Worst post ever. Best post ever.

The worst post ever part:

Here are some quick updates to what has happened in our family since my last post about expecting baby #9.

It was the worst pregnancy ever.  Reading back on the post about the announcement I realize that I called that fate out to the universe.  But seriously, it was long and laborious and from the moment the test said positive I had the fire burning in my pelvis and the weight of the world on my joints. My skin was so sensitive to touch, my shoulders ached from sleeping on my side, my back ached from sleeping on my back...  it was impossible.  I gained more wieght than I ever have in a pregnancy before and ended up using a wheelchair to navigate any outings. The last two months I was non-existent at church.  That wore me down in a lot of ways.

Now the best post ever part:

And then... just when I thought this would never end and I couldn't even remember what I was doing it for,  we made it to the temple.  Sean's recommend was expired so he sat in the waiting room for a few ours feeling sheepish-  the session was not very full and I had a front row seat. I tearfully prayed silently- expressing my desire to be the mom I needed to be in spite of these challenges.  I also asked for direction in choosing a name.

I look back on that experience as such a sweet moment of affirmation and peace.  The Lord truly blessed me that day with a vision of who was coming to our home, what we should name him and how he would be a blessing and a light to us as his parents all of our days. I loved my time there but couldn't wait to meet up with Sean again. As I recounted my experience in detail to Him the spirit washed over both of us anew and confirmed the things we were learning to our hearts.  We were amazed to consider the name we were told, to look up its meaning and be awed.

A few weeks later we met this mighty soul for the first time.

All is well in the world.