My last few posts have been rather heavy so it’s a relief to have some happier news to report this time. After a routine ultra-sound on Friday, the doctor turned to Melanie and asked, “Want to go home?” Melanie was caught totally off guard and managed to say, “Yes.” The Dr. then smiled and said, “Get out of here!” So, we’re home! Mid-way through 30 weeks and home!
The longer version of this is that ever since Melanie was permanently hospitalized, we knew that 34 weeks was the earliest they would consider releasing her. Yes, she could have left anytime (we were told it wasn’t a prison :), but the pregnancy was fragile and we trusted our Dr’s opinions. If they felt it was dangerous for her to leave the hospital, we were committed to honoring that. However, we also prayed. We prayed that if God wanted us else-where, that He would impress that on the Dr’s hearts, and that they would be the ones to tell us that – without us asking! So, when the Dr. asked Melanie if she wanted to leave, we saw it as God’s clear direction.
So, Melanie’s mom packed up the hospital room in record time, and they waited and waited for me to finish work. It was only about 1.5 hours, but it seemed like forever to my wife, sitting now unnecessarily in a hospital room.
I got her home and we both rejoiced at God’s leading. To be honest, it was a little scary. The pregnancy is still fragile, the future unknown, and there are plenty of “what-ifs” hanging around. However, we have confidence in God’s direction and felt we could do nothing but follow it. So, whether we’re home for 2 days or 2 months, we’re going to enjoy what time we do have. Little things like being able to walk around in one’s socks and having a refrigerator that you can put things in – there are many blessings related to being home! The staff at the hospital was wonderful, but being able to sleep past 6:00 a.m. without someone coming in was great!
We continue to covet prayer support for this little life. We’re praying that whenever Baby does come, that he/she wouldn’t need significant medical care. We’re also praying for Baby’s protection from anything physically or spiritually that might harm him/her. There are many other concerns/burdens that we have, but these are the key ones!
Nathan
Praise the Lord! What incredible news I find here tonight. This is so wonderful. The children will be so excited when I tell them in the morning. Both our 8 year old daughter and our 5 year old boy pray for Baby Maxwell several times every day. May the Lord calm your fears and bring this baby in His perfect timing. We will be praying with you about the baby not needing any significant medical attention. We are rejoicing with you at being at home for as long as the Lord will allow. May the Lord bless the time your family has at home.
Rejoicing with you. We will continue to pray. Thank you for the update.
T
Oh rejoicing with you in the answer to prayer. Praying that baby will stay in and that these weeks at home will be joyous. What a miracle that you are at week 30! Praying for no more preterm labor. Thank you precious Jesus for this gift of baby Max still being in the womb and Melanie being home!!!
We will continue to pray for God’s peace and direction. Enjoy you time at home.
Praise Jesus!
PRAISE THE LORD! WOW! This again shows that prayer DOES work! I’ll continue to pray!
Wonderful!!! I know that the simple comforts of home will keep Melanie and Baby more relaxed. And yes, it is so important to pray for the doctors – His Wisdom guiding their hands and minds. God is so good! We will keep up the prayers.
SO wonderful. Praise to God FOR SURE!!! Thank you so much for sharing these times with us all. I am so glad you two are able to just enjoy this time at home right now. I will be praying for you two and your little one. What wonderful news and encouraging to read. Very uplifting to say the least. Welcome home!!
PRAISE THE LORD!!!
We will continue praying!
Blessings!
Wow! I’m speechless! To God be the glory! We’ll continue to pray!
What wonderful news to read!! Praise God! Will keep praying and that the Lord would fill you both with peace. So happy you have reach 30 weeks so far. Praise the Lord!
Though I haven’t been able to comment much the past couple of weeks (largely due to the inability to type with our precious new little guy in my arms 🙂 ), we’ve continued to pray for “Mr. Nathan, Mrs. Melanie, and Susannah Joy’s baby sister/brother” as well as the rest of the traveling Maxwell family every day.
We praise the Lord with you at His clear direction and especially for His wonderous answer to all the prayers being brought before His throne in keeping your sweet little one safe and sound in your womb.
You’re almost at 31 weeks!!! We will continue to pray for the requests you specifically mentioned and that you will have many wonderful days together at home.
love and prayers,
Daniel and Jaynee
Timothy, Elijah, Rebekah, Benjamin, Abigail, Isaiah, Josiah, Noah, Susannah, Nehemiah,and Eliseo 🙂
Yay! Praise the Lord; it’s an answer to prayer! I’ll continue to pray for your family.
