Another Girl!

I've realized how much I wrote about expecting Julia (though we didn't know if she was a boy or girl during my pregnancy) and how very little I write about expecting my next little girl! I guess it has something to do with running around after an 11 month old...WOW, where has that time gone?!

It was so exciting to find out a month ago that we are having another little girl! We have named her Ashleigh Faith and can't wait to meet her in person! This pregnancy has been fairly similar to the last, except I feel sure the morning sickness was worse with Ashleigh in the first trimester, but I am SO thankful that I am finished with that for now. I feel her moving and kicking in there most of the time and I am very thankful for that. I know she is doing well and is healthy! We went to see the doctor this week and she now weighs 1lb and 7oz, getting bigger every day.

I am also enjoying knowing that this is a girl and calling her by name when we talk about her. It has made it even sweeter. Oh it was lots of fun waiting to find out with Julia, but I am also enjoying knowing with Ashleigh and glad we got to experience both ways. Technology is amazing now and I LOVE getting to 'see' her on the screen at each visit, watch her move and see how her head has grown, etc. It truly is amazing how God is forming this child inside of me. What a miracle!

Julia is growing up SO quickly and at this age she is just changing every day. I try to take pictures and video to remember these little events. She took her first steps on Sunday, 4 in all, and that is about all she will continue to do each time, but she is getting braver as the days go by! I know she will be running around before I know it, getting in to more things too! LOL :) But I love being a Mom and feel so privileged to be one to this precious little girl, and sister on the way! It has had it's challenges and I know will continue to do so, but the rewards and the end reward of a grown and godly women will be worth it all! Every day as I already deal with discipline issues I am reminded of my Dad's saying that I can either raise my children now when they are young, or I will be raising them for the rest of my life. I truly want them to learn to love God and first, have a personal relationship with Him. Then to grow in grace and knowledge of Him and to have godly character. That is more important than that they are the best sports player, musician, business mind, etc. And requires that I also grow in these things too, for how can I model and teach that if I am not doing it first?! What a challenge and opportunity for my life!!

Also can't forget my most wonderful husband who takes SUCH great care of all of us every single day! Who model's Christ in everything he does and puts serving the Lord as our top family priority in every facet of our lives. I thank God every day for bringing us together to love each other, our children and most of all our Saviour! I would not be where I am in life if it wasn't for the grace of God I truly do not deserve, but He loved me SO MUCH He gave His life for me that I could have a new life in Him here and a home in heaven!

Lesson from Two Little Birds

As I sit on my couch and look out of my living room window, I can see the top of the pillars that hold up the roof to our front porch. At the top of one it makes a small ledge and there a little family of birds (not sure the type) have decided to make a nest. I've been watching the progress over the last couple of days and I have learned so many things.

The little husband and wife bird both work tirelessly at collecting twigs, grass, and straw to make their little nest. I haven't seen them take a coffee break to 'reward themselves' after a half hour's worth of work, they just keep at it. Diligence is the word that came to my mind.

They also work together without fussing and fighting at each other. Their actions seems to be seamless, with one bringing twigs and the other meticulously weaving them into the nest. There seems to be different roles between them too, and I've not seen them having a debate over whether collecting the twigs or weaving them is more "important" or "subservient" a job than the other. They understand and embrace their roles and the job continues to be accomplished.

Then adversity came the other day and a huge gust of wind knocked down all their hard work. I didn't see them weeping and wailing over the loss, but picking up the pieces and humbly and patiently starting all over again.

As I watch this little bird family each day it, seems like God is reminding me of these little lessons. "The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth his handiwork." Psalm 19:1. All of God's creation declares His glory even in the very small things, like the birds. What a challenge to those of us who are His children to do the same thing, even in the very small things of life.

My Review of Dimple Animals Set

Originally submitted at Magic Cabin

These animal play pals look exceptionally adorable dressed in delightful jammies and nestled into their soft, fleecy sleep sacks and cozy baskets. Made in Germany.

