I've missed more than a couple days of Giving Thanks! Let's catch up:
* I'm thankful for my new little one, Geneva Claire!
* I'm thankful for my husband, who works so hard at work and then still comes home and gives, gives, gives. He even takes a turn at night holding Geneva, changing her, etc.
* I'm thankful for how well Isaac and Hope have adjusted to having a baby around! They love her and always want to hold her, kiss her, etc.
* I'm thankful for our family - both blood & church - getting meals delivered is AMAZING! While I feel pretty good and have gotten out of the house a few times, I'm not ready to go to the grocery store, let alone try to cook something when we're no where near on a schedule and I'm exhausted. It's truly a blessing. And man, people in our church can cook! I'm going to be requesting some recipes.
* I'm thankful that Marc has had some great conversations about our move to Tanzania with his principal and administrators. I'm thankful for all the support and encouragement we've received since we've told people about our plans. While some people might think we're crazy, not many people have told us that to our face.
* I'm thankful for my volunteer leaders at church. Maternity leave would not happen without ALL of them. Everyone has been so willing to step in so that I can have a few weeks at home with my family. I am so grateful for this time.
* I'm thankful for fall. I'm going to miss fall next year. I love fall in Michigan. The colors, the smells, the foods, the activities...it's beautiful.
* I'm thankful for coffee. Seriously. I'm going to get myself a cup right now.
* I'm thankful for Hope's speech therapist, Becky. She's been awesome and very encouraging. We're going to bump up the amount of therapy Hope receives as we look forward to moving. We are not so sure there will be many resources for speech therapy in Tanzania, so they therapists are going to try to teach me as much as possible so I can continue working with Hope while we're there. I'm so grateful for the resources available here, and that they're FREE! What a true blessing!
* I'm thankful for an amazing home that is spacious and allows us room to be hospitable. Growing up, we had several non-family members live with my family; a couple of college guys (family friends), and a few of my mom's small group students who had rough family lives. I got used to sharing my space and family with others. It has seemed natural that throughout our married life, Marc and I have had 2 of his sisters live with us at various times, and 5 international students. This would not have been possible without this home that we rent.
* I'm thankful for my church; for my co-workers, for my students, for my volunteers, for my friends, for community, for the fact that I live next door, for the freedom to worship!
* I'm thankful that right now, WE DON'T OWN QUIMBY! Whew. I HATE still having to make payments for it, but at least the actual physical burden of owning it is no longer on our shoulders.
* I'm thankful for the doors that have opened and the clear leading that the Lord has given us in our decisions regarding Tanzania. He has truly made his will known to us and we are humbled and excited to be on this journey.
* I'm thankful for technology that makes the world a bit smaller. I love that I can keep up with friends and family that are not in GR easily. I'm thankful that when we move, we have these tools to keep up with everyone here!
* I'm thankful that we could pay off a debt this month!
* I'm thankful for slippers.
* I'm thankful that I'm in my last class at CTS and that I will (pending internship & oral comps) graduate this spring with my Masters!
* I'm thankful for clean water, indoor plumbing, healthy food, a warm home, more clothes than I need.
* I'm thankful for coffee. Did I say that already? ;)
So many gifts to be thankful for. I am certainly blessed.
Friday, November 23, 2012
Thursday, November 15, 2012
Geneva Claire
So I thought I'd share a bit more of the birth story for those of you who might be interested (and for my own memories).
I had a doc appt the Monday after my due date and the doc scheduled a non stress test and another appt for the following Friday (11/2). The non stress test went fine and at the appt the NP told me I was still only 1 cm, about 50% and baby was still at postition -2. UGH. Seriously I know God made women's bodies to have babies, but I think he forgot something in me...my babies have all needed medical motivation to come meet us.
I was sure my doc would schedule another NST for the following Monday or Tuesday and then induce, but to my surprise, he was comfortable setting the date as I needed induction with the other two kids and they had both been successful. So, we planned for Sunday night. When the receptionist called over to set it up, Sunday AND Monday were full. I almost cried thinking it would be Tuesday, but then she said, "How's Saturday?". Um, YES PLEASE!
