Ruthie has way more than the average fluid around her. She's swimming in an ocean and that's why my belly is a little more swollen than the average 29 weeker. It is uncomfortable. I feel like someone has a water balloon in my belly and is slowly increasing the pressure. They told me they could drain it but that would mean another giant needle which also carries a tiny risk of premature labor. But, the extra fluid also carries a risk of premature labor. SO, for now, I'm toughing it out until I can't bare it. I may end up having the procedure done to reduce the fluid at one of my many appointments next week.

Other than the excess fluid, Ruthie is still stable. The solid mass is still growing but she seems to be handling the extra pressure okay. We are currently in a holding pattern. We'll be playing it week by week to see whether or not we need to induce. As the mass grows, it will hinder her but we want her to get as big as she can until we get her into the world. We are hoping to get past 34 weeks. But we'll have to wait and see.

Thank you to everyone for your prayers and support. Keep em' coming. We love you!

Putting away the "What if's"

This week Jimmy and I went to Erlanger to meet with some pretty great people. We met several doctors, nurses, and specialists. We also got to tour the NICU and children's hospital where Ruthie will most likely be staying. Totally awesome! I was so impressed with the NICU (intensive care unit for infants) They had 50 babies in there! It was amazing to see! These little ones were taken care of so well! If Ruthie's in there, it is nice to know there are so many dedicated nurses and staff taking such care of the sweet ones. (also, jimmy and i can visit any time of day. I like that.)

The first doctor we met is a surgeon. He and his team will be the ones to assess Ruthie after she is born to determine whether or not she needs surgery right away, what kind of surgery, and what exactly we are dealing with. There's only so much you can see on an ultrasound. So, when she comes out they will be looking to see if the mass is ON her lung, intermingled with the lung tissue, or completely overtaken it. This will let him know how to remove it. If it's on her lung, he may be able to save it and she may have both of her little lungs to work with. Another scenario would be it is totally intermingled with the right lung and part or the whole lung would have to be removed. So, if you didn't know, a person can live with only one lung. He said she could run, play, jump, etc. This would become her normal. She could still play sports and do most things with no long term care or meds. She could probably never be a smoker. But let's be honest, I don't really want her to pick up that habit. Now, he wasn't blindly optimistic. Things could go wrong. Her left lung may have problems, as well. She may need something called ECHMO which is only done at Vanderbilt and she would then be transferred. There are lots of things that could go wrong, but overall, she's got a good shot.

We, also, went to see our hi-risk OB. (the one who put in the shunt-referred to as Yoda in previous blogs) He said the shunt is still in place. It's still doing it's job. She is stable and looks pretty good. He was very happy with the results of the procedure and is hopeful for her. Her mass has a blood supply so is most likely not going to shrink or go away. As she grows, it may grow with her, but will likely not cause any more problems. Jimmy asked.... "Is our cup half full here? or half empty?" The Doc replied.. Mostly full. So, that was enough for us. We are feeling pretty good about all this. I'm just trying not to go into labor.

We discussed what would happen if I should go into labor here (in cookeville). They said "oh. that should be okay. Depending on how far along (in labor) you are, we'll either stop your contractions and airlift you here (to erlanger) or if you are about to deliver, we'll airlift our NICU team to Cookeville and stabilize Ruthie then bring her here." WOW! I was just like... okay. Feeling like a VIP again. Part of that makes me nervous, but also comforts me. Hopefully, we never have to do this. If I make it to 37-38 weeks, we'll schedule an induction or c-section depending on Ruthie's needs. I'm 28 weeks today.... so 9-10 more weeks.

So, as you can see, the list of "What if's" is super long.... She could be born breathing fine, come home with us, and we'll schedule a surgery for later... or she could be born not breathing and neither of her lungs functioning and not make it. Obviously our doctor's are telling us both ends of the spectrum but betting on somewhere in the middle. They are optimistic and i think that's a good sign. But to know all these scenarios and running through them all.... not fun. So, I'm putting away all the "what if's" and not worrying. Let's be honest. Worrying will do absolutely nothing for me or for Ruthie. BUT if i can relax, give God these worries/what if's...that actually might do some good. So, my little mustard seed of faith is in the Lord and choosing every day to hope for the best and be ready for a little one at home. Sounds fine and dandy but put into practice is a daily thing. People keep saying they admire my strength or faith or whatever...Truth is... Here's the secret... I'm not keeping this. God has this. I'm just living it.

Ruthie's Nursery

I have so many friends who are so creative and talented when it comes to decorating and painting (like on a canvas). I've always wanted to be crafty like these wonderful friends. I've tried painting before but disaster ensued. Only after a trip to the Art Mill in Cookeville did I get another boost of confidence. I really wanted Jimmy and I to do the art for Ruthie's room. Here's our progress.....

