thanks

We really appreciate all the nice comments from everyone. We really enjoyed reading those.
Eliana, Andrew, and myself are doing well. This has been quite a week, but we are so glad to be at the house, and to be together.
Andrew has been eating and eating. I forgot what it is called when a baby has some yellow skin… my mom can comment and say what the name of that is. But Andrew has had that. His skin was a little yellow, and even the whites in his eyes were a little yellow. From what I understand, babies are born with something in them that they have to poop and pee out, and so especially babies with this condition (its not usually serious) need to be drinking lots of milk. And Andrew has been doing that, and now his skin has more a nice pink color, and it seems that the yellow in his eyes is pretty much gone.
He is such a good baby. He loves to smile. I heard that most babies don´t smile the first week after they are born, because birth is also very hard on the baby, and the baby just doesn´t feel like smiling for a while. But Andrew has been different, and has been smiling and smiling. He knows his mamas and papas voice, and I think that is one thing that gets him to smile. I think he smiles most when he is able half a sleep.
I can now change diapers without anyones help, although Eliana does most of the diaper changing. The doctors said to feed Andrew every 2 hours, so he has been eating a lot. The doctor said that he can breast feed, and also drink formula. So he has been breast feeding, and when he is done with that, he will take some formula. Sometimes he will breast feed, and then drink 2 ounces of formula, which I think is amazing that such a little baby can drink so much. With all the milk he has been drinking, he is growing, and seems to be getting a bit of a double chin. I guess that is just when he has his head down that he gets a little roll under his chin, but he has definitely put on some weight.
Thanks again for the encouragement and everyones prayers.
If you would, please join us in prayer that we can soon come to the United States and visit everyone. Its not easy to do that, because there is visas, and all that stuff, but nothing is hard for God. We would like to come visit in February, and if that is in Gods will, then it will certainly happen. Can´t wait for everyone to meet Eliana and Andrew.
God has allowed us to go through some difficulties recently, and it has been hard, but we have been able to know God like never before. A light certainly shines brighter during the night, and it is the same with God… it is during the hard times when people turn to him and are able to see him like never before. The same God who allowed us to go through a hard time is who comforted us. And now I can say more than ever that God is good. He is full of grace and mercy, and his love is so great. It amazes me how good God is, and I have only caught a glimpse of his goodness. When the difficulties are gone, it is easy to forget about all that God has done, and so I want to remember how he helped us, and took care of us. Our God is very good.

P.S. Don´t miss the videos I put on the last posts. I hope to put more on real soon.

andrew sleeping

a smile

update

Well I am still having trouble posting pictures on this blog, but I just sent more photos to my mom, so then she will forward them to everyone.
I wish we could be with everyone for Thanksgiving. I wish everyone could meet Eliana and Andrew, but it will happen soon. Oh how I wish to eat turkey and stuffing, mashed potatoes, and pies. When we get to spend Thanksgiving in the United States (or Christmas), we will have such a good time.
I remember how little time I got with Mallory when she was just a little baby, and then I went to Alaska. But now we have a baby, and I have lots of time with our little baby. This morning I woke up to Eliana handing me Andrew, and asking me to burp him.
I hadn´t changed a diaper by myself yet, and Eliana had to do some work on the computer today, and I was with Andrew, and saw he had a dirty diaper, so decided to change it myself. He does not like having his diaper changed. I took off his diaper, and he started crying, and kicking his legs. And then I realized that he was peeing, and it was shooting up, but I was able to block it with my hand, but it soaked his shirt. I wanted to be able to say to Eliana, ¨look, I changed his diaper all by myself¨. But looking at Andrew crying, and covered in urine, I realized I needed help, and called for Eliana, and within seconds she was there, and took over, and soon he was clean with a new diaper, and dressed and in his blanket. Thank God for Eliana.
I know Andrew is going to grow so fast, and I don´t want to miss anything. I also don´t want to forget anything. He is such a good little boy, and we love him so much.

Andrew is sure eating a lot. Eliana is breast feeding (I think almost all mothers in Peru breast feed), so that takes quite a bit of time.
He is able to lay on his stomach and lift up his head and turn it to the other side. I was surprised, and didn´t realize a 3 day old baby could do that.
Andrew likes to lay on my chest and sleep. I think because it is warm, and he can listen to my heart. Probably reminds him of being inside of Eliana.

I am having trouble uploading pictures to the blog, because our internet is slow. Sometimes they will go on, and sometimes they won´t. But I am able to send pictures to my mom from my msn mail, so then she can send those on to anyone that wants them. But I imagine later will be posting more to the blog. But here is on that I was able to upload. Andrew is a real calm baby. I can´t believe it, because he doesn´t cry much. He seems to be quite content. He has even given us a few smiles. We are very proud parents.

(above) I think he´s deciding whether to sleep or cry.

(above) isn´t he tiny?

( above) People from the church coming to visit. They were so happy to see Andrew, and hear what Eliana had to say.

(above) what a cutie!

Isn´t he handsome!

Here is our son, Andrew Lee. Eliana and Andrew is now home, and we are so blessed. Sorry to not write much. The internet is not working at the house, and so I am at a computer lab so everyone can see photos... I know Mom and Dad could hardly wait. But I need to be getting back to the house, and wish to post more real soon. Thank you everyone for your prayers.

thank you

God, thank you for this wonderful blessing.
And thank you to everyone that prayed for Eliana and Andrew.

he´s here!

