Adriah's Birth Story

Today Adriah is one month old.  WOW!  This has surely been the fastest month ever.  Here's the story of how she entered the world...


My due date was June 13, I had an appointment with the doctor and was dilated to 3.  Every night for weeks, Simon would ask, "so are you going to have that baby tonight?"  But even on June 13, I still answered "nope!"


Josh and Ericka and Malachi had arrived Tuesday night and so I really wanted the baby to be born while they were here.  My parents also wanted to come visit while Josh and Ericka were here so they decided to come on Thursday night, June 14th.  We decided to have Christians birthday party too (yes, it was 2 weeks late, but this was the first time my parents would be with him to give him a gift). 


6:00pm  I started having some regular contractions so I started writing them down, rather, I told Josh to write them. They felt like braxton hicks: hard tummy but no pain.  They were around 10 minutes apart for a while then they started getting a little stronger and closer so we got our bags ready.  I had tested positive for beta strep (GB) so I needed to have an antibiotic IV before she was born, we needed to get to the hospital to have enough time for that. 
I was meandering around, observing Christian opening his new bike, and slowly getting ready to go.  

Christian about to open his bike.
Notice my big belly in the top right.  
Notice our wreck of a living room, boxes still packed.
Notice the paint trays in the background:
 I was totally painting that room that very morning.

I watered my vegetable plants and when I came in the house and was chatting I felt that little (very little, in my case) gush.  "I think my water just broke!" 

Getting ready to head out.  Notice the towels in my arm to sit on in
the car (just in case!).  Notice the guys in the background putting
 together a bike for Christian.

9:00pm Simon and I loaded up and went to the hospital.
Once there the contractions started feeling worse. We got to meet the doctor on call, whom we knew would be delivering our baby. He, on the other hand, was not so convinced that we should be there.  He was not very understanding to the fact that I have fast labors, and he even talked about sending us back home or giving me pitocin... I was only dialated 4 cm after all. But when the nurse came back she said my water had broken a little bit so I was going to stay.  Thanks a lot.


10:30pm  Ericka came (she was there as a support and to take pictures and just because that's what sisters are for).  My contractions suddenly got VERY painful. We moved from triage to the delivery room, thankfully only a few doors down because I was hurtin'!  
Contractions got bad. I did not want anyone to touch me. No chapstick. No music. No birthing ball. I laid on my side pushed on Simon's hand and rocked back and forth.  Baby it hurt!  But Simon was awesome.  Poor guy, I think I confused him.  I was holding his hand tight, telling him not to move, but to get me water, so he started letting go and I got mad and let him know someone ELSE was supposed to get the water and he should just hold my hand tight. 

Love his "what's she gonna want next" face...

The nurse checked me and I was dilated 8 centimeters. A few contractions later I started feeling pressure. Checked again. Full 10. Call the doctor. 
"The next contraction we are gonna push." 


I'm so scared!


11:25pm Three pushing breaths per contraction. Three or four rounds of pushing and... she was out. Praise the Lord!  

(apparently they don't waste any time putting arm bands on...)

The first thing I found out with that she had dark hair. Then when her face was out they said she had big dimples. I held her while Simon cut the cord (well, he tried to cut it.  He didn't have enough strength in his hands, but that's a whole other story!).

The nurse's name what Charlotte. They tried not to act like it was a big deal that she came super fast and probably surprised them. I mean honestly...the doctor was talking about pitocin to speed up the contractions. Hah hah. Imagine that. She might have a shot to the moon. 

While they cleaned her up, the doctor pulled out the rest of my innards. Then we tried breastfeeding.  She had a tight jaw and was a bit chompy.  Ouch.  By the time we left the hospital, it was going a lot better.  The time in the hospital was well spent resting. We had a few visitors and some nice time together with our families as well.

It's a good thing there were big rooms!