Here's a "R" that I did. It's small but hope to find a place for it.

Jimmy drew the picture for me. I'm not super at drawing...but my hubby is!!

Fresh coat of Green...

Here's our finished product. Jimmy drawing... Me painting... seems to be working. I must say I'm pretty proud of our first attempt. I've got one more canvas to finish.

Ruthie Update

Ruthie and I had a follow-up doctor's visit today. In case you didn't hear the last installment, Ruthie was hydropic; meaning where her heart was under so much stress she developed hydrops or swelling all around her. It was a sign of heart failure. The procedure she had done took the stress on her heart and her heart is fine but the hydrops (swelling) was still there. If she were born with the hydrops, it could be fatal. She also had fluid in her "healthy" lung; the left one.

As of today, she is NO longer hydropic!!! Also, the fluid in her left lung has resolved. Every time we put something on here for you guys to pray for... the next appointment, it's gone! No, our doctor is not a quack. Our GOD is AMAZING! Our doctor is so smart and capable. I've seen these things on the ultrasound myself. I know I'm not trained to read those things but I saw the swelling. Today, THERE WAS NO SWELLING. I'm so sorry to say that I am surprised by this. I have never ever questioned whether or not God could accomplish these things... I've wondered what his will is for our lives. He is faithful and good. He hears and answers prayers. Even if we didn't get good news today, he's the same God!

So, as we continue to live through this trial, please continue to pray for our little Ruthie. We continue to cross these hurdles. We've got one more. I sincerely ask you to pray for her. I know God is listening to our cries for her. The mass that was on her lung was a combination of fluid and solid. The shunt they put in got rid of the fluid but the solid mass is still there. It's pretty sizable. It's large. They can't see any of the right lung. They are concerned about the function of the right lung. It's possible that she could have surgery after she's born but even after that we're not sure if she can live with her lungs the way they are. Please pray specifically for her little lungs to develop and be healthy and for the lung mass to DISAPPEAR! Get smaller or disappear! Also, pray for us as we meet with neonatal surgeons and getting more info on her care after birth.

God is Great! Amen.

Living Life Online

Hello Again, friends and family!

Over the past few days, I've been blessed to talk to and see a lot of people. They all say "Hey! I've seen your blog. How are you?" I know to some (even me) it may seem strange to live our lives so transparently online. Blogging about something so personal where so many can see and feel involved. I've felt this week like.... maybe we "told" too many people about our situation. Maybe we've let too many people in. Agreed... it's not the best place to air your innermost thoughts because everyone from your best friends to mere acquaintances can know all about your business.

We decided to let everyone in for two reasons. 1) Ruthie has what feels like a million people praying for her. This was the easiest way to get the word out for prayers for her sweet little lungs and heart. 2) Some of our closest friends live literally around the world. The world has gotten so small to us. We have dear friends from all over... from as close as walking distance to Georgia, Texas, Alabama, Washington, Michigan, and lots of other states to Nicaragua, Haiti, Central Asia, Tanzania.... not just acquaintances.... dear dear friends and family who we want to know and be involved in our lives AND praying for our little girl.

So, know that we didn't just flippantly post our most personal stuff online. We considered keeping it close but, in the end, decided that we'd rather our random acquaintances know everything than to exclude loved ones. I've said this once and I'll say it again and again.... We are so encouraged by ALL your love and support through this. Thanks for your prayers! We mean that! We know that God listens and answers prayer! If we didn't before, we do now! A sincere thank you for thinking of us.

Update on Ruthie Grace

Here's the latest on Ruthie:

We checked in to the hospital on Monday. We had the procedure done on Tuesday. First of all, the procedure they did must have been fairly new because we had a room full of doctors, residents, nurses, etc. All wanting to get a glimpse of little Ruthie. Our little girl is already causing a fuss! There was a mass on her lung filled with fluid that was putting a ton of pressure on her little heart causing some signs of high stress. Her heart was under so much stress that it caused her to swell/retain fluid. Using a giant hollow needle (don't worry; I was numb and couldn't see a thing), they put in a shunt to drain a fluid in the mass. It must have been cool because the room was pretty quiet when the shunt went in. The doctor standing nearest to me said the ultrasound looked very cool! She could see the cyst going down instantly. Before the procedure, her heart looked squished and was against her spine. We saw a follow-up ultrasound today and we got to see all 4 chambers of her heart and they all look normal and it's going back to where it's supposed to be.

