Levi's Story
In honor of Levi turning 3 months today, I'd like to tell his story.  Many were surprised to learn of his birth since we kept the pregnancy off facebook, so I will now fill in some details.

After waiting 3 months to get Kinley's autopsy results back, we learned that a genetic cause for Kinley's brain malformation wasn't detected.  They couldn't give us a reason why Kinley's brain didn't form normally, but they had no reason to believe it was genetic.  Waiting to get that report back felt endless.  I am not a patient person, and I desperately wanted some closure and hope of future children.  Little did we know that Levi's story would involve a lot more waiting.

We found out Father's Day weekend that we were expecting baby #3.  Elated.  Grateful.  Blessed.  Yet a little fearful.  Would history repeat itself?  Would I carry this baby only to say goodbye to it shortly after it was born? 

Time seemed to stand still as we waited those first 17 weeks for the ultrasound that would look at the baby's anatomy.  It was at this appointment with Kinley that we learned of a problem with her brain, feet, and hands.  I prayed fervently that that wouldn't be the case with this baby. The ultrasound was...NORMAL--my new favorite word.  Feet -normal.  Hands-normal. Brain-normal.  Thank you, God!  Oh, and one other thing--It's a Boy!

We saw a specialist every few weeks due to the past issues with Kinley and because I had delivered her 3 months early.  It was at one of these appointments a couple days later that an ultrasound showed a spot on Levi's heart.  This spot would not affect his heart at all, but it was a possible marker for Downs.  Fear returns.  We did a quad screening which looks for abnormalities that would indicate Downs.  We waited a week and a half for the results, and they came back NORMAL (you can see why this is my favorite word!)  However, our rollercoaster ride wasn't over yet.

A month later another ultrasound showed that one of Levi's kidneys was measuring large.  This was another marker for Downs.  Also, if the kidney continued to measure large, it could mean surgery shortly after his birth. We would have to wait 7 weeks to check the kidney again to know about surgery. But it was still a marker, and we would have to wait until his birth to know if Levi would have Downs.  I'm not going to lie.  At this point, I was really discouraged and really mad.  Could God really be allowing us to go through more?  Hadn't we suffered enough?  After everything we went through with Kinley, I wanted a free pass.  I felt like I had paid my dues.  Why couldn't this pregnancy just be simple, NORMAL? 

God's answer came in the form of my favorite verse John16:33. This has been my favorite verse since 9th grade, but means so much more to me now:  "I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace.  In this world, you will have trouble.  But take heart!  I have overcome the world."  This trouble isn't a one time occurance.  It's not like "Oh, I had my trouble, so I'm good to go for the rest of my life."  This may be obvious to you, but it was a new revelation to me.  I'm not entitled to an easy life.  Jesus promised that life's going to be hard, but take heart.  And here's the best part---HE HAS OVERCOME THE WORLD!  These trials are temmporary, and our home with Him is eternal.  Ok, back to the story.

7 weeks later the ultrasound showed that the kidney looked...wait for it...NORMAL.  Our doctor also felt confident that Levi didn't have DOWNS.  He couldn't promise us that, but he felt pretty sure.  Now to wait for February...

Because Kinley was a c-section, Levi would be too.  My due date was February 22nd, but my dr. would do the c-section a week early on the 15th.  However, due to some unexpected and unexplained bleeding, we went in on February 11th, a few hours before we were suppose to be having one last date night (thanks a lot Levi;)  The doctor said everything looked fine but thought it might be good to go ahead and have the baby since we were already here.  Makes sense to me!  So, Levi Clif Blanks made his arrival Saturday, February 11, 2012 at 7:57 p.m.  And he was...that's right...NORMAL!
PRAISE GOD!!!

It's taken a lot of waiting and a lot of growing up (mostly on my part,) but we will be dedicating Levi at church this Sunday, Mother's Day.  Thank you God!  Our Bible verse for Levi is Luke 5:27b-28---" 'Follow me,' Jesus said to him, and Levi got up, left everything and followed Him."  Go with God, my precious son!