Glad to share this experience with a sister

Look at that, she can already wink!  ;-)

One of the most amazing things to me is how fast my recovery was this time around.  Previously, I felt like I walked around for a few days like I still had a baby between my legs. Yikes. But this time, it was 2 days later and I had a hard time believing I just gave birth.  During this pregnancy I took 2 herbs to help soften the cervix during labor: Red raspberry leaf and evening primrose. Unlike my previous pregnancies, I did NOT do yoga or exercise on a regular basis (besides taking care of my three children). So I guess I have to attribute my recovery success (and the fact that I didn't tear) to the herbs and the possibility that it was my third delivery, so I'm just getting more stretchy.  TMI maybe.  :)
My belly, on the other hand, seems like it will take a much much longer to recover than it did previously.  I think I will look pregnant forever.


Oh the joys of the mommy life. :)

She's Official

Tomorrow she'll be ten days old!  We can't get enough of her...

Adriah Faith was born on June 14 at 11:25pm.  She weighed 6 pounds 5 ounces, 20.5 inches long.  Dark hair and big dimples!  I'll write her little birth story in another post.

Adriah is pronounced AY-dree-uh.  We've always chosen Bible names, and this one is too... but it's a stretch.  It comes from the word "Adriatic", as in, Adriatic Sea, found in Acts 27:27.  We added the "h" at the end so it would match her sister's names (Selah and Jadah).  At this time in our lives, faith has been an essential part of our journey, and for what lies ahead.  So she is our little "sea of faith."

The verse we have chosen for her is Psalm 146:6

He is the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea and everything in them - He remains faithful forever.

Thanks to our families and supportive friends, our first week of transition to a family of six has been seamless.  If you've said a prayer for us in the past two weeks, God has been FAITHFUL and we feel uplifted and loved.  Can't wait for you to meet her in person!

Due Today!

I'm currently sitting in the doctors office waiting to have my membranes stripped (I said that just for Simon. He thinks that's the most awkward thing to say!) Today is my due date, although my last ultrasound measured me a week later. Never thought I'd still be pregnant by now! But am glad for the extra time. I've actually felt better in the last week than the 3 previous to it. I guess it helps that life has settled down somewhat and we haven't had many obligations. This morning I started priming my office area, so maybe I can get that painted before the baby comes? We'll see what happens after this appointment. :) Hopefully my next post will have a happy announcement! Josh and Ericka and Malachi (my sister and family) arrived last night to stay through the weekend, so I am going to have this baby while they're here(you hear that, baby?). I'm so thankful for their help already! Cheers.

A few weeks overdue!

Thankfully my title is talking about my blog post, and NOT about the baby in my belly.

I've been wanting to write for weeks, but have honestly always had something else to do (okay, ALMOST always).  I'll give you our life update in bullet format this time.

- We got our house!  We just closed on it this past Tuesday: homeowners again!  It was a HUD home (government owned foreclosure situation), so there were extra hurdles and delays, but it's finally done.  And thanks so much to new friends who offered to watch the children during the closing (we had no choice but to plan on taking them along)(and in retrospect, that probably would have been a disaster!)(also, my parents normally could have watched the kids, but they were in Iowa visiting Josh and Ericka for Malachi's dedication).
The entire house needs painted (started that on Tuesday as soon we closed), and it got new carpet yesterday.  I'm pretty excited to see the carpet, since I had to choose the color/type based on a text message picture from Simon while he looked at samples with the contractor in Indianapolis... while I was still in South Bend.  (yes, the "designer" had to put complete faith in her husband's decision even though I would have totally loved to pick it out myself).  It's a great house with a lot of potential, and I'm sure I'll share details as we complete projects.

We had some amazing people come on the spur of the moment and help us paint and play with the children!  Thank you all so much--- such a blessing.  Then we spent the first night in our house, the kids in pack 'n plays, Simon and I on an airbed (I forgot sheets, pillows, towels... we made due).  I felt like a 90 year old woman when I woke up the next morning!  :)  I was covered in paint (painted a ceiling the day before), but there was no way I was taking a shower because the hot water isn't working yet.  Simon was braver than I, but he had to be because he had to leave for Cincinatti for a work meeting.  I finished packing up the kids and prepping the house for new carpet, then I drove with the kids to Cincinatti to meet up with Simon and drive the rest of the way to Maryland.  Simon's meeting in Cinci was at the NCAA Baseball World Series, and they had some great kid activities (and free ice cream!), not to mention baseball.  It was a great little outing in the midst of a 10 hour driving day.  Our dinner time stop was aided by Cabela's, aka: animal exhibit for the kids.  And we still love Sheetz.

