Before I tell you the birth story...

I must tell you something that God did for us while we waited for sweet Addison to arrive!

I mentioned before that we were waiting for our visas to come back to us. We were getting very nervous about it but had decided we would wait until Addison was born, then we would have even more of a "reason" to ask about our case. We knew God would work it out in His timing, even though we we were unsure. Well, on Friday I went grocery shopping and I got a text from Marc (who was at home with the girls) saying that our passports had come in the post and we had a visa! Now we can go to London and get her American birth certificate and passport. Just in time! What relief! (Texas, here we come- in April!)

Also, as you know I was very anxious about being induced and being on the ward, etc. When I didn't hear from the hospital on Saturday I had to ring them to find out what time I was suppose to come in. There were no beds available so they said they would get back to me. I talked to my friend who knows a midwife on the consultant's floor- in fact the midwife who I first had when I went into labor with Cerys. This midwife, we will call "B" is a strong Christian and was so wonderful to us when I had Cerys. Anyway, I was wondering if my friend would get in touch with her and see if she had any insight into how this whole induction process was going to go down. She said she would try and get in touch with her and get back to me. I never heard back from her, so I just forgot about it.

Just as we were sitting down to eat dinner at 6:30pm the hospital rang and told me to come in at 8:30pm. Marc had taken the girls over to some team members' house for the night- at this point we were not even sure we would get in on Saturday night but our team members' were so nice and willing to take the girls overnight anyway. So, it was just us sitting down for dinner when the phone call came. Of course I was so nervous then I couldn't finish my food- which was just as well, it was Chinese that Marc had gotten for us and I would not recommend eating that just before induced. And that is all I will say about that.

We prayed together, then I went upstairs to panic, repack my bags and obsess over whether I had everything I needed. We walked, yes walked to the hospital and got to the ward where a nice midwife took us to the room. It was a room with four beds, all of us being induced together. Oh the joy! :) At least there are curtains you can pull around your bed so people can't stare at you, but boy you can sure hear everything! I was told the midwife assigned to my room would be in soon and get things started. While Marc and I waited we just sort of stared at each other and wondered what was going on behind all the other curtains. Just then, the midwife assigned to our room walked in and y'all, it was "B"- the midwife I had with Cerys, the one my friend could not get in touch with earlier that day! I just about cried. She recognized us and asked how Cerys was and we talked about our mutual friend for a second and then she told me- "It's great to see you, you know I only work one night shift a week now and it just so happens that tonight is the night!" We both just smiled so big and I wanted to squeeze her neck so hard but I didn't want to freak her out. I felt an immediate calmness come over me just then, as if God was saying "See, I'm here! I have it all planned just for you!"

That was exactly what I needed that night. Although Marc had to leave (hospital rules) and I was alone all night, I was so comforted to know she was going to be with me all night. At one point during some really strong contractions, she placed her hand on my stomach and I saw her whispering. I'm not sure what she was doing, but I have a feeling she was praying for me. She was so wonderful to us, not only did she speak encouraging words to me during the toughest part of labor but she even stayed past her shift (once again for us!) and was the one who delivered Addison.

This whole experience was not what I had wanted or hoped for, but I do have to say that God was in it and all turned out according to His plan. And I'm cool with that.

We're Home and I Need Sleep!

Hey everyone, thank you so much for your prayers for us throughout the pregnancy and beyond- ha. Good news...I'm NOT pregnant anymore!!!! I can walk- sort of, I can lay on my side without my hips throbbing, I don't have heartburn, I could go on and on....

I got home yesterday, Monday, around 2pm. I was in a room with 9 other new mums and newborns, so yes I was ready to come home! They get you in and out as quick as they can here, but I was at least thankful to have one night to make sure we were both doing okay- even though it was the longest night of my life. Nothing like 9 newborns in one room- it's a party! Not.

The induction went fairly quick once they gave me the medicine (I did not have an IV) and sweet Addison was born Sunday morning. I didn't sleep at all during the night, there were 4 of us in the room all being induced and husbands/partners were kicked out at 9pm :( so we all labored on our own. It took about 2 hours for my meds to kick in, so for those 2 hours I laid in the dark listening to ladies breathing through contractions, wishing mine would get started. Then once mine did get going, they were probably wishing I was out there! And I was, I was the last in that night and the first one to deliver. I'm sure they were hating me, but I didn't really care.

