Baby Blues

Eliana Update

Time seems to fly by quicker & quicker these days. Eliana is now 9 weeks old, weighing 12 lbs & measuring 23 inches long. She smiles all the time & has become quite a pro at holding her head up. Her newest “tricks” are trying to talk (adorable!) & pushing up on her legs to “stand” when you hold her upright. She is just blowing us away with how quickly she’s developing and growing. What a blessing to experience it! Here are a few favorite recent pics of our Lovely Little Lady.

It’s A New Season

The beginning of the Fall season has also brought a new beginning in our lives.

Since May of 2005, I have served on staff at C3 Church in the areas of worship (adults & students) and communications (marketing, graphic design, web, etc). Without a doubt, God brought us to the Raleigh area and to C3. We are thankful for the opportunity to be involved at C3 in this way over the past four years.

In January, God began stirring my heart, revealing that a change would soon happen. He would guide our steps as we continued to draw closer to Him. Over the next few months, God gave us some new dreams and vision for the future of our family and my career. As we have taken steps of faith this year, God has provided for us in miraculous ways.

Since selling our house earlier this year, the focus has been strong on what our next steps would be, knowing that a change was coming. I sat down with Pastor Matt and Martha to let them know that I felt strongly that God was leading me into something that was 100% musically related. After much prayer and wrestling with this change, Patience and I decided to open my own studio for teaching music. So I resigned from my position on staff at C3 Church and am moving into a volunteer role at the church, still directing the bands and leading worship.

LEINO STUDIOS launched on September 1, 2009 and I have already begun teaching and building a student roster. God has provided in awesome ways and we are trusting Him to continue to bring more students: kids, teenagers, and adults! It is also a dream that Leino Studios would one day be more than a music teaching business, but that it would also be a recording studio as well. Teaching music and creating music have been and will always be a passion of mine, and my prayer is that God would use it to impact the world for the cause of Jesus Christ!

Sunday, September 20, was my last official day on staff, and Monday, September 21 was our first step into the next season with Leino Studios. Please join us in prayer as we step out into this new venture.

If anyone is interested in taking piano lessons, please visit www.leinostudios.com for more information.

Sweetness

Four Years Gone By…

On September 10, 2005, I embarked on the most incredible journey of my life.  My dreams came true on that beautiful Saturday evening in Maryland.  Four years ago today, I became Jordan Leino’s wife.

Everything was perfect.  With joy in our hearts and a song of worship on our lips, friends and family gathered to witness two lives becoming one.

The ceremony – sweet.  The reception – a blast!   We danced the night away at the Savage Mill.

It was a day I’ll never forget.  The day I married my best friend.

Happy Anniversary, Jordan.  You are my hero, my husband, and my companion.  Thank you for sharing your life with me.  I love you.

The Story

This one is for all the ladies.  I’m not sure what it is about labor that makes it so universally bonding.  But somewhere between the waiting and that final push, labor stories seem to bring women together.  So for all those curious of Eliana’s arrival story – here it is!

I had gone in for my 40-week appointment on Monday, July 27.  To be frank, I was shocked to still be pregnant.  Isaac had arrived on his own a few days before his due date so I just “knew” that Eliana would be here before her due date.  After all, “you always go faster with your second.”  (Note to self – always assume you’ll go to term or later with any future pregnancies to avoid complete frustration in the waiting.)  Much to my chagrin, I had not progressed at all from the appointment before.  The doc recommended waiting a WEEK before talking induction dates.  Bless his heart…this simply would not do.   Little Miss needed to arrive in July!  After a cordial but opposing conversation, he doubtfully agreed to call in just to check for any induction openings.  Success!  They had one opening on Friday, July 31st, and I replied with a smile, “We’ll take it!”

The phone rang at 5:30a that Friday morning with the news to come on in to the hospital.  They were ready for us!  We arrived at REX around 6:45a and by 8:30a, the Pitocin was dripping away.  The waiting had begun.  Grandparents came in to visit, we updated the blog, caught up on emails, talked about our soon-coming little girl.  And we waited some more.  By 11:30a, I had not progressed much at all and was completely bored out of my mind.  This was taking too long!  Oh, the irony of my name.  My doctor broke my water at noon to move things along.  After that, things really started rolling!  Just when the contractions really started to sting, the anesthesiologist arrived with the epi-goodness.  The anesthesiologist worked quickly with precision.  By 1:30p, the wonder drug was in place and I was at 3cm.  My, how I love that drug!  I’m usually one to try natural avenues of treatment before taking a medication.  But when it comes to labor, I’m a huge fan of epidurals.  With both deliveries, things really sped up once I got the epidural.

