Kimberly's Miracle

Most of my closest friends know this, but it just makes me feel so good to tell of God's amazing grace and miracles.

Brayden "Kade" Morgan was born February 19, 2010 after a very difficult pregnancy. Early on in my pregnancy, the sonographer couldn't find where the umbilical cord entered the placenta. In fact, I had to go back for a third sonogram because of this exact issue. After the third sonogram, I assumed she had found where it entered, because I heard nothing else from her. 

I went on bed rest at 28 weeks. I couldn't even get out of bed to eat without my blood pressure shooting into the "stroke" zone. Scott was working all night, coming home for a few hours of sleep while my Mama took care of Britton until Scott woke up, so she could go home to work until she had to return to my house at night...and so on....

I had preeclampsia. At 36 weeks, my body was fighting the baby off as if it were a foreign invader. It couldn't take the pregnancy any longer... SO Dr. Malmborg decided to induce. My water didn't break, so he attempted to break it. He wasn't able to due to severe pain....so he said "let's get your epidural and try again". I was completely happy with that decision!

NOTHING but God's precious hands protecting Kade can explain why he wasn't killed when the doctor tried to break my water

My labor went on, I had an epidural. I had contractions. The doctor broke my water... again, God was holding my sweet baby in his hands. I gave birth... to a miracle.  The baby came faster than the doctor could get to the hospital. He walked in about 2 minutes after I gave birth so the nurse delivered him.  When I delivered the placenta he said, "this is a miracle"..."did the baby go into distress?" At that point he left me and went straight to the baby and did a thorough look over. Kade was perfect.

The doctor told us in his 42 years of delivering babies, he'd only seen one other case of Vasa Previa and the baby didn't survive.He told me had I not got sick and put on bed rest, Kade most likely would not have survived labor at  full term. I am forever thankful God made me sick!!!

I was really the talk of the maternity ward!  All these nurses and doctors came to see my placenta! Ha ha! They sent it off to use it for research, and I am so glad we had a story of success!

Vasa Previa is a condition that all the blood vessels that should be inside the placenta, are outside - exposed - of the placenta. If the vessels are hit hard, scratched by the baby's nails, have a lot of pressure on them.... the baby will drown in his/her own blood.....

Check out the stats:  http://www.vasaprevia.org/
1 in 25 babies SURVIVE Vasa Previa.
Especially RARE condition on top of that.
Diagnosed conditions require mandatory c section at 34 weeks.Most babies with Vasa Previa that are delivered vaginally die within hours or a few days.

This is Kimberly Morgan's testimony of her miracle baby, Kade!

Children's Book Review

Recently my daughter came home with a book her teacher recommended because she knows she loves to read. My husband read the cover and became concerned because the book contained disturbing scenes and violent content. After looking into it further and reading the reviews we decided that this was not a book she should be reading. We explained our feelings to her and why we felt this was not a book that would be good for her based on our Christian values and her personal needs.

As mother's, I know, we are all concerned about what our children read, watch on TV, play video games and so on. There are many good resources to help us make decisions for our children based on Christian values and their individual needs, temperament, and understanding. The Bible in 1 Thessalonians 5:21-22 urges us to "Test everything, hold onto the good. Avoid every kind of evil."

The book I am referring to is called The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins. This book is aimed at children and young adults 13-18. Many of the books written for this age group tend to be very dark in nature. I am sharing the following link so that you are informed about just one of the books out there that your children may find in their school library or classroom. This provides info about the book and suggestions on life lessons you can teach them if they have read the book.

Kim Ratcliffe

Here is the link for Focus on the Family review of the book The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins:
http://www.focusonthefamily.com/parenting/protecting_your_family/book-reviews/h/hunger-games.aspx


Summary of review: In this tale of 24 teenagers forced to kill each other, readers follow a number of gruesome, bloody and otherwise disturbing scenes. One tribute murders another by snapping his neck. Other tributes are killed by spears, arrows, blows to the head with rocks and the stings of mutated yellow jackets. Wounds ooze blood and puss, and the wounded smell festering flesh. One of the final tributes is mauled by a pack of rabid dog-like creatures for hours before he dies. Katniss also mentions how, in previous games, tributes were killed by venomous snakes, went insane from thirst or froze to death. One previous contestant tried to eat the tributes he'd killed, but the Gamemakers stopped this because it didn't play well with the audience. Leaders in the Capitol cut out the tongues of those who disobey them.

Choosing Your Path

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight."  Proverbs 3:5-6

Trust and obey-these two words go together like coffee and cream.  Yet every day we face difficult situations that seem to defy simple solutions.  As women, myriad difficult choices face us-the right course of care for a sick child, moving from everything familiar for a new opportunity, following God's leading even when the outcome is hazy, even when the right choice frightens us.  You may toss and turn for nights without finding peace in your choice.  How do you determine the right choice?  Obey the guidance you find in God's Word, earnestly pray and seek trusted counsel, then trust God with the outcome.

Reflect & Pray: What hard choice is confronting you today?  What factors make your decision difficult?   How is God asking you to trust him in this situation?

Read Proverbs 3:1-35

Devotional from The Busy Mom's Bible

Bethel's Refuel Services

Join us for Bethel's Refuel Services on Wednesday evenings at 7 pm at Bethel Assembly of God, Martinsburg, WV in the main sanctuary.  A great series is beginning on the book of Judges taught by Rev. Ralph Campbell.

Also available are classes for children of all ages: Nursery (under 2); Sunlight Kids (2 years old); Rainbows (3 & 4 years old); Mpact Girls Club (K-High School); and Royal Rangers for boys (K-High School).

Beautiful Baby Girl

Congratulations to Robin Coburn on the birth of her baby girl, Eden Noel, born on Friday, January 27, 2012 at 3:30 pm weighing 9 lbs. and 4 oz. and measuring 21 1/4 inches long.

Mother and baby are doing great!

Inclement Weather Policy

In case of bad weather, Mom's Connection will follow the local school cancellation for Berkeley County School System. If school is canceled, then our meeting is canceled.

In case of one or two hour delays, the meeting will be cancelled.

Listen to local radio stations for school closings.

Upcoming Events

January 17 The Children's Closet Open House from 12-2 pm- A place to give and receive slightly used children's clothes, baby equipment, and maternity clothes located behind the Mace building of Bethel Assembly of God in Martinsburg, WV. All are welcomed and everything is FREE.

January 24 Topic Meeting- Join us at Bethel Assembly of God in Martinsburg, WV from 9:45- 11:45 am for a time of brunch, discussion, and fun! Childcare is provided.

February 14 Topic Meeting- Join us at Bethel Assembly of God in Martinsburg, WV from 9:45- 11:45 am for a time of brunch, discussion, and fun! Childcare is provided.

February 17 Bowling Night Out for mom and their husband/boyfriend- Join us at Pikeside Bowling Alley in Martinsburg, WV at 7 pm. The cost per game is $4.50 and shoe rental $3.50.

February 28 Topic Meeting- Join us at Bethel Assembly of God in Martinsburg, WV from 9:45- 11:45 am for a time of brunch, discussion, and fun! Childcare is provided.

**Our topic meetings are now located in the main building of Bethel Assembly of God in a new activities room.**