Can't believe the time has come and I'm lying in the hospital bed waiting for Judah to arrive. It seems so surreal that he'll be here some time tomorrow. It's been a long journey but we are grateful and abundantly blessed to have the opportunity to be parents to another little person!
It might seem strange but I don't exactly feel excited or nervous. I've been praying that the Lord would calm my emotions and any worries or fears that I might have and so far it seems like He is answering those prayers! I know the challenges we faces and all the unknowns could be overwhelming but my God is bigger! He is greater!
I got to the Hospital around 8:30p and by 10:30p things seemed to be in motion. They started me on my first round of meds. Instead of doing the cervical medicine and pitocin right away I'm just doing the cervical medicine and seeing how it goes. I'll get that every 4 hours until I hit a certain point and then I could start on pitocin or I might just be going good on my own with no need to do the pitocin.
Pretty much as soon as we got to our room tonight a Doctor from the NICU came over. Again she went over the plan... they are good about that here. It was actually kinda cool because she wasn't called over but she knew we were coming in tonight and when she saw our names come across the screen she came straight over. It's cool to know that they are prepared and are fully familiar with our case before we ever come in.
The Plan (according to the Doctors with commentary from yours truly ha.):
I plan to deliver vaginally which is called a "natural delivery" - I don't use that term because lots of people think that "natural delivery" means without any medications but it actually just means vaginal delivery. I do plan on having an epidural and honestly wouldn't think about not having one lol. I don't want to experience the curse! I want to enjoy delivery! I had a fabulous labor and delivery with London and I owe that to the epi :)
After delivery we hope that Judah is crying and breathing on his own! That would make things a lot better and also make it so that things aren't so crazy. If he isn't they will have to do a breathing tube right away to help him. There will be a large group of doctors and nurses in the room at the time of delivery and once they get him stable and see how he is adjusting to life outside the womb I will hopefully get to see him (He will be in my delivery room during this time). After that they will take him over to the NICU where he will be "packaged up" for Children's Hospital transport team. While he is in the UC NICU he will have 2 IV lines put in his belly button. One that will be giving him fluid, nutrients and a medicine to keep a valve open in his heart and another that will monitor his blood pressure. Once he is ready for transport they will bring him back to my room so I can see him before they transport him to Children's. Josh and I will hopefully be facetiming the whole time so I can feel apart of everything. It's been very difficult thinking about not being able to see him or know what is happening and it just dawned on me the other day that we could facetime so I can see everything just like Josh is! It was a God thought!! I asked the NICU Doctor and she said she thought that would be fine but she couldn't speak for Children's Hospital. Hopefully we don't get any resistance in this area because it has given me a lot of joy. Once he gets to Children's they will run lots of tests on him and we will have a clear plan of action given to us at that time. Until then thats all we got.
The Plan (according to my faith):
I plan to deliver vaginally with the help of my epidural haha.
Judah will be breathing and screaming away just like every other baby! He will still be taken to the NICU and transported to Children's because they have to run tests to give him a clean bill of health and they would never take any chances by hesitating even if they thought he was healed (which they most likely wouldn't seeing as how you can see the heart without a scan). Once he gets to the CICU at Children's they will run all the necessary tests and be found HEALED.
Now, I would like to say that no matter what happens in the days to come we trust in the mighty hand of God! We know that God is in control even when things seem out of control! Faith is not for the faint of heart. It's standing in the face of impossibility and saying I TRUST GOD - I BELIEVE GOD IS ABLE and NO MATTER WHAT I will NOT back down! That doesn't mean everything is going to go our way because lets face it the bible doesn't say "my will be done" it says LORD Your will be done. God ALWAYS has the master plan and I don't have to understand that plan to trust it and the reason for that is simple... This life is not about me. We walk through life thinking it is but it's not! My life and all that I am has one purpose - To make HIM known! When you come to that kind of realization then it gives you a supernatural empowerment to face challenges and adversity with courage and strength because you know He is with you. Does my humanity shine through - of course! God made us with a wide range of emotions and Jesus said it best when he said "Keep watch and pray.... For the body is weak but the spirit is willing".
Anyway, I want to take this time to thank you all for praying and believing with us! It's meant the world to us and we can't express our gratefulness! We will do our best to keep you updated on everything because we know that so many of you are invested into Judah with endless praying and fasting! We couldn't be more grateful for all the encouragement and support you all have given us! Truly! Thank you so much!!
SIDE NOTE: It's taken me an hour to write this and during that time Judah is not liking the contractions. His heart rate has dropped several times and he dropped off completely on the monitor when my contraction were close together. If this continues they will do a c-section because they don't know if his heart can handle vaginal delivery. This would make a much harder recovery for me and also make it much longer for me to see Judah. PLEASE PRAY FOR HIS LITTLE HEART!!!!! Thanks everyone!!
Sunday, April 15, 2012
Monday, March 19, 2012
Update on Judah 3/18/12
I feel like today was such a long day. Judah did well on all his testings: Practicing breathing, moving, heart rate and so on. The goal is to stay pregnant as long as possible and today they set up all our plans for our induction date. As of right now I will be inducted on Sunday April 15th. This is a great thing because 1. It gives me more time to prepare and 2. It gives him more time so that his lungs are fully developed. Obviously this is a tentative date and could change based on lots of different variables but the main things that would change this date is if I go into labor or if he would be showing signs of distress which is partly why I have an ultra sound every week - They monitor him rather closely.
After our appointment today we took a tour of the Labor & Delivery Unit and the NICU. I think it was harder than I expected. Judy (the head nurse) was going over what everything would look like and it just became so real. She said that as soon as he comes into the world he will be brought over to this tiny little bed in the room and that there would be so many people around him that I probably wouldn't be able to see him. As soon as he is breathing and heart rate is established they would take him straight to the NICU - Without me seeing him or even touching him :*( He will be in the NICU at University Hospital for about and hour or two - thats where they will get him hooked up to all the necessary tubes, iv's and meds and then a transport team from Children's will come over and get him but before they take him to Children's the will bring him by my recovery room so that I can see him and say bye and hopefully at least touch him. From that point he will be taken to Children's CICU where they will do testing on him. Josh will be with him so I'll stay connected via phone. If all goes to plan and I can do a vaginal delivery then I should be able to go over to Children's within 5-7 hours after delivery.
As of right now we're trying to figure out accommodations after I am released from the hospital (1-2 days). Judy mentioned the Ronald McDonald House (kinda like Dorm rooms with common areas) which is located directly across the street or we could go with Extended Stay America which isn't as close but it give privacy (more like a hotel/Apartment style). Financially the Ronald McDonald house makes more sense but we're looking into both options because I personally feel like I will want/need more privacy. These are the times I wish I was a wealthy lol. Oh well! God will work it out and put us in the right place.
It was challenging to listen to "the plan" and I thought I could hold it together but unfortunately I wasn't that strong. I think seeing the delivery room and seeing the tiny little bed just made me realize how hard it's going to be. I need prayer specifically over the time of delivery. I want it to be as peaceful as possible seeing as how birth it's such a traumatic experience for babies anyway plus all the extra stuff my poor little guy has to endure. I want it to be calm, quiet and peaceful. I don't want to lose it and be a wreck and truthfully only God can help me with this.
That was our day for the most part. I do feel like we got a lot of questions answered and I am for sure feeling more prepared as far as knowing what to expect (somewhat). The hard thing is that everything could change so I'm trying not to be to invested in any "plan" other than the plan of having a baby lol. God is in control. Simple as that. Doesn't make things "easy" but it sure does make things better.
Thanks for reading and most importantly thanks for praying and believing with us! Still praying and believing that he will be healed. Notice I didn't mention any surgery or operations of any kind because I'm believing that once they get him to CICU and they do the echo that they will see a healed heart.
After our appointment today we took a tour of the Labor & Delivery Unit and the NICU. I think it was harder than I expected. Judy (the head nurse) was going over what everything would look like and it just became so real. She said that as soon as he comes into the world he will be brought over to this tiny little bed in the room and that there would be so many people around him that I probably wouldn't be able to see him. As soon as he is breathing and heart rate is established they would take him straight to the NICU - Without me seeing him or even touching him :*( He will be in the NICU at University Hospital for about and hour or two - thats where they will get him hooked up to all the necessary tubes, iv's and meds and then a transport team from Children's will come over and get him but before they take him to Children's the will bring him by my recovery room so that I can see him and say bye and hopefully at least touch him. From that point he will be taken to Children's CICU where they will do testing on him. Josh will be with him so I'll stay connected via phone. If all goes to plan and I can do a vaginal delivery then I should be able to go over to Children's within 5-7 hours after delivery.
As of right now we're trying to figure out accommodations after I am released from the hospital (1-2 days). Judy mentioned the Ronald McDonald House (kinda like Dorm rooms with common areas) which is located directly across the street or we could go with Extended Stay America which isn't as close but it give privacy (more like a hotel/Apartment style). Financially the Ronald McDonald house makes more sense but we're looking into both options because I personally feel like I will want/need more privacy. These are the times I wish I was a wealthy lol. Oh well! God will work it out and put us in the right place.
It was challenging to listen to "the plan" and I thought I could hold it together but unfortunately I wasn't that strong. I think seeing the delivery room and seeing the tiny little bed just made me realize how hard it's going to be. I need prayer specifically over the time of delivery. I want it to be as peaceful as possible seeing as how birth it's such a traumatic experience for babies anyway plus all the extra stuff my poor little guy has to endure. I want it to be calm, quiet and peaceful. I don't want to lose it and be a wreck and truthfully only God can help me with this.
That was our day for the most part. I do feel like we got a lot of questions answered and I am for sure feeling more prepared as far as knowing what to expect (somewhat). The hard thing is that everything could change so I'm trying not to be to invested in any "plan" other than the plan of having a baby lol. God is in control. Simple as that. Doesn't make things "easy" but it sure does make things better.
Thanks for reading and most importantly thanks for praying and believing with us! Still praying and believing that he will be healed. Notice I didn't mention any surgery or operations of any kind because I'm believing that once they get him to CICU and they do the echo that they will see a healed heart.