Now, I am not all about inductions. I hate them. I hate that I've never gone into labor on my own. I've had to spend an extra night in the hospital with each birth. I've had long labors. I've been afriad to not get an epidural because of how long the labors are. BUT, when you're already 41 weeks and realize you're probably going to be induced whether you do it the next day or next week, it's a welcome relief to have it scheduled.
So, on Saturday we went out to Wolfgangs for breakfast as a family of four, came home and cleaned a bit, went to the store to get food for Jun while we were away, packed the kids and brought them over to my parents house. We grabbed some Jimmy Johns as my 'last meal' and headed to the hospital.
We had a resident, a med student, my doc & our nurse all talking to us about the 'plan'. It was refreshing to be a part of that discussion, and tell them my hopes (no pitocin, probably epidural) and to have them truly consider my past inductions and what worked (cytotec) and what didn't (cervadil). So, we went with what had worked - cytotec. It's a 4 hour med that is to help you dialate, essentially. The first round produced a few contractions, but nothing serious. So, around 1:30am they started a second round. We got a few hours of sleep and around 6:10am I woke up to a painful contraction. The doc checked around 6:30am and I was at 5cm. I soon after asked for an epidural because the contractions were 'tripleing' - I would have 3 in a row with no break in between. Then about 30 seconds rest and 3 more. I got the epidural around 7:15/7:30am and when the doc checked me around 7:45am I was 10cm. Went from a 5 to a 10 in about an hour. The doc had me labor down a while so baby could drop more and a little before 9:00am I got to start pushing. It probably took 15-20 minutes of pushing, and Geneva arrived! The epidural didn't fully work because things progressed so quickly, but it at least took the edge off.
Geneva Claire was 8lbs 9oz and 21 3/4" long and born at 9:06am.
She came the easiest, the quickest and was the smallest!
We chose the name Geneva because we liked it. :) We've typically done a 'Bible' type of name, and while Geneva isnt' in the Bible, Eve is (Hebrew for Life), and we will most likely call her Eve as a nick name. Her middle name is Claire after my grandmothers, who both had the name Clara.
I had a doc appt the Monday after my due date and the doc scheduled a non stress test and another appt for the following Friday (11/2). The non stress test went fine and at the appt the NP told me I was still only 1 cm, about 50% and baby was still at postition -2. UGH. Seriously I know God made women's bodies to have babies, but I think he forgot something in me...my babies have all needed medical motivation to come meet us.
I was sure my doc would schedule another NST for the following Monday or Tuesday and then induce, but to my surprise, he was comfortable setting the date as I needed induction with the other two kids and they had both been successful. So, we planned for Sunday night. When the receptionist called over to set it up, Sunday AND Monday were full. I almost cried thinking it would be Tuesday, but then she said, "How's Saturday?". Um, YES PLEASE!
Now, I am not all about inductions. I hate them. I hate that I've never gone into labor on my own. I've had to spend an extra night in the hospital with each birth. I've had long labors. I've been afriad to not get an epidural because of how long the labors are. BUT, when you're already 41 weeks and realize you're probably going to be induced whether you do it the next day or next week, it's a welcome relief to have it scheduled.
So, on Saturday we went out to Wolfgangs for breakfast as a family of four, came home and cleaned a bit, went to the store to get food for Jun while we were away, packed the kids and brought them over to my parents house. We grabbed some Jimmy Johns as my 'last meal' and headed to the hospital.
We had a resident, a med student, my doc & our nurse all talking to us about the 'plan'. It was refreshing to be a part of that discussion, and tell them my hopes (no pitocin, probably epidural) and to have them truly consider my past inductions and what worked (cytotec) and what didn't (cervadil). So, we went with what had worked - cytotec. It's a 4 hour med that is to help you dialate, essentially. The first round produced a few contractions, but nothing serious. So, around 1:30am they started a second round. We got a few hours of sleep and around 6:10am I woke up to a painful contraction. The doc checked around 6:30am and I was at 5cm. I soon after asked for an epidural because the contractions were 'tripleing' - I would have 3 in a row with no break in between. Then about 30 seconds rest and 3 more. I got the epidural around 7:15/7:30am and when the doc checked me around 7:45am I was 10cm. Went from a 5 to a 10 in about an hour. The doc had me labor down a while so baby could drop more and a little before 9:00am I got to start pushing. It probably took 15-20 minutes of pushing, and Geneva arrived! The epidural didn't fully work because things progressed so quickly, but it at least took the edge off.
