My Four Blessings

I am so busy these days with these sweet ones. I want to share more, and one day I will have time.  Until then, a little picture of what fills my days. :)

 

 

How Isaac Entered Our World

I wanted to write the story of Isaac's birth for a while now. I mean, the little guy will be 12 weeks tomorrow. I want to write it all out before I forget the little details that made his birth unique to him.

 

It started out like any other Friday. I was at the end of my pregnancy with a c-section scheduled for the following Monday. I had an appointment the previous Monday, but the doctor wanted to see me again Friday. I asked Josh if he wouldn't mind going with me. I had a feeling that the doctor might just want to do the c-section earlier, and I wanted to be all ready to go.

You see, I had been on bed rest because my blood pressure had spiked towards the end of my pregnancy. I knew that he was keeping a close eye on it for my safety, and also for the safety of Isaac (or lil' dude as we referred to him at that point). My appointment was at 1pm, and I decided not to eat that morning just in case, that way we could not have to wait. When I went into labor with Josie, the nurse told me to eat a cracker to see if that would slow down the contractions. After two bites of a saltine, my doctor made me wait EIGHT HOURS before doing the c-section. Waiting until after my appointment to eat was not going to kill me.

Well, I was right. At the doctor's office he said he would like me to go straight over to labor and delivery because my blood pressure was up again. He said he would be over at three to check me out and see what we should do. When he came at three he said "okay, you are not leaving this hospital without having your baby, so sit tight." He told us he just had to deliver a baby and we would be next.

Josh and I were SO excited! Josh made the call to his parents (who were going to watch the girls for us) and we got a sitter arranged for when they got home from school before Grandma and Grandpa got there. The nurses got me in a gown and that's when it happened.

Apparently everyone in town was going to deliver that night. It was as if a bus dropped off a load of pregnant laboring women! Our doctor was the doctor on call for the weekend, and I guess he is known for having a lot of deliveries on his weekends. Combine that with the fact that this was the weekend before Thanksgiving and you have a very full labor and delivery.

It was so full in fact that we kept getting bumped back further and further down the line. I really didn't mind this since I was not actually in labor like the rest of these women, and by all means, let them deliver first! My only problems were the fact that I decided not to eat (and now was not allowed to) and the fact that I never made it out of the triage room, so I was very uncomfortable on the gurney and Josh was even more uncomfortable on the metal folding chair! Thankfully a sweet nurse finally was able to find a chair a little more comfortable than what he had.

We spent the afternoon into the night there. Getting ready to go, and then being stopped again. I had my I.V. in and was ready to go for a while. We killed time by trying to sleep, which was pretty impossible with how uncomfortable we were, how excited we were, and how often we were told this was it, only to be told to wait again. We also found a Duck Dynasty marathon to pass the time. :)

This whole time we had some of the most amazing nurses we could have asked for. I got to know quite a few of them while going in twice a week for my Non Stress Tests, and they were excited that we were going to have our little one too!

Finally at about 5 AM on Saturday they said it was time. They rushed me to the operating room to get my spinal (they didn't want someone else to take my spot! ha!). I remember being nervous about the surgery. It is really not that comfortable, and now Josh was away in the other room waiting to be called in, and I was all of a sudden terrified. I sat there on the table just praying for God to calm my nerves and help me to enjoy this birth. Praying he would help me remember all the little details.

Josh came in and it was like a happy party. Our doctor was up all night having delivered seven babies before Isaac. The nurses were tired too, but everyone was happy. When Isaac was born I just cried! I told them this was by far the happiest moment in my life, and it was. You see, when Emma was born it was incredible, as with Josie and Addie. This was the best though, because I already had my three girls in my life, and now my son! Each birth of my children kept becoming better and better because the other ones were already with me. Does that make sense?

The doctor and the nurses all said they enjoyed being apart of his birth so much, because Isaac was so loved and wanted by us. Josh brought him to me and I kissed his precious face. He was SO cute!