Monday, March 5, 2012
Update on Judah 3/5/12
Today we went back to cincy for our weekly checkup. There were several areas that I was praying for outside of our usual prayer for healing of Judah. One, that my fluid levels stay between the normal range (8-25). Two, that Judah's growth isn't so rapid that they make me take my 3rd glucose test. Three, that we wouldn't be scheduled for an induction before Easter.
For those of you wondering what I mean by "fluid levels" I mean the amniotic fluid surrounding Judah... a month ago we were told mine was to high and if it didn't decrease then my induction date could be set for 4/2 (37 weeks). They recommended a diabetic diet based on Judah's size and my high fluid levels. Well, I did of course what most people do and went home and googled "high amniotic fluid" and I freaked myself out. I was so overwhelmed and to be honest and emotional wreck about it. So I started my new diet and I'm not gonna lie it has been a massive challenge! The positive, as most of you know is that I've only gained 1 pound in 35 days. So back to the story, 3 weeks ago my fluid levels were at 27. Then 2 weeks ago my fluid levels were at 27.8 then last week my fluid levels were down to 22 (They want it between 8-25)! Obviously I was excited to hear that it had dropped since this was a huge concern for me! Today my fluid levels were up a bit at 25.5 and as long as it doesn't keep going up then my induction date will most likely be after 4/9 :D Excessive fluid can bring extra complications so please be praying that mine stay within the normal range! We don't need any extra "complications".
Judah weighed in today at 5lbs 6oz which means that even though he is still "big" for his age he isn't gaining weight at the same pace! This is really great! We want him to be a good size but his weight today made it so they didn't make me retest for gestational diabetes and also they said he looked good in size which is a first. He is doing everything he is suppose to be doing and as far as he is concerned he doesn't have a problem in the world... he's just perfect.
We met a new Doctor today who we absolutely loved! Please pray that he is the delivering doctor! He was so kind and humble and introduced himself as "Jim"- thats a rarity... He's the first one that didn't put the "Doctor" in front of his name.
As of right now everything looks good and we are hopefully planning for an induction after Easter. The Doctors did mention that with higher fluid I could end up going into labor before and if I do I need to call the head nurse as soon as we were on our way because there are so many specialists that will need to be called in for his delivery and if I felt like I can't make the drive to go to my local hospital and have them transport me to Cincy... it all seems so dramatic! She also mentioned that there might be some concern for me to have a vaginal delivery but I'm praying she is wrong. We did ask the head Doctor in Cardiology at Children's and he said that it would be fine but I'm not sure if that changed since he had to talk to his colleagues about Judah's case. I really do desire to have a vaginal delivery and it would make my recovery quicker. If (God forbid) I had to have a c-section it would be even longer that I would be away from Judah if God doesn't heal him. With vaginal delivery I would be able to see him (where ever he may be) within a couple hours.
Please pray for me as I put together somewhat of a birth plan. It's been an emotional roller coaster and the thought of not being able to see Judah for hours after delivery is seriously breaking my heart. I know many parents out there have gone through similar situations and they made it through just fine but I can only experience my life and walk in my own shoes so forgive me if I don't necessarily feel "comforted" by your stories. They are encouraging but in that moment I will not be thinking of you and your story... I'll be thinking about my baby and how badly I want to hold him or even just see him.
Again believing for God to intervene and show His glory. I know many people who have no faith in God and think I'm crazy for believing in Him for this kind of miracle but I KNOW my God is ABLE. I've seen the power of God in my own life and the lives of my loved ones. If God doesn't heal Judah that doesn't make Him less powerful or less mighty it just means there is purpose beyond our scope of understanding. I trust God with all I am and all I have... I know He provides the strength, provision and grace to endure any trail. There is no one like Him. Proud to be His and honored to call Him mine.
For those of you wondering what I mean by "fluid levels" I mean the amniotic fluid surrounding Judah... a month ago we were told mine was to high and if it didn't decrease then my induction date could be set for 4/2 (37 weeks). They recommended a diabetic diet based on Judah's size and my high fluid levels. Well, I did of course what most people do and went home and googled "high amniotic fluid" and I freaked myself out. I was so overwhelmed and to be honest and emotional wreck about it. So I started my new diet and I'm not gonna lie it has been a massive challenge! The positive, as most of you know is that I've only gained 1 pound in 35 days. So back to the story, 3 weeks ago my fluid levels were at 27. Then 2 weeks ago my fluid levels were at 27.8 then last week my fluid levels were down to 22 (They want it between 8-25)! Obviously I was excited to hear that it had dropped since this was a huge concern for me! Today my fluid levels were up a bit at 25.5 and as long as it doesn't keep going up then my induction date will most likely be after 4/9 :D Excessive fluid can bring extra complications so please be praying that mine stay within the normal range! We don't need any extra "complications".
Judah weighed in today at 5lbs 6oz which means that even though he is still "big" for his age he isn't gaining weight at the same pace! This is really great! We want him to be a good size but his weight today made it so they didn't make me retest for gestational diabetes and also they said he looked good in size which is a first. He is doing everything he is suppose to be doing and as far as he is concerned he doesn't have a problem in the world... he's just perfect.
We met a new Doctor today who we absolutely loved! Please pray that he is the delivering doctor! He was so kind and humble and introduced himself as "Jim"- thats a rarity... He's the first one that didn't put the "Doctor" in front of his name.
As of right now everything looks good and we are hopefully planning for an induction after Easter. The Doctors did mention that with higher fluid I could end up going into labor before and if I do I need to call the head nurse as soon as we were on our way because there are so many specialists that will need to be called in for his delivery and if I felt like I can't make the drive to go to my local hospital and have them transport me to Cincy... it all seems so dramatic! She also mentioned that there might be some concern for me to have a vaginal delivery but I'm praying she is wrong. We did ask the head Doctor in Cardiology at Children's and he said that it would be fine but I'm not sure if that changed since he had to talk to his colleagues about Judah's case. I really do desire to have a vaginal delivery and it would make my recovery quicker. If (God forbid) I had to have a c-section it would be even longer that I would be away from Judah if God doesn't heal him. With vaginal delivery I would be able to see him (where ever he may be) within a couple hours.
Please pray for me as I put together somewhat of a birth plan. It's been an emotional roller coaster and the thought of not being able to see Judah for hours after delivery is seriously breaking my heart. I know many parents out there have gone through similar situations and they made it through just fine but I can only experience my life and walk in my own shoes so forgive me if I don't necessarily feel "comforted" by your stories. They are encouraging but in that moment I will not be thinking of you and your story... I'll be thinking about my baby and how badly I want to hold him or even just see him.
Again believing for God to intervene and show His glory. I know many people who have no faith in God and think I'm crazy for believing in Him for this kind of miracle but I KNOW my God is ABLE. I've seen the power of God in my own life and the lives of my loved ones. If God doesn't heal Judah that doesn't make Him less powerful or less mighty it just means there is purpose beyond our scope of understanding. I trust God with all I am and all I have... I know He provides the strength, provision and grace to endure any trail. There is no one like Him. Proud to be His and honored to call Him mine.
Monday, February 20, 2012
Update on Judah 2/20/12
Today we had our last fetal echo until Judah arrives. I'm not going to lie, I was steadfastly hoping and praying for a clean bill of health. It took 2 hours for the fetal echo - I knew something was either wrong or confirming my hope of healing because 3 different people came in to do the echo at different times. The last Doctor who came in was the head of the department and the first one to diagnose Judah with Transposition of the Great Arteries. He told us that the aortic valve is thickened and (if God doesn't heal him) it will complicate the surgical plans. The reason being is because they will have to switch the valves at the same time that they switch the ventricles and there are a lot of factors that go into the switching of the valves. One being, they must be similar in size for the switch to be easy... These things are all up in the air until he arrives. We also found out today that the Doctors at Children's have never seen Transposition paired with the thickening of the valves and since they have never had any previous cases they have to collaborate with their colleagues to come up with "the most intelligent plan". Also, they are thinking he will need even more immediate attention after delivery than expected. In the words of one of the Doctors "By immediate we mean as soon as he is delivered we will have some there to do the balloon procedure"... This means that I wouldn't get to see him after delivery which will practically rip my heart out. We also found out, how great of a miracle it is that they even found that he has Transpositions in the first place because Transposition can look like a completely normal heart at the right angle. Originally we went down to Children's because of Dandy Walker but it was the heart that has stole the show since then. We haven't actually heard them even talk about the brain since November 27th. It might be strange but I do find encouragement when the Doctors bring in other Doctors to look at Judah's heart and teach them how to detect Transposition. It's a comfort to know that people are learning from Judah and if that can somehow translate into other babies being helped then that is wonderful. So in short the fetal echo showed us today that Judah has a very special heart.
After the echo we went for my weekly check up at University Hospital. Today I decided I was going to ask about the brain since we haven't heard anything for several months. They said the brain looks completely normal except where the cerebellum and vermis are located. We were told in November that he didn't have a vermis. Today the Doctor thinks she saw the vermis and that it was just under developed. This was all really great news. There is no extra fluid in the brain, everything else that should be present is there and Lord willing GOD is growing a vermis! We also found out that he is 4lbs and 12oz and in the 93rd percentile. I still have excess fluid and although my reduced carb diet is helping my weight it doesn't seem to be decreasing the fluid or helping Judah not gain so much weight. In two weeks if he is still gaining weight at this rapid pace I have to do another glucose test (the 3rd one during this pregnancy) to rule out gestational diabetes (again).
I feel emotionally drained. I was talking to my sister about everything and she said "you just have to let go and let God"... The things is, I don't feel like I'm holding on or trying to control things. I feel like I have "let go" but that I'm desperate for God to move! Emotionally I can't control myself at this time which can be a tad frustrating. I feel like my heart is ripped open and I'm bare before the Lord begging for Him to heal my son. I KNOW God will have His way and that's all I desire but everything inside me prays, hopes and believes that His way will be complete healing.