What an incredibly wonderful answer to prayer! Praising and thanking God here too!
Wow, what a God we serve.
Praying
HALLELUIA!! Praising God with you! How wonderful that Melanie will be able to rest at home!
praying–
Susanne
Yes Praise God. Thank you for keeping us up to date even though you are busy. I check back everyday to this site to see the family updates and I am always reminded to pray when I see the udates. I am happy to see and not surprised that God still answers prayers. Oh how He loves His children so much. Praise God for the health of baby Max and mama too.
Hallelujah!!! Continue to stand in what the Word says. This is amazing news for you guys.
Continue to be built in the most Holy Faith and expect His WORD. Ps. 91–Your baby is under the wings of the Most High–Remember this and declare this.
He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.
Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.
He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
Praise the Lord!!!
Chris
I was a little apprehensive this morning when I checked your website! I was hoping that little Max wasn’t being too anxious to be born!! I thought about you during prayer time at church yesterday and I am so thrilled to hear that things are going well!!
Beth B. in Zionsville Indiana
Praise the Lord! I am so excited for you!
Dear Melanie and Nathan!
This is a message from Germany, where Teri and Steve were
a few years ago to speak at a homeschool conference.
My thoughts and prayers are with you, especially as I myself am
sitting on the couch day after day, 20 weeks pregnant, after having
serious trouble with my pregnancy. We are thankful for each good day, knowing
that the Lord is in control.
But time can drag on!
God bless you. I trust that whenever your baby will come now, it will be fine!
Elke & family
>>>>>>>
Bless you Elke. Let us know how you are doing so we can pray. We know that many others are patiently waiting on the Lord through difficult pregnancies. Maybe as others pray for Nathan and Melanie, they might pray for the other moms who are struggling to carry little ones to term as well.
God bless.
In Christ Jesus, Steve
I am so glad that Melanie is able to be at home now. From my (thankfully limited) experiences with hospitals, they are NOT very restful places to be! I will continue praying for your baby, and as Steve says above, for Elke and all other mothers working through difficult pregnancies.
I just want to encourage ya’ll. I totally beleive the Lord can carry you 40 weeks, but I want to give this encouragement. I was a nanny for a little girl who was born at 24 weeks!!! She did have to stay in the hospital for a time after birth but she is a completely normal, smart, happy 4 year old. I know at least 38 weeks is ideal, but knowing that you are already at 30 is 6 more weeks than that little girl had in her mommy’s womb. I say that to be a blessing. Also, there are herbs that can help hold off labor. I would consult a midwife or herbal specialist in your area.
I do rejoice with you in the Lord’s goodness! Every extra day in the womb does the baby good……But should it happen that the Lord chooses to let you deliver earlier than you expect, please be encouraged to know that I delivered a preemie at 26 weeks old— Jonathan was 1 1/2 lbs and thirteen inches long!!! It was a time of stretching as far as our faith was concerned, but now my son is a husky 15 1/2 year old young man, over 5 ft. 5 inches tall and still growing, and a great joy to us, a constant reminder of the Lord’s goodness and mercy and graciousness in our lives. He is the only child the Lord has given us, and for this we will always be grateful.
For Elke, you will be in my prayers as well.
Praise God you can be at home now… reminds me of a little poem
“A little bird I am
Shut from the fields of air
Where in my cage, I sit and sing
To Him who placed me there.
Well pleased a prisoner to be…
Because my God…. it pleaseth thee.”
Our family continues to uphold your family in prayer… MB
HI! I have been keeping up with baby max and finally had a chance to stop in again and see a update!!! Glad you are at home. I had my twins at 32 weeks and while they were tiny and had to be in the hospital for a few weeks they actually did fairly well and now they are 11 and you could never tell it!!!!! Just wanted to give you some encouragement. Prayers!
Having been on bed rest with all four of my living children, this is just a moment in time. My earliest came at 33 weeks and only had to stay 15 days with no breathing help and I was able to nurse her 6 hours after birth. Our only son was born at 34 weeks and although his stay was one day less, his lungs weren’t as well developed. Remember this, dear Sister, one day inside the womb is 2 less days in the NICU! Don’t do anything. Don’t worry about the housework or the supper, there will be plenty of days ahead to do those things. We will be praying for you, having been there already. I used to wonder why I couldn’t carry my babies longer and why I had to go through it, but now I know. I know what to pray for those who must endure the same because I too have been there. Take good care and fret not.