I'll go into the details in another post, it was not as bad of an experience as I thought it would be, being on the consultants ward- in fact I never saw a doctor once only midwives. Let's just say that I do not recommend going without an epidural. I had epidurals with the girls and this time I did not and I can only imagine what I sounded and looked like. Marc was probably glad he was not there for most of my labor. :) All I can say now is that it's over, hallelujah and amen!
Husbands/partners were not allowed back on the ward until 9am, but once my midwife/nurse realized I was about to push Addison out it was a frenzy of activity and I remember seeing her with her cell phone in hand at the foot of my bed calling Marc telling him to get himself up to the hospital and GET THERE NOW. Bless his heart, thank the Lord we live so close, he dropped what he was doing and RAN to the hospital and ran into the delivery room just as they got me up there. I have never been so glad to see him in my entire life.

I seriously need some sleep, so this will end here. Thank you for your prayers, emails and facebook messages. What a sweet thing to come home to! I have a neat story about God's provision and how He reassured me He was there- it happened the moment we walked into the ward and saw who the midwife was that was assigned to me. It was a total God thing and I about cried right there.

(Wow, good thing I just spellchecked. I'm so sleepy, sorry for any mistakes.)

She's Here!!

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Addison Marie
Feb. 22, 2009
09:09 AM
9 lbs. 1 oz.
22 inches

Charity and Addison are both doing really well. Most likely they will come home this evening or tomorrow. We really appreciate all of the love and support we have recieved. Thanks for your prayers and words of encouragement. I'm sure Charity will fill you in on all the details when she gets home.

Marc

Induction Update

UPDATED AT BOTTOM OF POST-

I'm sure ready to have something else to post about besides pregnancy.

First of all, it's a glorious SUNNY day today. It's been a cold, dark winter here. The girls are playing outside right now and it's so nice to see them chasing each other and giggling.  I don't think there is a cloud in the sky, wow!

Secondly, most of you know that my Dad is a boys basketball coach in Texas. He coaches at Trinity Christian Academy  in Addison. Anyway, they are in the state playoffs and they won their game last night! They play next weekend in the semi-finals! Way to go Dad! Also, better give a shout out (did I just say that?) to my little brother who plays on my Dad's team! He's quite the ball player- a starting Sophomore on Dad's Varsity team. We are so proud of y'all and wish so bad we could come to every game! Next December when we are back for a while we won't miss a game and we can't wait!

Thirdly, after a pretty emotional day yesterday, I'm feeling better about things today. It's come down to the induction and there is not one thing I can do about it. So I decided to embrace it- the only choice I have really! I mentioned before that we were waiting for our visas to be renewed.  It's been 17 weeks since we submitted our paperwork and still had not heard one thing. We were getting very nervous, and as you know with Baby Girl coming soon we needed all our passports and paperwork back so we can go to the embassy in London ASAP and get her birth certificate and passport. Well, I did one last grocery store run yesterday morning and while I was there Marc sent me a text saying that our passports and visas came in the post! I could not believe it! We had decided we would wait until Baby Girl is born, then we would ring again and inquire about our situation. I told Marc, nothing like the 11th hour! (Actually, what I told him was "nothing like the midnight hour" and he laughed and corrected me. If you know me, then you know that is nothing new, I always say the wrong things! Ha.)  So we are VERY relieved to have our visas renewed for another year and our passports back in our hands. 

After hearing this great news and paying for our groceries, I got in the car and a Chris Tomlin CD was playing and the song just got me and I could not stop crying. I felt so encouraged that our visas were back just in time for Baby Girl's birth, but also so discouraged that it's come down to being induced. Seriously, at 34 weeks having pre-term labor and being in the hospital, now to being 42 weeks pregnant. What is up? Either way, God is in control.

Now, for what you've been waiting for ....I don't have much information. I rang the hospital just a few minutes ago and as of right now they have no beds available. I was told that I would get a phone call maybe around 5pm tonight if there are any beds free and if the delivery suite is available. If there is a bed, I will go into tonight and either spend the night and be induced in the morning or I will get induced tonight if there is room. I find this completely and totally frustrating, so I better stop typing before I say something not very nice.

Please Lord, let Baby Girl come TODAY.

UPDATE: It's almost 7pm and the hospital just phoned and asked me to come in at 8:30pm- about an hour and a half from now!! There is a bed on the ward, but they are not sure about a delivery room so we will have to find out when we get there later. There is no internet at the hospital, but Marc will update as soon as he can! Thank you so much for your prayers. I'm scared, excited, nervous, happy, you name it.