When my surgery was over, they wheeled me into the recovery room where Josh had Isaac. He was SO proud of his little guy. He gave him to me and I was able to hold my son for the first time. I dreamt of that moment for nine long months, but it was even better than I thought. I was SO happy! He was here!

After I fed him, the nurse came in and bathed him. This was the first time I was able to be there when they gave my baby a bath. With the girls they had already done that while I was still in surgery.  I was glad I got to witness this. This is also the first birth where it was just Josh and I at the hospital. That was kind of nice. We spent a nice little time with just Isaac before we called and announced his birth. Such a special time.

I want to share more of his time in the hospital, but I will do that later.

 

Daddy holding his son. He was so proud!

 

Not the most flattering picture, but I love it because this is the very first time I got to hold Isaac. I was SO happy! Look how cute he is!



We Welcome Our Son

 

Isaac Richard Mathew was born on Saturday, November 17, 2012 at 5:50 am.

He was 7 pounds, 11 ounces and 19 inches long.

 

I want to share the story of his arrival, the time he spent in the special care nursery, and all that he has meant to us since joining our family. I just don't have the time right now! When you are baby number 4, life doesn't slow down when you are added to the mix!

I will share that Isaac has been an amazing blessing from God to our family, and I cannot imagine my life without him! Such a sweet, precious joy he is!

 

Another Month Gone By!

Well here is basically what that month looked like for me. Shortly after being lifted from "Lying low" rest, I was put on official bed rest, which then has turned into "only get out of bed to use the restroom" bed rest.  Apparently my blood pressure decided it wanted to get in on the fun and got all high, and so has confined me to the bed (or couch in the picture above that was taken before the you move out of bed and you'll get it phase).

I must admit, I actually thought being on bed rest would be easy. I would watch some movies, surf the web, read some books. The truth is, it has been brutal. I really don't like having to see my dear husband try and do the work of both dad AND mom. I don't like relying on people to help. Don't get me wrong, the help has been a huge blessing, and we wouldn't have made it without all the people who have made meals, and ran errands, and just encouraged us. It's just I sort of like being on the other end of the spectrum. Also, have you tried to read while laying on your left side? It's really not that comfortable.

I am thankful though to have gone (still going) through this as I think it will help me know how to better help those who need it when I CAN help. Also, it is keeping Lil' Dude healthy, and that is a very good thing.

 

So, I may have cheated a little. I did leave the house to vote. I thought it was important, and I had another doctor's appointment that morning anyhow. To show how much I was trying to be good, I even drove to my polling location, which was only a block and a half away. :)

 

Lil' Dude was very good and obeyed his mommy and did not come before election day. He is free to come anytime now. As a matter of fact, in eight days he is being evicted. That's right! A week from tomorrow is my c-section.

That means my little baby boy will be born before this milk will spoil.

 

 

Very exciting times.

I now leave you with my new favorite family picture. Just us all snuggling on the bed a couple months ago. You will notice Lil' Dude is right there in the mix of it next to his big sister Addie.

Man, am I one blessed lady, or what?

Not Gone, Just Busy!

Well, it has been a few months since I have posted anything. I didn't fall in a well, or off a cliff or anything! I realize as my life gets busier and busier, I need to set aside a time to write, or it will never get done!

Well, first I would like to say, IT'S A BOY!!!

You read that right! The girls were so very excited to find out they were to have a little brother. Josh too was very excited. He had this big goofy grin on his face for about two days. I was surprised to learn I was very excited too! I guess I never wanted a boy, until the Lord gave me one. Now I am thrilled to think of a little Josh running around our house. I love having a little blue nursery, and find myself looking at super cute baby boy clothes when I go get our groceries. (Meijer's baby section is right next to the cereal). :)

We had a great summer. Spent time with Josh's family, and my family at various reunions. We went camping with my brother's family and friends at Silver Lake. We also got to spend a week at Blue Gable! What a relaxing fun summer.

This fall brought on a lot of new changes for us. Josh transitioned fully out of the business office, and now is fully in the student life department here at New Tribes Bible Institute as a dean of single men, and the Campus Life coordinator.