In all honestly, I'm a pastor and I thought I knew all the "right things to say" but going through this journey has made me realize that sometimes the "right thing" is to say nothing at all. To pray, to love and to just be there. We believe and we hope for things we can not see but in the end all we want is God's will. Those can be scary words to say because God's will is not always peaches and cornbread. Sometimes the journey is hard and dangerous and certainly narrow... it's not always "safe" but when we rely on the Holy Spirit he becomes our light, our way and we have strength to walk the journey even when we are barely hanging on. He is all the strength we need! He is the portion we feel like we lack and He is the grace to endure anything that comes our way.
We thank each and every one of you for your prayers and support! Now more than ever my whole soul cries out for a miracle and I appreciate every person who stands in agreement with us! We love you all!
After the echo we went for my weekly check up at University Hospital. Today I decided I was going to ask about the brain since we haven't heard anything for several months. They said the brain looks completely normal except where the cerebellum and vermis are located. We were told in November that he didn't have a vermis. Today the Doctor thinks she saw the vermis and that it was just under developed. This was all really great news. There is no extra fluid in the brain, everything else that should be present is there and Lord willing GOD is growing a vermis! We also found out that he is 4lbs and 12oz and in the 93rd percentile. I still have excess fluid and although my reduced carb diet is helping my weight it doesn't seem to be decreasing the fluid or helping Judah not gain so much weight. In two weeks if he is still gaining weight at this rapid pace I have to do another glucose test (the 3rd one during this pregnancy) to rule out gestational diabetes (again).
I feel emotionally drained. I was talking to my sister about everything and she said "you just have to let go and let God"... The things is, I don't feel like I'm holding on or trying to control things. I feel like I have "let go" but that I'm desperate for God to move! Emotionally I can't control myself at this time which can be a tad frustrating. I feel like my heart is ripped open and I'm bare before the Lord begging for Him to heal my son. I KNOW God will have His way and that's all I desire but everything inside me prays, hopes and believes that His way will be complete healing.
In all honestly, I'm a pastor and I thought I knew all the "right things to say" but going through this journey has made me realize that sometimes the "right thing" is to say nothing at all. To pray, to love and to just be there. We believe and we hope for things we can not see but in the end all we want is God's will. Those can be scary words to say because God's will is not always peaches and cornbread. Sometimes the journey is hard and dangerous and certainly narrow... it's not always "safe" but when we rely on the Holy Spirit he becomes our light, our way and we have strength to walk the journey even when we are barely hanging on. He is all the strength we need! He is the portion we feel like we lack and He is the grace to endure anything that comes our way.
We thank each and every one of you for your prayers and support! Now more than ever my whole soul cries out for a miracle and I appreciate every person who stands in agreement with us! We love you all!
Monday, February 6, 2012
Update on Judah 2/6/12
It's crazy to think that it's already February! We got a call on Friday from Children's Fetal Care Center/University Hospital saying that since I was going into my 30th week I needed to start seeing them every week until delivery. An hour commute might not seem like that big of a deal but it's an hour there (if we don't hit any traffic) and usually about 2-3 hours that we are actually there for the visit and then an hour back so it gets somewhat tiring. The reason they want to start seeing me every week is because they need to keep a close eye on his lungs and making sure he is practicing breathing as well as fetal development and growth assessments.
Judah is again still growing like a weed. He is now in the 98th percentile! It's been no secret that it's hard for me to maintain a good weight even when I try my hardest. The Doctor thinks that I could potentially have gestational diabetes even though I passed the glucose testing. He said that 1 out of 3 women are missed and not diagnosed when in fact they actually have it. So either I do have it or I'm taking in WAY TO MANY carbs!! They know this because of several reasons: 1. I've gained a lot of weight so far 2. Judah is really big and babies with diabetic moms are larger 3. Because there is excess fluid in the sac. They are concerned with the excess fluid and will keep a close eye on it in the weeks to come.
Today they wanted to discuss delivery plans which was great because I've been curious to know what they are thinking. They confirmed what I thought which was - I will be scheduled for induction the week of April 9th. I was relieved because I really wanted to make it past Easter but as I told them that was my goal "to make it past Easter" they said they can't promise that and that they could induce as early as April 2nd. I was really surprised at this!! It all will come down to the excess fluid and his size so we are looking at him arriving the week before Easter or the week after.
My goal is to move to a low carb diet with 1700-1800 calories a day - which is what the Doctor suggested. I had no idea that carb intake actually effected the fluid in the sac so I'm going to try to reduce my carbs in hopes that it helps reduce the excess fluid so that I can make it to April 9th!
We have anther assessment coming next week but luckily the Doctors said that we could alternate between coming there and seeing Dr. Bombrys (In CENTERVILLE) - This was exciting! Which means that we will only have to commute to Cincy 2 times a month!!
Our next appt in Cincy is Feb 20th - Judah will have another fetal echo and we will also go for our regular growth assessment. At that time we will also take a tour of Labor & Deliver, the Nicu at University Hospital and the Nicu at Children's - For those who might be confused - University Hospital is connected to Children's so I will deliver at UH and Judah will be transferred to Children's.
Thank you for you continued prayers and support! We are STILL believing for God to come through and heal our boy! We keep knocking, seeking and asking!! We know that we can trust God because HE ALONE IS GOOD. We trust in Him no matter what and fully rely on His strength to walk out each day! He is faithful!
Love,
Jillian
Judah is again still growing like a weed. He is now in the 98th percentile! It's been no secret that it's hard for me to maintain a good weight even when I try my hardest. The Doctor thinks that I could potentially have gestational diabetes even though I passed the glucose testing. He said that 1 out of 3 women are missed and not diagnosed when in fact they actually have it. So either I do have it or I'm taking in WAY TO MANY carbs!! They know this because of several reasons: 1. I've gained a lot of weight so far 2. Judah is really big and babies with diabetic moms are larger 3. Because there is excess fluid in the sac. They are concerned with the excess fluid and will keep a close eye on it in the weeks to come.
Today they wanted to discuss delivery plans which was great because I've been curious to know what they are thinking. They confirmed what I thought which was - I will be scheduled for induction the week of April 9th. I was relieved because I really wanted to make it past Easter but as I told them that was my goal "to make it past Easter" they said they can't promise that and that they could induce as early as April 2nd. I was really surprised at this!! It all will come down to the excess fluid and his size so we are looking at him arriving the week before Easter or the week after.
My goal is to move to a low carb diet with 1700-1800 calories a day - which is what the Doctor suggested. I had no idea that carb intake actually effected the fluid in the sac so I'm going to try to reduce my carbs in hopes that it helps reduce the excess fluid so that I can make it to April 9th!
We have anther assessment coming next week but luckily the Doctors said that we could alternate between coming there and seeing Dr. Bombrys (In CENTERVILLE) - This was exciting! Which means that we will only have to commute to Cincy 2 times a month!!
Our next appt in Cincy is Feb 20th - Judah will have another fetal echo and we will also go for our regular growth assessment. At that time we will also take a tour of Labor & Deliver, the Nicu at University Hospital and the Nicu at Children's - For those who might be confused - University Hospital is connected to Children's so I will deliver at UH and Judah will be transferred to Children's.
Thank you for you continued prayers and support! We are STILL believing for God to come through and heal our boy! We keep knocking, seeking and asking!! We know that we can trust God because HE ALONE IS GOOD. We trust in Him no matter what and fully rely on His strength to walk out each day! He is faithful!
Love,
Jillian
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Update on Judah 1/25/12
Today we went for Judah's growth assessment ultra sound. Dr. Bombrys wasn't in today but that was ok because after all it was just for growth assessment. It was a good visit. Judah is now 3 lbs and approximately 15" long. He's in the 95 percentile for his age which is such a great thing. Some might say that I'm further along but I had my first ultra sound at 4 weeks so my due date is accurate.
The doctors at University Hospital have mentioned several times that there may be a chromosomal abnormality due to the fact that Judah was diagnosed with two abnormalities (Dandy Walker and Transposition of the Great Arteries). We rebuke this diagnosis in Jesus name and claim total healing! Usually babies with chromosomal abnormalities are very small in weight and height which Judah is NOT. This is great conformation for us that God is moving and working in my womb. I was asked again today about the amnio and I tried to explain to the ultra sound tech that I just didn't see the point. The Doctors already know the plan of action for Judah if God doesn't heal him before or at birth. They want to know if he has a "lethal syndrome" because if he did they would not take any extra precautions to save his life over mine. I tried to explain that my life is no more valuable than his! Just because I've breathed oxygen doesn't make my life more important. Life is life - in the womb or outside the womb.
A very special and anointed woman made Judah a blanket after having a vision of me reading the word over him. God gave her very specific colors (certain shades of blue, green and white) and miraculously provided the fabric. She made the blanket and anointed it, then brought it to us at church along with the descriptions of the meanings of the colors. So now every night I read to Judah I place that anointed blanket on my belly. It's been so crazy but as soon as I put the blanket on my belly he goes crazy. I take it off and he is still... I put it back on and he's dancing all around. I really believe it's the Holy Spirit filling my son and when you are filled with the spirit you just can't be still! :)
I came across this scripture in my daily reading to Judah. It stopped my in my tracks and is now the prayer I pray over him.
Luke 1:76-79 "and you, my little son, will be called a prophet of the Most High, because you will prepare the way for the Lord. You will tell his people how to find salvation through forgiveness of their sins. Because of God's tender mercy, the morning light from heaven is about to break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, and to guide us to the path of peace."
Thank you to everyone who has joined us in prayer and stand firmly with us on the promises of God! WE WILL NOT BACK DOWN! We don't know the purposes and plans of God because they are far above our thoughts, plans and ways but we can trust that they are for good and not for evil - Plans to give us a future and a hope. Judah has a great purpose and he will live it out I'm certain of that. I don't know what it looks like but I know that he is the Lord's! He belongs to the Almighty God and you can't get any better care than that!
I have one more Doctors visit in January and then several in February already on the books... I'll keep you posted as we hear more victorious reports!
