Thursday, December 25, 2008

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Sunday, November 16, 2008

Thursday, October 30, 2008

Election Contemplation

Obama vs. Scott and Janet Willis


Reverend Scott and Janet Willis, whose six children were killed in a tragic accident involving a truck driver who had obtained his commercial drivers license through bribery, drive three hours to the state capital in Springfield to testify in favor of a “Choose Life” license plate; proceeds from the specialty license plate would be used to help fund adoption expenses. Echoing pro-abortion groups, Obama calls the issue “contentious.” NARAL calls it "aggressive propaganda," and the vice president of the Illinois National Organization for Women calls it "a violation of free speech." Reporters fill the hearing room, eager to record the expected emotional Willis testimony; Obama calls only his friendly witnesses, ignores Scott and Janet Willis, and then abruptly adjourns the hearing. Obama reconvenes the hearing the next day, after the reporters have returned to Chicago, listens to testimony, and then has his Democrat-controlled committee kill the legislation. [412,413,414]

We need to somehow get this out to the voting public.....

Friday, October 10, 2008

A Gathering

Please see thebrokeringfamily.blogspot.com for details regarding Warren's funeral. In short, the viewing will be on Monday, 4-8 p.m. (ha--good luck getting us all through THAT line in just four hours), and funeral on Tuesday from 1-3.

The services will be held in Terre Haute, IN, just 2 hours from my house. I know that there could possibly be a great number of people traveling from Wisconsin and other parts of Northern Indiana and Illinois. Jeff and I would like to open our home in case someone needs a place to stay on the way. Because our son Bryan is flying in to Indianapolis on Monday, we most likely will not be attending the viewing, but our plan is to leave sometime Tuesday morning to attend the funeral. We have a guest room with a queen size bed, and a basement with a very comfy couch. Either place is open to anyone in need, so please let us know if you'd like to stay over. I am anticipating a Maranatha alumni gathering the likes of which we've not seen in a long time. It is painful that we should meet this way, but let's face it, Warren would love it! My guess is that he would probably come up with some kind of skit and silly outfit to wear just for the occasion! So don't hesitate to contact us if you'd like to stop by. We'd love to have you!

Finally Home

The wait is finally over for Warren. Please keep the rest of the family in your prayers.

From the Brokering's blog.....

Warren Brokering, husband, father, pastor, and friend went home to be with his Lord this afternoon, October 10, 2008, at 2:55 p.m. (ET). He was surrounded by his wife, Tana, his family, and dear friends. He is no longer in pain, and he is now face to face with Christ his Savior. Although his passing is painful, we are rejoicing with him as he enters a new, eternal life with Jesus.

At this time funeral arrangements are being made, and will be posted as soon as they are finalized. The family is asking that you respect their privacy and refrain from directly calling. Comments on the blog and emails are welcome. Please feel free to call Brett Marker with condolences and requests for information. Brett can be reached on his cell phone at 734-968-5135, and through email at brett.a.marker@jpmchase.com.

Thank you for your love and prayers during this difficult time.

2 Timothy 4:7-8

“I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.”

From Jeff Estes

"I just got off the phone with the hospital. Warren is sleeping comfortably, but still with us."

Whence Cometh My Help

Still no news.


I Will Lift My Eyes

God, my God, I cry out
Your beloved needs You now
God, be near, calm my fear and take my doubt
Your kindness is what pulls me up
Your love is all that draws me in

I will lift my eyes to the Maker of the mountains I can't climb
I will lift my eyes to the Calmer of the oceans raging wild
I will lift my eyes to the Healer of the hurt I hold inside
I will lift my eyes, lift my eyes to You

God, my God, let mercy sing her melody over me and
God, right here, all I bring is all of me
Your kindness is what pulls me up
Your love is all that draws me in

I will lift my eyes to the Maker of the mountains I can't climb
I will lift my eyes to the Calmer of the oceans raging wild
I will lift my eyes to the Healer of the hurt I hold inside
I will lift my eyes, lift my eyes to You

'Cause You are and You were and You will be forever the Lover I need to save me 'Cause You fashioned the earth and You hold it together, God so hold me now

I will lift my eyes to the Maker of the mountains I can't climb
I will lift my eyes to the Calmer of the oceans raging wild
I will lift my eyes to the Healer of the hurt I hold inside
I will lift my eyes, lift my eyes to You
I will lift my eyes, lift my eyes to You

God, my God, I cry out
Your beloved needs You now

3:22 a.m.

