Surgery: March 1, Due Date: March 4

From Caroline:

As many of you know, Nick is scheduled for lumbar decompression surgery on Monday at noon at Mass General Hospital (MGH) in Boston.  Baby girl Smith (i.e. Itty Bitty Smitty) is due on Thursday.  How did we get here?!

Welp, here's the short story...

16 months of discomfort that has ended in 2 months of, at many times, unbearable pain (especially in the middle of the night)....3 doctors, 2 chiropractors, a steroid shot, steroid pills, vitamins, ibuprofen, ice packs, a middle-of-the-night visit to the ER because of pain, valium, percocet... and finally, the surgery.  A disc in Nick's lower back is bulging and is hitting his sciatic nerve, causing pain up and down his leg, hip, and butt.  I'm honestly not sure how in the world the timing ended up the way it did. But now that we're here, we know it's the right thing to do. 

Please pray for Nick's surgery on Monday, and for his recovery.  Please pray for Itty Bitty to come at the right time, preferably not on Sunday, Monday, or Tuesday.  Please pray for our relationship as we are both going through a lot physically and emotionally, and we are trying to serve one another and love one another well. 

Psalm 33:20-22 "Our soul waits for the Lord; he is our help and our shield.  For our heart is glad in him, because we trust in his holy name.  Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us, even as we trust in you."

We'll try to update this blog on Monday or Tuesday with news about the surgery!