Blessed

Blessed.  That's what I am.

Jude and I had another ultrasound this morning - 23 weeks - and everything looks great.  Our soon to be born son measured about 25 weeks and is in the 96th percentile in size, which is really, really good news.  That's almost exactly where J.P. was at this stage of the game.

During the ultrasound, he was active, rolling around, grabbing his toes and opening and closing his mouth. It's truly amazing to be able to see him in such detail and to realize that right there, Jude is carrying our new son in her womb.  Watching the ultrasound, our eyes riveted on the screen, it's an intensely emotional and personal experience for both of us.  We sit there, in silence, waiting for any sign or word from the ultrasound technician that what she is seeing is what she is supposed to be seeing.  If she's not talking much - liked she wasn't at first today - our minds begin to race, infused with doubt.  Then, when she tells us everything looks great - like she did today - our hearts soar with relief.

While the journey is somehow different this time around, the emotions are largely the same at certain points, like today.  When I see our son on the screen - his arms, legs, hands and feet - I'm again struck by the miracle of life.  We're not there yet and we have some distance left to travel on this journey, but I think I can almost see, ahead in the distance, our destination.  We're going to get there, one day at a time.