She is still swollen/retaining fluid, the solid mass is still there (but much smaller), and she does have some fluid in her left lung. She is in no way out of the woods but they have given her the best shot. Over the next 3-4 months we'll be watching these things and praying that they resolve and just go away! She may have to have some surgery after she's born. There are so many things that we just don't know. There are several ways this could go. There are just too many variables.

As for me, I'm feeling okay. I'm having some cramping (totally normal) and my back is sore from the spinal. But I assume these things will go away soon. My mind is okay too. I, of course, have my moments of total hysteria. But, in general, I'm hopeful, happy, and anticipating the arrival of Ruthie.

With all this good news, there is a small bit of bad news. Well, not bad.... i guess it depends on who you ask. I'm on modified bed rest from now until the end of the pregnancy, hopefully a full 3 1/2 months. You know what this means..... i'm not going back to school this August. I was totally bumbed. I was really looking forward to getting back to school, but modified bed rest says no working. Modified bed rest means I can walk around my house and I can do one outing a day for around 2-3 hours. But this limits me a tad. A tad more than I like but I will do anything to give this sweet child the best possible outcome!

I told our doctors, I (and many others) have prayed and prayed that this lung mass would just disappear or get smaller so that she could have a shot at life. God didn't just make it disappear, but He used them to make it go away. I don't care how God answers our prayers. I am super thankful to all the doctors who were able to help me and Ruthie this week.

There are too many stories of how God has showed up this week to explain them all. We are just praising God for showing his favor on us and sending us so many blessings. Jimmy and I are so so so thankful to everyone who has been praying for us. We can definitely feel everyone's prayers. God is so good. We will continue to pray and not doubt. We are trying to be guarded but faithful.

Praise be to God!!!

Here goes.... 1st you all know we are having a little girl. We have settled on a name for our sweet bundle. Her name is Ruthie Grace Thorpe. I love her so much already and I'm so excited that she's moving around and jimmy and i have both felt her tumbling around in there!

2nd.... We had our 19 wk ultrasound. They saw some 'red flags' and sent us to a specialist. They said there were spots on her brain and she had enlarged kidneys. They said this was common but still needed to be checked out.
Fast forward to Monday (20 wks). We went in thinking everything was fine. Throughout the ultrasound i just watched and enjoyed seeing Ruthie on the screen. After the ultrasound, our doctor came in and long story short.... no brain spots, no enlarged kidneys, BUT there is a soft marker for a chromosomal defect (top 3 are Down's syndrome, trisomy 18 (fatal), and trisomy 13 (also fatal)) and she has a large mass on her lung that will probably hinder her lungs from developing properly. This mass is also displacing her heart and they can't get a good look at it. They said we could lose her at any time. Walking out of the doctor's office on Monday, we had very little hope that Ruthie would make it through the pregnancy, let alone make it through birth. Under the advisement of our doctor (who is really nice, despite the terrible news she was giving us), we had an amniocentesis (a test for genetic abnormalities). Scary. We are testing for these genetic problems first, then watching the lung mass carefully.

We started praying immediately. Days of praying and waiting for the results of the amnio. I mean we were praying, crying out to the Lord. A few people (wonderful, beautiful friends and family) knew about this and were praying/crying with us.

Got some news back today. The preliminary ammnio results came back clear for those top 3. They had to send off for more testing. The full results will come back on Tuesday and we have another ultrasound on Thursday.

We are in no way out of the woods BUT God is so faithful! He has answered our first prayer. We continue to ask God for clear results of the tests AND disappearance of the mass on her lung!! Please join us in this prayer. We love her so much and she has an army of prayer warriors who love her so much already.

Thank you all for your prayers and love! We love you guys so much!

Trying to be faithful and optimistic but oh so guarded and cautious.

June 2011

Well, this month is filling up fast. Jimmy's summer life is pretty much like the rest of the year. But my summer is much different than the rest of the year. I'm looking forward to several things this month. We are celebrating Jason and Erin's upcoming marriage with a couples shower. By the Brook is this month. We are so very excited to be a part of this amazing weekend. It's a retreat for mothers of special needs children. It's a ministry of Rising Above Ministries. I'm planning the Haiti August trip for our church. Not going on this trip, but I'm super excited to help them get there! It's a life-changing experience and I'm pumped to help people to go.

Another big thing this summer, I'm growing a baby. I'm 17 weeks. :) We will be finding out if it's a boy or girl in 2 weeks. I'm super excited to give this child a name and a room in our house. I know my family and friends are ready to know too. As far as how I feel, I feel a little better. I have days that are great and days that resemble the first 3 months. I've noticed that it really has to do with what and how much I eat. If I can eat healthy, every 4 hours, it's not so bad. Now I just have to hold onto the conviction and discipline to do that.

