William Gage Parker

Wanting to be three instead of just two-

Your mom and dad prayed-asking the Lord just for you!

And, just before Christmas in 2010-

That prayer was answered-and, a new chapter in their life would begin!

Everything was perfect-going along just fine-

Then, the morning sickness started-and, your mom couldn't dine!

A few more weeks into the pregnancy-with family standing around,

The doctor said on the ultrasound a cystic hygroma was found.

The doctors said the outlook isn't all that great-

For most babies like this, there is only a 20% survival rate.

Of course we were worried- we've never heard of this before-

But, we knew no matter what we wanted you in our arms to adore!

So, we got on our knees and we asked the Lord to heal you-

And, your parents- why one day-you'll know their testimony too!

They never gave up-their faith only increased-

And, we said we will Praise His Name for He is the High Priest!

And,before we knew it- well, you didn't need that specialist anymore-

The doctor said he's perfect-we don't even see the fluid we saw before!

Then, on July 14, we gave shouts of praise to the Lord!

For you were here with us and your Daddy was cutting the cord!

We'll never forget the moment you were born that day-

Your Mama cried your name as upon her chest you would lay!

Ten long fingers and precious tiny feet,

You were healthy as you could be-so precious and so sweet!

Don't ever forget,William Gage Parker- as you grow and become a young man-

You're a precious miracle-and, for you, God has a great plan!!

*I wanted to share this with everyone! Gage's aunt Dawn wrote this for him. She is just a great writer!! I cry every time I read this.

Thanks again Aunt Dawn. We love you!!!!*

Gage's Arrival Week- Day #1

So, this time next week I will be holding my precious miracle. Crazy to think. It has defiantly been a crazy weekend. Emotions and hormones running crazy. Here is the story:

Friday I had been having small consistent contractions most of the day. Sara came over around 130 and we went to Conyers and did some shopping. While we were shopping I told Sara I thought I was having contractions they just weren't very strong. We then wrapped up shopping and headed back to my house to "walk them off". When I got home they got stronger than they had ever been. We then proceeded to call the Dr. She said we could  come to the hospital and just see, or wait it out at home. I was in way to much pain to stay home..so we headed to Athens. To make a long story short we got there and I was still 2cm dilated but 70% effaced. We had made some progress. So we walked for two hours and then still no progress.She gave me some pain meds to help me relax and sleep to see if we would progress anymore.After 2 more hours, still NOTHING. When she told us I had made no more progress I was sooo upset. I just knew he was coming Friday/Saturday. Then to be let down, I was just crushed. So we packed up and headed home.

Then Saturday afternoon we went to the pool for a few hours and I swam my little tail off..and that brought on some more contractions. Afterwards my mom, Sara, and I went and got the dreaded Castor Oil and headed to the mall to walk. I took about 1 tbsp of the oil and mixed it in a shake. I didn't taste it at all. Then we walked for about 2 hours and nothing happened. Clay just knew that he was going to get a phone call saying " Her water broke..hurry up here". Obviously, he didn't. So we came back home and still nothing.

Sunday morning I had a few contractions but felt HORRIBLE. I guess I had wore myself out over the weekend. So here we sit Monday morning and nothing.

A lot of people have been very open about what they think about us trying to "rush" Gage. It hit me really hard and bad. I just felt like they were saying you are crazy...wait! We have waited waited and more waiting during the past 9+ months. We are over the waiting game. We know Gage is healthy and we are so ready for him to be here. Its almost like you go on the best vacation ever and talk about it for weeks,years. Then finally get the opportunity to take someone there and share the same experience. Then they understand why you love it so much and talked about it so much. That's how I feel with Gage. So many people have prayed for him and us.We are ready to show the world that God still works miracles. We are ready to show off our "20%". We have living proof of it all. I think every mother at 38+ weeks of pregnancy hits this stage. They will do almost anything to get the baby out to hold and love on.