After the epidural was in place, I was still feeling tremendous pressure and pain in my right leg.  My nurse worked for 30ish minutes to figure out why I was feeling so much pain in my leg.  She was fantastic!  Sweet, attentive, efficient and professional.  The pain finally left my leg but I was still feeling a lot of pressure in my back.  So my nurse decided to check my progression just in case.  9 cm!  No wonder I was feeling pressure!  Within 10 minutes, I was fully dilated and the pushing.  Jordan was an awesome coach through the process.  The hour flew by and at 3:30p, Eliana Faith arrived!  No drama, no trauma, no complications.  The whole experience was completely different than my first delivery and very healing.  The delivery had progressed perfectly and our healthy little girl was finally in our arms – breathing on her own and simply beautiful.  It took a while for it all to sink in.  There she was – the one we had long prayed for.  God’s Answer looking in our eyes and capturing our hearts with every breath.

So there you have it.  Eliana Faith arrived 3.5 hours from the time my water was broken.  If I were to do it all again, my only change would be to have broken the water from the get-go.  Like I said, I’m still working on living out my name.

Our Little Gator

Now that the college football season has begun, we had to get Eliana started off on the right foot.  As you can see, she’s super excited about the Gator Nation!

Week Three

Our beautiful Little Lady has enjoyed a wonderful third week of life.  Her smiles grow brighter every day.  She loves being held upright whenever she’s awake and is already holding her head up for long periods of time.  Strong girl!  Enjoy some of our favorite pics from this past week.

Our First Week At Home

We are absolutely in love!  Its hard to believe Eliana is already eleven days old.  She’s growing up so fast!  I just want to photograph and record every single moment.  Each one is such a gift.  Jordan & I continue to be overwhelmed by our beautiful Answer To Prayer.  She amazes us more and more each day.

Eliana has been the perfect baby so far.  She’s animated and smiley when awake, sleeps hard between feedings, and goes down for bed in her crib without a fuss.  She’s already beginning to hold her head up for several seconds at a time, moving it controlled from side to side.  Jordan definitely brings the smiles out of her.  I’ve been telling her since I was pregnant that she’d be a daddy’s girl and she certainly is…warms my heart!

Huge thanks, by the way, to everyone who has sent encouraging emails, cards, and delicious meals for us.  Its been such a blessing to adjust to life at home with Eliana without the stress of planning a meal each night.  You all have made this transition into stay-at-home mom much easier for me.  Thank you!

Here are some of our favorite pics from the past week.  While we know we’re biased, we think you’ll agree that she’s just gorgeous!

Home With Eliana

What an amazing five days we’ve had with our little girl!  Eliana is truly a gift from God.  She has been an absolute joy.  Sleeping peacefully and completely alert when awake.  We fall more & more madly in love with her every day.  Enjoy some photo highlights of her first few days with our little girl…

Happy Birthday Eliana!

Eliana Faith Leino was born today at 3:30pm. She weighed in at 7 pounds 15 ounces and is 20 inches long.  She is the most beautiful baby we’ve ever seen (no offense to all you proud parents out there).

Words can’t express the wide range of emotions we’re feeling right now.  We are just so in awe at who God is and what He has done.

Here are some pictures to recap the day:

Noon Update

Hey y’all!  Patience here.  After three hours of Pitocin, I’ve now had my water broken to move things along.  No epidural in yet & still feeling pretty comfortable.  Currently at 3 cm & 80%.  Hopefully things will progress much quicker now.

At The Hospital…

We’re here at the hospital.  We’ve had a great morning so far getting settled into our room.  Our nurse has been great.  They’ve started the Pitocin, so now we’re waiting for things to progress.  We’ll do what we can to update the blog as the day goes on.  We appreciate your prayers and support!

Thoughts At The Journey’s End

As of 5 o’clock today, nothing has happened.  No contractions.  No “did my water just break” scares.  No glimmers that this thing is going to start anytime soon.  As of 5 o’clock today, I’m frustrated and aware more than ever that I’m truly not in control.  Even though Eliana currently resides in my body and has grown there over the past 9 months, no amount of my will power will make her come any quicker.  Ultimately, she is God’s child.  I simply have the choice of whether or not to be a good steward of this life He has entrusted me with.  In the midst of my lack of control, I’m seeing how pregnancy is about so much more than growing and birthing a child.  Its about faith.  Its about trusting God with what has been placed within you.  What will you do with what He has given you?  Will you nourish it to the best of your ability?  Will you be faithful in caring for yourself to give the child the best chance at health and strength?  Will you resent all the uncomfortable kicks and cramps or rejoice that there is a growing life within you?   Will you grow angry as you loose control and have to make changes to accommodate this other life within or will you further rely on God to bring His gift to fruition?  Talk about a refining journey!