Andrew was just born!, and Eliana and Andrew are well! I haven´t seen them yet, but I need to buy juice for Eliana, because they said she needs that. Someone call my mom and tell her!. They are on a trip, so call her cell.

please pray for Eliana and Andrew

Eliana is doing ok, although its been a hard past few days. This is our third day at the hospital. When we first came in, they were going to send us home, but Eliana started leaking some water, and for that reason and maybe for others, they decided to keep Eliana in the hospital. They have induced Eliana, but it did not do much, so we are still waiting. Right now Eliana is dialated (spelled that right?) to a 4 out of 10. Right now she is in the third story of the hospital where the women wait there (they have beds) until they reach 6, and then go to the second story where is the delivery rooms.
I will tell you about some differences here in the hospital, but I do not want to speak bad about it, but just to tell you so that you can pray. In the United States, the husband can usually be the entire time with his wife, and family can come in and see her. But here it is different. Eliana is in the third story, and we cannot enter to see her, and so I know she feels isolated and feels like she is going through this a lone. And that breaks my heart. But by the grace of God, I have been able to speak to Eliana several times, and encourage her, and pray with her. Last night I was in the second story in the waiting room, and they brought her down, and so I got to spend some time with her, so that was great.
This is really hard for Eliana, she is in pain, but emotionally she is not doing well. These days are like a dark night, and it is difficult to see a light at the end of the tunnel. But soon the sun will rise, because Gods comfort comes.
God is allowing all this for a reason, and God is in control.
If you pray, here are some things to pray about:
1) that Eliana can have some peace, and continue to be encouraged.
2) I do not know if Elianas water has really broken, but she is leaking quite a bit, and that could be bad if she leaks too much, because when Andrew comes, their will be no lubrication? So please pray about that.
3) that Eliana does not feel a lone, and that soon the family can see her, and I can see her more.
4) that God will take care of Eliana and Andrew, and soon we are all in the house together.

Waiting

I´ve heard it said that the last days of pregnancy seem to last forever, and now I am able to say that it is certain.

Tim and I, we are waiting the arrival of Andrew and it seems like that time is never going to arrive, but really the doctor said the arrival date is the 20th of November and that is when I complete 9 months of pregnancy. We really wish that Andrew is born soon… today if it is possible!

Lately I have been feeling stronger pains and contractions, but it is not frequent and passes and so soon I feel better, but we really wish that the labor contractions would start and so we can then go to the hospital. We have everything ready, and only lack the precise moment to go to the hospital.

I know that when I start the labor contractions, it is a lot of pain; this is what all the women say that have gone through labor. But really I don´t imagine what the pain is like and how difficult it can be. I know that God is preparing me for this and the only thing I can do is to trust in God and to trust in his promises and then the rest of the work is God´s and not mine.

I remember, the months before, I was reading something in the Bible that made me understand some things. In Psalms 71:6 it says ¨I have depended on you since I was born; you helped me even on the day of my birth. I will always praise you.¨ (NCV) And in Psalms 22:9, ¨You had my mother give birth to me. You made me trust you while I was just a baby.¨ (NCV)

Those words made me understand that it is God who brings forth the baby. Now when I imagine being in the delivery room, I can imagine that God is there and know that the reason I feel pain is because God is doing his work. That makes me calm, and I want to always stay calm, knowing that it is God who is in charge of the birth of Andrew, and that God is bringing Andrew close to us.

I was also thinking about how difficult it will be for Andrew, because it will be painful for him, but I will speak with him and tell him that we both need to be strong, and when it's time for him to be born, that he can be ready and be born as fast as possible, and also tell him not to worry because God will take him in his hands, and show him the way where he should go.

I think the time is near, but it seems so distant and we are very anxious that the day arrives.

Well, I just wish to ask for your prayers for us and that we can be in your thoughts.

Scriptures quoted from The Holy Bible, New Century Version, copyright 1987, 1988, 1991 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission.

Come, Andrew, Come!

The crib is assembled, the bedroom is painted light blue (and white), the bags are packed (for the hospital), the diapers are bought, the baby clothes are washed and folded....

All we are lacking is Andrew. Actually he is here, he is just still in Elianas tummy.

The doctor said today after examining Eliana that his heart beat is good, and that he is farther down now, which I think is normal, although it gives Eliana more discomfort.

The due date is November 20, and the doctor said that if he doesn´t come by then, they will wait another week, and if he still isn´t here, they will induce labor. But with Elianas growing discomfort, and swelling feet, and also stronger contractions (not labor contractions, the other kind), it seems that he is almost here.

The law of nature shows us the law of the Spirit.

This is from a David Wilkerson letter that they send out to homes in I imagine many different countries. The letter is in spanish, but we translated it into english so you could read it too.

There is a kind of fish that is found in the mammoth cave in the state of Kentucky. It is a small shellfish which has a very pale head and two black spots that appear to be eyes. But when biologists dissected the black spots, they discovered that these "eyes" were false, with no function whatsoever. Externally, the spots only appear to be eyes, with a surface appearance that is perfect. But behind those eyes, everything was ruined. The optic nerve had been cut and become dry, becoming a useless thread. Simply, these fish have eyes but can not see. What happened? In the past, this species was very colorful and had eyes that were operating normally. However, it preferred the darkness and cold and so it buried itself in the ground to hide from the light. Over time, the bright colors of this shellfish became faded. No longer needing to see, so that sense was removed. It completely lost the function of seeing, because of its constant denial to light.

Here is a powerful lesson about our spiritual walk: What we do not use, we lose.

Translation: We must put in practice our spiritual abilities if we hope to have a spiritual life. You can not just go to church on Sunday and expect to receive sufficient strength from the service to face the coming weeks. We must have our own daily walk with Christ.