Blood Water Mission

"Tis the season" for giving.  There are so many amazing organizations and non-profits out there to consider when giving.  I'd like to plug Blood Water Mission.  This is a Nashville based non-profit started by the men who make up Jars of Clay.  These guys are not only talented Christian singers, songwriters, and musicians with hearts for the Lord, God has given them a heart for the African people as well.  Several years ago they started Blood Water Mission to bring clean blood and clean water to a people who so desperately need it.  They are very personally involved in this work, it's not just a good deed/warm fuzzy for them.  Visit their Christmas Campaign page and prayerfully consider whether this would be a cause that you would like to support.  I know they would appreciate it.  The cost seems like so little compared to the change it will bring!  

In the near future...

I have almost reached 100 followers!  I really can't believe this.  Stay tuned over the next few days.  When I reach 100 followers there just might be something in it for you.

A New Life!

It has been a long and tiring week!  Monday morning little brother woke up with a pretty high fever that did not break until sometime today.  At first we (myself and the nurse at our pediatrician's office) concluded that it was a side effect of the vaccine he got last Friday morning.  It stayed around 103-104 degrees until last night.  No fun and kind of scary.  Today it went down quite a bit and he broke out in a rash...Roseola.  Big brother had it earlier this year.  I am relieved to know that it was not vaccine related and to know that he is on the upswing now.  He really had us worried.  I've never seen him so lethargic and miserable.  I'm sure you can all sympathize.

So Monday night I met my friend and her husband at the hospital where she was being induced.  The Pitocin was administered and shortly after she was in pretty intense labor.  She did a wonderful job of breathing through the contractions and changing positions, allowing gravity to help the labor along.  A few hours later she was told that she was 8 cm dilated and 90% effaced (meaning that her cervix had almost completely thinned) but the baby had still not completely descended.  I could not believe that she had dilated so quickly!  Technically she was in transition, the hardest and shortest part of the first stage of labor.  YAY!  So she continued to labor for quite a while...hard labor, mind you.  That Pitocin does it's job extremely well and those contractions were very intense and frequent.  At next check she was told that she was 6 cm dilated.  WHAT!?!?  Apparently she was not as far along as they thought.  Needless to say this was a huge mental blow for her.  How discouraging.  I almost cried for her.  The baby then started to go into distress.  His heart rate dropped dangerously low and they rushed to get her on her side (to encourage blood flow to the baby) and attached a fetal heart rate monitor to it's scalp.  It took several tries.  My friend was terrified and in great pain.  Her husband and I held her hands and comforted her, praying for her the whole time.  It's amazing how quickly things can turn.  Because Pitocin causes the uterus to contract so strongly and frequently, babies often go into distress.  It's just too much for their little bodies to handle.  This is why the use of Pitocin so often can lead to emergency cesarean sections.  Thankfully that was not the outcome in this case.  They decreased the Pitocin to give the little guy a break and then eventually turned it off competely when mom continued to contract on her own.  Soon after, they checked her and she really was at 8 cm.  Unfortunately, at this point, I had to say goodbye and get back home to my family so that Tom could get Big sister to school on time.  I hated to leave her but there was nothing I could do.  After I left, my friend continued to labor through the transitional period but stalled out at 8 cm.  She was exhausted by this point, as you can imagine.  She was given two options: 1. Pitocin again (no thanks) 2. an epidural.  She chose the epidural.  The first one didn't take.  Not good.  They finally got it right the second time and she was able to relax enough to get some rest, allowing her to completely dilate.  When it was time to push she was ready.  After 1 hour and 45 minutes of pushing, they met their son!  

I can't tell you how proud I am of my friend!  She did such an amazing job laboring.  Sometimes things just don't turn out the way you plan but that's okay.  They are blessed with a healthy baby boy- 9 pounds and 22 inches long!  Monday evening they left their home as a young couple and today they returned as a family!  What joy!

Thank you all so much for your prayers and concern!  You really are a wonderful group of women!

Tonight I am going witness a miracle!  Tonight I am honored to be the doula for good friends of ours who will be meeting their first born son.  What a blessing.  The little guy is two weeks overdue.  Apparently he is very comfortable where he is!  The momma is really trying for an unmedicated birth and, bless her heart (that's what they say in the south), she has been so patient, hoping to avoid an induction.  Well, her time is up and she is now at the limit of how long they will let her go past her due date.  Time to meet him.  She will be induced tonight, sometime after 8 p.m., and I will be there with her and her husband, doing all I can to be a support to her during one of the most important times of her life.  I am so excited for them, I'm about to burst.  I can't help but to think back to my three childrens' births and how blessed I am to be gifted with the responsibility of rearing them.  

If you think about it today, say a prayer for her.  She is going for as natural a birth as possible (after the Pitocin).  Pitocin (for those of you who are unfamiliar) causes the uterus to contract much more frequently and more intensely than it would otherwise.  Thus, avoiding an epidural could be really hard.  I will encourage her to try to get to at least 5 cm without the epidural.  At that point the risk of ending up with a c-section goes down considerably.  Pray for me as well, as I will be up all night long and then come home to the kids and business as usual.  I'm really hoping to be able to be there with her throughout the whole labor and birth, but the morning schedule at our house may prevent me from being able to do that.  Pray that the labor is short, for her sake and mine...I'd hate to have to leave her before the hardest part of the labor.