I remember thinking how much I learned through my first pregnancy: learning to trust God in the face of the unknown, believing He had a good plan when all statistics pointed to something tragic, learning to care for myself and the baby within knowing the journey would take me through pain and great uncertainty.  This pregnancy has been quite different along with the lessons learned.  It has challenged me to trust God’s sovereignty in the face of difficult past circumstances.  So many times, I’ve faced the choice to perceive this journey through the eyes of previous loss or the hope of possible blessings to come.  Would I walk this journey weighed down by previous disappointment or embrace the joy that could be found in each step?  God had blessed me with a new child: would I accept it as a gift or walk in fear each step of the way?  To be honest, I’ve not always chosen the higher road in this journey.  Many times, I’ve succumb to the Satan’s whispers of past pain rather than stand on God’s promise to give me a hope and a future.  How easy it would be to say, “But that’s not been my path thus far…”  “But such and such happened last time…”  “But I’ve only had this type of experience…”I’m so thankful for my godly husband!  Every time I have given in to fear, Jordan has spoken truth in its face.  He has stood strong when I was weak and brought me back to hope once again.  “See, I am doing a new thing!  Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?  I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.” (Is. 43.19)

This journey has been a different one, but treasured and good just the same.  Its humbling to think that within a day or so, we’ll be parents once again to a beautiful Answer To Prayer.  I’m scheduled to be induced tomorrow morning if I’ve not gone into spontaneous labor by then.  We greatly appreciate your prayers as tomorrow approaches.  I’m still hoping to go into labor on my own, but we’ll see.  I’m aware now more than ever that I’m not in control of this – learning the meaning of my name all over again.

We’ll keep the blog posted with updates as they occur.  Hopefully by this time tomorrow, the world will know Miss Eliana Faith Leino!

D-Day

Well, Eliana’s due date has arrived and so far, our darling little girl has not.  She’s still active as can be…just not in the direction I would prefer.   As of yesterday’s weekly OB appointment, I’m 2 cm dilated, 70% effaced & she’s -2 in position.  I thought it would be fun to start a pool for when you think she’ll actually be here.  The prize – the thrill of knowing you totally called it!   Wager away!

Nursery: Ready & Waiting…

Here are some nursery pics for your enjoyment.  The only thing missing is Miss Eliana herself!

In The Home Stretch

My, how time has flown!  As of tomorrow, I’ll be 39 weeks pregnant.  Its seems like only yesterday we discovered that we’d be parents again.  Preparations have been made, a new nursery set up, her name selected, clothes washed, bags packed.  All that is left to do is to wait.  Just grow and wait.

Comparatively, this has been a much easier pregnancy.  I’ve not been nearly as sick and while the cankles have once again returned, they are not nearly as severe as last time.  Eliana is certainly proving to be much feistier than her brother.  Isaac would gently move around from time to time.  But not this girl.  She’s a powerhouse, constantly moving and kicking.  Many times, we’ve watched her feet clearly move from one side to the other.  Other times, it feels like she’s doing a full-body stretch.  Sometimes she’ll move so strongly that it throws me out of step and stops me in my tracks.  I can’t wait to meet this energetic little girl of ours!

Today’s doctor’s visit went well.  I’m currently 1.5 cm dilated, 60% effaced & positionally, she’s head-down at -2.  Same as last week.  I’ve not had any real contractions as of yet.  Hopefully some spicy food and serious walking will move things along.  Funny how the past eight months have flown by while these past few weeks have felt like a crawl.  I’d much rather be awake at night holding Eliana than just feeling her kick me in the ribs.  But I really can’t complain.  I’m so grateful for the gift of carrying this sweet girl to term, grateful that she has a whole heart and all signs indicate that she’s healthy, grateful for the constant care and encouragement of my dear husband.  I’m deeply grateful.  And with every uncomfortable kick and pinch of the back, it serves as a reminder that she’s still on her way and I’ll be a mom once again soon.  I wouldn’t trade it for anything…other than holding her in my arms, of course

And her name shall be…

We are pleased to announce that Little Miss Leino now has her name!  As most of you know, we’ve thought long and hard over this.  For months, it seemed every option we came across simply landed on our “Not It” list.  We scoured through books, name search engines, family trees.  Her name had to be just right: beautiful, feminine and unique with an incredible meaning.  Well…we’ve finally found it.  A Hebrew name that means “God has answered us”.  Perfect for our sweet girl:

The Bump

I’ll be 33 weeks pregnant tomorrow.  Where has the time gone?!  Little Miss Leino has been very energetic these past few days.  I love it!  Perhaps she’ll be a feisty red-head like her mama   So after many requests, here’s an up-to-date pic of “The Bump”.  Enjoy!

