Caring Solutions Day of HOPE

What a great event! Our family walked in support of our local pregnancy center last Saturday at Central City Park in Macon. It was an absolutely perfect Fall morning-- brisk and refreshing. My team was in fine form, and most brought their husbands and kids. While most did the 5K, we strolled the park together and then let the kids play on the inflatables. It was special to me to bring our kids. It was my little way to symbolically thank the Lord for the blessing of Jeremiah, Sarah, and Rachel. $35,000 was raised to support the 2 centers' daily operations and the cost of the event was privately funded by corporate sponsors. I am proud to have contributed to this ministry! Again, Thank You to my family members and old, dear friends who were moved to give for this event. It will affect many families for good!

Rachel Joy

So, August and September happened.  We spent the week in Blue Ridge with our family, began 4K (Jeremiah) and 2 day a week 'playschool' (Sarah-- absolutely thriving), and I got to head up a second summer bible study (free therapy).  Pictures were taken and fun was had.  You'll just have to trust me.

And now, the long awaited (by maybe me and friend), story of Rachel Joy's entrance into the world!

I woke up at 1:47 a.m. (?) with my first mild pain.  After a few more, I went down to the couch and watched the second half of "Little Women" and then "Carousel".  (Side note: We have satellite again after 2 years of Netflix and antennae only and it's pretty fantastic.  Hallmark Movie Channel is delightful.)

Around 5, I decided to clean up the kitchen and do the neglected dishes so that I wouldn't embarrass myself when my family came and took both kids to school.  I even sat through a parent drop in at J's school while actively contracting.  Then, like a total maniac, I vacuumed the upstairs, cleaned the toilets and sinks, changed the sheets and dusted in our room.  I cleaned more in an hour and a half than I did in the entire pregnancy.  Mom and Dad arrived, Alex picked the kids, I texted and took pictures (loony), and decided it was probably a good time to call the doctor's office.  We got to the hospital at 12:30 p.m. and due to the large volume of laboring women that day, checked into triage and got suited up.  I walked the halls, hugged the bed, and you guessed it-- took more pictures.  I was progressing well, and not yet at the total mercy of all encompassing labor.  That happened a bit later.

We got back to the labor room probably around 3 p.m.  I got on the monitor briefly, answered even more health questions (which I will never understand after pre-registering and signing my consents before hard labor), and waited to to get into the birth pool.

I gave birth in a pool of water.  An inflatable one. This is significant to me because it demonstrates how experience changes many things.  I would never-in-a-million-years imagined I would *want* a natural birth, much less one in water, basically "in my own juices" as I once so accurately and delicately put it.  Since Sarah came so quickly and smoothly without medicine (I wanted it, but she came too fast), I figured I could give birth without meds and not die from the agony. 

In sincerity,  two friends of mine went the waterbirth route and one was sweet enough (Hi Cori!) to share her experience with me.  As someone who hates to rock the boat, it was a big decision to switch practices, meet and trust a midwife with only a few weeks remaining, and decide to go for it. Oh, and I told NO ONE in our family.  I could only imagine that my family would fear the baby would drown and think I was becoming a Hare Krishna.  We are not exactly a "granola" family.

Back to the birth pool.  My midwife was finally in the room, and at my last check, I was 7 cm dilated.  I got *real* quiet.  My body was in control, and my mind had to decide to submit.  I told the midwife it was time, hobbled over to the pool, threw my arms over the side, and cried out to God.  I am my most vocally worshipful in the labor room.  :)  The baby's head broke my water; I hoped my small intestines wouldn't fall out and with the next contraction, Rachel Joy was born!  April the midwife guided her head out, and Alex, whose hands I had grabbed for dear life while pushing, got to see our daughter be brought out of the water.

Truly thankful to be alive and intact, I sat back and got to hold Rachel on my lap, keeping her legs and tummy in the water to stay warm.  I was so exhausted that I delivered the placenta in the water (so much for my former protestations about grossness-- it wasn't bad)  and then was wrapped up in blankets and placed in bed for post-labor 'stuff'', to put it nicely.

Rachel was so calm from the water that her Apgar test was perfect (clearly gifted).  It was a wonderful, peaceful time to spend with her.  I know how very blessed I am to have her-- period-- and to have experienced an uncomplicated pregnancy and delivery.  It is not of my doing; The Lord in his graciousness allowed it, and I am so very thankful.

5 weeks later, we are back in the thick of it.  Errands, kid drama, stress, tantrums, and the like.  But we have a new little girl, and I wouldn't trade any of the hard work that accompanies young children (even the lack of sleep and diminished personal grooming) for my life without them.

Thank you Lord, again, for being able to experience tangibly a tiny bit of your enormous love for me, and for all.

Photo by Little Raindrops Photography

Eight

We made it to year 8!  Today's our anniversary!  I wanted to mark the day, as today will be a little more ordinary than that day eight years ago.

Instead of an updo and resplendant gown, I'm currently wearing a pre-baby bob, 2007 Gators BCS Championship tshirt, pink flowered pj pants, and house slippers. 

Instead of dancing to a jazz quartet, I'll be de-cruding the kitchen while Sesame Street and an I-phone entertains our children.

Instead of counting down the days, we looked at each other and said, "Oh, our anniversary is coming up.  We should do something."

To Alex's credit,  we are having an overnight date night in Atlanta and he even planned for a anniversary gift after the hissyfitting I exhibited a few Mother's Days ago.

Married life is messier and harder than I would have imagined on July 17, 2004.  But we have
all of this to celebrate...

Here's to us, then and now-- the life that's happened in between and the milestones left to reach together!

