We rejoice to announce the birth of our precious little boy Levi Calvin Lewis!  Born April. 24th at 8:36pm  weighing 7lbs 8oz.  This is a picture of me two days before he was born!  The last picture taken of me while pregnant.

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As many of you know…I had been very anxious with this pregnancy.  So much uncertainty.  Even right to the end I wanted this little bundle in my arms where I knew he was safe.  The Lord gave much peace when I needed it the most.  A beautiful text that helped me before I went into the hospital was Ephesians 3:20 ~  “able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think.” This was given to me by a friend and it became my prayer as I had much anxiousness about labor, and all the concerns with our little boy.

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On Tuesday morning I was scheduled to go into the hospital for an induction.  My doctor wanted me in the hospital right from the beginning of labor.    So this was different for me.  As usually I show up very much in labor, where the nurses are scrambling to get everything ready and hoping the doctor will make it on time.  My doctor will usually walk in the room, break my water and I push three or four times and all is done.  But with the concerns of me possibly hemorrhaging he thought it would be best to be on the safe side and have me in the hospital where they were able to monitor me the whole time.  So I checked into the Hilton Hotel…oops I mean Chilton hospital.    and the Lord made all things well.  I had an epidural for the first time as I’ve always missed the opportunity before.  I was a little nervous about this, but I was calmed when I couldn’t feel the pain anymore.    I think I even took a nap or two during labor!  Crazy!!  This seemed to slow everything down and It took much longer for our precious boy to come.  But he was doing really good as we could hear his heart rate the whole time.  It was also a time I was able to pray to the Lord…(so nice to have clarity of thought while in labor)  I felt the Lord helping and giving me peace to meet our new baby.  At this point we still didn’t know if he had Downs Syndrome or not.  But finally the urge to push came and I got so excited!  My husband said I had a huge smile on my face.  A face he had never seen on me at the point of pushing cause usually I’m in a LOT of pain.  During all this time a dear friend and nurse that goes to our church was with us the whole day.  I had asked her if I would be able to tell if he had Downs Syndrome right away?  She said that she would be able to tell.  I wondered what my reaction would be.  I had tried to prepare myself for this the best I could but because I had not had any further testing I had to wait until he was born.  Yet the Lord knew the whole time as He formed Levi in my womb. ” For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother’s womb.” Psalm 139:13

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I knew right away when I first saw Levi that he had Downs Syndrome.  I also felt perfect PEACE at seeing his precious little face.  He was mine and what a gift he is!

He IS able to do exceedingly abundantly more than we ask or think!  There has been so much prayer for this little guy right from the beginning.  Fearing he wouldn’t make it.   But the Lord kept him and Levi made it till full term.  Not only that, but he has a healthy heart!  He was able to nurse on me right away!  (thanks also to another awesome friend and nurse that goes to our church)  who helped get him latching properly.  So many fears and anxieties were vanishing even in the first 24 hours.  The love and care I was given at the hospital overwhelmed me at times.  There was so much support and encouragement.  Even the pediatricians that checked him daily were very encouraged with his test results regarding his echo cardiogram, how well he was doing nursing, he passed his hearing test and his eye test.  The Lord is so gracious!!

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This is Levi under the lights because he had jaundice and had to stay in the hospital a few extra days.

But even in this…he was a content, happy baby!

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The day after he was born I awoke in the morning and was all alone in my hospital room.  I opened my Bible to the Psalms to do my devotions.  I really had no where specific I was going to read from but I opened to Psalm 92 and this is what I read.  “It is a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High:  To shew forth thy lovingkindness in the morning, and thy faithfulness every night.”

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I stopped at that point and felt such a deep desire to thank my God for all He had done for me!  From my easy labor to hardly any blood loss.  A beautiful healthy baby boy.  Such wonderful care from friends and hospital staff.  Making all things go well…better than I had even hoped!  So there I was in my hospital bed as my thoughts went back to what the Lord had done.  Crying tears of joy and gratitude. How I didn’t want to forget to thank Him!  That all my prayers had been answered above and beyond my expectations!