Proud Mamma of all my precious babies - the ones here and the ones in Heaven,
Jillian
The doctors at University Hospital have mentioned several times that there may be a chromosomal abnormality due to the fact that Judah was diagnosed with two abnormalities (Dandy Walker and Transposition of the Great Arteries). We rebuke this diagnosis in Jesus name and claim total healing! Usually babies with chromosomal abnormalities are very small in weight and height which Judah is NOT. This is great conformation for us that God is moving and working in my womb. I was asked again today about the amnio and I tried to explain to the ultra sound tech that I just didn't see the point. The Doctors already know the plan of action for Judah if God doesn't heal him before or at birth. They want to know if he has a "lethal syndrome" because if he did they would not take any extra precautions to save his life over mine. I tried to explain that my life is no more valuable than his! Just because I've breathed oxygen doesn't make my life more important. Life is life - in the womb or outside the womb.
A very special and anointed woman made Judah a blanket after having a vision of me reading the word over him. God gave her very specific colors (certain shades of blue, green and white) and miraculously provided the fabric. She made the blanket and anointed it, then brought it to us at church along with the descriptions of the meanings of the colors. So now every night I read to Judah I place that anointed blanket on my belly. It's been so crazy but as soon as I put the blanket on my belly he goes crazy. I take it off and he is still... I put it back on and he's dancing all around. I really believe it's the Holy Spirit filling my son and when you are filled with the spirit you just can't be still! :)
I came across this scripture in my daily reading to Judah. It stopped my in my tracks and is now the prayer I pray over him.
Luke 1:76-79 "and you, my little son, will be called a prophet of the Most High, because you will prepare the way for the Lord. You will tell his people how to find salvation through forgiveness of their sins. Because of God's tender mercy, the morning light from heaven is about to break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, and to guide us to the path of peace."
Thank you to everyone who has joined us in prayer and stand firmly with us on the promises of God! WE WILL NOT BACK DOWN! We don't know the purposes and plans of God because they are far above our thoughts, plans and ways but we can trust that they are for good and not for evil - Plans to give us a future and a hope. Judah has a great purpose and he will live it out I'm certain of that. I don't know what it looks like but I know that he is the Lord's! He belongs to the Almighty God and you can't get any better care than that!
I have one more Doctors visit in January and then several in February already on the books... I'll keep you posted as we hear more victorious reports!
Proud Mamma of all my precious babies - the ones here and the ones in Heaven,
Jillian
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Update on Judah 1/11/12
Today we went back to Children's in Cincinnati for another fetal echo on Judah and we also met with the heart surgeon.
The Echo showed that Judah still has what is called Transposition of the Great Arteries and for those of you who might not have read my last blog that basically means that the Left ventricle that pumps the blue blood is flowing where the red blood (oxygenated blood) should be flowing and the Right Ventricle (Red Blood) is flowing where the Blue blood should be flowing. This means that once he's born none of his blood would be getting to the lungs to be oxygenated therefore he would need to undergo open heart surgery to switch the ventricles. Also the Aortic Valve is not exactly right but the surgeon felt that it's most likely a bicuspid valve which would not need any real attention because it's a common abnormality that doesn't hinder anything. However if it's severely abnormal they will have to switch the valves at the time of surgery. The wonderful news is there is no longer a hole in the bottom portion of his heart! PRAISE GOD! That would have added some major complications in the surgical plan. Also there is a hole (which is suppose to be there) in the top left portion of the heart and if that hole is not large enough they will go in using a ballon prior to the surgery to make the hole bigger so the blood flows better.
So here is the (If God doesn't heal him) plan from the surgeon...
Immediately after delivery he will have 2 small tubes put into his belly button. One which will constantly monitor his blood pressure and the second one will be giving him a medicine that will keep his heart from needing to oxygenate his own blood. Basically it's like keeping him in the womb - as long as he is in my belly his heart doesn't need to oxygenate his own blood because my body some how does it for him. At that time they will check his oxygen saturation if it's not at a good level they will need to do the ballon procedure that makes the hole bigger so that the blood flows successfully. If that happens we won't even get to hold him after he's born but as long as he is stable and everything looks good that won't be a problem. After he is born they will do an echo on him to see everything more clearly. After that test surgical plans will be made. He would be looking at having the heart surgery on day 2 or 3 of his life because they want him to recover from delivery... it's all about his stability. The surgery will take about 6-7 hours total and he would stay in ICU for several days and then be moved to the main floor. We would be looking at a 2 week recovery time in the hospital. The main concerns after he is moved to the main floor all pretty much revolve around feeding. Often times babies that undergo things like this are delayed in learning how to feed. I'm planning on nursing so if God doesn't heal him I'm gonna be a human cow lol. I'll be a pumping machine. There isn't much I can do for our little man but I can give him love, prayers and Breast Milk haha.
Today we didn't hear the doctors give Judah a clean bill of health but we are thankful for the victory we did receive with the hole being gone! You have no idea how big that is!! Also the heart Doctor said "I'm not a brain doctor but his brain doesn't look bad to me. There isn't excessive fluid (which is often there with babies that have Dandy Walker)" She wasn't saying his Dandy Walker is gone but it did give us comfort and hope that God is also working on his little brain! We are still believing for a complete healing and one thing I know is... My God is an ON TIME God. His purpose and plans are far beyond our limited understanding and I trust Him with all I am.
We go back in 6 weeks for another fetal echo and in less than 2 weeks we will be with Dr. Bombry's for a growth assessment and again we are praying for a clean bill of health!
HOW BIG IS BABY JUDAH?? Well, either I'm two weeks ahead of my due date or I have one BIG baby boy haha! He's in the 96th percentile for his age. The doctor was questioning my due date (like always). She said he is REALLY tall and he weighs 2lbs and 5oz - all his measurements would put him in the late 28th week of gestation.
Love my strong baby boy and I'm believing for his complete healing!
Proud Mamma of Judah James and London Brooks Robinson
The Echo showed that Judah still has what is called Transposition of the Great Arteries and for those of you who might not have read my last blog that basically means that the Left ventricle that pumps the blue blood is flowing where the red blood (oxygenated blood) should be flowing and the Right Ventricle (Red Blood) is flowing where the Blue blood should be flowing. This means that once he's born none of his blood would be getting to the lungs to be oxygenated therefore he would need to undergo open heart surgery to switch the ventricles. Also the Aortic Valve is not exactly right but the surgeon felt that it's most likely a bicuspid valve which would not need any real attention because it's a common abnormality that doesn't hinder anything. However if it's severely abnormal they will have to switch the valves at the time of surgery. The wonderful news is there is no longer a hole in the bottom portion of his heart! PRAISE GOD! That would have added some major complications in the surgical plan. Also there is a hole (which is suppose to be there) in the top left portion of the heart and if that hole is not large enough they will go in using a ballon prior to the surgery to make the hole bigger so the blood flows better.
So here is the (If God doesn't heal him) plan from the surgeon...
Immediately after delivery he will have 2 small tubes put into his belly button. One which will constantly monitor his blood pressure and the second one will be giving him a medicine that will keep his heart from needing to oxygenate his own blood. Basically it's like keeping him in the womb - as long as he is in my belly his heart doesn't need to oxygenate his own blood because my body some how does it for him. At that time they will check his oxygen saturation if it's not at a good level they will need to do the ballon procedure that makes the hole bigger so that the blood flows successfully. If that happens we won't even get to hold him after he's born but as long as he is stable and everything looks good that won't be a problem. After he is born they will do an echo on him to see everything more clearly. After that test surgical plans will be made. He would be looking at having the heart surgery on day 2 or 3 of his life because they want him to recover from delivery... it's all about his stability. The surgery will take about 6-7 hours total and he would stay in ICU for several days and then be moved to the main floor. We would be looking at a 2 week recovery time in the hospital. The main concerns after he is moved to the main floor all pretty much revolve around feeding. Often times babies that undergo things like this are delayed in learning how to feed. I'm planning on nursing so if God doesn't heal him I'm gonna be a human cow lol. I'll be a pumping machine. There isn't much I can do for our little man but I can give him love, prayers and Breast Milk haha.
Today we didn't hear the doctors give Judah a clean bill of health but we are thankful for the victory we did receive with the hole being gone! You have no idea how big that is!! Also the heart Doctor said "I'm not a brain doctor but his brain doesn't look bad to me. There isn't excessive fluid (which is often there with babies that have Dandy Walker)" She wasn't saying his Dandy Walker is gone but it did give us comfort and hope that God is also working on his little brain! We are still believing for a complete healing and one thing I know is... My God is an ON TIME God. His purpose and plans are far beyond our limited understanding and I trust Him with all I am.
We go back in 6 weeks for another fetal echo and in less than 2 weeks we will be with Dr. Bombry's for a growth assessment and again we are praying for a clean bill of health!
HOW BIG IS BABY JUDAH?? Well, either I'm two weeks ahead of my due date or I have one BIG baby boy haha! He's in the 96th percentile for his age. The doctor was questioning my due date (like always). She said he is REALLY tall and he weighs 2lbs and 5oz - all his measurements would put him in the late 28th week of gestation.
Love my strong baby boy and I'm believing for his complete healing!
Proud Mamma of Judah James and London Brooks Robinson
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Humanity & Spirituality
It's a strange feeling going through something that you never in a million years thought you would go through. My spirit is strong in God because I try my very hardest to reside in Him! However, every once and I while I'll be reading someones facebook status or post and sadness just washes over me. Reading about people decorating their baby's rooms or packing their baby's bag for the hospital... All very exciting but I find myself longing for that normalcy. Instead of thinking about room colors and clothes I have to think about where I'll deliver, will I get an amnio, what will the days after delivery look like... and the list goes on. I know that God has different paths for each of us to walk but He never said it would be an easy journey. I know I'll have many moments where a wave of sadness will come over me and other moments where I feel the strength of the Lord which is UNBREAKABLE. It makes me think of what Jesus said in Mark 14:38 "Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak."
