Say hello to Francis!

(Brendan)

Molly had her 20-week ultrasound last Wednesday, and we were both pretty nervous going into it. Molly and I met at the radiologist's office and confided to each other how nervous we were, given past events with Henry (full-term still birth) and Jude (miscarriage). There wasn't necessarily any reason to be nervous; everything with this pregnancy has gone well. And though we have given our newest soul over to God many times over, and always work to conform our will to the Lord's, the mind tends to remember the trauma of past ultrasounds. There was the finding of the heartbeat to worry about, and if we could get past that, then the measuring and determination of any developmental difficulties, not to mention worries about whether we'd have to go through the agony of having the ultrasound tech conduct everything in silence and not tell us what was going on (which frequently occurs with ultrasounds, some feeling it's better to say nothing and let the doctor tell us the results later). But, there were things to look forward to as well; one being the fact that, for the first time, we both decided to find out the gender of the baby at the ultrasound.

God truly blessed us at this ultrasound; our tech was extremely helpful and very caring. Hearing our background, especially with Henry, made her very sensitive to what would help us through this ultrasound, and she was very open with what she was doing and seeing. First, a strong heartbeat found (exhale). Then, almost right away, the clear indication of the gender: it's a boy! 

Francis Simon Koop!

PRAISE GOD, Francis is a perfectly normal, healthy, twenty-week old baby boy in his mother's womb. After ultrasound measurements, his due date is only two days earlier than previously projected: July 26. Say hello to Francis!

Francis' little feet

Francis yawning

Francis sucking his thumb :-)

A glimpse of Francis' face

Your continued prayers are so very much appreciated, and thanks for all of your prayers thus far!