Often when we are in the midst of a trial so much prayer is offered to the Lord and when the He answers and all things are well we forget to thank Him for what He has done.  I think Psalm 92:1 will always be special to me and to always remember…”It IS a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD.”

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Here are some pictures of Levi…our precious new gift from the Lord.  He is so very loved!

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Micah enjoying being a big brother for the first time!

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Levi having a snuggle with Jonathan, his oldest brother. 

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Getting kisses from big sister Bethany.

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On Nana’s lap having a chat…and big brother Owen getting in on the picture.

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My parents came for a week to help us out.  What a huge blessing they are to us!!

This is in Ridgewood New Jersey…we walked around this cute little town and stopped for a coffee.

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Lots of kisses and hugs from Mom too!

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“I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.”

Psalm 139:14

My mind is full.  It has been full for a long time.  When I feel this way I need space…lots of space.  I need a place to think, to pray,to get away and look out at nothing.  So several weeks ago I packed up a picnic lunch and took Micah to the shore.

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It was a beautiful day, warm with no wind and no one around!  Exactly what I needed.  To be able to look out into the vast ocean knowing the next land mass was Spain.  I felt small standing next to this huge body of water.  But to remember that my heavenly Father knows and cares about what is running through my head…my anxieties, my fears. Truly a humbling thought!

There is a battle raging inside.  Prayer is the only way to win this battle and I have done a lot of this.  But at times I feel weary.

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1 Peter 5:7  ~  “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”

I have been casting!  Throwing all my burdens onto my God.  He has answered many an anxious prayer!

I in myself am very weak.  My mind wanders, I see my sin, the doubts arise and the waters seem to overflow.

But I know where to go when these arise.

“From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.”  Psalm 61:2

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My God is a God of detail.  Why do I fear so much when I know He is in control?  To look at the detail

of shells…so many made that the human eye will never see.  Yet the detail is still there.  Look at the grains of

sand and the colors.  I am in awe at how great He is!  And I am humbled once again.

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“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace,

and not of evil, to give you an expected end.  Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall

go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.  And ye shall seek me, and find me,

when ye shall search for me with all your heart.”  Jeremiah 29:11-13

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Oh what comfort!  The Lord knows the beginning from the end. Most of our fear comes from the unknown.

But why should we fear when He already has an expected end to all matters.  He wants us to seek Him.

And He has promised, “Seek and ye shall find.”

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Then the peace comes and the storm is calmed inside.  And we are to leave our burden there with the Lord, not take it back with us. We are to follow Jesus’ example when He prayed for the cup to pass from Him.

Three times He ended his prayer with “thy will be done.” Then He called his disciples to Rise.

“Rise: He called them to rise, not, ‘Rise and let us flee from the danger,’ but ‘Rise and let us go meet it.”

Matthew Henry.

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One of my favorite texts ~  “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee:

because he trusteth in thee.  Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength.”  Isaiah 26:3-4

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So many promises, so much to cling to!

There are two things in God that never fail.

First, His compassions fail not, Lamentations 3:22  ~ “ It is of the LORD’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.”

Second, His faithfulness fails not, Psalm 89:33 ~  “Nevertheless my lovingkindness will I not utterly take from him, nor suffer my faithfulness to fail.”

God may sometimes delay a promise, but He will never deny His promise.  God may sometimes change His promise, or He may turn a temporal promise into a spiritual promise,

but He will never break His promise.  He has said He will cause light to go before His people in all their darkness. Either He will support them in trouble or deliver them out of trouble.

He will cause light to arise because He sees His people have need, great need of some dawnings of light.  They would faint away and be discouraged if there was nothing but

darkness and no glimmering of light.  God knows our frame, and He sees our spirits would fail before Him if He always suffered a cloud to lie upon us.  Therefore, in judgment He

remembers mercy.  He causes the daystar of comfort to arise upon His people.  God will not let it always be midnight lest we touch upon the rock of despair.  The musician will not

stretch the strings of his violin too far lest they break asunder.  Thus you see why the wise God sees it best to cause light to arise in the midst of darkness.