It starts with "Keep watch and pray" and some versions say "Stay alert and pray"...Because it's in Him that we will find the strength we need to endure whatever lies ahead. When we have spent time with the Almighty it strengthens our spirit and gives us courage to face our greatest temptation - Doubt. Doubt is the root of mostly every issue in my opinion. We doubt the power of God to deliver, to heal, to set us free and from that doubt we fall into temptation which leads to sin. When we have faith we know we can face whatever comes our way because we know that we rely on GOD alone! The sustainer and the perfecter of our faith! Our spirit is not what doubts for it is "willing" but when we spend time filling our FLESH more than we fill our spirit then we will experience more weakness then strength. Wonder why you can't seem to shake that "issue" that "struggle" - Start filling your life with GOOD things! Stay alert, be in prayer and fill yourself with the word of God! It's bread and life to all who engage it! Does that mean everything is going to be perfect. Ummm heck no! But it does mean that you will have the strength needed to endure where life may lead you because it will not be your strength - for our human strength is not even strong but the strength you will be filled with is the supernatural, powerful and faithful strength of the I AM! The ALL Sufficient God! When Doubt comes knocking - and it will - we have to KNOW the word of God to speak to that doubt!
My desire for normalcy is my human nature desiring all things "perfect" but as long as I live in this world it never will be perfect. God has given us a massive range of human emotions and as a pregnant woman I feel I have little control over them - I guess I should just say as a woman in general I have little control over them lol!! The point is my human heart may cry and sob over the things I may face but my spirit is glad to count it all joy and my SPIRIT is stronger than my humanity!
In closing Isaiah 53:10-11 "But it was the Lord’s good plan to crush him and cause him grief. Yet when his life is made an offering for sin, he will have many descendants. He will enjoy a long life, and the Lord’s good plan will prosper in his hands. When he sees all that is accomplished by his anguish, he will be satisfied. And because of his experience, my righteous servant will make it possible for many to be counted righteous, for he will bear all their sins."
Not comparing my trial the the death and sacrifice of my precious savior but I find comfort in this passage. "It was the Lords good plan to crush him and cause him grief" so that we might have life abundantly! "And the Lord's good plan will prosper in his hands" - I want The Lord to be able to say this about my life! That HIS good plan prospered in our hands!! The part that gets me EVERY time..."When he sees all that is accomplished by his anguish, he will be satisfied" In every trial our anguish can and will accomplish good things and when we are able to look back and see ALL that God did with the anguish we endured we will be GLAD and REJOICE that we went through it! We will praise God for the opportunity and gift that it brought to the KINGDOM OF GOD!
Let us not be discouraged by our present suffering but be encouraged that God will use it for HIS glorious purposes!
Be blessed in all you do and may God's grace keep you!
Proud daughter of the MOST HIGH GOD!
Jillian
It starts with "Keep watch and pray" and some versions say "Stay alert and pray"...Because it's in Him that we will find the strength we need to endure whatever lies ahead. When we have spent time with the Almighty it strengthens our spirit and gives us courage to face our greatest temptation - Doubt. Doubt is the root of mostly every issue in my opinion. We doubt the power of God to deliver, to heal, to set us free and from that doubt we fall into temptation which leads to sin. When we have faith we know we can face whatever comes our way because we know that we rely on GOD alone! The sustainer and the perfecter of our faith! Our spirit is not what doubts for it is "willing" but when we spend time filling our FLESH more than we fill our spirit then we will experience more weakness then strength. Wonder why you can't seem to shake that "issue" that "struggle" - Start filling your life with GOOD things! Stay alert, be in prayer and fill yourself with the word of God! It's bread and life to all who engage it! Does that mean everything is going to be perfect. Ummm heck no! But it does mean that you will have the strength needed to endure where life may lead you because it will not be your strength - for our human strength is not even strong but the strength you will be filled with is the supernatural, powerful and faithful strength of the I AM! The ALL Sufficient God! When Doubt comes knocking - and it will - we have to KNOW the word of God to speak to that doubt!
My desire for normalcy is my human nature desiring all things "perfect" but as long as I live in this world it never will be perfect. God has given us a massive range of human emotions and as a pregnant woman I feel I have little control over them - I guess I should just say as a woman in general I have little control over them lol!! The point is my human heart may cry and sob over the things I may face but my spirit is glad to count it all joy and my SPIRIT is stronger than my humanity!
In closing Isaiah 53:10-11 "But it was the Lord’s good plan to crush him and cause him grief. Yet when his life is made an offering for sin, he will have many descendants. He will enjoy a long life, and the Lord’s good plan will prosper in his hands. When he sees all that is accomplished by his anguish, he will be satisfied. And because of his experience, my righteous servant will make it possible for many to be counted righteous, for he will bear all their sins."
Not comparing my trial the the death and sacrifice of my precious savior but I find comfort in this passage. "It was the Lords good plan to crush him and cause him grief" so that we might have life abundantly! "And the Lord's good plan will prosper in his hands" - I want The Lord to be able to say this about my life! That HIS good plan prospered in our hands!! The part that gets me EVERY time..."When he sees all that is accomplished by his anguish, he will be satisfied" In every trial our anguish can and will accomplish good things and when we are able to look back and see ALL that God did with the anguish we endured we will be GLAD and REJOICE that we went through it! We will praise God for the opportunity and gift that it brought to the KINGDOM OF GOD!
Let us not be discouraged by our present suffering but be encouraged that God will use it for HIS glorious purposes!
Be blessed in all you do and may God's grace keep you!
Proud daughter of the MOST HIGH GOD!
Jillian
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Update on Judah 11.29.11
I can't even really explain how long today was for us. Started out with an MRI (1 hour test), Ultra Sound (hour and half test), Echo on Judah via Ultra Sound (what seemed to be nearly two hours but I lost track of time), then Cardiology came in to tell us their findings....
I want to clarify that I fully believe that God is going to heal our little boy! God allows us to walk down difficult paths for reasons and purposes far beyond our limited understanding. The following information is what we were told by the doctors today. They were great men and women and have extensive knowledge in their fields but at the end of the day they are mere human beings and my God reigns on the throne! No disorder, disease or syndrome stands above Him. I will tell you what they told us and if God were to choose not to heal our Judah then the following is what we are looking at.
I'll start with what they found in Cardiology: Judah has what is called Transposition of the Great Arteries. That basically means that the Left ventricle that pumps the blue blood is flowing where the red blood (oxygenated blood) should be flowing and the Right (Red Blood) is flowing where the Blue blood should be flowing. This means that Judah would undergo open heart surgery after delivery to flip the ventricles back to where they should be. Also the Aortic Valve is not the right size so the blood is flowing to quick through the ventricle - Kinda like if you were to place your thumb over half of a water hose... The water pumps out quicker and with more force. They also think they might have seen a small hole in his heart between the right and left ventricles. The heart issue is now the first priority and would be the first thing that Judah would undergo.
Now for Dandy-Walker (The Brain): The Cerebellum has not separated the way it should be so they would need to do some sort of brain surgery. They use to do more shunts but now they are more often drilling holes in the brain (Not sure where exactly) so that the fluid drains properly. Also the front portions of his brain might be enlarged. They want the brain to me under 10ml (I think thats what it's called) and Judah's is under that amount which is good but they still think it could be enlarged slightly which could lend its self to a more severe Dandy Walker scenario then originally expected. There is no way of really knowing for sure until delivery but they will do as many tests as possible so that at the time of delivery everything runs smooth for his own safety. According to the Doctors complications of this magnitude could result in a still birth.
I will be delivering in Cincinnati and will be traveling back and forth for more tests and monitoring Judah's growth. They think it's best for me to deliver there since (IF God doesn't heal Judah) He will need Open Heart Surgery immediately after delivery.
We fully believe God will come through and heal Judah! We don't believe the reports of the Doctors but we hold tight to the promises of God! This is the Fiery Furnace Faith! The Faith that Says OUR GOD IS ABLE TO DELIVER US BUT EVEN IF HE DOESN'T WE WILL NOT BOW! We will not bow to fear, sickness or worry! Our God is our strength and it's in HIM that we trust! God has a plan for all us! Even my Judah! His plans are for GOOD! We don't always understand how bad things can ever be good but it's because we can't see through HIS eyes. We think about ourselves and we begin to pity ourselves and really life isn't about us! It's about making HIM known! My son is making HIM known! Even in the womb he has purpose! Through Judah's tiny little life many people are coming together in much prayer and fasting! God is using this tiny little man to make me a better person! To make me love more fiercely, to hope more steadfastly, to make me a better christian, a better daughter, a better mother and better wife! Someone said to me today "Judah is lucky to have you as his momma" but the truth is I'm the one who is lucky! He is learning nothing from me but I am learning everything from him! I got to share with a host of doctors today that I serve a God who is able to heal our baby! Whether they believe that or not I do not care. I believe! I think about how amazing it will be to hear them say "His heart is normal! How did this happen?!" or "His cerebellum is completely normal. We can't explain this." and I will have yet another opportunity to share JESUS with them! To see lives saved, people transformed and people empowered because they saw God answer their prayers for Judah!
We want to thank every single one of you who have prayed and who are praying for Judah! Thank you for your prayers and thank you for agreeing with us for his healing! Be careful what you speak out of your mouth because it carries weight and power! When you pray for our boy speak life over him.
An old friend from Australia emailed me last week and she mentioned speaking the word of God over ever season of my pregnancy and that got me thinking. I am going to get a bible with Judah James Robinson engraved on it and I am going to read from it to him every day!
I was reading in Ezekiel last night about the valley of dry bones...
Ezekiel 37:2-10 2He led me all around among the bones that covered the valley floor. They were scattered everywhere across the ground and were completely dried out. 3Then he asked me, “Son of man, can these bones become living people again?”
“O Sovereign Lord,” I replied, “you alone know the answer to that.”
4 Then he said to me, “Speak a prophetic message to these bones and say, ‘Dry bones, listen to the word of the Lord! 5 This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Look! I am going to put breath into you and make you live again! 6 I will put flesh and muscles on you and cover you with skin. I will put breath into you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the Lord.’”
7 So I spoke this message, just as he told me. Suddenly as I spoke, there was a rattling noise all across the valley. The bones of each body came together and attached themselves as complete skeletons. 8 Then as I watched, muscles and flesh formed over the bones. Then skin formed to cover their bodies, but they still had no breath in them.
