The Last Supper of 2009

In looking back over this year, many things have changed for me.

In January, God convicted my heart about not reading Scripture on my own. I had to break down the barrier in my head that said I was too busy and that I got enough on Sunday. Thankfully, a professor from the college from which I graduated shared a wonderful system he created when he was a new believer 30 years ago. It opened my eyes to the closeness I was missing with God and am excited to continue.
In February, I found out I was pregnant with our second child.
March 4 was the anniversary of three years with Jeremy.
April contains the celebration of Passover and Easter. We celebrated a Passover Seder on our own this year and enjoyed remembering how God protected Israel despite their sin.
May was the first real year we celebrated Mother's Day... and I got tarps for my garden. Definitely not the most heartwarming gift, but definitely memorable and thoughtful.
In June, we found out that we were having another BOY!! At that time, we had picked out the name Jacob Mark and Rachel Beth-Moriah (if it was a girl). We also started a family tradition on Saturday mornings of riding our bikes together after breakfast (about 8 1/2 miles).
July was a very busy month with family visiting. It was a blessing to have Jeremy's parents for a week. They helped us with house projects and getting Jeremiah's new "big boy" room ready so we could have the nursery for our baby "Jacob", and I was able to get my gardens in order.
August was also very busy with doctor's appointments and dates and a trip to the State Fair. Someone had given us tickets for free... and we left them at home; but God provided us with the money to cover the tickets which we received when we checked the mail after we got home that evening.
September brought in the added busy-ness of library storytime for Jeremiah as well as Kindermusik and doctor's visits every other week.
In October, I turned 30 years old and was worrying about our baby arriving too early because of pre-term labor. I stopped riding my bike on doctor's orders.
November was Jeremy's birthday and hoping for a birthday baby. On the 16th, our son, JONAH MARK was born after a very short and easy labor.
December brings about the holiday season during which we were going to stay home and celebrate it on our own for lack of money for traveling to Pennsylvania like we normally do. The weekend before Christmas, though, we received two separate gifts of $200 each and we decided to make the trip after all. We were able to surprise Jeremy's family by landing on their doorstep Christmas Eve... and had a wonderful time!

God is faithful and God is good. It was a wonderful year... and I'm looking forward to what 2010 brings my family and me.

Jonah Mark

We are pleased to announce that Jonah Mark has finally joined us.

He was born 11/16/09 at 11:11 pm. He was 8 pounds 8 ounces and 20 1/2 inches long.

Here is my newest cutie!

When I posted my last entry, I was in true labor... I just didn't realize it. Since it was rather sporadic (and, no, Ivana, I didn't feel like pooping or have diarrhea), I nearly didn't make the calls to get to the hospital. I was concerned with being embarassed if it was only a false alarm. Thankfully, God forced me to have a change of heart and made all the calls and I got to the hospital in time to find out I was dilating very quickly and the contractions were 1 1/2 to 2 minutes apart.

It was important that I leave for the hospital early enough because we live 45 minutes away. Jonah arrived 6 hours later. I did get an epidural... and will continue to get them with any future children. They are painful to get in, but so worthwhile for being able to rest rather than "labor" through contractions and then have the energy for the pushing to come. I ended up pushing for 30 minutes. The entire experience this time around was so different than what I had with Jeremiah. It sounded like a baseball or football game. My doctor sounded like the announcer telling what was going on in real time... Jeremy was counting through the contractions and telling me when to breathe... and the nurse had her pompoms and was the cheering section. It was absolutely hilarious. The atmosphere in the room was happy.

Maybe later I will get into the story of Jeremiah's birth. Suffice it to say, it was more oppressive the first time and definitely not a happy feeling.

So thankful it is over and to be back home getting on with life. Jeremy is staying home the rest of the week and he is pampering me very sweetly.

Soon and very soon!

I am now four days past my due date with Jonah. I have had contractions since Saturday and they are beginning to feel a little stronger... even had some full belly pains in the last half-hour. Of course, I have had signs before; but we'll just have to wait and see.



This is my last week as a pregnant lady.





While loading this picture, I just had another doozy. We'll see you on the other side!

Week 39

Today's doctor visit was very informative. I got checked and found that the dilation has progressed, but Jonah is still not "engaged"... he's still a floater. Next Thursday is the official due date and if nothing has happened by then, my doctor suggested making an appointment to get induced a week after the due date (so, November 19 would be the inducement date if things don't go naturally).

I really hope Jonah decides to get things going before then because we have Thanksgiving plans and a dinner at the church on November 21 where I have committed to making two pies. It would not be very polite if I backed out at the last second.

Jeremy is hoping Jonah will arrive by his birthdate... November 10. We'll just have to wait and see.

The good news is that Jonah is placed properly.. head down, butt up. Yea for small miracles. We'll keep you updated.

Getting ready

Have you ever heard of the nesting instinct? In my reading, I have been told of some rather strange impulses that pregnant women have before giving birth. One woman was completely obsessed with polishing all the doorknobs in her home. Bizarre and pointless.

My nesting instinct typically has to do with actual preparation, such as getting the nursery completed, one last housecleaning, and packing for the hospital trip. We finally completed all those tasks within the last couple of weekends. Saturday, I took the opportunity to pack for Jeremiah and myself to be gone for a few days, took a nap (because the activity wiped me out) and woke up with very strong contractions. Talk about timing.

My contractions lasted virtually all night, which didn't allow me to sleep much at all. Since they continued to be naggy, I visited the hospital after church and got checked out. The update is that my cervix is very soft and I am beginning to dilate. They are not certain when true labor will begin, but I just need to go home and deal with these pesky contractions until something stronger and more frequent occurs.

My next doctor visit is this Wednesday... we'll see if there is any progression then.

Preterm Labor

That is the phrase the nurse and doctor used on me at the hospital last night. I have been experiencing "discomfort" since Friday and just tried to suck it up until Saturday night. I thought it was just Braxton Hicks contractions, but then remembered that BHC doesn't occur in one's back... so I called the hospital and after giving me an assignment to rehydrate while lying down to see if that decreased the contractions, had me come in because it didn't work.

I ended up arriving at Sauk Prairie Memorial Hospital (45 minute drive from our home in Portage) at 9:00pm and left today (Sunday) at 8:30am after two shots of a uterine relaxer (don't really remember the name) which made me really hyper and shaky since the contractions were anywhere from 4 to 6 minutes apart. Thankfully, I can be home and do my normal activities MINUS bike rides and walks (according to the doctor). If I get anymore contractions, though, I'll have to go back in.

Week 34 may change all that. They are less likely to try and stop the contractions once you reach that magic cutoff because there is a higher chance of infection and less chance of the prevention actually working. I am in Week 32.

So, that is my weekend update.


In other news, I started a book (recommended by my friend Ivana) called "Future Men" which I hope to talk about on this blog. I read the introduction yesterday in my hot bath (while trying to minimize my contraction discomfort)... and I think this book review will be most profitable for all of us.

Until then...