Geneva Claire was 8lbs 9oz and 21 3/4" long and born at 9:06am.
She came the easiest, the quickest and was the smallest!
We chose the name Geneva because we liked it. :) We've typically done a 'Bible' type of name, and while Geneva isnt' in the Bible, Eve is (Hebrew for Life), and we will most likely call her Eve as a nick name. Her middle name is Claire after my grandmothers, who both had the name Clara.
Saturday, November 3, 2012
Give Thanks - Days 2 & 3
Today I'm thankful for TCBY. I've been craving it the last few weeks and had a few coupons I've cashed in finally. It's the simple things sometimes, folks.
And for yesterday, I'm thankful for a washing machine and dryer. Not having a working dryer for over a week a while back made me realize how much I depend on it and appreciate it. I had a few nice days where I could line dry our laundry, but a few wet & windy days that made it difficult to keep up. I actually love drying things, but being this pregnant & having to carry the baskets upstairs, outside & hang the laundry was about as much as I could do in one day. It zapped me. Things will be a bit different next year when we have to line dry/iron EVERYTHING!
And for yesterday, I'm thankful for a washing machine and dryer. Not having a working dryer for over a week a while back made me realize how much I depend on it and appreciate it. I had a few nice days where I could line dry our laundry, but a few wet & windy days that made it difficult to keep up. I actually love drying things, but being this pregnant & having to carry the baskets upstairs, outside & hang the laundry was about as much as I could do in one day. It zapped me. Things will be a bit different next year when we have to line dry/iron EVERYTHING!
Thursday, November 1, 2012
Give Thanks Day 1
Year after year I see people do the "Give Thanks" month on their blog for November. Well, this year I'm hopping on that bandwagon!
As I hope to instill in my children thankful hearts, I must model that attitude for them and figure this is a start! I'll also be doing some activities with the kids this month but am trying to come up with those yet. We did a thanksgiving tree last year, which was fantastic, but they are doing one in Isaac's class this year so I'm trying to think of something different. It also has to be flexible enough to be interrupted with baby girl coming and the chaos of a newborn at home. So, nothing set in stone, but hoping to have some fun this month with the kiddos as we look forward to Thanksgiving!
What I am thankful for today is medicine. As I am now overdue and think on my past pregnancies, I wonder what would have happened (and what would happen) without modern medicine!? Would Isaac have survived 100 years ago being overdue with low fluids & not coming out after 3 hours of pushing? What would have happened? What is this baby was overdue & there was no way of interveening to make sure she comes out healthy? I have too many friends who have or are dealing with cancer right now - in themselves or their children - and the chemo they are receiving is sustaining their lives. From a simple prilosec that allows me to eat without throwing up every day to the life-saving measures that doctors and nurses perform each and every day - I am grateful.
As I hope to instill in my children thankful hearts, I must model that attitude for them and figure this is a start! I'll also be doing some activities with the kids this month but am trying to come up with those yet. We did a thanksgiving tree last year, which was fantastic, but they are doing one in Isaac's class this year so I'm trying to think of something different. It also has to be flexible enough to be interrupted with baby girl coming and the chaos of a newborn at home. So, nothing set in stone, but hoping to have some fun this month with the kiddos as we look forward to Thanksgiving!
What I am thankful for today is medicine. As I am now overdue and think on my past pregnancies, I wonder what would have happened (and what would happen) without modern medicine!? Would Isaac have survived 100 years ago being overdue with low fluids & not coming out after 3 hours of pushing? What would have happened? What is this baby was overdue & there was no way of interveening to make sure she comes out healthy? I have too many friends who have or are dealing with cancer right now - in themselves or their children - and the chemo they are receiving is sustaining their lives. From a simple prilosec that allows me to eat without throwing up every day to the life-saving measures that doctors and nurses perform each and every day - I am grateful.
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