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The Duty of Self-Denial…Light in Darkness by  Thomas Watson

For all my family and friends who live so very far away…

(and you forgot what I look like pregnant!) 

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Twelve weeks to go!!  Give or take a few…maybe sooner thanks to castor oil.

This morning I went for another ultra sound at the hospital.  It was to measure the anatomy again.

I am now 24 weeks and all is well!

The heart is healthy and all the other organs look good too.  The measurements are right

on target for 24 weeks.  He…yes I said He, (yup, that’s SEVEN boys!!)   is very active

and seems to love sucking his thumb!  There were no new markers found during this ultra sound.

And the doctor said we really won’t know for sure until he is born.  And we will love whatever the Lord gives.

I had a friend come with me who is an ultra sound technician and she

saw no concerns. Thanks Cheryl for coming with me.

We thank and praise our good Lord for all He has done.  There have

been many prayers for this little one and yes,  I do believe in answered prayer!!

I feel very humbled at the fact that this child looks healthy when they had

originally told us that he would not live or have something severely wrong with him.

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But what a time of trusting…knowing there is nothing to do but to trust in the Lord.

I give thanks unto the Lord for the peace He has given.  For prayers that have been heard.

“But I trusted in thee, O LORD: I said, Thou art my God.  My times are in thy hand.” Psalm 31:14,15

Oh what a comforting thought that all our times are in His hands.  I have learned much through

this time.   He may still have Downs Syndrome but he is healthy and oh what

a gift it is to have health! My prayer for this little one is that he would know the Lord at a young age.

This  is the most important…the one thing needful in his life!

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Here are a few images of our little one today…

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3D imaging showing his face.

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I think he likes his thumb…

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Just had to share…

I was trying to explain to Micah that we saw the baby today.  He didn’t quite understand…

“Well if they cut open your tummy then why are you still alive?”  then he thought…

“Oh they took the baby out and then put him back in.”  I had a little chuckle and tried my best to explain.

But really it’s quite something to see pictures of your baby especially with 3D imaging!

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“Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy,

and for thy truth’s sake.”  Psalm 115:1

This afternoon I went for a fetal echo-cardiogram of the baby’s heart.  On my last ultrasound there

was a white spot in the left ventricle that the doctors wanted a closer look at.  After over a half hour

of the technician taking 50 images, the doctor came in to say our baby has a HEALTHY

HEART!  All looks good and there are no concerns.  We are VERY thankful!  The doctor said

the white spot is there which is one of the markers for Downs Syndrome.  I then told her this is great

news for us today.  Every child is a gift from the Lord whether they have Downs Syndrome or not.  What

we were most concerned about was the heart and whether this child would be able to live.  All the other

organs have no concerns as well.  So this is huge!

We are becoming very excited as this child grows.  The children are able to feel kicks now and they

love to feel movement as do I!  And believe me…this one is active. 

The Lord continues to uphold during this time.  I have much peace knowing He is the

Sovereign Lord who is developing this little one every day.

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A special text that has stayed with me is Isaiah 26:3,4

“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.

Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength.”