Berkeley received a text message saying that Warren was in the final stage, and to pray that he be taken quickly. Nothing since then.

Thursday, October 09, 2008

7:39 p.m. ET

Jeff Estes is on the phone with Tana right now. Warren is still very much aware of his surroundings when he is awake. She says, "this man is such a fighter, and he is not going down easy"! But so far, still not much of a change from before.

Some news

I just spoke with Berk, who just spoke with Brett Marker. Brett is there in the hospital with Warren and Tana. Warren is in and out of consciousness. When he wakes he is anxious and agitated. They are giving him morphine and Adavan (forgive the spelling) for his pain and breathing. Unfortunately, with each time his breathing dips, they try to get him back up to the level he was previously at, with no success. He is only breathing about 20 respirations an hour now. It will not be long. Please pray for Tana. She had tried to get some sleep, am not sure how successful it was, but at least she rested for a while. I will update as I receive news.

CORRECTION--Warren is breathing 20 respirations per minute, NOT HOUR. So sorry about the typo. Was trying to type too fast!

Wednesday, October 08, 2008

Please Pray

Please pray for my friends, Warren and Tana Brokering. Warren has been battling lung cancer for some time now, and it appears that he may be in the last few hours of his life. I just spoke with Tana on the phone and was able to share some verses and pray with her. What a blessing she was.....even through her tears. I am sure it is all very surreal. They have three children under the age of eight. Please be praying for them. They knew that he was declining, but had no idea that it would come this quickly.

Warren is awake and aware of what is happening. He was told just today that he will most likely not make it through the weekend. He is taking it well. Dave Martins and his family are on the way from Minnesota, but it is a 16 hour trip. Please pray that if it is God's will, they will make it in time.

Tana said to me, "God is good". And he is.

Look Familiar?


Friday, October 03, 2008

Shoulder to Shoulder

This has been a time for adjustment in our family. The addition of two children into the daily routine of our family has been a wonderful change, and, at times, a serious challenge. Jack went from being an “only child” to being the “middle child” in a very short amount of time. I daresay that the change has been hardest for him, but because he is only 2 (almost 3!) it is more difficult for him to truly voice his feelings. And so he acts out, making an already crazy household that much more crazy. I have often thought to myself, “What would I do without Jeff”? I know women who have done it, either because they’ve lost their husbands to death, or they are in the military, or have simply been abandoned by their husbands. If you were to ask each one how they are possibly getting through life, they would tell you that is not in their own strength.

Recently, I have had several friends going through deep waters. One I will mention by name, Lisa, who is experiencing extreme physical difficulties, life-threatening even. Please pray for her, her husband, and two small children, who have physical difficulties of their own. I have other friends making a stand for Christ, and facing difficulties because of it. Some of the things my friends are experiencing has had me plain old mad at Satan, and so I went out this morning to work out some aggression on the ornamental grass that has taken over the plants in my retaining ring. Earlier I had read an email, and was struck by the phrase “stand shoulder to shoulder”. As I worked, I began to think about that phrase, and was truly grateful that I can say that through the adjustment trials we have been experiencing I have my dear husband standing shoulder to shoulder with me. But what if there was no one? The phrase is defined “to support one another at a difficult time”. It made me think of a modern phrase, “got your back”. This has a combat meaning, where two soldiers, surrounded by the enemy, stand back to back to ward off attack. What if no one had my back?

Psalm 16:8 says, “I have set the LORD always before me. Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken”. In the battles of our daily lives, and in the extreme trials assigned to us by God, there is One who stands shoulder to shoulder and back to back with us. Jesus Christ. Because He is standing at my right hand, and all around me, I will not be shaken or moved. He is the King, the ultimate Bridegroom, the Victorious Warrior.

My prayer today for my friends would be that whatever giant they are facing, they would know without a doubt that Jesus Christ is standing shoulder to shoulder with them, and as others fall away, He will remain unchangeable, unshakeable, and unstoppable.

