Yesterday morning, my husband left to go around the world to share the gospel with people who have never heard. Josh, along with six other people from our church, will be gone for two weeks. They are going to the same place and working with the same missionaries that I had the privilege of working with 4 years ago. Everyone was very excited and nervous yesterday morning. They have spent months preparing spiritually and financially for the trip. On Sunday night, we had a commissioning service for them and Josh preached a short sermon on Psalm 67. That Psalm is their "theme" as they go - Let the peoples praise you!
I'll admit that it was not easy watching him leave yesterday morning. I think it is going to be a long 2 weeks for me, especially caring for a toddler and a newborn. Yes, I do have help (we are at my parents for a week), but it isn't my husband. The longest Josh and I have been apart since we were married is 5 days and he was only 8 hrs away.
As I was writing this blog, Josh called! He is there and had no problems traveling. He is very tired and hoping to get some rest. If you think about them, please pray for health & safety and most of all for many people to hear the good news of Jesus Christ!
*For security reasons, I'm not naming the country where he is.*
I long to honor my God by making my home a place of joy and rest for my family.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Josiah's Birth Story
On Saturday morning, June 13, I woke up about 1:30am with some mild contractions. Since I had false contractions three times before, I didn't think this was "it." I actually had Braxton Hicks contractions exactly a week before at the same time. By 4:30am I was no longer comfortable lying in bed, so I got up and decided to surf the Internet until they stopped (I still didn't believe this was real labor). I tried going back to bed around 5:30am, but I couldn't get comfortable and told Josh at 6:00am that I was going to walk our driveway to see if it would get better or worse. After 20 minutes of walking I knew that I was in real labor. Josh & I both took showers and then called our parents. My in-laws came around 7:45am to get Thomas and Josh and I left for the hospital!
We arrived at the hospital at 8:45am and after the nurse checked me she said I was 4cm dilated and they were going to admit me. Josh was thrilled that Josiah finally was coming and while I was excited, I was in a little bit of pain!
I had decided that I was not going to have an epidural unless the pain was unbearable or I needed it for some reason. Even though the contractions were intense at times, I breathed through them fine and held Josh's hand or he rubbed my back. The doctor and the nurse were surprised at how calm I was with no medication, but I have a high tolerance for pain and the pain wasn't constant - thank goodness! I asked the nurse to check me around 12pm and she said I had dilated 6cm and thought my water would break soon. However, when she checked me again at 3pm, I was still at 6cm and my water had not broken. The nurse told me my doctor would not break my water as long as I wanted a "natural" birth because the pain would intensify greatly. At this point, I wanted my baby and felt like my labor had stalled, so I told her I wanted the epidural and for the doctor to break my water.
The anesthesiologist arrived around 3:15pm and gave me the epidural. I was having really strong contractions in the midst of receiving the epidural and when the doctor came to break my water about 15 minutes later, I was at 8cm. He was sure that Josiah would be born in the next couple of hours.
About 45 mins after getting the epidural, my ears started ringing and I was feeling really nauseous. Josh said he was going to call the nurse, but I told him not to bother her that it would go away soon. Thankfully, he didn't listen to me and immediately called the nurse. Sometimes the epidural can cause your blood pressure to drop too low, but it usually happens within minutes of receiving the epidural (and I didn't experience this with Thomas). When the nurse checked my blood pressure it was 64/40 - no wonder I didn't feel well! They put something into my IV and changed some things and I was okay. After I was feeling normal again, they told me that I was pasty white when they first came in the room and knew something was wrong!
The doctor came in again around 5pm and I was still at 8cm. He told the nurse to give me some pitocin to help the contractions along because they weren't as regular as he wanted. The doctor came back at 5:30pm and I was at 9cm, so he thought it would be real soon. One thing that concerned the doctor and the nurse was every time I had a strong contraction, Josiah's heart rate was going too low. I had to wear an oxygen mask to keep his heart rate up.
Finally, the doctor came back around 6:30pm and I was still at 9cm. He told me it was time to have a baby and even though I wasn't at 10cm yet, he wanted me to push one time and see what happened. When I pushed, the doctor saw the top of Josiah's head and said, "Okay, let's get her ready." My mom and step-mom wanted to be in the room, so I told Josh to get them quick! By the time they got me and the room ready, it was around 6:45pm and after 3 pushes, Josiah was born! I remember the nurses telling me on the last push to open my eyes to see him come out and it was amazing! The first thing I heard was, "He's a big boy!" He was beautiful and I cried tears of joy that our baby boy was finally here! Josiah cried too because he was finally here - I think he didn't want to leave the womb!
Josiah is a joy to us and we are so thankful that God gave us a healthy baby boy. It is hard to believe that he will be 6 weeks on Saturday. I'm trying to cherish each day with him, because I know it will go so quickly. Praise God from whom all blessings flow!
We arrived at the hospital at 8:45am and after the nurse checked me she said I was 4cm dilated and they were going to admit me. Josh was thrilled that Josiah finally was coming and while I was excited, I was in a little bit of pain!
I had decided that I was not going to have an epidural unless the pain was unbearable or I needed it for some reason. Even though the contractions were intense at times, I breathed through them fine and held Josh's hand or he rubbed my back. The doctor and the nurse were surprised at how calm I was with no medication, but I have a high tolerance for pain and the pain wasn't constant - thank goodness! I asked the nurse to check me around 12pm and she said I had dilated 6cm and thought my water would break soon. However, when she checked me again at 3pm, I was still at 6cm and my water had not broken. The nurse told me my doctor would not break my water as long as I wanted a "natural" birth because the pain would intensify greatly. At this point, I wanted my baby and felt like my labor had stalled, so I told her I wanted the epidural and for the doctor to break my water.