Even as ready as I am to meet Gage and call him mine, I have so many mixed emotions. Clay and I have had several talks about US. In other words, we understand Gage is important and ours forever but OUR MARRIAGE COMES FIRST!!!!! When Gage grows up and moves away we will still have US. So many people these days get wrapped up in their kids and forget about their spouse. I am terrified of that. I think since we have a conscious thought about NOT doing that it wont happen. Its crazy to think that in 4 days we will have an addition to "Clay and Anna". We have been "Clay and Anna" for almost 8 years. Now it will be " Clay, Anna, and Gage!". What a thought. Never imagined seeing a good looking fireman at the bottom of the bleachers in 2004..falling in love with him..marrying him..and now starting our own family. WOAH!!! Where has the time went?!?

We go back to the Doctor today for our 38/39 week check up. We are seeing our favorite midwife today. The midwife we saw Friday night at the hospital is very by the book. She is all about letting nature do the work and so on. The one we are seeing today has had 3 kids and KNOWS what it is like to be this pregnant and ready to get things going. Hopefully we will have progressed enough to just head on to the hospital. :) If not then we will for sure be there Friday night. We are scheduled for the induction Friday night at 6pm. We have to be there between 530-545 and then will start everything at 6.

Thanks everyone for everything. We cant wait to show Baby Gage off. 4 more days!

-Anna

Good To See Ya Son..

I can't believe it has already been close to a month since my last blog. It's crazy because that is pretty much what we have left till my due date! Time is flying by. Since the last blog alot has went on at the Parker Household. We have had 2( I think) visits back to St. Mary's due to Gage not moving. Well I didnt feel him move..but he was! Thank the Lord. It was the way he was laying both times. It's just scary..so we go and get things checked out just to be on the safe side. The last time I went I was actually having small Braxton Hicks. The nurse and midwife said that it was ok to have those, as long as I didn't have more than 4 an hour. Ever since then I have them almost daily. Some days worse than others. My midwife, Meredith, said that it could be a good sign. Meaning that when I get to full term ( June 24) that I might have progressed and he would come alittle early! :) We went back last week for our regularly scheduled appointment. That day I had been having lots of constant lower back pain. I was concerned because Sara had mainly all back labor. So when I have back pain I get concerned!!! Anyway, she said that since I was having it most of the day that she would check to see if I had dialited any. She checked and no signs of Gage coming soon! That was good. So, she told me to continue to DRINK DRINK DRINK! Sometimes you can have contractions from slight dehydration.

Also since the last post we had our first shower. It was just perfect. My mother & sister in law did a bang up job. The food was great and we got lots and lots of stuff. I think we had approx 50+ people there. We pretty much got all our big stuff. Swing, highchair, bath tub, diaper pail! It was so cute seeing all the blue stuff and know it was all for us/ Gage. I got a very special gift from my mom. It was a quilt that had been passed down for many generations. My mom and sister got it and put some green fabric around the edges to "finish it" and gave it to me/ Gage. My grandmother that is dying from ALS had worked on it and was going to give it to me. Since she is in the shape she is in she was unable to. When I opened it I cried and cried. Well, everyone at the shower shed a tear or two. It was a very special moment. Something that I will always cherish. Gage also got his first wagon from Aunt Sara. I cant wait for him and Liam to go riding in it. Wont be long!!! Thank you to everyone that helped with the shower or came! It was perfect and I enjoyed every part of it.

Another very special part of the shower was this story..
Clay's precious grandmother, also know as "Mawaw", came to the shower. She is so precious and sweet. She's so much fun to be around and has a heart full of gold. I took right up to her when I met her and adopted her as my grandmother since both of mine lived 5+ hours away. Anyway, she was sitting talking to Clay at the shower and she said " Clay boy , are you excited about this baby boy coming?"..he responded with " Well yes mam', but when he gets here the first thing I am going to do is woop him for all he has put us through.". Then the most profound thing come out her mouth " No son, your gonna say Good to see ya son". HOW PROFOUND. As Clay tells me the story after the shower he has tears flowing down his face. It is so true, as much as we have been through it sure is gonna be nice to just have him here and see him. I think I will fall to my knees and just Thank God for this blessing and miracle. Clay actually got to use this story the next day in his lesson with the teens. He turned it around and said that is what God will say when we finally see him face to face in Heaven. He could say " Lay over my leg for a woopen".. but instead he will say Good to see ya son! So powerful.