For ages newborn and up.

Available Styles
Bunny

Dimple Animals Set

Beautiful

By NewMom from Chattanooga, TN on 3/3/2011

 

5out of 5

Pros: Great Features, Portable

Best Uses: Toddlers, Infants

Describe Yourself: First Time Parent

This product is very well made and so cute! It is a great toy for my infant and she can also grow into it as she gets more mobile and can put the doll into the blanket and carry it around in the basket.

(legalese)

Baby Girl

Well, I guess it's to be expected of a Mom of a newborn to not be able to keep up with a blog! I have yet to write about the birth of my little girl, Julia Grace. Oh well, living life is more important than keeping up a blog and I would much rather spend my days playing with her! But here we go with the story.

We arrived at the hospital at 5:30am on the 22nd of September, 2010, ready for the C-section. Our little baby was frank breach and therefore needed to be delivered by C-section and she had shown no signs of coming before this day. It was 4 days before her due date and all was well with her. I was prepped for the surgery and Dr. Barker came in around 7:30am and prayed with us for the safe delivery of our little one before he started. I was then rolled (in the bed) into the operating room and given a spinal (which was very painful!) and in minutes I couldn't feel my lower half of my body. We had a very sweet anesthesiologist who held on to my hand and talked to me to keep my mind off what was going on. Stephen came in all dressed in doctors garb and mask and watched the whole procedure, much to the nurses amazement. They said most Dad's would have fainted on the floor at that point. Our little girl was born at 8:02am, weighing 7lbs. 10oz., 20 inches long with blue eyes and dark brown hair. We named her Julia Grace Hall! I was so happy I cried and Stephen brought her over to me so I could see her while Dr. Barker was stitching me up. We were in recover for a while, just the three of us and I was able to immediately start breast feeding her! It was one of the most special days of my life!

We had lots of family and friends who came to celebrate the arrival of little Julia that day, especially grandparents and aunts and uncles who were so proud! We had to stay in the hospital for 3 days while I recovered from the surgery and was able to get out of the bed and walk. Boy did I ever feel like I would never be able to walk again that next day trying to get out of the bed! It was a difficult recovery, but everything healed well and we came home on the Saturday with out little girl, only to realize what did we do now! She was crying and we could not console her at all! So we did what any self-respecting adult new parent would do...we called my Mom for help!! She came and stayed with us and helped me SO much those first few weeks, I don't know what I would have done without her! And of course she enjoyed it too, first grandchild and all!!

Children really are a blessing from the Lord and Julia has become such a blessing and brought so much joy to our lives! God truly is good to us and gives us good gifts, especially a smiling little girl to love, train and play with. My life has taken on a different course since I got married and now with my own daughter. I look forward to the years ahead with her and maybe more children if the Lord blesses us!

5 days to go!

Can't believe I am coming to the end of my first pregnancy, expectantly awaiting the arrival of my first child!! WOW! It has just flown by and I know the days, weeks, and years ahead will go by just as quickly. Our life truly is a vapor that appears for a little while then vanishes away, as the Lord says in His Word. But I am trying to embrace every day, every new things, each change and enjoy it and remember and cherish it! I don't want to ever hold too tightly to the past that I cannot enjoy today or look forward to the future!

Baby is still in breech position, so the doctor has scheduled us in for a cesarean on Wed. Sept 22nd at 7:30am. So unless he/she moves into the correct position before then, we will have a baby on Wed! I am very excited about it and frankly am really ready to have this one! Because his/her head is up there is a lot of pressure on my upper tummy and it is getting more and more uncomfortable to carry this one each day! But I am SO thankful that I have not had any major complications other than the breech and baby and I are both very healthy. The doctor even checked my cervix to see how I was doing for future VBAC and I am already 3cm dilated, so if baby was head down I would be ahead of the game for labor. But God knows what He is doing and I am continually reminded of His care and love for me every day!