The anesthesiologist arrived around 3:15pm and gave me the epidural. I was having really strong contractions in the midst of receiving the epidural and when the doctor came to break my water about 15 minutes later, I was at 8cm. He was sure that Josiah would be born in the next couple of hours.
About 45 mins after getting the epidural, my ears started ringing and I was feeling really nauseous. Josh said he was going to call the nurse, but I told him not to bother her that it would go away soon. Thankfully, he didn't listen to me and immediately called the nurse. Sometimes the epidural can cause your blood pressure to drop too low, but it usually happens within minutes of receiving the epidural (and I didn't experience this with Thomas). When the nurse checked my blood pressure it was 64/40 - no wonder I didn't feel well! They put something into my IV and changed some things and I was okay. After I was feeling normal again, they told me that I was pasty white when they first came in the room and knew something was wrong!
The doctor came in again around 5pm and I was still at 8cm. He told the nurse to give me some pitocin to help the contractions along because they weren't as regular as he wanted. The doctor came back at 5:30pm and I was at 9cm, so he thought it would be real soon. One thing that concerned the doctor and the nurse was every time I had a strong contraction, Josiah's heart rate was going too low. I had to wear an oxygen mask to keep his heart rate up.
Finally, the doctor came back around 6:30pm and I was still at 9cm. He told me it was time to have a baby and even though I wasn't at 10cm yet, he wanted me to push one time and see what happened. When I pushed, the doctor saw the top of Josiah's head and said, "Okay, let's get her ready." My mom and step-mom wanted to be in the room, so I told Josh to get them quick! By the time they got me and the room ready, it was around 6:45pm and after 3 pushes, Josiah was born! I remember the nurses telling me on the last push to open my eyes to see him come out and it was amazing! The first thing I heard was, "He's a big boy!" He was beautiful and I cried tears of joy that our baby boy was finally here! Josiah cried too because he was finally here - I think he didn't want to leave the womb!
Josiah is a joy to us and we are so thankful that God gave us a healthy baby boy. It is hard to believe that he will be 6 weeks on Saturday. I'm trying to cherish each day with him, because I know it will go so quickly. Praise God from whom all blessings flow!
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
A New Normal
We are alive and well! I know that I haven't posted this first month, even though I have thought about it several times. The little free time I have these days is spent cooking, doing laundry, cleaning a little bit, or most importantly, sleeping!
Josiah is doing what all babies do at this age - eating and sleeping. He still isn't awake too long, but we enjoy the time we can talk to him and cuddle him. I am beginning to see the differences between him and Thomas. The biggest difference is that Thomas loved to sleep and Josiah fights sleep. Thankfully, he is sleeping at night about 3.5 hrs at a time, but during the day he doesn't want to sleep even when I lay him in the bed VERY drowsy. I think he senses that I'm not holding him and he protests loudly!
Thomas has adjusted very well to Josiah. He has not acted jealous or even acted as if Josiah is a stranger. I think he knows that Josiah belongs to us and he is happy to have him in our family. When you ask Thomas, "Who is your brother?" his response is, "Ohh." It is so cute! We think he gets the "Ohh" from hearing people say, "Oh isn't he so cute," or something like that. Everything of Josiah's is labeled "Ohh's." For instance, he calls Josiah's carseat, "Bye bye Oh."
Josh and I are adjusting to being parents of two. We had forgotten how exhausting newborns are and even more so with a toddler in tow. Thankfully, we have begun to find a "new normal" and are beginning to get a little more rest. We are so grateful for the help we have received from family, friends, and our church family. The meals we have received as well as the laundry cleaned and dishes washed have been such a blessing to us. The Lord has been so good to us in giving us such sweet family and friends.
Without further ado, here are some pictures of our family from the past month.
Josiah at 3 weeks. He is a very alert baby.
Sweet picture of Daddy and Josiah
Family picture on July 4th - Thomas looks unhappy and I look tired!
Thomas "holding" Josiah
Josiah is doing what all babies do at this age - eating and sleeping. He still isn't awake too long, but we enjoy the time we can talk to him and cuddle him. I am beginning to see the differences between him and Thomas. The biggest difference is that Thomas loved to sleep and Josiah fights sleep. Thankfully, he is sleeping at night about 3.5 hrs at a time, but during the day he doesn't want to sleep even when I lay him in the bed VERY drowsy. I think he senses that I'm not holding him and he protests loudly!
Thomas has adjusted very well to Josiah. He has not acted jealous or even acted as if Josiah is a stranger. I think he knows that Josiah belongs to us and he is happy to have him in our family. When you ask Thomas, "Who is your brother?" his response is, "Ohh." It is so cute! We think he gets the "Ohh" from hearing people say, "Oh isn't he so cute," or something like that. Everything of Josiah's is labeled "Ohh's." For instance, he calls Josiah's carseat, "Bye bye Oh."
Josh and I are adjusting to being parents of two. We had forgotten how exhausting newborns are and even more so with a toddler in tow. Thankfully, we have begun to find a "new normal" and are beginning to get a little more rest. We are so grateful for the help we have received from family, friends, and our church family. The meals we have received as well as the laundry cleaned and dishes washed have been such a blessing to us. The Lord has been so good to us in giving us such sweet family and friends.
Without further ado, here are some pictures of our family from the past month.
First morning home from the hospital.
Thomas wanted to be swaddled too, so we put them in Josiah's bed together - aren't they adorable?!
Thomas wanted to be swaddled too, so we put them in Josiah's bed together - aren't they adorable?!
Josiah at 3 weeks. He is a very alert baby.
Sweet picture of Daddy and Josiah
Family picture on July 4th - Thomas looks unhappy and I look tired!
Thomas "holding" Josiah
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