Back In Action

After a long pause from blogging, the Leinos are back with much to share!  Its been a busy couple of months so it will take several posts to get you all caught up.  So today we’ll focus on the most important change in our life – the soon-coming Little Miss Leino!

Today, I’m 32 weeks pregnant.  Hard to believe that in roughly 8 weeks, she’ll be in our arms!  While we don’t know her name just yet, we’re already becoming quite familiar with her distinct personality.  Our girl is quite a busy-body.  She’s constantly moving around and most often at night.  There have been many times that she’s kicked so hard, it looks like my shirt is dancing.  Strong girl!

We had our final Level 2 ultrasound yesterday at REX.  It was so good to see her again.  After an hour of checking every organ & measurement, we were given the best report: all signs indicate that she’s perfectly healthy!  Thank You, Lord!  Our girl is actually measuring one week ahead of schedule and currently weighs 4 lbs 9 oz.  Perhaps she’ll make her big debut before July 28th.  With the summer heat, I won’t mind that at all.   Every ultrasound we’ve had, she’s kept at least one arm up by her face.  Thankfully, she gave us a great shot of her profile.  She even opened her eyes a bit (kind of strange when you’re seeing it on 3D ultrasound).  We’re absolutely in love and cannot wait to see her face-to-face.  Here she is!

Update on Dad

Dad just got out of surgery.  The surgeon said everything went really well, so he’s now being taken to his room for recovery.  Thanks so much for your prayers, please continue to pray for him through the next month of recovery.

Prayer for My Dad

I know it’s been a while since we’ve posted a blog, but I have a special prayer request.  Today at 11:00am, my dad (Gary Leino) is going in for a major surgery on his spine.

In doctor talk, an MRI of his spine a couple weeks ago found that he has a central canal stenosis causing a cervical myelopathy. To fix this, the doctor told him he needed a C4-C5 posterior cervical laminectomy & fusion.

It’s about a 3-4 hour surgery and they’ll put him to sleep for it.  They say the recovery (if all goes well) will be about a month. He’s pretty nervous about it so please pray for my dad, for the surgery and recovery, and for emotional comfort and strength.  Also pray for my family, as well as the surgeons, doctors, and nurses.  Thanks so much!

Gratitude

Thank you all for your prayers, encouraging words, and even flowers yesterday.  We were overwhelmed to see and hear the impact our little boy had on your lives.  In the moments when missing him comes on strong, it always helps to be reminded of the difference his 24 weeks here made.  Thank you for remembering our son, for not forgetting him as time moves forward.  We are truly blessed.

A Day To Celebrate

February 25th has found us once again, a day which will forever be captured in our hearts and minds.  Two years ago on this day, Isaac Jordan Leino was born.  At precisely 3:40am, our son arrived weighing  7 lbs 10 oz and measuring nearly 19″ long.  The child we had long awaited captured our hearts the very moment we first saw him.  Though few sounds we ever heard from Isaac’s lips, his 24 weeks of life spoke volumes.

Today is a day of bittersweet celebration.  Today, we rejoice in the child that God entrusted to us and reflect on the priceless time we had with him.  We remember the blessing of his life and the countless lessons we learned from him.  We smile at our treasured memories with Isaac and will look through the pictures chronicling his time with us.  While we would love to celebrate with ribbons and balloons, cake and presents, we’re certain those things pale in comparison to the eternal glory surrounding our son in heaven.  Isaac was perfect in every way, masterfully crafted by God’s very hands for His purpose.  In reflecting on the past year, we recognize the how far God has brought us.  It is a year that began in the depths of grief’s dark pit.  Now, it finds us healed and filled with hope for the child to come – a daughter who will grow to know of her brave big brother.  Today is certainly a good day.

Join us this day in celebrating our son’s life.  To those who knew him well, we invite you to commemorate his birthday with a comment, thought or story of his life’s impact on yours.  And to those unfamiliar with Isaac’s story, we invite you to read about this brave little boy and there encounter the faithful God who never left our side.

