"Having a child changes everything! We had tried to have a baby for eight years prior to Rochelle being born. Throughout that time, I did the temperature charts, took the fertility drugs, maintained calendars, etc. I would get pregnant, but repeatedly miscarried during the second month of pregnancy. It was an emotional roller-coaster, to say the least. Finally, I decided to go through the process one more time and got the normal prescriptions from my doctor. However, I labored over the decision and for a couple of weeks carried the scripts around in my purse. I decided, after a great deal of prayer and meditation, to simply wait on God to work it out. I found out a couple of days later that I was already pregnant — this time without the aid of medication.
"The morning of that day, I felt pressed in my spirit to read Psalm 147. I really had no idea why. As I read, nothing especially spoke to my heart until I reached verse 13. It reads, 'For He has strengthened the bars of your gates; He hath blessed your children within you.' When I reached that verse, my spirit leaped! I knew that God was guaranteeing this baby. My womb would hold out. She would be protected. Over the next few weeks, my body followed the same course that it had always done previously. As a matter of fact, during my sixth week I began threatening miscarriage. I lay in the bed one Saturday reading and repeating that verse and praying.
"Every day after that was perfect! No swollen feet ... no back pain ... no sitting on the bladder ... It was beautiful. One final threat, however, tried to take her life. Due to a confusion with doctor appointments, I went to the office a day early. They went ahead and checked me. It was a good thing that I was there early. I was dilated 4 centimeters and Rochelle's heart rate was racing. They sent me over to the birthing center where they found that after each contraction, her heart rate plummeted. After an emergency C-section, she came into this world fighting. For a week she received antibiotics for an infection.
"Today, she is a wonderful 12-year-old girl who is in BETA Club and showcases her talented dancing and acting skills. She has a strong prayer- and Bible study-life. She is a joy to my life. She is blessing of faith to me that continually reminds me that God is faithful.
"I always feel the little 'pilot light' burning on the inside of my spirit. She is my joy."