I was supposed to sing a part in a song with the choir July 4th..and the title of the song is " I have been blessed". The song simply talks about all the small things in life that we often over look. Things we need to be thankful for..arms that will raise..shoes on our feet..food on our table..etc. We had to reschedule the song for several different reasons. I was talking to our Piano player at church and telling her that after Gage gets here and I have to sing that song that it will probally be tears throughout the whole song. Seeing that little baby boy and all we have been blessed with. I am so excited to be able to show off God's work of art. I can't wait to see what God has planned for this little boy and our family in years to come. I know that Satan will try his best to destroy it and change all the plans.. praying Gage looks for God in all he does.

Tomorrow marks week 35. Can't believe it. Thanks again for the prayers and sweet words of encouragement. Love you all and can't wait for you to meet this little man!!!!

Anna

God's Blessings!

Where in the world do I start? It's been forever since I posted last.

Sidenote: I am currently 31 weeks and 4 days.

Sunday, May 22nd marked two important dates. It made it one month since I have been a " Stay at home mom/ preparation to be one!" It also marked two months until my due date!!! The past month has been a up and down time in me and Clay's life. We had to take a huge leap of faith,and trust God to supply our needs, since we were dropping to one salary. At first, I'm not going to lie, it was scary. It was a huge adjustment. Not that I would go back and change it for anything. The first week that we just had Clay's salary to depend on..it was scary. It was the lowest his check had every been since we had been married. So, we just sat back and gave God our finances and trusted every one of them would be met. AND IT WAS ! This was the week that Clay told me I had $30 to spend at the grocery store. I said there is NO way that I can do that. Well, I hunted every coupon and sale that I could get my hands on. Sara and I went to Kroger..checked out and my total was $29.63. Thank you Jesus. It was a miracle. So God's been faithful. He has been so good to us..he has showed us that being faithful to him pays off. Also, the city has changed clays work schedule and he works 10 hours Mon-Thur and 8 hours on Friday. So its a lot of overtime. We decided to not look at the situation as " Oh my, that's a lot of work in the heat". We said Thank you Jesus for the extra money to save for Gage's furniture and other things we need. Since then God has also worked through Clay to be a testimony at work. A true blessing. God is still moving in that situation as well.

Ever since I have been home I go to Gage's room everyday to see if there is anything I can do in there. Hang up clothes, organize, vacuum, etc. Yesterday I walked in there and just lost it. AGAIN! Just realizing that in 8 weeks ( or less! ) our little miracle will be laying in that crib. I was talking to two of our teen girls from church Sunday night. One asked if we were getting excited about Gage coming. I told her yes, we are very excited. Then I told her that ever since we found out about Gage's hygroma that I had a new feeling come over me. She was kinda confused and I explained it to her. Jan 7 when the Doctor told us we only had a 20% chance of everything being OK..I realized that Gage was not mine. God gave Gage to Clay and I  just to "borrow". He is a gift to us. He is God's masterpiece and his child. I said, I love this child so much, but God loves him so much more. I also told her that I just feel like I am carrying this child for another person. It hit me really hard that I only have Gage for a short while..compared to what God will have with him in eternity. She was kinda taken away by my story but it is so true. That's when I told Clay on the way home that " I hope I never get over God healing Baby Gage". It is something that we will always be able to share with Gage and others. That quote " God doesn't do miracles these days". I will have living proof of one!

So, we are less that 2 months from my due date. We are excited but also have that first parent nervousness. We have his room 85% ready . I still have some pictures to hang, and his name to paint above his bed. Also, we still have to order his dresser. My first shower is June 4th. Clay's sister and mom are throwing it. I am soo excited. We really don't have anything for him. A few outfits and a toy or two! THAT'S IT! So we are ready to have things so I can pack our bag for the hospital.

Thank you all for your continued prayers for my little family. I know Gage appreciates them too! I am feeling very pregnant these days. My sickness has hit pretty hard once or twice in the past week. Hopefully just a small fluke thing. HOPEFULLY!!!!!! Anyway. we love you guys and can't wait for you to meet our miracle!

Anna Parker