The Busti Bunch: Our Newest Addition, Arriving in February

In the Summer of 2009, I had resigned myself that I would have no more children (at least my body would not deliver them). I was experiencing a cervical ectopic pregnancy (with our 5th child), which is extremely rare and potentially life threatening to the mother. There is no way a baby could survive a cervical implantation, so last summer, we watched our baby slowly die, then we waited to see what would happen with me. There was a danger of me hemorrhaging and dying before I could make it to the hospital. I was restricted in my travels for 6 weeks. I felt a hysterectomy (the only treatment/cure for my condition) was inevitable.

A sweet sister from church fasted and prayed for me on the days that I had my weekly doctor appointments. She specifically prayed that my fertility would be spared. I actually thought she was wasting her breath. I had accepted the fate that seemed to lie before me. I never told her she was wasting her prayers, because I didn't want to hurt her feelings. But I felt this inwardly. It seemed I was a hysterectomy waiting to happen.

After 6 weeks of no hemorrhaging, I was allowed outside of my limited circle of travel to venture further. The very day we left on vacation and drove outside of that 20 mile radius from the hospital, I began to hemorrhage (which is what the doctors feared with my situation). I had to turn around and come back. I was hospitalized and prepped for a hysterectomy. At the 11th hour, Dr. J. (a high risk ob/gyn---not the basketball player) saved the day! He determined that he thought I could heal without the need for a hysterectomy. This was in July 2009. A few days later, the bleeding stopped and the long path to healing began. (To read more of our story during this time, click here.)

I saw Dr. J again in January of this year. This was 6 months after the loss of our baby. He said at that point (January) my healing had been at about 50% from the previous complicated pregnancy. I could get pregnant again, but there might be complications with the delivery.

So, we prayed for God to give us another baby, if it was His will...and in May of this year, God answered and sent us another baby.

I have had a lot of emotional ups and downs with this pregnancy. Many of you who have experienced miscarriage/loss know about this. Fears assail on every side. This has been a true faith battle.

Today, I was scheduled for a sonogram with Dr. J. I was seeing him because the scar tissue/lack of healing from last year's ordeal could cause problems with our current pregnancy. There was a danger of pre-term labor and pre-mature birth.

Here's the big praise...when he examined me today, and he couldn't believe the results! He said it was like he was looking inside a different body. He said I am healed from the scar tissue/damage from last summer!!! This was VERY unexpected on his part, as he felt in January that 50% healing was all I would achieve. He seemed very surprised.

Isn't our God amazing?

The other great news: the baby measured right on the money in every way, from head measurements all the way down to internal organ and bone measurements. A HEALTHY BABY!!! And....it's a BOY!

I am still in awe of our great God and how he answered that sweet sister's fasting and prayers for me. I cannot wait to hold this little boy and tell him the miracle story of how he came to us!

From the moment we knew we were pregnant, we began discussing names. Names have become very important to us, after the loss of 2 children. Though we kicked around several girl names, we knew right away that the boy's name would be Joshua. After all, Caleb has to have a Joshua, right? The story of Joshua and Caleb has been majorly instrumental in our lives both before and during this med school journey. We dwell amongst giants in the land...and God is delivering us one step at a time! We felt it only right for this baby, born in the land of giants (aka med school!) to be named Joshua.

We chose the name Luke after the physician and writer of the gospel, Luke. We thought Luke nicely symbolized where we are at right now...Tony's journey to becoming a physician.

So, there ya have it. Joshua Luke Busti.

Here's his sweet little profile...

The Busti Boys want to let you all know that excellent "crotch shots" proving his male-ness are available upon request...hee, hee!

Salado Flood 2010

Being a town that centers around a spring fed creek can have its perils. The creek has flooded 3 times since we have lived here, but this most recent flood was the worst in over 50 years. I know some of these sights will not seem like much to you, because many of you are not familiar with our haunts in Salado, but for those of you who have been here and taken a trek with us down to the creek (the kids favorite place to be), these pictures will have more of an impact...


The tree Blane used to climb- the tree we sat under on Caleb's first trip to the Creek- totally uprooted.
The rock area where the kids would climb and jump into the creek, now totally covered with fallen trees. No more shade at the creek :-(
My favorite tree to sit under and watch the kids play...now gone...

Rosanky's (shop near creek) after two 18 wheeler trailer loads of ruined antiques and merchandise were carted off. This is 2 days after the flood and you can still see standing water all around. The winery next to Rosanky's was completely wiped out.

After the last flood, the Village put up a pipe fence along the bridge, right next to the sidewalk. Only two pieces of fence were even left on the whole bridge, and these were mangled.

The flood washed over the I-35 bridge, filling it with trees and debris. Normally, this bridge is tall enough to walk under...now covered in water...

The tree I park under, now down...the road to the creek washed out...



We fared very well in this flood. Only one room had water in it, and the water was minimal. Thankfully, this was our sun porch, so it has linoleum floors that hold up well to standing water! While we slept away (or tried to sleep without electricity, meaning no A/C), this is what was happening not even a mile down the road.

Though I know this passage means far more than our recent flood, these words of Scripture came to me from Isaiah 43...

When you pass through the waters,
I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
they will not sweep over you...
For I am the LORD, your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Savior;