This is an unfortunate or fortunate (depending on how you look at it) development for summer. I have lost all interest in TV. There's nothing worth watching. If you know me, this is a pretty big deal. I've been a lover of television for years and years. But these days, I've got all this time and I usually would spend some of it watching TV but I have no interest in it. It almost feels like a deliverance from addiction. Praise the Lord! I guess I'll get more done, clean more, and spend more time out with people. So, call me. We'll do lunch sometime.

Well.... that's what's new with us.

New addition

Jimmy and I are expecting a little thorpe around November 10th. I've not posted on our blog... "What's new with the Thorpe's" because the only thing (that matters) that was new was pregnancy. We were so excited and nervous. Well, 75 % nervous 25% excited. Jimmy was probably the other way around. Not sure if you know this but I miscarried last year and was super cautious of telling people this time around. If you asked jimmy, he was more likely to give up the secret.

So, I've been super sick, nervous, and a little cranky. My students at school have taken the brunt of the crankiness.

Morning sickness is totally different than I expected. I always thought, nausea?? Get over it already. But, that's easier said than done. It's amazing how all consuming that feeling is. If you feel sick, it's all you can think about. You can't function normally and that is super frustrating. With that said, it is also super comforting. Every time I was sick (most evenings and some mornings) I would thank God for that sickness... because the absence of sickness would be quickly replaced with worry. I understand the need for complaining. It's therapeutic. But it's a dangerous slope of selfishness. I have to remind myself that others around me are not sick and need me to function as normal as possible. AND in reality, I'm not sick. I'm pregnant. That is the most amazing blessing and I can't spend my time complaining all the time. I must focus on the blessing.

I'm 12 weeks pregnant. 28 to go. We found out I was pregnant very early. We found out at 5 weeks just before our trip to Haiti. Talk about nervous, I tried to forget it, put it off for a week, but Jimmy wouldn't let me. He was sweetly suggesting that I not go on the 3 hour hike up and down the mountain. Don't eat this or that. I knew people would begin to notice the way he was protecting me. But they didn't. We had kept it a secret. We were trying to keep our secret until week 12. That's when sweet Pastor Joseph (Haitian) waltzes into our house and asks our team if he can pray for us. Joseph only speaks creole. So, he brought along our friend Steve to translate. He begins to pray for us. He is the most fervent and faithful man I've ever met. Throughout this prayer, he speaks to God about blessing us with a child and many other things about our family. After he and our team are finished praying for us, he tells us through the translator that he had a dream about me and jimmy. We were pregnant and very happy. How could we keep this secret from him!! Through my tears, I told Steve and the rest of the team that I was pregnant. The room erupted in laughter, tears, and hugs. Many people on our team and Steve had been praying for us for many months. Poor Joseph had no idea what was going on. Then, in excitement, Steve translated our good news. Joseph was ecstatic. I'm pretty sure there was jumping and shouting. He was so thankful to our Father for this blessing. I was humbled at how everyone had taken the news. I was still very guarded and nervous. But everyone else was so happy for us. Sweet friend, Mallory, who we had just met 2 days before in the airport, was weeping with happiness. I love her. Don't get me wrong. I was very happy and excited but wouldn't allow myself to get too attached to the idea.

I'm proud to say I am now 75% excited and 25 % nervous with my nerves decreasing every day. I know that God has blessed us with so many friends and family. He will never leave or forsake me. I can do all things through him who gives me strength. As I was preparing lessons for Haiti, God gave me a word through the story of Mary, mother of Jesus. An angel comes to her and shares the plan. She doesn't say... I'm not ready for this.... I'm nervous. She says, I'm the servant of the Lord. Let this thing happen to me. That's what I've been repeating to myself this past 12 weeks. Whether God chooses for this child to grow and become part of our family or God chooses to take this child to heaven before we get to meet him/her, then "I'm the servant of the Lord. Let this thing happen to me." I must continue to trust in Him and lean not on my own understanding but on His word.

Thank you to all our friends and family who have been praying for us. I ask for your continued prayers for our little bundle. Praise the Lord for these blessings. Also, we have many friends who are struggling to conceive. Please continue to pray for them. It's so hard to watch others get answered prayers that you're not getting. We love you and are continuing to pray for you!

Haiti March 2011

We have returned to America having learned a few things. I (Kim) learn something different everytime i go to another country. Sometimes I learn about that country, sometimes I learn about myself, sometimes I learn something about the Church, etc.... This trip I have learned several things.

