Update

Not much is new. Abbie has continued to have good days and bad days. After a run of three good days last week, she had an awful day last Thursday. I think the most difficult thing for me is to remember the progress we have made when we are in the midst of a battle, or a bad day, and not to become discouraged. It is also extremely difficult to not revert back to "discipline-mode" when she disobeys. I have to jump right back into taking away the battle and pouring on the love. I think I need a pep talk at least once a week to continue in this (Thanks, Courtney!). Sometimes I wonder if there will ever be a time when things will be "normal".

A huge blessing was that Abbie had a good day on Mother's Day, which was also the day we had her dedicated at church (along with all of the other families who have had babies this past year). Abbie repeatedly told me on Saturday that the next day was Mother's Day and she was SO glad and that she was going to have a good day. "Uh-oh, I thought, "We are in for it!" But, she was great! It still amazes me that when I lecture her or discipline her she is expressionless and nothing moves her, but when I just pour on the love, and take away the battle, she shows emotion--crying, anger, tantruming, etc.

In addition to attachment issues, I am now 34 weeks pregnant and really feeling it. Just yesterday, after some extremely painful ligament stretching, I started to contract and actually had to make a trip to labor & delivery to be checked for pre-term labor. I was having painful contractions 1-2 minutes apart for several hours. Both Cameron and I thought we were going to have a baby! Thankfully, we prayed and Cameron played some praise music on his lap top and the contractions spaced out and became less painful. After not dialating for several hours (I am at 1 cm now, 50% effaced) we were sent home. I am still having contractions, but hopefully nothing will happen for a few more weeks. We'll see . . . I have never actually made it to my due date, but I have only had one premature baby (35 weeks) and I was induced that time, and did not go into labor on my own.

In Christ, Laura