9 Then he said to me, “Speak a prophetic message to the winds, son of man. Speak a prophetic message and say, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Come, O breath, from the four winds! Breathe into these dead bodies so they may live again.’”
10 So I spoke the message as he commanded me, and breath came into their bodies. They all came to life and stood up on their feet—a great army.
SOOOOOO I'm speaking a prophetic word over my baby! Words of hope! Words of power! I hope you will join me!
Love and Blessings,
Jillian - Proud Mamma of Judah James Robinson
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Update on Judah
I was just writing an email to a dear friend and I thought I would just post it so that it is easier for you as well as for us. With so many inquiries it's difficult to keep up.
According to the ultra sounds his cerebellum hasn't separated like it should which can be lots of different diagnosis. Friday they saw that his hands, feet, face and all other organs look good and bone length and weight are right on. That's a great thing because it narrows down the diagnosis and severity. We will go to Cincinnati where they will look at every finger, toe and organ. They look at every part of his body... Then we will meet with a team made up of cardiologists, neurologists, genetic specialists and so on and they will give us all the information we need.
We are believing for a miracle and trust in Gods mighty power. We also trust God no matter the outcome. With the knowledge they currently have they think He has Dandy Walker. We hear what they say and respect them and are thankful for all their kindness and tenderness toward us but we believe he is healed. We do appreciate all the prayers and are so moved by the response of people toward us and Judah.
It's crazy how something like this can actually bring out so much good in you. It's like it's making us into better people and better believers. So far I can only see good things being produced from this situation and since we fully believe God is going to heal Judah I can only see good coming in the future. But even if God didn't do what we are so believing He will do, we still trust Him. We still know that He alone is good and that He reigns above all things. May He receive all the glory from this situation and from our son's life in general. After all I am thankful for Judah... beyond words thankful! Also thankful for London which after all has been said and done is a TRUE miracle! Storms come and go but even in the rain the SUN (SON) still shines. Thousands have been praying for our little guy and men and women all over the world have fasted for him... blows my mind! Our prayer is that God would move in all their lives and that His truth, power and love would change hearts, minds and souls! He is Good and He is my God!
According to the ultra sounds his cerebellum hasn't separated like it should which can be lots of different diagnosis. Friday they saw that his hands, feet, face and all other organs look good and bone length and weight are right on. That's a great thing because it narrows down the diagnosis and severity. We will go to Cincinnati where they will look at every finger, toe and organ. They look at every part of his body... Then we will meet with a team made up of cardiologists, neurologists, genetic specialists and so on and they will give us all the information we need.
We are believing for a miracle and trust in Gods mighty power. We also trust God no matter the outcome. With the knowledge they currently have they think He has Dandy Walker. We hear what they say and respect them and are thankful for all their kindness and tenderness toward us but we believe he is healed. We do appreciate all the prayers and are so moved by the response of people toward us and Judah.
It's crazy how something like this can actually bring out so much good in you. It's like it's making us into better people and better believers. So far I can only see good things being produced from this situation and since we fully believe God is going to heal Judah I can only see good coming in the future. But even if God didn't do what we are so believing He will do, we still trust Him. We still know that He alone is good and that He reigns above all things. May He receive all the glory from this situation and from our son's life in general. After all I am thankful for Judah... beyond words thankful! Also thankful for London which after all has been said and done is a TRUE miracle! Storms come and go but even in the rain the SUN (SON) still shines. Thousands have been praying for our little guy and men and women all over the world have fasted for him... blows my mind! Our prayer is that God would move in all their lives and that His truth, power and love would change hearts, minds and souls! He is Good and He is my God!
Monday, October 10, 2011
Been a while...
I haven't really posted anything since Mothers Day. The past couple months have been somewhat crazy. We had our second miscarriage at the end of April and the beginning of May I was recovering from a procedure.
Mothers Day was rather difficult this year but God blessed me so abundantly! There was an outpouring of gifts, gift cards and cards which were so encouraging and special! It's so beautiful how people can be apart of your healing. God used my friends and family to show me that I mattered and that I was not forgotten.
The beginning of May Josh and I also started building a Melaleuca Business which has blessed us in such a short time that it blows me away.
Unexpectedly, we got pregnant in July. I was rather surprised to be honest! We had been traveling a lot and I just didn't expect it to come at that time. Never the less we were excited. Having had 2 miscarriages it's a hard line to walk. You want to be so excited but you want to guard your heart and emotions from the grief of another loss.
Our first miscarriage was so hard. I didn't understand why we were going through it. I remember asking God why He would allow this to happen to us. God gave me a song and peace in that time. Our second miscarriage seemed even more unexpected to me. We were going in for my first appt. and ultra sound... no baby she said. In that moment I honestly just TRUSTED. There was no other response. God put a song in my heart "Though the world sees and soon forgets. We will not forget who You are and what You've done for us". In times of grief we often forget all that God has done for us and who He IS. I thought about my parents and all the hardships they went through... mostly caused by my father but never the less they were hardships. God changed my dad but people didn't want to forgive his past and didn't want to accept him into their churches. And it was all of that history and all that rejection that made my parents realize the need for a new kind of ministry. Ahop - A ditch ministry. A place where all could come just the way they are. Where loving people and worshipping God was the forte. Countless souls have been saved. So many people who received Jesus and are now in Heaven because God was faithful and my parents responded to the call. Greg Delaney who was at deaths door because of alcohol and now is not only serving out his call but leading addicts of every kinds to Jesus. After our second miscarriage I knew God would use us to bring hope and life to those struggling from the same tragedies. I knew I didn't have to understand the reason for the journey to gladly accept it. In life it seems we only want to accept the good things that happen to us but the true measure of who we are is found in what we do when the bad comes. How we will respond when things aren't all cake and ice cream.
Now we are a week and half away from our second trimester. So thankful for the blessing of another baby and praying over the pregnancy and also over this baby's life. One of the most beautiful things about being pregnant comes out of Psalms 139
13 You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body
and knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!
Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.
15 You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion,
as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.
16 You saw me before I was born.
Every day of my life was recorded in your book.
Every moment was laid out
before a single day had passed.
To think that every day, every moment God is actively working in my body. Always present, always constant knitting together and forming this little life that will be a servant of the most high God. Even when I'm sick and not feeling well God is still with me. What a comfort. I know God is with me all the time even when I'm not pregnant but I think it's so beautiful that he is working in me.
I'm eagerly awaiting the arrival of this little one BUT perfectly fine with the wait :)
God is doing so much in me and working on making me into who He wants me to be. I couldn't be more blessed!
Thank you all for you love, kindness and support! It truly means so much!
Mothers Day was rather difficult this year but God blessed me so abundantly! There was an outpouring of gifts, gift cards and cards which were so encouraging and special! It's so beautiful how people can be apart of your healing. God used my friends and family to show me that I mattered and that I was not forgotten.
The beginning of May Josh and I also started building a Melaleuca Business which has blessed us in such a short time that it blows me away.
Unexpectedly, we got pregnant in July. I was rather surprised to be honest! We had been traveling a lot and I just didn't expect it to come at that time. Never the less we were excited. Having had 2 miscarriages it's a hard line to walk. You want to be so excited but you want to guard your heart and emotions from the grief of another loss.
Our first miscarriage was so hard. I didn't understand why we were going through it. I remember asking God why He would allow this to happen to us. God gave me a song and peace in that time. Our second miscarriage seemed even more unexpected to me. We were going in for my first appt. and ultra sound... no baby she said. In that moment I honestly just TRUSTED. There was no other response. God put a song in my heart "Though the world sees and soon forgets. We will not forget who You are and what You've done for us". In times of grief we often forget all that God has done for us and who He IS. I thought about my parents and all the hardships they went through... mostly caused by my father but never the less they were hardships. God changed my dad but people didn't want to forgive his past and didn't want to accept him into their churches. And it was all of that history and all that rejection that made my parents realize the need for a new kind of ministry. Ahop - A ditch ministry. A place where all could come just the way they are. Where loving people and worshipping God was the forte. Countless souls have been saved. So many people who received Jesus and are now in Heaven because God was faithful and my parents responded to the call. Greg Delaney who was at deaths door because of alcohol and now is not only serving out his call but leading addicts of every kinds to Jesus. After our second miscarriage I knew God would use us to bring hope and life to those struggling from the same tragedies. I knew I didn't have to understand the reason for the journey to gladly accept it. In life it seems we only want to accept the good things that happen to us but the true measure of who we are is found in what we do when the bad comes. How we will respond when things aren't all cake and ice cream.
Now we are a week and half away from our second trimester. So thankful for the blessing of another baby and praying over the pregnancy and also over this baby's life. One of the most beautiful things about being pregnant comes out of Psalms 139
Psalm 139:13-16
13 You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body
and knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!
Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.
15 You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion,
as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.
16 You saw me before I was born.
Every day of my life was recorded in your book.
Every moment was laid out
before a single day had passed.
To think that every day, every moment God is actively working in my body. Always present, always constant knitting together and forming this little life that will be a servant of the most high God. Even when I'm sick and not feeling well God is still with me. What a comfort. I know God is with me all the time even when I'm not pregnant but I think it's so beautiful that he is working in me.
I'm eagerly awaiting the arrival of this little one BUT perfectly fine with the wait :)
God is doing so much in me and working on making me into who He wants me to be. I couldn't be more blessed!
Thank you all for you love, kindness and support! It truly means so much!
Saturday, May 7, 2011
My Momma!
My mom wears many titles but I like the one I call her by the most. I want to take a moment to tell a story of love, forgiveness and redemption!
My parents got married somewhat young and I'm sure they both thought it would be "happily ever after" as they were declaring their I do's but that just wasn't the case. Several months after getting married they found themselves pregnant with their first child. It wasn't long after that my dad became unfaithful... with more than one woman. Then they had their second. I can only imagine how hard it must have been for my mother to be in love with a man who wasn't in love with her in return. Then I came along... possibly the worst timing ever. I'm sure there were moments she or both of them wished they hadn't had me. Not because I was a bad child but because it added one more complication to the marriage.
My dad resigned from his job as a pastor which he should have done!!! He decided from that moment on he would never be in ministry again because he didn't want to disappoint people again. I'm sure people treated as a disappointment because he didn't have a good track record for making good decisions.