Thank you friends!  I am looking forward to letting you know how it goes!  

doulos:  the Greek word for bondservant

Hey, not so fast!

When the holidays come around it seems like someone pushes an invisible fast forward button.  Time seems to go by even more quickly than usual.  Two weeks until Thanksgiving and then just a few more until Christmas.  So much planning, so little time.  

Every day after the boys eat lunch I put little brother down in his crib and then big brother and I retreat to my bedroom where we read a couple of books and then he settles in for a nap.  The brothers share a room and it works better to have naps in separate rooms right now.  Every day I lay with big brother for a little while.  This is our special time together.  Today as we were snuggling together it struck me how much I tend to try to push the fast forward button on him.  I feel like having a six year old contributes to this.  She is so independent and capable.  I think I expect him to be the same.  Today he seemed so little laying there next to me, sucking his thumb and rubbing his beloved "silky blanket" between his fingers.  I savored his sweet little two year old kisses and the way he didn't fall asleep until his nose was right up against mine.  Even with my eyes closed I could tell he was drifting off, just by the deepening of his breaths.  He's two.  He gets the giggles and makes silly talk.  He pushes his sisters buttons.  He takes toys away from his little brother.  He doesn't quite know how to share yet (he's not supposed to).  He gets tired and cranky and whiny.  He wants me to "up up" him.  He needs lots of love and affirmation and he needs to know that he is not forgotten in all of the chaos.  And I need to remember all of these things.  I need to let him be two and I need to enjoy it...the good the bad and the ugly parts too.  I need to remember that it must be hard to be the middle child, only 10 months old when his little brother came along, demanding so much of my time and attention.  He may be the "big" brother, but he is still so small and he needs me.

All I Want For Christmas is...

I know it may seem crazy, but I think it's pretty darn smart...I have started the Christmas shopping and am happy to say that I already have a few gifts hidden away for the kids.  I even started shopping for my niece.  There are a few gifts that I am going to make, but the majority will be store bought.  

Have you started your shopping?  Here are a few things that I have found that would make great gifts for kids:

The Griffin MyPhones

I must preface this one by letting you know that my husband Tom works for Griffin Technology and that they used my #1 girl for the website.  Never mind that, this is a great product!  These are kid sized headphones that cap peak volume at 85 decibals which means that you don't have to worry about your little ones hearing.  What makes them fun is that they are totally customizable, with interchangeable inserts and blank templates.  You can see my girl demonstrating this handy product here.  Make sure you click on the video links under "Learn"and "Create".  What a cutie!  We're so proud of her!  

God and Me

I saw this over at Delightfully Diva-ish (one of my favorite blogs, go check it out!) one day.  What a great book!  I immediately bought one for the kids.  Daily devotions written in a way that children can understand.  Oh how I wish I had this when I was a youngin'.  You can find it here.

The Bilibo

This is one of those toys that you look at and think "What in the world is that?"  At least that is what everyone says when they see ours.  I say, "It's whatever you want it to be", and it really is.  It's the Bilibo!  Put this in front of your kids and let their imaginations run wild.  You'd be surprised at what they come up with!

"See Me" Play Tunnel

The "See Me" play tunnel is made by Pacific Play Tents and is oh so much fun!  We just got this for Little Brother's 1st birthday and all three kids are having a ball with it.  You should hear him laugh!  The best part is that it collapses down for easy storage!  Great fun!

Any Dan Zanes CD

If you are a parent and you have not heard of Dan Zanes you must run out to the store and buy any one (or more) of his cds.  This is not just kids' music, this is family music.  Dan Zanes cds are, hands down, some of our faves around here.  And we love music!  You will not be disappointed.

I could keep going, but quite honestly, this has taken me forever and I'm tired!  This ought to get you started...happy shopping!

What's next?

I have a growing list of sewing projects to complete (or should I say begin and complete):  

-A nursing cover for a good friend due in a few weeks (that will be done tonight, picture below),

-ivory colored sheer  curtains for the dining room

-place mats for the Thanksgiving table

-pillow covers to spruce up the living room couch and chair

-a belt for Big Sister (Christmas gift)

-going to try to make a baby sling for a friend who asked if I thought I could (is that challenge?)

Not to mention that I just received new fabric from Quilthome.com.

I just love the beautifully simple look of paper and twine.

Ah, yummy!  It's from Joel Dewberry's Deer Valley collection...love it!  Been loving it for quite some time and it actually went on sale.  I'm planning on using it to make this cute apron overlay from Amy Butler (top right pic).  What do you think?

I can't promise that I will start any of the above projects this weekend.  The weather forecast is pretty amazing and I don't know how many more of this type of weekend we have remaining before the cold wet winter begins.  Seems like I should be outside making leaf piles and jumping...

Enjoy your weekend!