- Like I said, we came to Maryland on Wednesday.  Simon's brother Luke is getting married tomorrow!  We are so very excited for Luke and Lauren.  We will be here until Monday.

- We are moving to Indianapolis on Wednesday after we get back from Maryland.  The children will stay with my parents for 2 days to give Simon and me a chance to get the house in some sort of order and do more painting.

- I am 36 weeks pregnant!  Praying that baby waits to make its arrival until at least June 1st.  But based on how much this baby wiggles, I have a feeling it wants to get out and make its debut.  I've been feeling pretty good physically, and have my 36 week appointment on the Tuesday between returning from Maryland and moving to Indy.  I don't have to worry about choosing a new doctor though: none of the doctors in Indianapolis accept the type of insurance I have.  The hospitals, however, DO.  So I basically have to show up at the hospital and use whomever is on call.  I'm cool with that.  Just get the baby out.

- I am so excited that Simon and I won't have to be apart anymore during the week!  That 2 month span in our lives is over and we can be a family again.  Husbands and Fathers are so very important.  Simon is enjoying his new job and still in the learning stage.  It keeps him busy and his mind rolling, and he's meeting a lot of awesome people.  Seems to be a good fit.

- The children: oh. the. children.  They have kept me busier than anything else.  The lack of a daddy, a mommy busy packing and baby-laden, sleeping in multiple strange places, lack of sleep and eating unhealthy "travel" food have all contributed to behaviors I've never seen before.  They are fighting like cats and dogs, being disrespectful, and fussing a fair share.  Of course, there are good times too, and they can be completely sweet and adorable.  I'm ready to get into a new normal and settle down for good.  Oh wait, and then comes baby #4?!?!?!?  Pray for me.  :)

That's life in a nutshell.  Be back again soon, either with a moving update or a baby announcement!

Pregnancy Update

The belly grows and grows (slowly, but surely).
Today I am 30 weeks along, so that means we'll likely meet our next baby in less than 10 weeks.
Here I was at 20 weeks:

And at 25 weeks:

And at 30 weeks:

Due date is still mid-June.  This baby moves like crazy (I guess that's completely normal, it's still just the most amazing feeling ever).  Hard to believe we'll have FOUR children in just 9 or less short weeks.  Oh Lord help me!  :)
We're in process with a house in Fishers, IN...hopefully we'll know soon if it's all going to go through.  We will be traveling to Maryland mid-May for Simon's brother's wedding, so our goal is to move before then.  Please pray that things can move quickly and easily with the housing situation.

Did you have ham for Easter?  We did too.  Check out THIS ham:

Hasta luego!

Re-arranging Life

God is arranging and re-arranging our lives in accordance with His will. Step-by-step, day-by-day, and with each circumstance we face. He is constructing a dwelling place for His Presence within us.       

---Tracie Miles (Proverbs 31 Ministries) 

It's hard to believe it's been over 3 months since Simon's last post about his evolving life-calling.  Like he said, he was hired at Panera Bread and spent many hours working there to provide for our family while waiting on where God wanted us next.  
For a month or so, we were highly considering moving our family to Georgia for Simon to do a 2 year ministry internship with 12Stone Church.  We visited the church and felt very good about the possibility (even with the prospect of raising most of our income and living on practically nothing).  But after 2 weeks of continued pondering, we felt less and less certain that it was right for our family.  
Simon started spreading word to friends and current pastors to see what sort of thing was available, as well as looking online through the normal job-search sites.  The city of Indianapolis started to pop up on a few of the job options, which we were open to.  At the same time, Simon got a call out-of-the-blue from the pastor of a church plant in Noblesville (north side of Indy) asking him about life and ministry calling, etc.  We are very interested in pursuing ministry at this church, and even though this hasn't developed into an actual job position, it was like a confirmation that looking in Indianapolis was a step in the right direction.  
A few nights later, Simon applied for a job with a non-profit organization called Truth@Work that focuses solely on mentoring and building relationships among Christian businessmen in the workplace. You can read a lot more on their site.  They have started launching a new program in which older businessmen/women mentor new/young businessmen/women in a program called Edge Mentoring, and the position being hired was for the Director of Edge Mentoring.  