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I have been thinking a lot about the word “normal.”  What is normal?  I looked this up in the dictionary.  It says, “Conforming to the standard or the common type, usual, not abnormal, natural.”  But the more I think about this, I wonder to myself, “Well then who sets the standard for normal?”  The Lord is the creator of everything.  He makes people exactly what they are suppose to be.  Our first parents Adam and Eve were created perfect.  They had perfect communion with God…now that was normal.   When sin entered the world our communion was broken, sickness and disease also came with the fall.  This is actually abnormal.  Every child born is in need of a Saviour.  The Lord doesn’t look at the outward like the world does.  He sees sinners that are lost. There is no standard with God…for we are all in the same condition when born.  “Dead in trespasses and sins.” Eph. 2:1 “But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved.)”  Eph. 2:4 He sent His son to die so that lost sinners could have their sins forgiven and have communion with Him.  And only when this happens that  life becomes “normal.”  The way the Lord intended it to be.  It doesn’t matter if a child meets the standards of this world.  Do they have the one thing needful?  “Ye must be born again.“  John 3:7  This will be my prayer for this little one inside as it is my prayer for all my children.  That is the common ground.  “Ye must be born again.” Continually remembering that they have souls that will never die.  This is a thought that the world doesn’t even consider.  But how normal is that?  Not preparing for an eternity that lies before you?  How normal is it for a parent not to care about the souls of their own children?  “Normal” according to the Word of God is seeing that we are lost sinners in need of a Saviour.  Then confession of our sin to a Holy God.  To acknowledge that Christ is willing and able to save that which is lost.  And to cry out for mercy, like the publican did, “God be merciful to me a sinner.” Luke 18:13.  To know, “That I with body and soul, both in life and death, am not my own, but belong unto my faithful Saviour Jesus Christ.  Who with His precious blood, hath fully satisfied for all my sins.”  The Heidleberg Catechism question one.   “Normal” according to the world is looking and developing to a certain standard.  But to what end??

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When I first heard the news about my little one.  That my ultra sound didn’t come back “normal,” I was scared.  So much uncertainty.  But a good friend had given me great encouragement.  She said, ” Our children aren’t born so that they could become rocket scientists, get a really great job and earn lots of money.  They are here to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever.  No matter what capacity the Lord gives this child…that is the reason he is here.”   This struck me!  How true.  I had memorized the Westminster Catechism question  many, many years ago. “What is the chief end of man? Answer:  Man’s chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever.”  That’s it!  That is the reason we are here.  It is the Lord who makes people what they are.  The talents you have come from Him.  Some he gives much to, others less.  And I am thankful we are not all the same.  So if this is the reason we are here.  This means we are to glorify Him in whatever capacity we are able, with all we have.  To stop comparing ourselves with others, and others to the standard.  The Lord made YOU who you are today.  He will mold you to be the person He wants you to be by way of trial and testing.  Not that you could be more like somebody else but more like His son JESUS!

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We should always be striving and conforming to His image.  Not anyone else’s.  To His standard…not the world’s.  So far I have been presented the option of abortion twice now.  To the world, a chromosomal abnormality is a burden.  It’s different.  Not “natural.”  Why would you want this in your life?  Yes, this may bring many challenges.  But who are we to say, “Why did you make me this way? Or my child this way?”  The Lord answers the question in Romans 9 verse 20, ” Nay, but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God?  Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?” Matthew Henry says, ” Who are you, you that are so foolish, so incompetent a judge of the divine counsel?  Are you able to fathom such a depth?  ‘That was the reply against God.’ It becomes us to submit to Him, not to reply against Him, not to fly to His face, nor to charge Him with folly, but by resolving all into the divine sovereignty.  We are the thing formed, and He is the former.  It does not become us to arraign His wisdom in ordering and disposing of us into this or that shape of figure.  God’s sovereignty over us is fitly illustrated by the power that the potter has over the clay.”  Jeremiah 18:6b  “Behold, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are ye in mine hand.“

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Yet this world thinks it can dispose of the unnatural.  But what they are forgetting is  that these are souls that will NEVER die.  They will live an eternity…and so will the ones disposing of them. So what are we to do? Pray for the one thing needful.  Pray for our children’s salvation.  Cry out to Him who is mighty and willing to save! And then and only then will you or your child be able to “ love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.  And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.  There is non other commandment greater than these.”  Mark 12:30-31 In keeping these two commandments don’t you think we would be more accepting, more loving, willing to stand up for the ones who don’t have a voice yet…or can’t speak up for themselves.  For the ones who want to live, who want to be accepted. They may not find acceptance in this world but…“him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” John 6:37  What a promise!   This is more”normal” than the world who says, get rid of the unnatural.  To do that act is anything BUT natural or normal!