In Christ Alone

In Christ alone my hope is found
He is my light, my strength, my song
This Cornerstone, this solid ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm
What heights of love, what depths of peace
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease
My Comforter, my All in All
Here in the love of Christ I stand

In Christ alone, who took on flesh
Fullness of God in helpless babe
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones He came to save
‘Til on that cross as Jesus died
The wrath of God was satisfied
For every sin on Him was laid
Here in the death of Christ I live

There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave He rose again
And as He stands in victory
Sin’s curse has lost its grip on me
For I am His and He is mine
Bought with the precious blood of Christ

No guilt of life, no fear in death
This is the power of Christ in me
From life’s first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny
No power of hell, no scheme of man
Can ever pluck me from His hand
‘til He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand

Friday, September 26, 2008

I'VE BEEN KIDNAPPED!!

Don't anyone DARE try to rescue me!

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Bart Gray: 7 of 9

No we aren't talkin star trek lingo - it is actually 7 of 9 lives......


EDIT: Ok, a little background information is needed. This is our Tom, our Hunter-Extraordinaire, able to take down large squirrels and rabbits with ease. This also happens to be the same cat who, last month, we thought had been tragically killed in a roadside accident, only to find out that it was NOT our Bart, but the neighbors barn cat. On Friday, Bryan came in the house and said that Jeff needed me outside to doctor one of the cats. I went out thinking that I would see chewed ears and scratched eyes, but to my horror I found Bart with a 3-4 inch HOLE chewed in his side. We're talking visible insides here, folks. I immediately told Jeff he needed to get him to the vet. It would seem that some animal, we're thinking coyote (s), must have held him down and nawed on him. This is really something for us, given that Bart is a very strong kitty. Whatever it was must have been big, and didn't win. So, Bart spent the weekend at our neighborhood vet, getting all stitched up and vaccinated. He seems none-the-less for wear! Welcome home, Bart!

Sunday, September 07, 2008

Friday, September 05, 2008

Saturday, August 30, 2008

Saturday, August 23, 2008

Busy Days

Grace is 12 weeks old! Hard to believe, since we just brought her home yesterday. She smiles, laughs and coos everytime we talk to her. She is generally a really good baby. Jack really seems to love her, which, how could you NOT!!!

It is Saturday morning and Jack and I are the only ones up (of course, since Jack wakes up at 7:30 a.m. every morning). We made coffee--yes--Jack drinks coffee, and we are just waiting for an appropriate time to go "jump on Daddy, jump on Bubba". Jeff will be home ALL day today, and we're planning to just hang around the house and tackle some projects that have been waiting and waiting and waiting.......

Bryan has started his new school and seems to really be enjoying it! He also has started soccer, and although he doesn't like all the running, I think that he likes playing. He has never played organized soccer before, so this was a bit of a challenge for him. He is going to be playing goalie, and informed us last night that he was third in line to play. Yay, we said, thinking, oh boy, he probably won't get to play very much. But then he told us some terrible news....the second place goalie broke his ankle in practice last night! Very, very sad for the goalie, and to be honest, Bryan was very concerned for him. But that does move him up a little bit :-) So I guess I need to find him those size 14 soccer cleats. BTW, if anyone out there in blogdom has and old pair of size 14 (we'd even take 13) soccer cleats, PLEASE let us know!

Well, it's time to go wake the boys and make blueberry pancakes! Thank you Prelock Blueberry Farm!

Have a wonderful day! I'll try to post more pics later today since Jeff is home and will be able to help me get them off my camera!

Saturday, August 16, 2008

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Misc. Important Events

Wow.

First, I have to say that I have been so incredibly busy that my blog has, sadly, taken a HUGE backseat to LIFE. Bet you hadn't figured that out yet.

Second, my computer has been DOWN and OUT for, oh, I don't know, about a month, I think. I had a backup laptop from Jeff, but it just isn't the same and, well, I just haven't been making it a priority (see above paragraph).

Third, now that all that is out of the way I will try to catch up, in a very quick sort of fashion.

