Happy Birthday, Jenn!

Happy Birthday, Jenn!

Sometimes God works quietly behind the scenes-bringing all things together and then there are times when His handiwork shouts so loud you have to be totally blind not to see it. This was the providential role God played with everything surrounding the birth of my precious daughter, Jennifer Elizabeth.

His work actually started in September of 1993 when our employer of 13 years decided to change our insurance. Every doctor we had gone to was no longer included as a covered caregiver. To say the very least, I was upset. I had established a long history with our doctors and had carefully chosen each of them and now, none of them were covered under our insurance.

The following January, I realized I was pregnant. I wrestled with Him over that. You see, I had lost 2 babies in the previous 3 years at the 20th week of pregnancy. My doctor had told me that if I were to become pregnant, more than likely, I would loose that child, too. She wasn’t sure what was going on, but both of us knew that there was a problem. At a bout the same time, a local hospital starting airing commercials concerning their high risk pregnancy center. The commercial asked about 5 questions, all of which I could answer “yes” to, and said if you answer “yes” to any of these questions you may be a candidate for their doctors. I called and got in with one of their specialists.

At about the same time, a co-worker and good friend called and told me she had been at a seminar and knew what my problem was...not realizing that I was pregnant. She told me as they described the symptoms, she felt sick to her stomach because she was so sure that was what was going on with me. She sent me all the information she had gathered and there began my journey.

When I met with the specialist, I was ready with information in hand. However, it was unnecessary. He had just returned from a conference that had many workshops dedicated to the condition he felt I had. He was sure of my condition and felt confident that he could get me to 31 weeks, which was his goal. When I went to check out, it turned out that our new insurance that I had complained about, covered everything with this practice...there would not be a single penny of out-of-pocket expense! God had made that change for the entire workforce just for our daughter....how good a God is that?

It proved to be a very difficult pregnancy. Lots of medication...bed rest...weekly trips to the doctor....hospitalizations....but on July 28, 1994 at 32 ½ weeks my precious daughter made her first appearance weighing in at 4 pounds. God had profoundly involved Himself in our life and the life of our baby girl. His hand prints were unmistakable!

Today she is 15 years old, an absolutely beautiful child, inside and out. I don’t think a mom could be more proud of her daughter. God still has His hand prints all over her life. He has gifted her in so many ways and blessed her with so many talents and abilities. It has been so awesome to see her grow and develop into the young woman she is becoming.

So today, I’m thanking God for changing my insurance for a year, as if to say...trust me, I know what I’m doing. I’m thanking Him for friends and family who stood by me in a very difficult pregnancy. I’m thanking Him for a husband who loved me through a challenging few years as we struggled with the loss of 2 babies and the unknown possibilities with the third pregnancy. Most importantly, I am thanking God for my daughter, my Jenn, whom I love with my whole heart. I love you, Jenn, Happy Birthday. Life has never been the same!

(PS—The employer changed our insurance back to the previous insurance the end of September, after my final post natal visit! How Great is our God!)