A Budding Conversationalist

Sarah is quite the chatterbox these days.  Before I forget, here are some of her favorite sayings:

"Come here, Mom!"

"Sit down, now! (as she points her finger down... she hears this one from me a lot)

"Where's brother?"

"I naked!!!!" (as she runs out of the bathtub)

"It's broke...it's working?"  (any toy that's out of batteries or not working as expected)

"I can do it!" (as she climbs the bunk bed ladder)

"T REX!"  (She loves Dinosaur Train, and we look through a Seek and Find book each day with the characters)

The girl is just something.  In the last month, she has smeared Vaseline on the bathroom walls, colored the carpet with crayon, and will chew anything.  The girl is part beaver.  Her crib rails are gnawed to the bare wood.

I'm not sure which parent she will face off with more as she grows.  She is very stubborn and resistant to discipline.  She crosses her arms and avoids your gaze when you are reprimanding her.  She will say "sorry" but all the time-outs and fanny spankings I could give her cannot make her say "Yes, Mommy" when I try to get her to agree her actions are wrong.  Hmmm.

That said, she is such a delight.  So full of life and fun.  So dramatic, such a  little girl. She makes the cutest gestures.   Definitely her own little person with a will and point of view.  Free with her kisses and gives the best fierce hugs. 

I wouldn't change her-- most of the time.  What a joy she is.  My beautiful big girl.

Just In Time...

I've started a tradition of making birthday slideshows, but I've fallen behind this year!  I realized making this that most of my action snapshots are saved to my phone! 

Here's a little bit of Jeremiah's 4th year.  I always find a song that Jay and I dance to a dinner making time.  Never thought a Queen song would remind me of my little boy.

Seriously, four years ago today I held that boy for the first time and understood the tender affection and consuming love that God feels for me.  What a gift these years have been!  I am so thankful for them and pray for a lifetime of memories made with my family.

The Big Reveal

We had a wonderful ultrasound today!  The baby looks great and is growing as expected.  Watch this short clip and see what we are having:

(Drum Roll... and Baby Young 3.0 is...)



I don't care who you are, that's just awesome.  To see a forming baby move in the womb with the naked eye?  If I needed convincing that there is a Creator God who is intricately involved in every aspect of life, that would be enough.

Thanks for sharing in our excitement!

Thinking in 140 Characters or Less

I've been mentally 'status updating' a lot this week. I don't know if social media has made us more or less creative, but maybe it's made me at least succinct.  

We have no obligations with Winter Break.  It's so nice not to rush out the door.  Since we are together a bit more, here's what I've noticed.

Pithy Observations on Life

1. Any day you can spend a majority of your morning in a bathrobe is a good one.

2. My daughter is an Eddie Haskell.

3.  Sarah has discovered Barbie.  And beaten her up, chewed her poms poms, and eaten her shoes.

4.  Any electronic device with a slot is a piggy bank for children.

5.  I realized like my kids.  (I love them, but I like them, too.)


I hope this has left you edified and uplifted. You're welcome. ;)

My trip to Siestaville

Life doesn't stop even when you take a break, and I've been running since returning from my weekend in Houston two weeks ago. I promised you some highlights, and here they are:

1) I am competent! I'm used to having someone to watch out for me, for which I am very grateful, but it is a nice feeling to navigate traveling solo.

2) Food. Anything you don't cook yourself is automatically delicious. Airport pizza, hotel omelets, and a fancy South American lunch were equally delicious.

3. Sister time. Nat and I got our nails done, tersely navigated the confusing streets of suburban Houston, and quizzed each other on our memory verses. We wore our matching tees and boas. We were together for 48 solid hours and we enjoyed it!

4. Meeting Siestas. Siesta really means sister in our blog community. About 900 ladies attended the celebration for learning 24 verses. The celebration was put on by Beth Moore's Living Proof Ministries. We met new friends in the mall, hotel, and airport. Siestas know siestas.

5. Beth!!! Her teaching did not disappoint. She is 'just darling' to echo her praise for others. I think she is so effective because she really loves others. You can't fake that. She taught from 2 John and her charge to us was to TAKE BACK any God-given ground that we have lost to the enemy. I can't capture all the wisdom she shared on this little summary, but she is the real deal. (And she, like many of the siestas, had the cutest outfit.)

Here are a few snapshots:

Claymation Realization

I was watching a claymation movie, The Miracle Maker, as I did a last ditch clean-up before Christmas Eve.  I put it on for the kids, but kept stopping the vacuum and getting pulled into the story.  The movie tells the story of Jesus' life.  In one portion of the movie,  the narrative flashes back to the time Jesus was tempted during his 40 day fast.  The movie illustrates the devil taking Christ up to look down at the earthly splendor that could be his if he denied God. For every twisted Scripture the devil used, Jesus rebutted.

This came to me as clear as day, so I know I didn't think it up on my own:

If the SON OF GOD  used Scripture to fight against fear and temptation, who am i not to?

Making Scripture a more active part of my life is the first real New Year's resolution/goal I've ever kept.  I posted 24 Scriptures last year in an effort to memorize Scripture.  I will be reciting 10 in a few weeks as part of the Siesta Scripture Memory Team Celebration in Houston, TX.

The Scriptures I recorded and recited this year are a record of my year.  I have hidden them in my heart and spoke them out.  I have USED them!

I participated in this group not because of my spiritual maturity, but because I NEEDED to.  I continue to need a renewed mind and a steadfast spirit.  When I recite those verses it in a few weeks, it won't be an exercise in piety.  I will be an exercise of pure joy!  God's Word is powerful.  It has fought many battles for me in 2011.

I look forward to sharing all about my Siesta trip!