May 30--Had a baby, Grace Renae
June--Took care of said baby, tried to help my two year-old adjust to baby, had family crisis, did many lawn projects.
July--More taking care of baby, Jack doing better with baby, running Bry to church events, sleepovers, etc., had surgery, recovered from surgery, said goodbye to Bry for a month, more lawn projects.
August--Bry came back home, and we started getting him ready for school. Lots of new things to learn there and I'm a little nervous that he will miss something and it will be all my fault for not being on top of things. He starts soccer practice today! Jeff went away to Minnesota for a week, and we miss him terribly! He's been sending us text messages and pictures of where he is at, and that really helps. Grace is 10 weeks old! She is bubbly and bright and really fun to play with. She also has already rolled over once! Wooo hoooo! I'm struggling with the last few pounds of baby weight, but I'm trying not to get upset since I had 6 weeks of recovery from the baby and another 3 weeks after surgery, so I haven't been "cleared" to do any sort of rigorous exercise until just recently. Not that I've started doing it now.......anyway. Grace has been sick with her first cold and had a really miserable day yesterday. She's sleeping alot today, and that is really good. Jack started DAYCARE today. There is a daycare just down the road from us that I have had Jack registered with for months, but just have been unable (emotionally) to let him go. He even points at it when we go past and says, "Go that, mommy". Jeff called and made the arrangements for me (which was good because if left to me it probably would NEVER have happened), and this morning I took him and left him there. Sigh.....sniff......sigh. He seemed fine. I don't think he really understood that I was leaving him there, because I didn't really say goodbye. He was just playing out in the playground, and I left him there. Sigh......it was really very hard. BUT, here I am, for the first time in weeks, blogging. Thank you, honey, for helping me take this step. He'll only be there for a few hours on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

I'll conclude with a few pictures, and let you know that I am really into Facebook, and that you can view more photos there if you want. I'll be happy to be friends with you! I like FB because I can control who is viewing all my photos, and it's very quick and easy. Instead of blogging a whole long epistle I can keep people updated with one liners in my status bar. I plan to keep the blog up and running, but as you can see, it's not something I can do everyday. However, it only takes a couple of minutes to update my status and check everyone else's status, so right now, that is the way to keep track of us. Sorry, blogger!

Thursday, July 31, 2008

Wednesday, July 30, 2008

A boy and his Gator...

Ladies and Gentlemen, He is ALL boy...


Tuesday, July 08, 2008

Finally


Here, finally, is a photo of Grace! I took it just before she laid down for her nap this afternoon, so you can hardly get more "updated" than that! I took the enormous memory card OUT of my camera and put the piddly little one back in.....voila! Pictures!

Also, this afternoon, my friend, Dana and her little boy Conner came over for some fun and we actually were able to get this picture of them playing together. At least, they played until Jack threw a fit and had to go to bed! Poor Jack.

Saturday, July 05, 2008

Fun at Chuck E Cheeses

I really should have started the betting ar $20

Wednesday, July 02, 2008

Stay Tuned

We're having some technical difficulties, folks. Jeff's computer has puked on us (don't worry, we are all backed up, and he was able to get files off the computer), and so I have been unable to get my pictures off my camera (see previous posts on gigantic memory card). Since I know that you really don't want to heard long rambling posts about how CUTE Grace and Jack are, but would rather actually SEE for yourself, you're just gonna have to wait. Sorry!

In the meantime, I will leave you with this funny from Jack....

Upon the return from his first trip with ONLY Mommy to the Zoo, Jack was asked what he saw. He replied, "Cow poopies". Never mind the elephants, the sea lions, or petting the sharks in the shark tank. And, he was right, there WERE cow poopies.

Thursday, June 26, 2008

Trip To The Store

Just wanted to let y'all know that I got some more coffee filters.........we're more civilized now in our addictions.

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

The mark of a desperate mommy...

Yes... Ladies and gentlemen... it truly is paper towel.

Some people will do anything for a "fix"

Posted by Jeff :)

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

A Field of Pink Flowers


Can you find the baby? She's the little peachy thing with smokey blue eyes in the middle of all those pink flowers! I just couldn't resist the temptation to gussy her all up and take this picture, even though she acted as though I were cutting off her arms. My goodness, she does NOT like having her clothes changed! What was worse, was that I immediately took the dress OFF of her so as to not give her the opportunity to spit up on it. It was totally a photo op, and once it was done, she got back into her jammies.