#1 I am truly grateful for the structure that our country provides. I have never appreciated this until now. On our way back, we hit a few snags. Long story short, Jimmy had to stay back an extra day and visit the local "hospital". After visiting the hospital, (jimmy wasn't sick. It was a team member of ours) the airline didn't want to let them back on the plane because our note from the doctor wasn't "stamped". The airline is totally correct, totally within their protocol to ask for such a document. But, seriously? Asking our team for an official document from a Haitian hospital is a ridiculous request. Jessica (a saint, in my book) went back to the hospital to look for the illusive "stamp". She found a red cross stamp, a hello kitty stamp, and some kind of green stamp that had french on it. The airlines finally accepted this series of stamps. (i think the hello kitty one set them off) I have never been so happy to see MIAMI! This series of events was totally planned by God from the beginning of time. I only wish I had known about it. I wouldn't have freaked out so bad when Jimmy, Hillary, and Jessica were escorted off our plane.

#2 I "require" a lot of unnecessary things. (No explanation necessary)

#3 Satan working in America is very, VERY differently then how he works in Haiti. Voodoo is for real and scary.

#4 God's love for me is way beyond anything I can do or work for. God doesn't want to use me. He wants to LOVE me. (Thank you Mallory for this 2 X 4)

#5 Haitian children need discipline as well.

#6 Soccer is legit.

#7 There are people in the world that totally amaze me by their love, kindness, hospitality, work ethic, leadership, friendship, etc. Sylvanie, Pastor Frisnell, Bayenn, Steve, Pastor Joseph, Paul, Hillary, Jessica, Mallory, Katie, Amber, Jimmy, Tim, Sydney, and Lyndsay.

Thanks so much to all who have been praying for us and for Haiti. Please continue to pray for them. Satan is so real and stinkin' scary. Pray for healing in their country. Pray for the elections coming up. Pray that God would be glorified and Satan would be defeated.

We love you all!!

2011: The Year of Restoration

Jimmy and I have coined 2010 "the year of loss." Not to say there wasn't joy in our year last year... My sister had the cutest baby girl, jimmy and I both got to go to Haiti (meeting this joyful child- Sophanisha...sp?), lots of friends have new little ones, jimmy had an awesome 30th birthday party and many, many more joyful times.

But... there was more loss in 2010 than all the years of our marriage combined. Lots of sad stories but that's not really what I'm talking about....

After a year like 2010, Jimmy and I decided we were coining 2011 before it even started.... 2011 is the year of Restoration, Redemption, Endurance, and other synonyms of the like. The restoration has begun. Jimmy and I are very hopeful for the future. But, in the mean time, we are still fighting. "Fighting" is too strong...We are not unhappy. Our spirits are generally high. We just get bad news here, bad news there... It's just another chance for God to show up and redeem the situation. Just another chance for God to get the GLORY for something that we or our friends/family could never endure without the power of the Holy Spirit. When we coined 2011 as the year of restoration, I didn't realize that we would have to endure the struggles. I just naively thought our victories would be quick and painless. What was I thinking? What good would that do? I certainly wouldn't appreciate the little things. Only giving God the glory for 1 deep breath and not the little shallow ones that sustain us as well.

So, our year of restoration has begun. God is changing us and showing us everyday how to love each other better, love our families better, spread the Gospel more effectively, and so many other things that all the blogs in the world could not contain.

Big events on the docket for 2011:

• We are heading back to Haiti March 6th. I am so happy to get to see our wonderful friends and Haitian family.



• Hopefully, a vacation! a cruise! please! now! or summer...
  



• Coming along side Rising Above Ministries!! Yeah!! Who knows what this looks like?? Maybe Jeff Davidson will have an idea???
  



• Continuing paperwork for our adoption. Yeah.... we're in the early early beginning stages of adoption. We are filling out paperwork. We hope to start classes for this in May. More details as we get them.

This is what's new with the Thorpe's this week!

Wondering what I'm reading... Matthew, Mark, and Francis. The two gospels and Forgotten God by Francis Chan (chapter 7 more precisely).

Starting to Blog

So... I told Jimmy I was starting a blog of our lives. He laughed at me! I know... Our lives don't seem that exciting... and really it's not. But I just recently got to catch up with some very dear friends who have been blogging for years. I feel like I have been talking to them twice a week for all those years we've been apart. They just ask "What's new with the Thorpe's." Well, my thought was to start a blog to let you know. If nothing else, this can be a place for me to work out the things that are happening in our lives.

As Jimmy is by far the more eloquent writer of the family, I will make my attempt to not sound like a complete moron. I'm all science and math. Jimmy is our artsy fartsy side and I am our calculator.

Welcome to our blog!! New posts coming soon! Maybe spelled correctly and grammatically correct... depending on who is doing the typing.