Trying To Stay Positive!

I'm trying to stay positive, but at the same preparing myself to be induced on Saturday night. I was hoping after my midwife visit yesterday things would get started, but it's not looking like it at this point. Being induced is not the end of the world, I know, it's just not what I had pictured this time around and of course you know I was hoping to be with the midwife led unit.

So, if you don't hear from me between now and then, you will know I am being induced. The hospital is suppose to call me Saturday morning to tell me what time to come in that evening- typical of NHS doctor appointments or surgeries- you don't get a say in days/times, you just have to show up! Once I find out the time, I will update this and would appreciate even more prayers during that time. 

Either way, this will all be over by Saturday night and I'm very thankful. I am trusting the One who made me and Baby Girl (Yes, we finally have a name! Marc will let you know when the time comes!) to bring us through.  Thank you so much for your prayers.

Ready, Set...PRAY!

I'm doing the happy dance...well kind of. I can hardly move. Ha. I just got home from the midwife and I'm dilated to a 3! Can you hear me shouting? I was SO happy to hear those words. I guess the contractions I've had yesterday and today were doing something. My midwife had to go ahead and set my induction since I will be 2 weeks overdue this weekend, so I will go into the hospital on Saturday night if nothing happens between now and then. I would appreciate your prayers for the "sweep" she did- that it would work between now and Saturday! I just kept repeating "My hope is in you Lord, my hope is in you Lord" as I waited to be seen. I was so afraid of being told there was no change, but I knew that even if there was not, He would still be faithful to see us through this!

And yes, we did some bowling this morning! There are NOT any pictures of me bowling because that would be awful, but here's a few cute ones. The girls had never been before, but loved it. Who wouldn't love it with bumpers on the sides and a ramp to roll the ball off of! We had a good time even though Marc bowled most of my turns. I held an 8 lb. ball and wondered if this is what Baby Girl would weigh. No wonder I can hardly walk or sit.

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Thank you SO much for praying for us today! I hope we have good news soon! Now I'm so nervous!!!!

I Love My Husband and A Lesson From My Little Pony

So it's no secret that I've been feeling rather down and frustrated lately with the never-ending pregnancy. :) I've tried so hard to be positive and not dwell on what is NOT happening. I've had several melt downs the last two weeks and Marc just walks right through them with me. I know he is tired of the waiting too and probably tired of my emotions- though he would never say it. Last night we were talking about everything and before we prayed I just voiced something to him that I've felt for a long time- I have a hard time believing that God would want to bless me. I know that may sound strange. I know He has blessed me- with many things- but the last two years I've really struggled with that thought. So as we have been praying for labor to start, and for some good news from the midwife each week, I've just felt rather defeated and not sure I should pray about it anymore. I was hoping for a rather quick delivery, in the midwife led unit, no complications- but right now that seems so far off and I'm not sure it's been right to pray for that. (For anyone wondering why I'm praying such specific things, you can read here about Cerys' birth 4 years ago at the same hospital) After I explained all this to Marc he reminded me what we did for the girls on Sunday.

Sunday after church we ate lunch at Pizza Hut because I did not feel like cooking. After lunch we drove over to Toys R Us because we were looking for a certain board game to play with our student home group on Monday night. As we walked into the store, all the My Little Pony horses were on sale- buy one get one free. Now, the girls have plenty of ponies but we stopped to look at them anyway. They got all excited and were pointing out all the ones they "loved" and didn't have. I'm not sure what came over me, especially since Cerys just had a birthday in November and then of course Christmas- but I let them each pick out one pony. Cerys chose one that had a painters hat and paint brush and Bailey chose one that had a hula skirt and necklace on that was bright green and blue. We picked out the game we wanted and proceeded to checkout.

The girls didn't "deserve" those ponies. In fact, based on their behavior this weekend I'm not sure why I even thought of letting them have anything! But because we love them and enjoy seeing them happy, we bought the ponies for them.

We don't deserve anything good either. We are sinners. But God, in His love for us wants to give us good things. I'm not sure why I have such a hard time letting this truth sink in.

Cerys does not have Nursery school this week as it's half term, so all schools are closed. We are trying to do some fun things- today we went to an outdoor museum and we are going bowling in the morning. I'm sure that will be a hoot. I'm very uncomfortable and have a hard time walking, but I'm trying to do as much as I can before Baby Girl arrives. All the walking this morning has kick started some major braxton hicks again so I'm hoping that I will at least have some good news from the midwife tomorrow- I just want to hear that I've progressed at least a tiny bit. I'm trying to put my hope in the Lord, not in the contractions. :)

I'll try and update tomorrow after my appointment at 2pm (8am Texas time)!