Gracie is doing just great! She eats ALL THE TIME, and when she's not eating, she is sleeping. The night before last she slept from midnight to 6 a.m. Last night she slept from 11 - 3, and 4 - 8 a.m., so she's just about got sleeping through the night mastered. I am still pretty tired from the nights of being up, and just regular recovery from the birth, but I'm starting to feel more and more like my old self. Last night I was so tired that I guess I didn't hear the huge clap of thunder, or Jack crying, or Jeff bringing Jack into our bed in the middle of the night. All I know is that when Grace finally woke me up at 3, Jack was in bed with us!


We have better news to report with Anne. We talked with her last night for the first time since she left, and things went much better. We were able to iron out a few issues, and there were some definite sounds of repentance that were not there before. We love her, and we will take her at her word, and in the meantime, we will be looking for the fruit of change in her life to know whether or not her repentance is genuine. Please continue to pray for her. We miss her every day.


Well, I better run. We're going to town tonight to buy Jack a sandbox! Oh, and in case you hadn't looked recently, I uploaded some new pictures to my facebook page.

Monday, June 09, 2008

Thursday, June 05, 2008

Catching My Breath

Well, what a few days this has been! I certainly did not expect that coming home with a newborn would be easy, as a matter of fact, I knew that it would NOT be easy, but I wasn't quite expecting what has actually been occurring.

We came home on, gosh, was it Sunday? Yes, Sunday afternoon. By Sunday evening it was apparent that I had caught the same flu bug that Jack and my mother (and my mother-in-law as well) had been stricken with. As most moms know, no matter how clean you leave your house when he door closes behind you, when you come home, it's always a wreck, so on Monday the first order of the day was...order. Jeff mobilized the troops and spent the day organizing and pitching all kinds of stuff. You never know how much you can accumulate....the packaging for baby monitors, pacifiers, wrapping paper, hospital papers that you don't need, plus just unpacking all the stuff you brought home from the hospital! I tried to rest and recover as much as possible, but I was still needed to direct traffic and take care of Grace.

Tuesday was a little better flu-wise, although I was feeling pretty sore and "train-wrecked". Grace has her days and nights mixed up, so she sleeps great during the day and is awake and fussy mostly between the hours of 11p.m. - 4 a.m. Not much sleeping happens during that time frame.

While all of this normal "adjusting" was going on, we were having some discipline issues with Anne. This has been something we've been dealing with for some time now, and were very hopeful that her presence here, along with exposing her to godly friends and the youth group at church would be the catalyst that was needed for her to make some necessary changes to her life. Sadly, things culminated with her on Tuesday evening to such a point that an emergency "counseling" call to Mark and Laurie became necessary. Mark spoke very plainly and lovingly to her about the choices, and the consequences to the choices that she was making, but Anne has chosen at this point to harden her heart to God's truth. Because of the circumstances it became apparent that we would need to send her back home to GA to her mother. Tuesday night (actually by then it was Wednesday morning) we booked her a flight home, and after about 2 hours of sleep, Jeff got up and took her to Indy where she got on a plane home to GA without even saying a goodbye. We are heartbroken. We love her so much, and our hearts are literally raw with grief over her rejection of truth. I do not share this with you to shame her, but to ask you to pray for her and for us. If you know Anne and want to encourage her, please feel free to email me, and I will let you know how you can get in touch with her. She still claims to be a Christian, which means that her choices will only lead one way......the hard way. Pray for Bryan. He is quiet and hasn't expressed much, but we know that although he was prepared to eventually say "goodbye for now" to Anne at the end of the summer, this unexpected turn of events has shaken him. He has responded very well, and has encouraged her to "make better choices".

We have kept Jack busy, and so far I think that with all the commotion of the "new arrangement" of having a baby sister, he hasn't really processed yet that Anne is gone. I'm sure that as the days pass, he will start to realize that she is not just spending the night at a friends, and his questions will come. As for Grace, it is also sad for us that Anne is missing this precious new beginning, and that she has chosen willfully to miss it. Anne, if you are reading this, we LOVE you, we MISS you, and we wish you were here. Please make the choices that you know you need to make so that we can get past this time!

