[needlewoman]

Oh T, such lovely news about the new baby – know you’ve been hoping/praying for long time. I hope Murray is equally chuffed! It will be a hard row to hoe with your father in law’s illness, and his wife’s grieving, and there’s no getting around that. So please take really, really good care of yourself, and stay as well, cheerful, and as rested as possible. Pleased to hear the quilt is coming along, and hand sewing is very therapeutic, I think.

[meleliza]

Congratulations, Tamara! How exciting to have a new baby to sew for. Please stay healthy and take really good care of yourself.

[bren5kids]

Oh, how exciting, Tamara! A baby on the way after so many years! I personally have no experience with waiting so long to get pg; in fact, we’ve never even “tried” . It’s always just “happened”. But my oldest sister has had to try and wait and wonder for quite a few years, so I partially understand.

And I am so sorry about your fil, and so sorry that you have this overshadowing your joy over the pregnancy. I’ll be praying for you and your family.

[Nicole]

A baby can’t fail to bring joy.

They just seem to make a house happy, don’t they?

[Masha Richart]

Tamara, congratulations about the pregnancy! I’m so sorry to hear about your father-in-law.

I have some sad news of my own. My mother passed away at the beginning of the month, so the baby and I traveled home. She had been diagnosed with ovarian cancer 3.5 years ago, but we did not expect that it would happen as soon as it did. I had actually booked my ticket while she was still alive, and then the next day she passed so I did not get to see her. I have faith that she is with God, though, and that makes it a little easier.

[Nicole]

My deepest sympathies for your loss Masha.

I am so sorry that this has happened, you are so very young to have lost your mother.

My thoughts are with you.

[Tamara]

Oh Masha! How very devastating for you! I’m so sorry for your loss. I am also glad that you were able to get home for a little while despite the circumstances. Oh you poor darling!

You know I find it very confusing to see how people who are not old or who have been healthy and fit all their lives can be cut down by such cruel illnesses. It makes life all the more precious.

And to answer your question Nicole, I whole heartedly agree! Babies make homes happy.

Bren5kids, it was waiting for Murray’s mind to be changed that was the obstacle. It still was a “just happened” event though. We seem to be very fortunate. Still the waiting was one of huge personal growth. I feel so very ready for another baby to enter the family. And even though it may be the last I am at peace with that. I fulfilled my goal of having more than two babies.

Fiona, Murray hasn’t really had time to stop and digest the news just yet although he loves the fact that the peaches are growing into watermelons again – despite the “don’t touch” sign hehe! He didn’t have a panic fit or anything because he was the one who suspected and said so. But he thinks he will be unlucky to have another daughter. I tell you what he will be though, totally besotted! We don’t know the gender but will find out – I am barely into my eighth week.

Thankyou lovely ladies for your best wishes. I feel so very blessed!

[with love Heidi]

How disappointing that you didn’t get to see her, RTWG 🙁

[bren5kids]

I’m so sorry to hear about your Mother’s passing, RTWG. I can’t imagine losing my Mom. What a comfort to know that she is with God and her suffering is over.

[bren5kids]

Sorry I got that wrong, Tamara 🙂 Husbands can be funny about babies. Mine usually wasn’t ready to have another one as soon as I, but when I actually got pg it wouldn’t take him long at all to be excited and proud and super-pleased! In fact, I thought we were done after having my last one (no. 6) but he has actually been talking about having another one…..so we shall see.

“peaches growing into watermelons”, hehe! What an apt description 😀

[Tamara]

Hehe! I was trying to find a funny way of putting it and we girls who have experienced the joy of bearing children can all relate I am sure! Yay! My sense of humour was readable!

