The list of potential problems that we received after she was born could never have predicted the pride we felt when Penny learned to write her name, when she, after months of practice, jumped off the ground with two feet, when she finally progressed to big-girl underwear.

The data told us that learning would be harder for her than for a typically developing child. It is, and yet she is able to write all the letters of the alphabet and tell stories and make up songs. And no list of developmental problems told us that empathy would be easier for her, that her eyes would well with tears and she would run to console her little brother when he falls and cries, that even as a 2-year-old she would see a picture of a wounded man and say: “Me help! Me help!”

via Deciding Not to Screen for Down Syndrome – NYTimes.com.

Tragically, studies show that “92 percent of women who learn they are carrying babies with DS opt to abort.” (Washington Post.)

So what’s been going on since then? The biggest news is that we found out, we’re expecting again! We’re 22 weeks now, due the first week of January, but how our pregnancies go, I’m sure the baby will be here by Christmas at the latest. “The baby.” It’s a boy, which we just found out last week, so I really need to get used to referring to him as a he.

Other than that, everything else pales by comparison. Just trying to figure out as always what the Lord wants for us, and doing what we can to glorify Him and repent when we fall short.

Until next time…

Psalm 127:3-5

3 Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord,
the fruit of the womb a reward.
4 Like arrows in the hand of a warrior
are the children of one’s youth.
5 Blessed is the man
who fills his quiver with them!
He shall not be put to shame
when he speaks with his enemies in the gate. (ESV)

In the meantime, just waiting for the real show to begin. And so without further ado:

Random Thoughts, Labor Edition

• iMonk has an excellent commentary on Ed Young’s 7 day sex challenge
• Mark Driscoll offers up six essentials for Bible study
• Lydia Brownback enumerates biblical reasons for thanksgiving
• Terry Delaney reviews C. J. Mahaney’s latest book, Worldliness
• If the hospital didn’t block Flash video, I’d be watching this presentation from James White on New Testament textual reliability
• Gerald Hiestand contemplates the loss of God’s presence
• And just for fun, I will be trying this recipe sometime soon

It's a Boy...

We’re halfway there!

In the meantime, some site news:

• New look. What do you think?
• The site is now iPhone and mobile friendly. Thanks to Jerry for testing the iPhone version. (You don’t need a special link, just visit www.kubecki.com from your mobile browser.)
• I’ve added, per request, email subscriptions. See the sidebar on the right.
• I’ll be updating the blogroll soon.
• I’ve got a cool search engine in the works for searching many of the sites in the blogroll, as well as other sites I’ve found useful. More news to come on that one.

Several folks have asked how Shannon is doing with the pregnancy. She is doing very well, and we appreciate everyone’s prayers. She has some back pain, so pray specifically for comfort, as well as continued good health for both her and the baby. We’re now into the 2nd trimester, so praise God for his blessings!

And sounds:

You are 101 weeks into your pregnancy,
and you are 61 weeks past your due date

Alert the media!