Well, as you can see, there is so much more happening in our lives than just the addition of little Gracie. She is absolutely beautiful, and we love her dearly. She is an encouragement to our hearts, and even her name is a reminder of what God has done for us in giving up His only Son to be the Redeemer of our hearts. Through these last few days I have been challenged over and over again by my own words to my hurting friends, words given to me by my friend, during time of past hurts of my own. Do I really believe that the truth of God's word trumps the pain of my experience? Do I really believe that God causes all things to work together for good, that I may be more like Christ? Do I really have this ambition...to be pleasing to Christ?

I do. I really do. So, I am going through my days with a renewed determination to look for Christ in every situation that presents itself, to hopefully be found faithful in the trials that He has given me, and to please Him in everything that I do. Please pray for us as we have this goal.

I will try to post some more pictures soon. I have a ton of them on my camera, but I have this unusual problem.....I have this gigantic new memory card for my camera, which is really cool, but it is so HUGE that I can't get my computer to recognize it, so the process to get the pictures off of it is more complicated than I would like, and requires me to log in to Jeff's computer and have his help getting the pictures off. So, as soon as we get a moment, we will try to upload the pictures to my facebook page.

Newsflash: Just spoke with Jeff and it would appear that the "BUG" has hit him at work. Poor daddy, he feels miserable. Aunt Gigi has come and whisked Jack away for the day, so I am now at home with Grace and Bryan. What shall I do first? Take a shower? Take a nap? Post on my blog? Well, I guess I will post this on my blog. :-)

Please pray for us!

Friday, May 30, 2008

What Else Can I Say?

I feel so much better.

Ha! I really do! I am sitting in my room while Jeff, Anne and Bryan are all down at the nursery watching Grace have her "head to toe" check, which should have happened hours ago, but didn't because of the tornado warning that we had. We were forced out into the hallway for almost an hour until the all-clear was given. During that time Grace slept peacefully in my arms.

She is really beautiful. I have so many reasons to be thankful to God for how this birth went. It was definitely more painful than Jack's, but it went so quickly that I didn't really have time to think about it. By the time I got completely checked in to my room, started the IV, started the pitocin, and had my water broken, it was after 12:00 p.m. I labored very lightly for about an hour, then the contractions started to pick up pretty good, so I asked for my epidural. I think I must have gotten that around 2:30 p.m. or so. I felt wonderful after that--and got settled in for a wait. We got the laptop all loaded up with catch-up episodes of LOST and was getting ready to watch, when I noticed that my contractions were starting to hurt again. So I turned over on my other side to see if that helped. It didn't. They continued to get worse, and then I noticed that they seemed to not stop. Due to where they were hurting, my nurse got suspicious and checked me....I was at an 8. This was around 3:30 p.m., I think. They called Dr. W and started getting the room ready. About ten minutes later they checked again, and I was complete at 10. By this time I felt like I was in agony. It hurt horribly bad, but I knew that I was close because I had the desire to grind my teeth. I had to wait a few minutes for Dr. W to get all suited up, but then I started pushing. I was really encouraged because everyone was "ooooohing and ahhhhing" and telling me that I was just doing great. I think I only pushed for about 15 minutes, and then she was out! Immediate relief! It was a very emotional time for both of us. I couldn't help but think of little baby Blessing, and how much I had missed that baby, and yet at the same time, I was so overwhelmed with love and gratitude for this new little life that the Lord saw fit to give us.

From there on it's been wonderful and I'm feeling really great. Grace ate her first meal of formula, and gobbled up a whole ounce and a half! Then she slept for almost 4 hours! I imagine that when they bring her back to me from the nursery, she'll be ready for her second feeding.

Thank you all for your prayers and wonderful comments. Thank you, Danna for the incredibly sweet email earlier today. We love you all and are so grateful to be bringing our baby girl into a world where there are godly people already waiting to love her.

Here are some of my favorite pictures from the afternoon:

Our new arrival

We are proud to introduce our daughter Grace Renae Gray born at 4:04 pm weighing 6 pounds and 14.8 ounces. She is 19.5 inches long and absolutely beautiful. Mom is feeding Grace her first meal. God is good!

