Expecting!

Right now Chris and I are experiencing something we've never experienced before. With great anticipation and curiosity, we are eagerly awaiting next Wednesday. Why? Because next Wednesday, at 9 a.m. CST, we find out who we're expecting to add to our family in June! That's right -- we're expecting! This baby will be our first child and we could not be more excited. Right now my due date is
June 30, but the doctor said we'll likely get a new due date at the ultrasound as I seem to be a little further along than he'd thought.

As it's still early enough that I can't feel the baby move, we're so excited for the ultrasound, just to reassure ourselves that yes, there's actually a baby in there (sometimes in the beginning you wonder!) and that he or she is healthy and doing well. It seems like it's been a long time since our last appointment when we heard the heartbeat for the first time, and we're excited about this next affirmation.

Finding out that we were expecting in early November brought up a strange mix of emotions. We were both excited and afraid as we have been looking forward to welcoming a child into our lives and seeing our marriage transform into a family, but nervous because we've been through the heartache of a miscarriage. In addition, we were in a very bad automobile accident the beginning of October, when we were hit by a drunk driver. It resulted in being transported to the hospital by ambulance and started us down a long and slow road of healing and recuperation.

What we didn't know then, or in the month following when we were both put on strong prescription medications by doctors and underwent a series of CT scans and x-rays, was that I was pregnant at the time of the accident. We're hopeful that the ultrasound will show a healthy baby and reassure us that our little one wasn't harmed by the medications or any of the examinations or treatments that were a result of the accident. Since the day we found out about the baby, I haven't taken any medications at all, choosing instead to endure the neck and head pain in hopes of keeping the baby healthy and any additional medications out of his or her system. With a firm knowledge that the LORD is good and redeems all things, we're expecting a good report next Wednesday and are excited to continue on this journey towards starting a family!

On a less positive note, between the injuries from the accident and the all-day-long morning sickness, I haven't felt up to writing much the past few months, so "One Desire" is decidedly behind schedule. However, with the nausea beginning to subside, the words are flowing and the chapters taking form again, so I'm hoping to have it out in the spring. The release dates of "Gray Area" and "Silver Lining" will be pushed back as well, but I'm hoping to have the entire series out by the end of 2010.

In other writing news, the Glendale series has broken the 500 copies in one month barrier in January and has also gone international as it's building steam and a reader base in the United Kingdom! We are thrilled about both of these developments and are excited to see what February has in store.

With the initial rush of doctors and therapy after the accident slowing a little and the morning sickness beginning to fade, I will be more diligent again about updating the website, posting blogs, corresponding with readers and getting books out! Thank you for your patience and your support! I look forward to sharing "One Desire" with you as it's been an emotional story for me to write, but one I'm thoroughly enjoying -- as odd as it is (since she simply exists in my imagination and yours!), Jari has always been my favorite character and watching her story unfold has been super fun. I hope that you will enjoy it as much as I have!

And, as I wrap this up, I'll definitely make sure to post next week how the ultrasound goes and if we're expecting a son or a daughter! :)