As time when on my dad became an alcoholic and was still unfaithful to my mother. After receiving a call from my dads girlfriend telling her that she was marrying my dad and their was nothing my mom could do about it she decided she had had enough. She waited, prayed and hoped for years that my dad would do right but she saw no end in sight. They filed for divorce. I will never forget the day she told him... I had never heard my parents argue (which is crazy considering the hardships of their relationship).
So we moved to Kentucky and my mom broken as she was showed us kids that God's strength really is perfect in our weakness. My dad called her and told her he was marrying someone else... she hung up the phone and the enemy filled her mind with thoughts of "who will ever want me, what church would ever want me, I'll never be able to minister again...". Then God gave her this scripture Psalm 4:4 4Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still.
She decided she would not let my dad even see her face. A few short months later my dad was married and that lasted about two weeks. He called my mom and said to her "anna, I know I've made mistakes and I understand if you don't want me but if you'll have me I would like to put our family back together again". As she stood their looking out the back door window God brought Psalm 4:4 back to her memory STAND IN AWE and sin not. My mom had done all she could to help my dad be the man he should be. To help him be a good dad, to help him be a good husband but God didn't need her help. He wanted her to be STILL and know that HE was God.
So we moved back to Ohio and my parents got remarried and I wish I could say that was the end of hardship for my mother but it wasn't. My dad became a severe alcoholic and for those of you who have been around people like that it's not fun. Years pass by and I'm sure my mom wondered why she came back but GOD knew what HE was doing.
One night as my dad was sleeping God gave Him a dream. In his dream he was walking through the house and he could see that the holy spirit was upon him. God brought him to a room full of people to a plate of cookies (yes cookies) and he picked one up and broke it in half. Then he handed half to a person and when he looked back at the cookie it was whole again. So he fed the people. Then he woke up and that moment was the moment my dad was transformed! He prayed all night while listening to worship music. He never looked back!
Many many years roll by and my dad was still going strong in christ but people still rejected him because of his past. People couldn't forgive his mistakes or his past behaviors. So my parents were sitting around talking about church and my mom says "why don't we start a church". That was the beginning of a ministry that would not only change peoples lives but be used to save peoples lives literally and figuratively.
I share all this because my mom lived a life of forgiveness, grace and kindness and my father left his past behind him many lives have been affected. No one chooses to go through hardship, sadness and trails but GOD always creates purpose out of it. Not only is my momma an inspiration to all woman (especially those who can relate to her story) but she is apart of great union that God has uses mightily! My parents are amazing people! My father though his past transgressions were many God has used Him to bring hope to those who haven't been "perfect". People who have pasts or maybe even present day issues... THERE IS HOPE! My dad no longer has to think about people at church rejecting him because of his past because we have a church where everyone is accepted the way they are. That doesn't mean you excuse sin or approve of it but it means that you LOVE people ... really LOVE them for who they are!
It's mothers day and I love my mother more than words could even express but I also love that she stood by my dad through sickness and health, richer or poorer till death does them part. You don't see those kind of women often. I know that it was a hardship for our family but we would endure it all over again because we know what GOD has brought from it.
A big happy mothers day to my momma Anna Marie Brooks! I love you!!! To her second half, my dad, I can't wait till fathers day ;) I love you too!!!!
My parents got married somewhat young and I'm sure they both thought it would be "happily ever after" as they were declaring their I do's but that just wasn't the case. Several months after getting married they found themselves pregnant with their first child. It wasn't long after that my dad became unfaithful... with more than one woman. Then they had their second. I can only imagine how hard it must have been for my mother to be in love with a man who wasn't in love with her in return. Then I came along... possibly the worst timing ever. I'm sure there were moments she or both of them wished they hadn't had me. Not because I was a bad child but because it added one more complication to the marriage.
My dad resigned from his job as a pastor which he should have done!!! He decided from that moment on he would never be in ministry again because he didn't want to disappoint people again. I'm sure people treated as a disappointment because he didn't have a good track record for making good decisions.
As time when on my dad became an alcoholic and was still unfaithful to my mother. After receiving a call from my dads girlfriend telling her that she was marrying my dad and their was nothing my mom could do about it she decided she had had enough. She waited, prayed and hoped for years that my dad would do right but she saw no end in sight. They filed for divorce. I will never forget the day she told him... I had never heard my parents argue (which is crazy considering the hardships of their relationship).
So we moved to Kentucky and my mom broken as she was showed us kids that God's strength really is perfect in our weakness. My dad called her and told her he was marrying someone else... she hung up the phone and the enemy filled her mind with thoughts of "who will ever want me, what church would ever want me, I'll never be able to minister again...". Then God gave her this scripture Psalm 4:4 4Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still.
She decided she would not let my dad even see her face. A few short months later my dad was married and that lasted about two weeks. He called my mom and said to her "anna, I know I've made mistakes and I understand if you don't want me but if you'll have me I would like to put our family back together again". As she stood their looking out the back door window God brought Psalm 4:4 back to her memory STAND IN AWE and sin not. My mom had done all she could to help my dad be the man he should be. To help him be a good dad, to help him be a good husband but God didn't need her help. He wanted her to be STILL and know that HE was God.
So we moved back to Ohio and my parents got remarried and I wish I could say that was the end of hardship for my mother but it wasn't. My dad became a severe alcoholic and for those of you who have been around people like that it's not fun. Years pass by and I'm sure my mom wondered why she came back but GOD knew what HE was doing.
One night as my dad was sleeping God gave Him a dream. In his dream he was walking through the house and he could see that the holy spirit was upon him. God brought him to a room full of people to a plate of cookies (yes cookies) and he picked one up and broke it in half. Then he handed half to a person and when he looked back at the cookie it was whole again. So he fed the people. Then he woke up and that moment was the moment my dad was transformed! He prayed all night while listening to worship music. He never looked back!
Many many years roll by and my dad was still going strong in christ but people still rejected him because of his past. People couldn't forgive his mistakes or his past behaviors. So my parents were sitting around talking about church and my mom says "why don't we start a church". That was the beginning of a ministry that would not only change peoples lives but be used to save peoples lives literally and figuratively.
I share all this because my mom lived a life of forgiveness, grace and kindness and my father left his past behind him many lives have been affected. No one chooses to go through hardship, sadness and trails but GOD always creates purpose out of it. Not only is my momma an inspiration to all woman (especially those who can relate to her story) but she is apart of great union that God has uses mightily! My parents are amazing people! My father though his past transgressions were many God has used Him to bring hope to those who haven't been "perfect". People who have pasts or maybe even present day issues... THERE IS HOPE! My dad no longer has to think about people at church rejecting him because of his past because we have a church where everyone is accepted the way they are. That doesn't mean you excuse sin or approve of it but it means that you LOVE people ... really LOVE them for who they are!
It's mothers day and I love my mother more than words could even express but I also love that she stood by my dad through sickness and health, richer or poorer till death does them part. You don't see those kind of women often. I know that it was a hardship for our family but we would endure it all over again because we know what GOD has brought from it.
A big happy mothers day to my momma Anna Marie Brooks! I love you!!! To her second half, my dad, I can't wait till fathers day ;) I love you too!!!!
Friday, May 6, 2011
Cutting through the garbage
Well. Let me first start my saying this blog is actually about Melaleuca! If you don't want to read what I have to say then STOP right now and leave this blog!........
Why hello there! Thanks for sticking around and reading this! I want to start by saying that I am an extreme person! I'm either all or nothing! Pretty sure I've always been that way but as I get older I see it even more. About 4 months ago I became a member of Melaleuca. I was actually pressured into it by my parents and was kinda mad about it to be honest. They had seen some really amazing results after taking the vitamins and felt like it would make us all lead healthier more vibrant lives. With Melaleuca there are no contracts and you can cancel anytime... plus get a refund which was EXACTLY what I had planned on doing!
Josh and I thought we would try it for ONE month and then get out and with the satisfaction guaranteed we knew we could get our money back on anything that we didn't like!
So our first shipment came in. We had gotten then kids body wash and kids shampoo along with some other things. London has had little bumps all over her skin since birth and nothing ever worked on removing them so we just thought thats the way her skin was. Within TWO days my kids bumps were gone! I was almost to prideful to make the phone call to my dad to tell him this amazing story! lol! All the products we ordered that month blew us away. The next month we focused on cleaning supplies and I couldn't believe how well the worked and how long they can last! Melaleuca is the #1 company in the world for concentrating! I loved that they were safe for my home and that my kid could drink a bottle of it and it wouldn't hurt her! I also loved that everything came super concentrated so I spent less money and it's better for the environment (which if I'm being honest isn't my biggest concern :/). I came home one day and london got spaghetti sauce ALL over her brand new tank top (lime green and white tank). I thought for sure it was ruined because I am THE worst stain remover ever!! I sprayed sol-u-mel on it which is a stain remover and it literally FELL OFF the tank! I could NOT believe it!
Every thing we have bought has been like this!
The thing is Melaleuca is not asking you to spend new money. They are saying shop at Melaleuca instead of Walmart or Kroger or if your in the south The Piggly Wiggly! Since I have joined I have researched this company! They truly care about peoples lives! Encouraging them to not use credit card, to pay off all your debt, to spend less and make more (which is easy to do with Melaleuca). I'm not trying to get you to join by this blog. I just want to clear up some myths! This IS NOT a multi-level marketing company! This is a consumer direct marketing company. Here is what that means:
Direct Selling, Party Plan and MLM vs. Consumer Direct Marketing
Direct Selling, Party Plan and Multi-Level Marketing are probably the
three most common "business opportunities" in motion today. If you are
selling products, doing home parties or stocking inventory, you are
probably in one of these three categories.
Maybe you know what category you are in and maybe you enjoy what you
do. However, do you know the difference between these three categories
and Consumer Direct Marketing?
If one of the following points do not apply to you, consider the ones
that do and why they make sense.
1. Many companies in these first three categories require you to stock
inventory and sell products.
