Dear Friends,

We met with my OB/GYN yesterday and finally scheduled an induction for August 22nd...next Friday at 7:00 a.m. Due to the fact that Christian's growth has been so slight, our doctor's felt that the inducing labor would give us the best chance to have a birthday with Christian and to spend a little time with him. We're going to be giving birth at The Birth Place here in Naples.

To tell you the truth, I was so nervous when we scheduled the date. This is the day I've been praying for and dreading at the same time. I am so excited to meet my son FINALLY! To be able to hold Christian in my arms with his father beside me is a dream I've been wishing for for so long. We are going to be parents! But how much time will we have with him, I don't know. That's the part I dread. Will I be strong enough to handle what is to come? For now, I shove those fears in the back of my mind and try to focus on the joy we will experience when we meet him on Friday.

There is so much that we are trying to accomplish in this short period of time. I haven't written about it at all these past few months, but Ryan and I have been very busy trying to shut our family business down so that we can devote all our time to Christian when he comes. It's been a struggle for us because the Florida heat hinders my ability to help Ryan as much as I'd like. And he is not the type of person to ask for help. Also, as many of you already know, Ryan is also a full time firefigher. When he's not working 24 hours at the fire station, he is trying to finish projects for our clients and move our business from our warehouse back to our shop at home. I don't know how he does it...He's is truly amazing. I can tell the stress is finally wearing on him though...he looks so tired these days. But he never complains...he just tells me that he can't wait to spend time with our son.

I don't know how we've managed these past several months... we have tried to be strong for each other in the most difficult of situations. And we have done it.

Thank you all for your prayers and the many, many emails we are receiving each day. I read them all before I go to bed and feel so much better about what each new day brings. You are all so amazing. I wish I wasn't so tired each night... I would write you all and tell you how much I love you for caring for me and my family. I hope you will understand if I haven't written to you personally. Believe me when I say that I truly appreciate your letters and I thank God every day for bringing each of you into our lives.

Love,

Leah