41 Weeks...and counting!

First of all, no significant change regarding Baby Girl. I saw my midwife yesterday and nothing has changed. I will see her again on Wednesday. It seems like the never-ending cycle: midwife appointment, wait a few days, midwife appointment, wait a few days. There was some discussion about my due date being wrong, and that is what I'm hoping for. My due date was bumped up almost 2 weeks after my first scan at 14 weeks. If that is the case, then my due date is this coming Friday the 19th. Either way, I'm ready for her to be born!

We celebrated Valentine's on Friday night with a candlelit dinner. The girls loved it of course. Then I had a planned a little scavenger hunt for them around the house with small prizes so they had a good time doing that as well. Saturday, after the midwife came to check on me, we went for a LONG walk to the park. I was about in tears on the walk home I was hurting so bad and so uncomfortable. All the while I was holding out hope that it would cause some contractions...nothing.

I had sort of an email conversation with a lady that I greatly respect, who taught our college Sunday school class while at Ouachita. She knows me well and has walked with me through some of my greatest fears/struggles during those 4 years of college. Who knows how many afternoons I was at her house either crying or just hanging out. Anyway, she suggested I download and listen to session 4 of Beth Moore's new Esther study. It's all about fear. Wow, was it amazing. So amazing that at this point I can't really put in to words what it did for me to listen to it. There are several areas that God has been trying to deal with in my life, all regarding fear, but I've not been wanting to face them. This past week or more of waiting on Baby Girl to arrive has forced me to face some of my fears. I like to think I'm in control of my life and that God would not allow certain things to happen to me, etc. And if I just don't think about them, then surely God would oblige. Anyway, the lesson was profound to me. I woke up several times during the night thinking about Beth said and trying to process some of it. I started crying trying to explain to Marc this morning about what it meant to me, it was just perfect timing and I am so thankful that I was able to purchase it from Lifeway and download it instantly!

Oh, one thing that did make me laugh was that as soon as Beth started teaching, the girls ran in here to see what I was listening to. Cerys said, "Why is she mad?" I just laughed and laughed and explained to them that she was not mad, she is just passionate and excited about teaching the Bible. Bailey couldn't take her eyes off the screen, it was pretty funny.

Hope you have a wonderful week! If and when there is any news, one of us will let you know! Thank you to everyone who has commented or emailed us letting us know you are praying for us. We truly do appreciate it!

Update

I can't believe I would even dream of talking about this on the Internet- but here goes. I went for my midwife appointment today and I'm not even dilated! I was suppose to have a "stretch and sweep" done, but since my cervix is closed she could not do it. I can't tell you how discouraged I am right now. 

So, the plan now is to try this again on Saturday (Happy Valentine's Day to me!), then again on Wednesday. Then if the next Sunday rolls around and I'm still pregnant, it will be 2 weeks past my due date- then the hospital is suppose to contact me and tell when I need to come in for induction.  And of course this means I will be on the consultant led unit- not the midwife led, which is the place I have been trying to avoid. 

I know I sound like a sissy and I know there are many women who go overdue and even have babies behind a bush in Africa. I'm just fighting hard the tendency to say "I wish I was in America right now" mentality.  Not that everything in America is perfect, but in situations like this I just want to be in a familiar setting I guess.

Anyway, that's all I got for today. Trying to hold back the tears (and I'm not doing so well in that department) and continue to trust the One who made Baby Girl. And I'm going to stop reading some blogs for a while because "everyone" seems to be having wonderful birth stories in the States and everything is working out like they had planned and I'm feeling a little left out over here.  How's that for a pity party?

Today's Checklist

1. Re-pack hospital bag since I packed it 4 weeks ago. Can't remember what I put in it.

2. Re-pack Baby Girl's bag since it too has been packed for weeks. (Yes, baby needs  a bag for the hospital too here. You have to take your own nappies, wipes, blankets, hats, clothes, etc.)
      

3. Pray often that God would let Baby Girl arrive SOON so I won't have to go 14 days overdue

4. Walk and go up and down the stairs as much as possible.

5. Sit and twiddle my thumbs, all the while hoping I might feel a contraction. (What  happened to all those contractions I have had for WEEKS?)

6. Trust God. Trust God. Trust God.

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