Happy 2nd Birthday, Isaac.  We love you and are so proud of you.

A Good Report

Today was our second Level 2 ultrasound on Baby Girl Leino.  She had herself completely balled up for most of the sonogram with hands hiding her face – much like her older brother.  At least the Leino kids are consistent!   Our sonogram technician was incredibly thorough, explaining everything he was looking at as he went.  When the exam first began, she had her legs properly crossed at the ankles.  Jordan was so proud, saying “That’s my girl!”  He’s going to be an incredible father.

Our sonogram tech spent most of his time getting a good look at her brain and heart.  Once he finally had a good view of her heart, Jordan and I felt a weight lifted as we saw four perfectly-formed chambers pumping away.  No signs of cardiac defects!  Praise the Lord!  He spent an hour measuring all her bones and organs while trying very hard to get a good 4D view of her face.  The doctor then came back to review the ultrasound findings with us.  Thankfully, no structural anomalies were found.  Our darling currently measures two days ahead of schedule, while her belly measures a full week ahead.  She’s certainly been eating well.  We have our third Level 2 in May at 30 weeks gestation for another look at all her organs, bones, and growth.  We’re hoping that she’ll cooperate with us for a good picture then.

Its truly a blessing to receive such a good report as it was at this point with Isaac when we first learned of his cardiac defects.  Thank you all for your prayers today. God has been faithful in answering them with a loving “yes”.

Seasons

“There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven…”  Ecclesiasties. 3.1

I’ve seen tremendous extremes in the lives of family and friends recently: babies born and loved ones dying, jobs lost and jobs found, children conceived and pregnancies ending tragically soon, romances blooming and relationships ending, miraculous recoveries and difficult sudden diagnoses.  All this occurring in a matter of weeks.  What does one make of such extremes in these uncertain times?

Seeing such polar experiences playing out in the lives of people I love has weighed on my heart.  I find myself overwhelmed with joy for those experiencing such rich blessings right now and deeply grieved for the others experiencing the tremendous challenges that come from living in a fallen world.  All the while, God has continued to remind me of this simple truth: life is the journey from one season to the next.  Situations come, circumstances go.  But He never leaves us.  He never forsakes us. (Deut 31.8)  When we walk through those fires, He goes with us & in Him, we will not be set ablaze.  When flood waters come, He will see us through to the shore. (Is. 43)  Even when we feel like we’re walking blind in the valley of the shadow of death, may we remember it is only a shadow and we need not fear evil – we are simply passing through. (Ps. 23.4)  In Christ, death lost its sting. (1 Cor 15.55)

“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  Romans 8.38-39

I don’t pretend to have life figured out, nor will I ever fully understand why people’s paths can look so different.  I don’t know that I’ll ever grasp why some have healthy babies without even wanting them while others grieve for the chance to have just one of their own.  Its hard to balance those who live well into their 90’s with those who are crippled by illness before their time.  At this point of my life, I have so much yet to learn and stronger faith to gain.  But if these 27 years have taught me anything, it is this: God is a God of love with plans to give us a hope and a future. (Jer. 29.11)  Regardless of circumstances in my life, I know I am precious in His sight and because He loves me, I need not be afraid. (Is. 43.4-5)  He has blessed me beyond measure.  And in the hard times that have come, my frailty and desperation has allowed me to see His strength, faithfulness, and compassion in ways I would not have otherwise understood.

So take heart.   If you find yourself facing an impossible situation, if you find yourself caught between an army of opposition and an immovable sea blocking your way, remember this: all of life is the journey from one season to the next.  After all, we serve the God who parted the seas of impossibility to grant His children safe passage to their promised future and used the waters that once stood in their way to defeat the opposition that chased them. (Ex. 14)

“I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.  Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.”  Psalm 27.13-14

Jumping on the Bandwagon

Over the past several weeks, “25 Random Things” about oneself have been circling blogging & facebook circles.  So I figure its about time I jump on the bandwagon and share 25 random somethings about moi!

1 – I’m still absolutely amazed that Jordan would choose me as his wife and think myself to be the  most blessed woman on earth because of it.

2 – My hometown is Annapolis, Maryland.  I think everyone should visit at least once in their life as its one of my favorite places on earth.  Nothing like sipping on a hot cup of tea downtown while you watch the sailboats and yachts go by.  Can’t wait to visit again.

3 – Growing up, I hated my name.  Being an energetic, strong-willed, red-headed child with the name “Patience”…not always a good fit.  For a time, I even saved up money to legally change my name to Tiffany.  Thank goodness that phase passed.  Now, I love my name!  Its my story in a nutshell and a reminder of all I still have to learn.