My sister is going through the same thing with her hubby. She is younger than me by almost 2.5 years but he has firmly shut the door on anymore and I feel so sad for her because here is a woman who wasn’t going to have any! And then because his mates were procreating he wondered what their genetics would look like mixed together, produced a beautiful little boy and now he’s done! And the poor thing is heart broken and busy getting rid of baby things as “closure”. What makes it worse is that she had a life threatening experience featuring her ovaries and had to have an emergency operation to remove one of them. They were thinking the big “c” and you would think that this would trigger the man’s mind into taking some sort of conclusive action. But no he wants cake but he doesn’t want to eat it too and that too me is selfish because he hasn’t even considered her feelings in the matter.

Some women aren’t very maternal until they become mothers. For me I always wanted to be a mum and I feel very blessed to know that my husband, despite the serious amounts of stress and pressure he is constantly under, feels that being a parent is the greatest gift.

But the wait had me panicking too! I was starting to wonder if he would ever be ready for another because he kept saying he needed more time and I had other women telling me to have a slip up pregnancy. I’m not into deceiving my husband as I wanted it to be a mutual decision.

I am thrilled because we made a deal that he gets new machinery and I get a new baby. Well he got his machinery ages ago so this is my end of the deal sorted. And I am ok if it is my last. It was worth the compromise.

Masha, I just wanted to share this with you. I bought a fridge magnet the other day and it says “Mums are like buttons, they keep everything together”. I pray that the memories of your mum helps to keep you together and knowing that she is all brand new again (as we believers believe hey?) no pain, no “c” completely well and waiting for you to see her again. It gives us the chance to keep strong in our faith because she will always be in your heart. (That is what I told my young nephew when he lost his mum nine years ago. We take a bit of our loved ones with us everywhere). I hope that helps to bring you comfort.

[cybele727]

Wow. Lots of babies coming! yay for all of you! Liesl must have known and did the layette for you all!

So much sadness too. RTWG- I am so sorry about your loss. Tamara- I am sorry about your FIL. I hope I have who is who right!

Here, I’ve been busy with funerals. I have gone to one a week for the past three weeks.

A classmate’s son died from an accidental gunshot. One of my teachers from HS died suddenly from a stroke, and then a little boy who was expected to live only 3 weeks finally died. He made it 3 months. He died 8 days after his 5th birthday. Brain cancer.

The mother has been blogging about her son’s diagnosis and her faith. The entire region has been held breathless and regularly cried reading her blog. Her faith is incredible.

None of these were close and I feel raked over the coals. Nothing like someone else’s loss to bring up your own painful reminders.

I have nothing to offer you all struggling but hope that you find peace.

[Masha Richart]

Thank you everyone. Tamara, your words were very comforting – they actually made me tear up a little. Thank you.

[Tamara]

Cybele727 wow he made three months! They had more time with him which is really something to grateful for. I know the dream would have been complete recovery and for him to no be unwell at all. It is always harder when its the kids. And its at times like these that we all need something to hang onto – what better than faith?

I had to do some serious tongue biting last night as we had a dressing down phone call from a friend of fil’s. It fuelled a bit of anger over the lies that have been spun. Fil uses the tactic to “pull us into line” and we were accused of all sorts of rubbish – really hurtful stuff that we really don’t need right now. As a result Murray was very grumpy with fil this morning and they ended up leaving to go have those tests without bothering to say “see ya later”. I think I felt it more deeply than Murray did. Its time to buckle up – we are going to be in for one hell of a bumpy ride!

Masha, you go ahead and cry sweetie! It will exhaust you but it will also relieve you. I can completely understand the situation of not thinking someone would go so quick. It happened with my late mil -. We all thought she was going to get better and she had complications that were hiding behind her broken arm! I’m so glad those words were comforting. Virtual hugs to you as you work through your grief.

[cybele727]

On a happier note, around June 8th my family will be increasing by 1. Although this 1 will have 4 legs and be fluffy and grow to be big. I caved. We are getting a golden retriever for my son’s 8th birthday. I am insane. This brings our house to 2 dogs, 3 cats, 2 kids, my mother, husband, and 2 exchange students from China.