Update...

Bettys epidural does not seem to be working well. She is at 8cm right now and people are hauling carts of stuff into the rom this may go really quick. Please pray for her.

Quick update

Betty has her epidural now and we are just waiting for labor to progress. She is currently dilated to 4 and the doc broke her water. No turning back now! She is very comfortable-we love epidurals.... Just can't hack seeing them administered...

Jeff is n0t letting me review the pictures he is posting...

Ready to roll!

Here we are all ready to go!

Going Somewhere

We've just been called and told that we can come. I'm not really sure if that means we'll be admitted right away or not. I have to go to the doc's office now and be seen by him first. I guess that is because he's already in his office getting ready for the day. So we're getting ready to leave for Lafayette.

Pray for my mom, who is watching Jack. It would seem that she has caught his bug.

Tremendous Progress Made Already!

Well, actually, it's not even 7 o'clock and the hospital just called to say that all the beds are full, and I should call back by nine to see if any have opened up.

Just keep swimming.....just keep swimming.....

Thursday, May 29, 2008

A Little Glitch

Pray for little Jack-Jack, if you will. A couple of days ago he told us that his belly was hurting, and then he threw up a couple of times. He seemed much better yesterday, although he is not really wanting to eat much. Today he woke up with "bad poopies" and has continued to have what I can only describe as "horrible, no-good, very, very bad poopies" most of the day! Poor little guy. Anyway, since daddy and I are pretty much out of the picture as of 7 a.m. tomorrow, we feel really bad for him to be so sick right now. Just pray that he doesn't get dehydrated and have to be taken to the doctor. That task would fall to my mom, Memaw, who is staying with him while the baby is born. She, of course, would do it, but I know it would be stressful for her, and probably a bit scary for him since he's never been without me.

Then there is the sincere hope that neither Jeff nor I come down with this "bug" in the hours remaining until Grace arrives, and the hope that we do not bring our newborn baby girl into a house full of poopy germs! However, God is in control and we know that even these things, should they actually happen, would be allowed in our lives to make us more like Him! Poop and all.

We will continue to update tomorrow from the hospital!

Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Disappointed

I am back home now after an exhausting day of.....nothing. Dr. W stripped my membranes, but would not officially induce me until Friday. So I spent the day walking the mall, and even trying the elliptical machine, all to no avail. There is nothing more I can do for myself, and frankly, I'm exhausted, so I'm home to wait until Friday. I have an appointment at the hospital to be induced Friday morning at 7:00 a.m.


Romans 8:28-29
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.

Today?

Well, I'm getting ready to leave for the doctor's office. I WILL be seeing my regular OB today. He has recovered enough to be in the office. The plan for now is to strip my membranes, which will hopefully get labor going. I am taking all my stuff with me, and I have my "staff" of people all in place, so unless there is some reason why it would not be safe to do this, I will hopefully be admitted today to have Grace! Please be praying for us! Pray for my mom as she takes care of Jack, Bryan and Anne, and for Jeff, that he doesn't get squeamish, and for my mother-in-law as she helps coach me through. I am apprehensive, and yet, very excited and ready.

I'll keep you all posted!

Friday, May 23, 2008

Quick Update

I saw the doc today, and although I have not dilated any more (still 2-3), Grace has definitely dropped lower. If I do not have her over the weekend, I have an appointment with him on Tuesday to try and get things going! My sugar levels are beginning to creep up despite the insulin, so he agreed that it would be better to just go ahead and deliver instead of adjusting my insulin. So next week is definitely IT for us, it will be just a matter of seeing if we can kind of force the issue and get labor going, or maybe being induced in the hospital. I'll let you know how things are going!

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Alien Woman

I told Jeff last night that I felt like an alien. As I look at myself I see this large, clumsy person with very strange looking, puffy feet. I walk funny and I hurt all over. It's all part of pregnancy, I know, but sometimes it just kind of seems comical. Sometimes, when I'm going through my day and everyone is just going about their day, I feel like hitting the "pause" button and just screaming out, "don't you people see what is going on here!!! I'm turning into an alien and no one seems to notice!". Of course I said all this with tears running down my face (at the end of a long day with hormones raging), and so my dear husband, instead of laughing at what I am sure was a funny melodrama, just pulled me close and asked me if I wanted him to rub my back. To which I sniffed and said, yes. I then climbed in to bed and had a whole night of dreams that my water was breaking. Alas, I am here in the morning, completely dry, and we continue our lives, living with this alien, I mean, our dear sweet baby Grace.