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“And God saw everything that he had made, and, behold, it was very good.”

Genesis 1:31

“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.”

Isaiah 26:3

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This was the text that came to my mind first thing this morning.  And what peace I have had all day! This morning we went for an ultra sound to see if there was any more information regarding our baby. When the doctor first looked at everything she said there was nothing major that stood out.  For this we are truly thankful.  Prior to the ultra sound she had warned us that having a nucal test resulting in measuring 7.9 was  quite significant and that there could be serious problems.   Another blessing  was the baby’s heart  looked good.  Another huge relief! She said there were two markers that stood out.  One, there was a bright spot on the baby’s heart.  This doesn’t indicate anything is wrong with the heart but it is a characteristic of Downs Syndrome. Another one was she saw a short nasal passage.  Which is another characteristic of Downs.  So when you combine the nucal test and these markers.  Our percentage went quite high.  But then she added that nothing was a hundred percent at this stage.

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Our little one was very active during this ultra sound which she said, made it difficult for them to take proper pictures and measurements.  They are wanting me to come back in a month and are hoping to find out more when this little one will be more snug and in place. I will also be going for an echo cardiogram of the baby’s heart to make sure it is o.k. The Doctor said she saw a small hole which is not major, but they want to look closer at this.  ( Micah also has a small hole in his heart, we found out just last year. This has never effected his health and it is so small it’s not causing any problems.)

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So now we need to prepare for what lies ahead.  Our trust is in the Lord, every child is a gift from Him and so will this little one be! There has been much prayer for us in this last little while and I have truly felt strengthened.  Thanks to all for your prayers!  Please continue to pray for us.  May the Lord’s will be done.

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A picture today of our little one sucking a thumb!  So cute.

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Just have to share….

I am always amazed at the strength and peace the Lord gives in times of trial.  Before I had even prayed this morning the Lord had given me a text!  When my anxieties rose up at not knowing what this day would bring I was comforted and I repeated the scripture over and over.  Till all was peace!  I looked this text up in the Bible and also read Matthew Henry on this verse.  He says, ” All who belong to it are safe and easy and have a security  and serenity of mind in the assurance of God’s favor.  “Thou wilt keep him in inward peace, outward peace, peace with God, peace of conscience, peace under all events.”  How true is this!!  I can testify!  Then I went on and read verse 4 which said, “Trust ye in the Lord for ever; for in the Lord JEHOVAH is everlasting strength.”  Again Matthew Henry says, “In Him who was, and is, and is to come, there is a rock of ages, a firm and lasting foundation for faith to build upon; and the house built on that rock will stand in a storm.”

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He is my God, He is my rock. “The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth.”  Psalm 28:7

Sometimes when in the midst of a trial we can seem to have tunnel vision.

We can’t think of anything beyond what is set before us.  The future is

so uncertain we don’t know what it will look like.  We are like the little

gopher when peeking out of it’s hole can only see a short distance.

It’s times like these that the weight of the trial, the weight of the world

and the weight of sin can over bear and you can become cast down.

But the Psalmist felt this way.  And so did our Lord.

We are not alone in these feelings.

“Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me?”

Psalm 43:5a

But Oh to have a view as the eagle does when it is soaring overhead.

He sees a far off.  The Lord knows the beginning from the end.

He tell us…”Hope in God.”  Psalm 43:5

Matthew Henry says of this verse, “He gains this victory by repeating

what he had before said, chiding and encouraging himself to trust in

the name of the Lord and to stay himself upon his God.  It may be of great

use to us to think our good thoughts over again, and if we do not gain

our point with them at first, perhaps we may the second time.”

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Psalter 117 vs. 4

Why, O my soul, art thou cast down with-in me,

Why art thou troubled and oppressed with grief?

Hope thou in God, the God of thy salvation,

Hope, and thy God will surely send relief.