Long story short, Simon went through 3 interview stages, summating with a dinner with the cofounder and his wife and myself in which they offered Simon the job.  


Thrilled.are.we!


It has been a humbling experience for us all.  Simon enjoyed the change of pace he was able to have at Panera, but was starting to go crazy with lack of drive and motivation.  We know that this job has been laid before him by God, there is no other way we can imagine a job that suits his previous experiences better than this.  He will be overseeing the recruitment of potential mentors/mentees, building relationships with any and every one (and we all know he'll love that!), and directing the program as it continues to grow.  Not only is it a job, it is also a ministry--- the type of people that he will be surrounded with are committed Christians seeking to integrate their faith into their workplace, willing to encourage each other and remain kingdom focused.  I am thanking the Lord.


I am briefly reminded of conversations with Simon over the past several years, as well as his previous experiences.  Saying he had a desire to work for some sort of non-profit organization.  Enjoying the pace and challenge of the business world.  Having a heart to see Christ change people's lives...caring more about their personal life than what to do with their investments.  Wanting to be in ministry but not sure what kind of church he would fit into.  Succeeding at Indiana Wesleyan University as an admissions counselor, then assistant director... always receiving positive feedback about how well he recruited.  
And now, it all comes together.  And we all say "Oooohhh!  God you ARE good!"


So he starts: TODAY!  Way to go, sweety!  He will be working in Indianapolis during the week, working on his final thesis for his MBA, and looking for housing for us.  He'll then gladly come back to visit his little tribe on the weekends, and we will be so happy to see him!  When he finds a house for us to hopefully rent-to-own, the rest of us will make the move (to the north side of Indy, Fishers/Noblesville/Carmel)!


If you are wondering what our parents think?--- they are happy for us!  Simon's parents have been supportive all along.  I guess my parents were a little more hesitant...at first... as in, moving to Georgia.  So now Indy doesn't seem all that far away!  They are also in full support of Simon's new job and our move, even though they are dreading being further from their grandchildren again.


Thank you to those of you that have prayed for us over the last few months, we have grown as individuals and as a couple.  Like the quote says at the top, it is our desire that God's presence in us has increased due to His re-arranging process.  Please continue to pray for the right house and a safe move, for Simon's transition into this new job, and that I don't lose my mind with 3 crazy children having power-struggles over who gets to sit in the highchair.  Also, being pregnant has been harder this time, so pray that I can keep up and that the baby is born on June 1.  (Ha!...just because all our kids are born on the first of the month and I just want to keep things simple).  


Blessings!

My Girls are Two!

I absolutely looove the stage Selah and Jadah are in right now.  They are growing so fast--- learning more words and talking more each day.  They're getting attitudes.  They hit their brother (I don't know what they're thinking, he's capable of waaay more than they are).  They are potty trained except for while sleeping.  They eat by themselves and are learning to take off their own clothes (NOT simultaneously thank goodness).
I'm so glad we've gotten through 2 years with twins, there have been some struggles!  But I would quickly say that the joys of having twins has far outweighed the grief of that first year.  I was even crazy enough to wish for twins again when I found out I was pregnant.  In retrospect, I know I'll be thankful it's just one baby this time around.
While my sister was visiting this past weekend, we had fun taking pictures of our children together (Christian is three and a half, the girls are 2, and Malachi needed his 3 month pictures).  Here's what we came up with!

The Boys

Heart Breaker!

This boy is a ham!

My 3 Little Loves

The Birthday Girls!

Sweet Kisses

Jadah

Selah

And Sweet Little Malachi (honestly, such a good baby!)

Happy Birthday to Selah and Jadah!  I am so excited to live the next year as your mom!