Monday, May 19, 2008

Moment of Truth

--Matthew West
You got your hand on the door
And you're ready to walk out
Well, the fight that you had filled your mind up with all this doubt
And you're losing your mind and losing your faith
And you can't remember why you fell in love in the first place

Go back, go back to the moment of truth
When she walked down the aisle and you first said, "I do"
When this life makes you wonder what have you got to lose
Go back, go back to the moment of truth

You got your hand on a habit
And you can't seem to let it go
It used to be your escape now it's out of control
And now it's you in the mirror
But you don't recognize your face
And you're looking for a reason not to throw it all away

Just go back, go back
To the moment of truth
With three words, "It's a girl"
And she looks just like you
When this life makes you wonder what have you got to lose
Go back, just go back to the moment of truth

You got your hand on the Bible
But your heart feels like stone
'Cause you think that you've made too many mistakes to come home
And you're losing your will and you're losing your faith
And now you wonder if you even believed in the first place

Just go back to the moment of truth
When you first talked to Jesus
And He reached out for you
He's still reaching, He's still reaching out for you
So when this life makes you wonder what have you got to lose
Just go back, just go back
To the moment of truth

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Hmmmmm....

My OB is having gallbladder surgery today and will be out of commission for several days. While appropriately concerned for the health and well-fare of my doctor and friend, I am, well, admittedly, a little concerned about myself.

Thursday, May 08, 2008

Oops

Gosh, I can't believe I let it go this long without a post. Wasn't intentional. Actually, a LOT has been happening, it's hard to know where to start!

On the baby front, nothing is happening. I go for my weekly appt. tomorrow, and maybe we will find out something then. Last week's appointment revealed that Grace is STILL Grace (whew), via a quick ultrasound, and that she is currently head down. To that I must say, the girl has her directions straight, now come on home! I had a weird dizzy spell a couple of nights ago, and really have NO IDEA where that came from, but there haven't been any repeats of that so, I won't worry.

Home news: Well, here is where it gets tricky. A week ago, Jeff sheepishly admitted to me that he didn't really care for our comforter on our bed. What was, to him, a small confession, was a huge deal to me and I instantly felt the ground opening up to swallow me. Ok, maybe that is a little dramatic, but, seriously, like, I'm having a baby here. The big deal is that we just discovered ourselves to be in possession of some new bedroom furniture, and we were getting ready to paint the room completely based on the color of the comforter and curtains! So, now we had no color scheme with which to paint! Long story, short, it's all good. Our bedroom is completely gutted right now, with twenty-two days to go until my due date. I picked out carpet this morning, and ordered a new comforter set. Curtains will wait. Now the big question is painted trim or stained trim, and do we want to do something decorative, like wainscoting? All of these details are a little overwhelming right now, but in the end I think it will all be beautiful and I'm looking forward to seeing it done. Any guesses as to whether or not we'll actually be done with the room BEFORE Grace is born?

Jack is just talking unbelievably. For two years I have wondered what was going on in that little head in there, and now I know. Every waking moment of the day. He had a little accident the other night in our bedroom. Jeff had just taken the carpeting out, and the tack strips were exposed on the floors. We were trying to be careful with him, but he tripped over Jeff's foot and went down on a tack strip. Wow, he cried hard. Then he told us in great detail how much it hurt, and that his blood was coming out. We got him cleaned up and a bath in the big bathtub seemed to set him right again. Now he loves to tell about when he fell down and got his owie. He will also gladly show it to you.

Well, it's late and I'm rambling. God has been very good to us, and we are blessed to be having our family all together again on Saturday. The kids are excited to be coming before Grace gets here so that they won't miss any of the "fun". Jeff and I are going away overnight tomorrow night for a company dinner, and to stay over and pick the kids up from the airport. We are thankful for that little bit of time together alone before our world turns upside down again! We love our family!

Edit: Here is a picture of the new comforter.