And through all of this I have the most wonderful, supportive and godly husband who has encouraged me each step of the way! God truly blessed me with Stephen and I thank the Lord for him every day! He truly is my best friend, my confidant, my companion, my leader, and my lover! And he was SO worth the wait!!! We are just such a blessed couple and soon to be family of our own! It is wonderful how God designed all this, to leave father and mother, cleave to each other and weave our lives together, starting another generation for His glory!! May the Lord protect our home and make us godly companions and parents!

External Cephalic Version

Well, yesterday was full of "first's" for me at the hospital. I've never had a broken bone, a bad tooth, or anything that was necessary for me to be admitted to the hospital so this was all new for me. But all that changed and I now have a better appreciate for what people go through in the hospital. Our baby is still breech and so our doctor advised us going through with an external cephalic version in which he would try to rotate the baby into the correct head down position by pressing on my belly. So yesterday was the day and this is our story.

We woke up VERY early 4:45am and got ready to arrive at the hospital, Erlanger downtown, at 6am, only to find the Labor and Delivery ward in lock down. They have a new system that locks them down if a baby's tag is missing from the ward or if some other security problems occur. So we waited in the stairwell for 10 mins and were finally admitted. Because things were now running behind there was a flurry of nurses directing us to our room, asking me lots of questions and getting things started. One nurse needed to take 2 vials of blood for lab work for the anesthesia I would be getting, and as seems to be usual for me, took her two attempts with the last being in my hand and very painful. Another nurse was asking me a truck load of questions as she typed the answers in on the computer, I'm guessing for my file. Then another nurse started putting in an I.V. in my other arm from the nurse with the blood vials. This was a first for me and also very painful. I'm not a fan of needles in general, but I soon found out that was the order of the day!

The anesthesiologist came into the room and asked more questions, one being if we had eaten that morning. No one at the doctor's office had told us we shouldn't eat. We had had some breakfast and he said that since we had eaten he advised us not getting the anesthetic until my stomach was empty, just as a precaution against any problems. Our doctor, Dr. Barker, then came into the room, wheeling the ultra-sound machine in with him. He checked baby and sure enough, baby was still head up breech. He then talked with the anesthesiologist about the food issue, didn't really agree with him, but still decided to go with his recommendation and the version was re-scheduled for 12noon.

So we had 4-5 hrs of waiting in the hospital for the procedure. We both tried to sleep, or nap some, but had a few interruptions from a nurse and phone calls. Then we watched some TV, the Food Network which probably wasn't a good idea for two very hungry people, until it was time to get the show all rolling again for noon.

Our nurse came in and re-hooked me up to the I.V. After a few mins I was shivering again as I had done that morning and I asked her if it was the I.V. that was making me cold and she said it was. Again this was all new to me. So she brought me a warm blanket which helped. Then the anesthesiologist and assistant came in to put in the spinal anesthetic. I was told to sit Indian style on the bed with my back bowed out. Then when they started to inject me she said it would feel like a really big bee sting. Oh my, bee sting indeed, it hurt something awful and I was a big baby and cried! Then they decided to put the epidural catheter in just in case something should happen during the procedure and they need to take me for an emergency C-section. I could feel the little tube going in, a very strange sensation and then she said to expect a feeling like an electric shock in my leg which I did immediately! It was all a bit un-nerving for me, but I tried to just hang in there and it was done and I was on by back again. I could start feeling a very warm sensation going down my legs. Then my nurse put in a catheter for my urine, which was equally as awful and a first time for me with that too!! Dr. Barker came in and was talking to us a little and mentioned that he met a colleague who was a 'high-risk pregnancy' doctor and had lots of experience in turning babies. So he was going to come in as well to see if he could help with the procedure. By this time I was feeling lots of itching in my chest, back and legs, and told my doctor who looked to see how I was doing, but it started to go away.