4 – I wouldn’t trade our journey with Isaac for anything in the world and can’t wait to kiss his sweet cheeks again.  His was a life well and fully lived.

5 – I will never, ever, EVER eat a Red Packer Hot Dog.  Its just not gonna happen.

6 – Music brings me such delight.  I’m passionate about anything musical that’s done with finesse and taste.  Whether its a classical piece, a jazz trio, tight vocal harmonies or Jordan creating new pieces on the keys, I just love it.  As far as lyrics are concerned, Nichole Nordeman , John Mayer and Brooke Frasier are lyrical geniuses.  Both poetic and profound.  Wish I could craft lyrics the way they do.

7 – In the 12 months after my college graduation, I traveled to the UK, Romania, & India on missions trips.  Really enjoyed Edinburgh and Vienna…absolutely beautiful.  The time in Romania changed my life!  Honestly thought I might move there…even started learning Romanian for a while.  Hope to go back and visit one day.

8 – I’m a word/grammar freak.  I’m that kid who enjoyed diagramming sentences in school and learning parts of speech.  Yup, I’m a word nerd.  Ever since grade school, I always read books with a dictionary handy, just in case I come across a word I don’t know yet.  I just think language is fabulous!

9 – The past three and a half years of marriage have been the best years of my life.  And the adventure has only just begun…

10 – I look horrible as a blonde.  Totally washes me out.

11 – I really enjoy gourmet food and trying new dishes.  One day, I hope to go on a Mediterranean cruise and eat my way around the Greek Isles.

12 – I’m allergic to grass.

13 – Lacrosse is my sport.  Played right attack wing all through high school.  Would have continued in college if LU had it when I  as there.

14 – Still don’t understand why strangers find it appropriate to walk up and rub my stomach when I’m pregnant.  Its tempting to rub their bellies…just to return the favor.

15 – I don’t and will never drink alcohol.  Not that drinking is wrong.  Its just something I will not ever bring into my life.

16 – My mom is my hero.  She’s stronger, wiser, and more enduring than anyone I’ve ever met.  One of my life-long prayers is that she will understand just how truly precious and priceless she is.

17 – The only bones I’ve ever broken are my pelvis and my skull.  Curious, aren’t you?

18 – Nothing beats Crab Imperial by Phillips in Downtown Annapolis.  Yum!

19 – I apparently look absolutely livid anytime I’m working on the computer or concentrating on something.  I’m told I’ve done this since I was a little girl.  Mom’s got the pics to prove it.  Jordan just laughs at it.  Really, I’m not mad!  Just focused.

20 – This pregnancy has me craving all things cinnamon and asian food (hibachi style and Pei Wei).

21 – I can’t wait to meet our little girl!  Now, if only we could figure out her name…

22 – Were time and resources not a factor, I’d go to medical school and culinary school…just to learn it!  Since our time in UNC, medicine fascinates me.  Its amazing to see God’s handiwork in the human body.  Culinary school would be such a blast!  To add actual knowledge and technique to my existing love of cooking…how much fun would that be?!

23 – Fresh-from-scratch croissants from Weaver Street Market are my treat of choice – any day, any time.

24 -Exodus is one of my favorite books in the Bible..one among the many.  Its incredible to see the parallels between Israel’s journey and the human experience.  I see something new every time I read it.  God’s Word is the GREATEST literary work ever created.  Thank you, Lord, for it!

25 – 2009 will be an incredible year, in ways I don’t think I can realize right now.  I’ve just got a feeling   The best is yet to come!

Good News Continues

The results came in today from last week’s visit.  These are based on the combined findings of our genetic history, age, blood work & ultrasound.  Thankfully, the results show that our risks of experiencing Downs or Edwards are as minimal as possible.  We’re quite happy, to say the least!  We’re eager for our next ultrasound appointment on February 23, when every organ will be closely measured and studied.  Its always a blessing to see our little girl, to watch her grow and develop into the baby we’ll meet face to face this summer.

It’s a ….

Today’s appointment went as well as possible.  We met with a genetic counselor to review family history and to understand the range of testing available to us at each stage of the pregnancy.  We were pleasantly surprised to have the same counselor who talked with us during our pregnancy with Isaac.  She remembered our story and was very thorough in updating our history, as well as explaining the options available.

