Friday, June 24, 2011

A Baby Story

I'll try to make this quick, but felt like I should post a brief summary of our past week.

We were scheduled to be induced on Wednesday morning of last week, but went to the hospital on Tuesday night to prepare for the induction.  After a long, sleepless night, they started the induction first thing Wednesday morning.

After 16 hours of labor, Keira was born - on Thursday morning at 12:35am - and she was perfect!


Thinking through our labor, I am overwhelmed at the grace of God through this whole process.  Truly, everything about delivering a child is disgusting.  But somehow, in the midst of the humiliation and general grossness - it is the most beautiful and miraculous thing in the world to see your baby for the first time.  To see this precious little person who is so helpless and small...but despite her bobbly head, you can see her thinking as she looks around and intently looks at the people and things around her.  She has a distinct personality and pet peeves, and gets more beautiful every day.

Even the labor process we counted a gift from the Lord.  Every step of childbirth was a reminder that I am not in control and things don't always work out how I want or plan.  What a perfect transition into parenthood.  It's painful, humiliating, humbling, and out of your control.  But the end product is the most remarkable gift - your child.  Love different than any other for this delightful little girl.


After 12 hours of labor, it looked like we might have had to have a c-section because the labor was not progressing hardly at all.  We asked for an hour to see if we would progress before making a decision about whether or not a c-section was in our best interest.  We were both tired and anxious, but wanted to make the wise decision for what was safest for me and the baby...but we really wanting to avoid a c-section.

By His grace, the Lord led Rob to spend that hour with me praying and reading Scripture.  Rob was reminded of Psalm 139.

For you formed my inward parts;
you knitted me together in my mother's womb.
I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Wonderful are your works;
my soul knows it very well.
My frame was not hidden from you,
when I was being made in secret,
intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
Your eyes saw my unformed substance;
in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me,
when as yet there was none of them


How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!
How vast is the sum of them!
If I would count them they are more than the sand.
I awake, and I am still with you.


By the end of that hour - we had made such significant progress that we were ready to deliver just another hour later!  Once she was ready...she was ready.

We had a very smooth labor and delivery, a few nice days in the hospital where Keira met some of our dear friends and family...we even had Hope's graduation dinner in our room.
Saturday afternoon, we got home and took Keira on a tour of her house.  She had a great check-up with our pediatrician and though we're tired - we are doing very well.  We have the cutest kid in the world and are starting to understand the love of God in a greater way through this beautiful baby girl.


Thursday, June 23, 2011

This Week...

Well, this has been a significant week for our family.  Not ONLY was our beautiful daughter (finally) born, but my wonderful sister, Hope, graduated from High School (scary, since she's the baby of the family), my brother went out of the country for a couple of weeks, AND we celebrated Father's Day.


It was neat to celebrate Father's Day for Rob - having just gotten home from the hospital the day before.  Though tired and trying to figure out what to do with the baby now living at our house, we tried to remember how blessed we are by the fathers in our lives.  Not only do I have an awesome husband who is already showing himself to be an excellent, supportive, helpful, loving, and fun father - but I have a great dad, father-in-law, and grandfathers - all of whom have shaped my life.

And Hope, congratulations!  We are so proud of you and can't wait to see how God will continue to direct you as you move on to college and beyond!
Some advice: don't take college too seriously.  Work hard, it's expensive.  But - remember to have fun, make friends, and learn good stuff from your classes and about life.  You're going to do great.

Thursday, June 16, 2011

HELLO, CHUM!!!

It is my JOY to FINALLY say "Hello, Chum."





Keira Shay - born at 12:35am THIS MORNING, June 16, 2011 - 8 lbs. 2 oz.

Friday, June 3, 2011

Status Update

So, Chum is at 37 and a half weeks, I'm getting seriously uncomfortable and whiny, and everything is progressing normally.  But no baby yet.

If she doesn't come next week on her own, the induction date is set for Wednesday, June 15th (too close to our original due date for my personal taste)...but it's nice to know there's an end in sight.

We'll go back next week to the doctors to check our progress, but are in a hurry-up-and-wait mode until she comes.  As much as I want to meet her, she could wait a few days (I still have some work to get done between now and her arrival and would like to do things like clean our house...which may or may not be happening any time soon).

In summary: less than 2 weeks (max) before we meet Chum.

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Treasures

I like to go to thrift stores sometimes - just to check out the selection.

Came across these treasures the other day and thought I should share:

Sirius-ly???

This one was just funny to me because for us gluten-free-ers, this is the equivalent of a framed tomb...or poison.  But with a nice country flare.


AND finally:



Here's a closeup.


For only $1.96 this awkward family photo could be yours!  Just the expression on this "kids" face is worth the full $2.  And think, this family COULD HAVE taken their picture OUT of the frame before donating it.  It was sweet of them not to.