Saturday, May 31, 2008
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:
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
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
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.
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.....
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!
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.
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!
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
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.
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.
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