Blood work was drawn on Patience for early screening of syndromes such as Downs and Edwards (Trisomy 18).  Studies have shown correlation between the existence of syndrome/cardiac anomalies and the amount of fluid found at the back of the baby’s neck (nuchal translucency) between 11 and 13 weeks gestation.  Normal range of fluid is 1 to 3 millimeters.  Anything above 3 mm can be indication of a syndrome.  Thankfully, our little one’s fluid measured right at 1 mm!  Our baby’s skull and brain were also examined for early structural anomalies.  We were grateful to hear none could be detected at this time.  Everything measured today looked normal for this stage in the pregnancy.  Praise God for a good report!  We hope to hear back on the bloodwork results sometime next week.

The best part of our visit was certainly the ultrasound.  Our baby was chomping away and waving, but had its face buried against the uterine wall.  Of course, much like Isaac, our little one was refusing to give us a clear shot of its face and decided to fall asleep halfway.  Those Leino kids are stubborn!  Our ultrasound tech did happen to tell us the gender of Baby Leino.  We’ll have it “officially” confirmed at our 18 week ultrasound, but usually this form of i.d. is 95% accurate.

Looks like we’re having a GIRL!

Appointment at 11

Today, we have our first trimester screening appointment at 11a.  This includes a detailed Level 2 ultrasound of our little one, measuring everything and looking for any abnormalities.  Please be praying for us during this appointment – for clear thinking and peace as we talk with the doctors.  Also, please pray for the ultrasound technician – that they would have focused eyes and clear views of every part of our baby.  We’ll update the blog later today with an update.  Thanks!

SNOW DAY!

At 5:15 this morning, we woke to the beautiful sight of snow!  After falling steadily for most of the day, there is a six inch blanket of snow covering everything in sight.  Its been a great day!

Enjoying the snow!

Snow Angels.

Deep in fluffy, white goodness.

Feelin’ like a kid again.

Bumped to Thursday

Our ultrasound has been rescheduled to Thursday, January 21 at 11a due to the snow here in Raleigh.  We’ll post test & ultrasound results as soon as we are able.

Hope & Trust

Next Wednesday will be a day to remember…and for the better, we hope.  At 8 am, we’ll be at the hospital for our first Level 2 ultrasound and some testing.  The thought of seeing our little once again and in such detail is exciting.  Its always amazing to see babies that small and so fully alive.  With Isaac, it felt like we knew him well before he arrived because we had seen him grow and move so much with the ultrasounds.  But with this excitement of seeing our baby comes some trepidation, wondering what may be found.  Thankfully, none of Isaac’s difficulties were genetic so there’s no medical reason to believe we would experience that road again.  But having traveled that path before, you go from thinking “it could never happen to me” to fully understanding anything is possible.

So what does one do when past experience and future hope collide?  How do you reconcile knowing what has happened with believing the best for things to come?  What if such and such happens?  What if they find something wrong?  Will I be able to go through all that again?  When the path is bittersweet, how do you keep the “bitter” from choking out the “sweetness”?

I’ve been reading through Luke with the Life Journal plan.  The timing has been perfect as so much of the book talks about faith, hope, and trusting God with the impossible.  Days before scheduling the Level 2 ultrasound, I read Luke 12 and verses 25 – 31 really spoke to me.  “Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?  Of course not!  And if worry can’t do little things like that, what’s the use of worrying over bigger things?  …Don’t worry whether God will provide for you.  These things dominate the thoughts of most people, but your Father already knows your needs.  He will give you all you need from day to day if you make the Kingdom of God your primary concern.” What a timely reminder.  It popped back fresh in my mind when anxiety from the scheduled appointment came.  I’ve struggled with the land of “what ifs” for much of my life and dwelling there has never added a single moment to my life, let alone made it better.  Worry only detracts from one’s quality of life, placing dread in hope’s place and fear in the path of peace.  Even in knowing this, so often my flesh writhes within me to grasp worry’s illusion of control.  And every time I’ve grabbed it, it has only left me weary with the fresh reminder of how little control I actually had in the matter.

“Don’t worry whether God will provide for you.” God has provided so much already.  He gave me life.  He gives me this moment’s air and the ability to take it in by breath.  When dread creeps near, I need only to look back and remember all God has already done in my life, all He has already provided me with.

As Wednesday approaches, I’m sure there will be many opportunities to grab worry’s hand, to travel back to the land of “what ifs” and dread, to be consumed with things that have no guarantee of occurring.  But at the same time, another choice will also be there: the choice to give my anxious thoughts to God, the One who has promised a hope and a future. (1 Peter 5.7, Jeremiah 29.11)  As The Message translates it, “Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.” (Phil. 4.6-7)

I don’t know what the future holds.  I don’t know what we’ll see on the ultrasound Wednesday.  But of this I am certain: God created this child perfectly for His plan, He holds my very existence and loves me no matter my response to Him.  He has placed great joys in my life and faithfully carried me through the valleys.  While it will always be a choice, my desire is to always choose hope and trust over worry and dread.  And in those moments when I’ll give in to emotion and fear what has not yet come, He’ll carry me on anyways til I can stand again.