Adelaide joined the ranks of the formally educated, and is now enjoying kindergarten. We are so happy that she has the same kindergarten teacher as Emma and Josie had. She is the BEST!

Emma is now in fourth grade and loves playing soccer. She is getting better and better at it too!

Josie is in second grade now. She is still learning the piano, and has a talent for writing her own! We are so blessed by God to have three of the most amazing girls in the world. :)

I am growing bigger every day. Baby boy (who we now refer to as lil dude) is an active little one. I have had a couple of complications with this pregnancy, but we are making it! Just last week I went into labor, but thanks to a couple shots of Terbutaline, the contractions slowed enough that I could go home, as long as I laid low. Not as easy as one may think in the middle of a move.

"A move?" you say? Yes! As if we were not busy enough, we decided to add a little more crazy into our lives and move! ha ha

Actually, we have a couple new staff members joining our team, and our old house is technically a duplex that we have both the upstairs and downstairs too. Since we don't really need two kitchens, and two separate families could us our house instead of just us, we agreed to move. It is only two blocks away, so it is more of a shift than a move. This shift I think is a bigger undertaking than we originally thought. With the help of staff and students, and family and friends, it is coming along quite nicely.

I tell you what, people are coming out of the woodwork to bless our socks off! We have had a million people help us paint, move, unpack, make meals, watch sick kids so I could rest, give our children rides, even bringing me a seasonal cup of decaf coffee I crave (I sure do love pumpkin spice lattes!) Feeling the love of God through the body of Christ: there is nothing like it!

 

 

This is me about a month ago. Told you I was huge! :)

Growing Baby, Growing Momma

I thought I would give a little update on how things are going with me and the baby.

I am happily well into my second trimester, and the morning sickness is almost completely gone, for which I am very grateful!

Baby is growing big, which in turn, means I am growing big as well. I can't think of a better reason for an expanding waistline!

Next Thursday we will have an ultrasound. This time around we have decided to find out the gender. The girls are split on who thinks it is a boy and who thinks it is a girl. Pretty much everyone else is convinced it is a boy, although this all may be wishful thinking. I would have to say, if I was being pressured, that I think it may be a boy. This pregnancy is so different than the rest. I have been wrong before though, so I guess we will just have to wait and see. Six days and counting until we (hopefully) know! I hope I don't have a shy baby in there!

So what do you think? Pink or Blue?

This was taken a couple of weeks ago when I got a hair cut.



Prima Ballerinas

This year Josie and Adelaide took ballet lessons at the local ballet studio. We have always loved the teachers and classes, and loved the scholarships even more!!! Who would have thought missionary kids could take ballet lessons!

The girls both worked very hard in their classes this year, and we were excited to see all they had learned. We were extra blessed to have won the front row raffle they had! Well, we actually won third row, but it was a way better seat than we ever have been able to get before! The best part is, I only bought ONE ticket! We were very thankful for this gift frrom the Lord, to be able to see our little dancers up close, instead of ant size.

Josh took pictures for me (as I was still not feeling well at this point), and I think he did a great job!

 Josie looks so, what is the word? Professional? She is a natural at ballet.

 Adelaide knew her routine better than any of the other girls! So cute! I'm a proud momma!

 Can you see her in Swan Lake one day?

Pretty in pink!

Josie's School Dog Pound

Josie had a choir concert last week at school. It was a kindergarten/first grade combination choir, and they did a little doggy performance called Arf.  It was really adorable.

Josie told me she had a part in it. She was Chi Chi Chihuahua, and she had lines and had to sing a song. The only thing was I was to make the costume! I am really not gifted in that area, but thankfully a little felt, a hot glue gun, and a big imagination, and Josie was transformed into Chi Chi.

We were able to get there early enough to get a really good seat. I was so glad! Not only did Josie have a part, but she had the ONLY solo the whole night! She did a fantastic job and I was beaming with pride over my sweet little puppy, er, girl.

 

Chi Chi in front of her house.

 My girl has a sweet soft voice. She sang "I may be small, but I can do my part..." So true!

The choir singing and dancing. What a bunch of cuties!