Then they started the procedure. They lowered the upper part of the bed so my hips were higher than my head to get baby to move out of my pelvis and try to turn. He tried turning the baby to the left first, didn't work, then tried to the right, and again didn't work. Then the other doctor came in and discussed some things and he tried quite a few times. They kept saying that my uterus is just very narrow and my abs were very tight and wondered if I worked out a lot or did sports to which I laughed!!!!! At least I know I have tight abs! Anyway it seems there is not enough room in there to get the baby's head started down and his/her hips out of my pelvis. So after quite a few tries they decided it wasn't going to happen. The nurses all said that this other doctor was very good and if he couldn't move the baby then the chances are no one else could either. So we were thankful we had him too. I was initially disappointed, but I know they did all they could and it truly is in the Lord's hands. Baby could still move into position on his/her own if they can tuck up tighter to turn so we will have to see.

Then it was waiting time for the anesthesia to wear off. It was about 30 mins after the procedure that it started and this was the worse thing yet! I started shaking, had been doing so anyway from the IV, but this was worse and the itching started. It was like chicken pox itching times 10!! It was so bad, it was like a burning severe itch and the shaking was getting worse too. So Stephen called the nurse in and she gave me a narcotic to help with the itching and shaking and within 30 seconds I was drugged up and nearly asleep. I could still feel some itching, but nothing compared to what I had done.

During all this time, Stephen was by my side supporting me, holding my hand or resting his hand on my shoulder. I was probably squeezing his hand blue when they put the spinal injection in and he was there to wipe my tears. I truly have the best husband in the world, so supportive and caring.!

We had to stay at the hospital until the spinal and the narcotic wore off and I could walk and go to the bathroom. We were finally out of there by 4:30pm. Then while were were eating dinner that night I remembered that the nurse was supposed to give me another rhogam injection for my blood type issue, and she hadn't. So we called the doctor's office when we got home and talked to the on-call doctor. He called the hospital and talked with our nurse and sure enough she had forgotten to give it to us. So he said to come in the next day to the office and get it there. So this morning we did just that, back downtown again to get yet another shot!!

It was one long day and pretty traumatic for me, but Stephen said I did a good job and it was worth it to at least try to see if the doctor could get baby moved. If we hadn't tried it and baby doesn't ever move on his/her own, we would have always wondered if it might have worked and wished we did. This also was good prep for me in case I do have to have a cesarean, which is looking more likely. My biggest concern was my reaction to the anesthetic so we will discuss all this with Dr. Barker at our next visit and see what he says. For now, we are trusting the Lord and thanking Him for all His blessings and for helping me through yesterday.

Thanks to everyone who is praying for us, we really need the continued prayer these next couple of weeks and for wisdom and guidance and peace! We know God has everything under control!

Week 35

It's getting closer now to baby's arrival and we are very excited and getting a little anxious! Stephen and I went to our doctor's appointment yesterday to 'see' baby and what is happening so far. We do have one issue that baby is still breech, jack-knifed at the moment. The doctor started talking to us about possible things that may need to happen if baby does not move into the correct, head down position on his/her own. When he mentioned cesarean I started getting a little panicked. It shook me up a bit, but I know that the Lord is in control and will work things out. I've had some good friends tell me that there is still time for the baby to move on his/her own and we are also trying to do some exercises to help the baby move too. The doctor can also do a procedure to move the baby, so I know the Lord will work it all out. We are so thankful for all our blessings and I just pray we have a healthy, happy baby no matter how they come into this world!

We had a lovely family and friends baby shower over the weekend and were blessed again with so much love and support and some lovely gifts for the baby. We both are very humbled by the love shown by others and I am reminded every day of God's blessings! I've now got the baby bedding in on the crib (cot) and washing some more baby clothes ready for the little one's arrival in a few weeks. I need to purchase a few more things for myself ready for feeding baby, but we're just about ready for the appearance of our child. Wow! When I think about the fact that this baby is part of me it is just miraculous! I've held other people's babies and enjoyed them, but I know this will be so very precious and special because he/she will be mine!