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And for extra encouragement (I really am doing this for myself)

“Hope in God: for I shall yet praise him,

who is the health of my countenance, and my God.”  Psalm 43:5b

Dear family and friends,

For those who do not already know (perhaps a little birdie hasn’t told you or eight of our kids), we are expecting! The Lord has blessed us yet again!  For this we are truly thankful and humbled at so many gifts from Him. The kids reaction when we told them is one that I will never forget.  Absolute joy and shock at the same time.

About three and a half years ago I was once again expecting. At 14 weeks I had a miscarriage. I hemorrhaged very badly and was given a blood transfusion. Through all the complications, the Lord sustained me and brought me and my family through a very difficult time.  He was near, and as hard as it was, it was a time of spiritual growth.

Up until this point I was not physically ready to carry a child again. Much fear overwhelmed me.  I wanted another baby, yet I didn’t know if I could go through another pregnancy. I thank the Lord that I was ready and excited to find out the news of this pregnancy!

Last week I went for an ultrasound. This is a routine test done in the States between 11-13 weeks of pregnancy.  This test is to measure the fluid in the back of the baby’s neck to see if there are any chromosomal abnormalities.  I have never had this test done before. It’s not done in Canada.

I really didn’t know the full reason for the test but I figured it was routine and I should get it done. My ultrasound did not come back normal.  The normal number for measurement of the fluid behind the baby’s neck is 3.5…my number was 7.9.  The doctor came in after looking at the images and told me to step into her office.  My head started spinning.  “Something is wrong with your baby”, were her first words.  “You will most likely miscarry, even in your second or third trimester.”

Hard news to hear for sure! She then booked an appointment to see a Genetic specialist and was hoping I would go for further testing. “Then you can make your decision”, she said. Decision??  Yes, all this information is given, in part, so early on you can decide if you want to continue with the pregnancy!  For us there is no decision to make. This is a soul that will never die.

At this point because it is so early on in the pregnancy they don’t know what is wrong.  It could be anywhere from Downs Syndrome to a serious heart defect.  We have decided to not get any further testing done, because if the invasiveness of the examination. As the baby develops we will be able to see what is wrong.  So now we wait.

The Lord has already given me much peace and strength. The next morning during my devotions I was looking for a particular text, I knew it was in the Psalms…but I had no idea where.  I tried several ways of finding it, but nothing helped.  In my haste and frustration, I felt overwhelmed and desperate for comfort.  I flipped a whole bunch of pages and my Bible landed on Psalm 142.  These words caught my eye, “I cried”  Yes, that’s what I was doing!  I kept on reading.  “I cried unto the Lord with my voice; with my voice unto the Lord did I make my supplication. I poured out my complaint before him; I shewed before him my trouble.  ( This next verse was the one I was looking for!) “When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then thou knewest my path.” There it was…my text!  I cried even harder.  Knowing that the Lord had met me…even in my haste.  I felt so undeserving of this.  But what comfort and peace it brought me.  The Lord already knows my path and what our future holds.  I have no idea, there are so many uncertainties at this point.

Last week Micah had a text he was to learn for his Sunday school class.  It was, ” I will go in the strength of the Lord God.”  Psalm 71:16 Every time Micah said it to practice.  It strengthened me.  I WILL go in the strength of the Lord God.  This is the path that I am to go.

There is no going back.  I have to go down it.  BUT…I will go in the strength of the Lord God!  So much fear falls away knowing He will walk this path with me and will go before me.  His Word is so precious and His promises so great.

Please pray for us during this time; for strength and pray for our baby; for the Lord’s will to be done, and that He would help us accept what ever it is.  I will be going for another ultrasound in two weeks. They are hoping to see more by then and to have more answers.  Right now I am 14 weeks I will be 16 weeks when they do the next ultrasound. We feel held up in His everlasting arms.  We also feel the love and support from our wonderful Church family. We have so much to be thankful for!

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Our little one at just 10 weeks!