With Consumer Direct Marketing, you do NOT have to stock inventory or
sell products because customers shop directly from the manufacturer
through a catalog and toll-free number, or a secure website online.
The company delivers the products through a local carrier, e.g. UPS,
directly to the customer's door, so you never have to take any orders
or make any deliveries. Have you ever recommended a good book or
restaurant to a friend or family member? What if you could get PAID
for recommending a great store? Since every customer has an ID number
and personal Marketing Executive, you get credit for all of your
Primary and Secondary referrals in an "expanding organization". This
means that you have the potential of getting paid for customers you
may never meet as a result of your Primary referrals.
2. Many companies in these first three categories pay you in a
descending commission structure. For example, you might get paid 7% on
your first level, but then 6% on your 2nd, 5% on your 3rd, 4% on your
4th, 3% on your 5th, 1% on your 6th and maybe half or a quarter of 1%
on your 7th. Where do you think most of your customers are in ANY
matrix? They're on your 5th, 6th and 7th level! This means that you
need a lot of customers for a small check.
With Consumer Direct Marketing, you are paid a consistent percentage
for ALL generations. So, you don't need as many customers to earn
significant income.
3. Many companies in these first three categories do NOT have
reasonable pricing on their products. You may be able to buy
wholesale, but then you have to turn around and sell the products at a
higher, retail price, which can be more expensive than store brands.
With Consumer Direct Marketing, customers have a personal wholesale
account and order directly from the company. Since the company pays
YOU for your word-of-mouth referrals instead of advertising agencies,
the pricing is reasonable and more research and development is
directed to the products.
4. Many companies in these first three categories have a large sign-up
fee or start-up cost. Even if YOU could afford to get started, those
you contact may not.
With Consumer Direct Marketing, everyone is simply a customer and
opens a REFUNDABLE $29 membership, which provides the right to buy at
wholesale prices along with many other membership benefits. That's
cheaper than Costco and you don't even have to buy in bulk. You simply
order what you want and need. Plus, your membership and every product
is 100% REFUNDABLE, so you and those you know can give it a test-drive
without any financial risk.
5. Many companies in these first three categories require you to buy
and sell products that you or your customers sometimes may not need or
want. If your customers stop ordering, you stop getting paid.
With Consumer Direct Marketing, you are purchasing NECESSITY items
that are better performing, safer (non-toxic) and less expensive than
most store brands. People are simply switching stores and using
products that they are already committed to purchasing somewhere
anyway. This means a practically recession-proof business because your
customers will need to re-order these CONSUMABLE necessity items each
and every month. This is true residual income!
With Melaleuca you don't have "Parties" at peoples houses. You don't purchase inventory! You refer customers and then Melaleuca does the rest! They order straight from Melaleuca! People don't clean with purses, they don't need jewelry but everyone brushes their teeth, washes their clothes, and cleans their houses (hopefully). SWITCH STORES thats it!
Here is a question for you? If you watched a GREAT movie or ate a restaurant that you LOVED wouldn't you tell your friends and family to check it out? Of course you would! Thats what I'm doing! Check it out! It's the bomb.com! At the end of the day I don't care if you decide you don't like it. It's no risk to you to at least be informed BUT what if it changed your life? What if you became healthier and your home became safer? These aren't ridiculous priced items that no one can afford. They are better performing products then grocery store brands and you will be spending usually the same or sometimes even less with Melaleuca!
Ok. I rest my case. I'm sick of people talking about it as a get rich quick scam or all the other things that uninformed people are saying. Be informed before you hate on something you don't even understand or know! For those of you that live your lives being critical of EVERYTHING... well, I feel sorry for you. How do you ever enjoy anything? Life is meant to be enjoyed!
ps. If I've offended you then I'm sorry! My life has been changes by this company and I'm not afraid to defend it!
Peace and blessing be with you ;)
Why hello there! Thanks for sticking around and reading this! I want to start by saying that I am an extreme person! I'm either all or nothing! Pretty sure I've always been that way but as I get older I see it even more. About 4 months ago I became a member of Melaleuca. I was actually pressured into it by my parents and was kinda mad about it to be honest. They had seen some really amazing results after taking the vitamins and felt like it would make us all lead healthier more vibrant lives. With Melaleuca there are no contracts and you can cancel anytime... plus get a refund which was EXACTLY what I had planned on doing!
Josh and I thought we would try it for ONE month and then get out and with the satisfaction guaranteed we knew we could get our money back on anything that we didn't like!
So our first shipment came in. We had gotten then kids body wash and kids shampoo along with some other things. London has had little bumps all over her skin since birth and nothing ever worked on removing them so we just thought thats the way her skin was. Within TWO days my kids bumps were gone! I was almost to prideful to make the phone call to my dad to tell him this amazing story! lol! All the products we ordered that month blew us away. The next month we focused on cleaning supplies and I couldn't believe how well the worked and how long they can last! Melaleuca is the #1 company in the world for concentrating! I loved that they were safe for my home and that my kid could drink a bottle of it and it wouldn't hurt her! I also loved that everything came super concentrated so I spent less money and it's better for the environment (which if I'm being honest isn't my biggest concern :/). I came home one day and london got spaghetti sauce ALL over her brand new tank top (lime green and white tank). I thought for sure it was ruined because I am THE worst stain remover ever!! I sprayed sol-u-mel on it which is a stain remover and it literally FELL OFF the tank! I could NOT believe it!
Every thing we have bought has been like this!
The thing is Melaleuca is not asking you to spend new money. They are saying shop at Melaleuca instead of Walmart or Kroger or if your in the south The Piggly Wiggly! Since I have joined I have researched this company! They truly care about peoples lives! Encouraging them to not use credit card, to pay off all your debt, to spend less and make more (which is easy to do with Melaleuca). I'm not trying to get you to join by this blog. I just want to clear up some myths! This IS NOT a multi-level marketing company! This is a consumer direct marketing company. Here is what that means:
Direct Selling, Party Plan and MLM vs. Consumer Direct Marketing
Direct Selling, Party Plan and Multi-Level Marketing are probably the
three most common "business opportunities" in motion today. If you are
selling products, doing home parties or stocking inventory, you are
probably in one of these three categories.
Maybe you know what category you are in and maybe you enjoy what you
do. However, do you know the difference between these three categories
and Consumer Direct Marketing?
If one of the following points do not apply to you, consider the ones
that do and why they make sense.
1. Many companies in these first three categories require you to stock
inventory and sell products.
With Consumer Direct Marketing, you do NOT have to stock inventory or
sell products because customers shop directly from the manufacturer
through a catalog and toll-free number, or a secure website online.
The company delivers the products through a local carrier, e.g. UPS,
directly to the customer's door, so you never have to take any orders
or make any deliveries. Have you ever recommended a good book or
restaurant to a friend or family member? What if you could get PAID
for recommending a great store? Since every customer has an ID number
and personal Marketing Executive, you get credit for all of your
Primary and Secondary referrals in an "expanding organization". This
means that you have the potential of getting paid for customers you
may never meet as a result of your Primary referrals.
2. Many companies in these first three categories pay you in a
descending commission structure. For example, you might get paid 7% on
your first level, but then 6% on your 2nd, 5% on your 3rd, 4% on your
4th, 3% on your 5th, 1% on your 6th and maybe half or a quarter of 1%
on your 7th. Where do you think most of your customers are in ANY
matrix? They're on your 5th, 6th and 7th level! This means that you
need a lot of customers for a small check.
With Consumer Direct Marketing, you are paid a consistent percentage
for ALL generations. So, you don't need as many customers to earn
significant income.
3. Many companies in these first three categories do NOT have
reasonable pricing on their products. You may be able to buy
wholesale, but then you have to turn around and sell the products at a
higher, retail price, which can be more expensive than store brands.
With Consumer Direct Marketing, customers have a personal wholesale
account and order directly from the company. Since the company pays
YOU for your word-of-mouth referrals instead of advertising agencies,
the pricing is reasonable and more research and development is
directed to the products.
4. Many companies in these first three categories have a large sign-up
fee or start-up cost. Even if YOU could afford to get started, those
you contact may not.
With Consumer Direct Marketing, everyone is simply a customer and
opens a REFUNDABLE $29 membership, which provides the right to buy at
wholesale prices along with many other membership benefits. That's
cheaper than Costco and you don't even have to buy in bulk. You simply
order what you want and need. Plus, your membership and every product
is 100% REFUNDABLE, so you and those you know can give it a test-drive
without any financial risk.
5. Many companies in these first three categories require you to buy
and sell products that you or your customers sometimes may not need or
want. If your customers stop ordering, you stop getting paid.
With Consumer Direct Marketing, you are purchasing NECESSITY items
that are better performing, safer (non-toxic) and less expensive than
most store brands. People are simply switching stores and using
products that they are already committed to purchasing somewhere
anyway. This means a practically recession-proof business because your
customers will need to re-order these CONSUMABLE necessity items each
and every month. This is true residual income!
With Melaleuca you don't have "Parties" at peoples houses. You don't purchase inventory! You refer customers and then Melaleuca does the rest! They order straight from Melaleuca! People don't clean with purses, they don't need jewelry but everyone brushes their teeth, washes their clothes, and cleans their houses (hopefully). SWITCH STORES thats it!
Here is a question for you? If you watched a GREAT movie or ate a restaurant that you LOVED wouldn't you tell your friends and family to check it out? Of course you would! Thats what I'm doing! Check it out! It's the bomb.com! At the end of the day I don't care if you decide you don't like it. It's no risk to you to at least be informed BUT what if it changed your life? What if you became healthier and your home became safer? These aren't ridiculous priced items that no one can afford. They are better performing products then grocery store brands and you will be spending usually the same or sometimes even less with Melaleuca!
Ok. I rest my case. I'm sick of people talking about it as a get rich quick scam or all the other things that uninformed people are saying. Be informed before you hate on something you don't even understand or know! For those of you that live your lives being critical of EVERYTHING... well, I feel sorry for you. How do you ever enjoy anything? Life is meant to be enjoyed!
ps. If I've offended you then I'm sorry! My life has been changes by this company and I'm not afraid to defend it!
Peace and blessing be with you ;)
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