Prayer Request Update-Tyler's Mid-Terms

Thank you for your prayers concerning my mid-terms, I made it through with A's and B's.

1 Week Old...and Asleep

Our little girl is now one week old. We hope for the first year to take pictures of her each Saturday to show how she has grown and changed. She is starting to hold her head up more and when laid on her tummy she will will wiggle and push herself about six to ten inches before she decides she has had enough and wants to rest. Today (Sunday) was her first day to sit through two sermons and be at church. She did pretty well and didn't make too much noise until she got hungry during brother Brett's first sermon. He was preaching on predestination and election, so I am not too worried about her missing the last part of the sermon since her daddy loves the Doctrines of Grace and will teach her about God's excellent redemption of man planned before the foundation of the world (Eph. 1:4) ;).

Abbi's Home!

The pediatrician released Abbi from the hospital today around eleven or so. It feels great to have her home and no longer have to look at her through a clear plastic box. Tomorrow (10/21), Lacey will take Abbi back to the hospital for some more lab work to check her blood levels and hopefully the Jaundice will have cleared up some more. If not, she will be readmitted into the hospital; so please be praying that the Jaundice will continue to clear up. Right now we have a blue light that we set her on while she is not feeding. She truly is a "blue light" special in our house right now. Here are some more pictures of her homecoming:

Abigail Mae Looper born on October 18, 2008

Lacey gave birth to our beautiful baby girl, Abbi, at 10:40am Saturday morning after being in labor for about 11-12 hours. Abbi weighs 6 pounds and 9 ounces as well as 19 1/2 inches long. Lacey did very well and both of them are tired, but healthy. There were no serious complications during the delivery. After delivery Lacey began to feel very faint and almost passed out because she had lost more blood than what is "normal," but she is doing fine now. Abbi will be staying another day at the hospital due to jaundice and most likely will get to come home mid-afternoon on Monday (10/27). Thank you all for your prayers. We are very happy and praise God for His goodness toward us. There will be more to come later but for now you can adore some of our pictures:

Almost There...

Last Thursday the doctor informed us that Lacey is dilated to a three and is 70% effaced. Originally the plan was for her to be induced on Monday Oct. 19 but because of lack of space in the hospital we will now be inducing the day before at 6:00am Sunday morning. We are pretty excited, as well as nervous. Please be praying for us. There are three main matters of prayer:

1. The delivery of our child is absolutely number one. We are not expecting any difficulties but this will be a first for Lacey and a first for me (respectfully). Lacey experienced some of her first "hard" contractions last night, which we know is only a taste of what is to come. Many of you know of her low tolerance for pain and the state of her back, so please pray for God's grace in this. It was hard to watch her, so please keep me in mind too so that I don't loose my nerve and am able to be strong for her. It is hard to say that we are prepared for what lays before us, but we are committed to honoring God in faithfulness throughout the next several days of pregnancy. Pain in pregnancy is something that is unavoidable (I say this with all respect for my wife and do not mean to make light of it in anyway), so it would seem almost worthless to ask our Lord to remove it, but we do ask that He would perfect His strength in my wife and His steadfastness in me. This is what we need your prayers in the most, that we would not waver or be tossed by uncertainty before our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Please pray for my wife throughout the remainder of the pregnancy.
2. The second matter of prayer are those who will be travelling over the weekend and next several weeks to be with us. Pray for travelling mercies and God's grace in their trip.
3. The last matter of prayer is mostly for me. This weekend and next week will be completely full of excitement. Being with Lacey during the delivery of our baby girl is by far my most important responsibility this week and next. I also have mid-term exams due at the end of next week (these will be the first that I take online). To top it all off McDonald's has scheduled me to work 26 hours for next week along with my normal 20 hours at the church which comes to a grand total of 46. There is little doubt that something will have to give next week for me to do all of that and hopefully it will not be my sanity. Most likely I will do very little at the church since it is the most forgiving out of everything else. Please pray for these things and ask the Lord to give me patience. I know that it is true that we will be enduring many nights of an upset baby's tears, so I can't think of a better time for everything to fall apart (sarcasm intended). I covet your prayers.

Updates will come later, until then please be praying for us. We are extremely excited for these times in our life and can't wait to see our little girl for the first time. It has been an awesome experience to serve my wife during these past several months and it has been a blessing to see her serve me even during some of the tougher times of the pregnancy. She is a beautiful and excellent wife who I love very much.

In and By His Grace,

Tyler