“You are blessed, because you have believed that the Lord would do what He said.” (Luke 1.45)

Moving Forward

Patience and I are immensely grateful to God for everything He has given us and where He has brought us.  Everyone’s journey is filled with peaks and valleys.  Right now we find ourselves at an overlook spot on the side of a mountain, looking out over our past peaks and valleys, and curious about what the future holds.  As I look out, I see that God has not only walked with us through the high points of life, but also through the low points. That gives us great confidence and comfort, knowing that He will walk with us through whatever comes our way in the future.  We were blessed to have had Isaac, and we have been blessed again with a second child.

We have experienced an interesting set of emotions since learning of our new little baby.  We are very much excited about having our second child. I can’t adequately express how happy we are to once again be preparing for another baby. But at the very same time, there are the natural emotions of grief and fear that re-surface due to our experience with our son Isaac.  Stepping into this new season of pregnancy and preparation for another baby brings back a flood of memories that are still very fresh.  Memories that are wonderful, but can be painful all at the same time.

We know that this is part of the process for us, so we are trusting God to walk with us through this next season of life.

We would like to ask you to join us in praying for a few things:

• Pray for healthy development of our new baby.
• Pray for the baby’s life, that God would use him/her in a way that has an eternal impact for the cause of Christ.
• Pray for Patience, as she’s dealing with sickness that goes along with pregnancy – primarily migraines and nausea.
• Pray for wisdom as we make decisions for prenatal care
• Pray for strength, comfort, and peace that only comes through placing our trust in Christ.

Gator Nation

Anyone who knows our family knows that Jordan is a die hard Gators fan.  With generations of Florida alumni in his family, he’s pulled for the Gators since he was in diapers.  In fact, one of Isaac’s first onesies was orange & blue with “Gators” written across the chest.  Talk about committed!

As you might guess, there was much rejoicing in our home over last night’s stellar win in the BCS Championship.  National Champions for the second time in three years!  Florida played well, Tim Tebow was superman again, & my man ended the day with a huge smile on his face.  What can I say…its good to be a Gator

A Baby On The Way

Pregnancy is a curious thing. Its amazing the impact someone so small can have over your entire body & mind. At times, the physical effects of this little one growing inside me can be quite unpleasant, the future blessing it will bring far outweighs all the discomforts & inconveniences. To have this experience is to receive a gift, one that I value with humble gratitude.

As of tomorrow, I will be 11 weeks along. Its hard to believe that six weeks have already gone by since we learned of this new “occupant”. My, how time does fly! We had another OB appointment today. Everything had gone smoothly until our doctor tried to audibly find the heartbeat. After trying for a little while, we went next door for an ultrasound…just to make sure nothing was wrong.

No wonder she couldn’t find the beat at first – our little one was bouncing all over the place! As soon as she put the machine on, Baby Leino’s image popped onto the screen, bouncing & waving as though it had not a care in the world. Seeing the life in our child, now looking more like a baby rather than a peanut, hit me in a way I did not expect as it all became much more real to me. At one point, it looked as though it could be smiling!

Since this pregnancy is considered high risk (because of our history with Isaac), there will be some testing & detailed ultrasounds in the weeks to come. A perk of being high risk – you get to see your growing child so much more! This child is already a blessing. We are praying for continued growth, health, & protection as he/she matures each day. At least we know this: our little one is full of energy!

New Beginnings

Welcome!

Two & a half years ago, we began the Baby Leino blog to chronicle the journey with our son, Isaac.  What started as a simple way of passing info on to family & friends grew into a story far greater than we could have imagined.  Isaac’s brief but powerful journey with HLHS changed our lives forever & touched countless hearts worldwide.  Neither of us could have fathomed the impact a simple blog would have on others, nor did we expect the profound encouragement it gave us through those who read it.

With the start of a new year & having recently learned that we’re expecting again, we decided its time to start blogging once more.  Leino Life will give a peek into our family here in North Carolina, as well as chronicle our journey with Baby Leino #2.  We’re praying for health & great things in ‘09.

So be sure to check back regularly for pregnancy updates & random info on our happenings here.  Enjoy!