Birth Day - Aug. 20, 2008 (Part 2)

Stats I forgot:

8 lbs. 9 oz. (our biggest baby!)
20 1/2 inches long



Meeting the anxious tribe...
Getting dressed to go home!
sisters...
Ready to head for home...let the adventure begin!

Birth Day - Aug. 20, 2008 (Part 1)

A very special day...Claire Anne French entered our lives! She's a joy to everyone and we are so thankful to finally meet her!

5:45 am...getting ready to head to the hospital
Waiting...
In labor with my wonderful long-time friend and coach, Sheila Taylor, by my side! Robb's position until he was really needed!

She's here! Born at 1:29 pm!

Overheard at our house...

Lauren: "Mom, Preston is turning into a textured baby instead of a smooth baby!" (He has some sort of little rash, maybe a heat rash)

Tucker, our three year old, after his dad had talked sternly to his biggest brother about not antagonizing him: "Mommmmm, Drew is 'pushing my buttons'!!"

Ready and waiting...

Life, however crazy and insane as it is now, will soon change!

We are so excited to meet our new little one, and our days have been busy starting school to get ahead a little, putting up the crib and cradle, washing little girl clothes, putting food in the freezer, rearranging the suburban to make room for another car seat, buying groceries, and packing a diaper bag. Though the days (and nights) are somewhat long and uncomfortable, I have been reminded today of what a privilege it is to carry this little one. I realize, once again, that every kick I feel is a miracle and every hiccup a blessing, as I read about a couple who just lost their unborn child. (Mark and Beka at www.more-love-to-thee.blogspot.com/. ) I do not know this young couple, but I can feel their pain as they speak of their journey. I can also feel their submission to our Father as they, who do not understand His ways, bless His name through their sorrow.

As Robb and I were on our date last Friday night, he asked me if our children were totally committed to God. We frequently talk of this, as we know that they are not ours, but just gifts that we have with us for a time. Robb and I also talked of how life would be unbearable if something should happen to one of them, and we had not tried to keep that in mind. We love them, all six(!), but strive to remember that they are God's children, not ours. We don't know what a day will bring, and today, instead of grumbling about my uncomfortable state, I will thank Him for this time.

Update from the OB Doc: She's a big girl and weighs 7 lbs. 10 oz. as of Monday. She is measuring about 2 weeks ahead. The Dr. will induce me on Aug. 20th if I have not had her yet, so even though that is still two weeks away, there is an end in sight! We ( a good friend and I) got to see her in her quiet little world...it was fun to watch her little hands by her face! Robb is sitting on "go" and is ready for it all to be over (or for it all to start!). He has been such a help with the other children, and just a big encouragement (as always). These are good days!

Work to do...

This is the sweet little guy who passed out cold this week after holding his breath while angry!
He came to very subdued, not even remembering what he was angry about.
Oh, my...so much work to do and we need wisdom from Above!

Forty Weeks...

"I was convinced that the greatest lie of pregnancy was that morning sickness only happens in the mornings. I was wrong.

The greatest lie of pregnancy is that is takes nine months to grow a baby. The TRUTH is that is takes forty weeks-ten long months lived in a parallel universe where each day is as a thousand years.

God seems to have a particular affinity for the number forty. Was it not forty days and forty nights before God stopped the rain and Noah saw sunshine? Was it not forty long years before the Israelites made it out of the desert? And didn't Jesus spend forty hungry days in the desert Himself?

Perhaps it's just coincidence, but one thing is evident: God is not generally in any particular hurry when He's doing His finest work.

Maybe making us wait is His way of getting our attention, of helping us realize He's up to something serious. Maybe He just knows we need some time to grow into the blessing He has in store.

Forty weeks is a long time to wait for anything, particularly when one's ankles appear to be retaining all the waters of Noah's flood. But I've got a hunch, when the miracle finally shows up, it will be the first rainbow and the Promised Land all rolled up into one squirmy little bundle."

I can hardly wait!

By Carolyn Arends
"We've Been Waiting For You"

Independence Day...

Our 4th of July was wonderful! The more kids we have, the more fun holidays are (no worries, we are stopping with six!). Our day consisted of work and play...
in the sandbox...

preparing food...
swimming in the pool...
painting on the house...
our traditional supper: grilled chicken, potatoes, corn-on-the-cob, dipped strawberries, watermelon, and homemade ice cream...(the belly is getting big!)

Later, we went to a local stadium for an awesome fireworks display! They were fabulous and made us so proud to be Americans!



May God bless America!!!

Update on us: Last July we put our house on the market. We have recently taken it off due to various circumstances. The renter of our little guest house in the backyard has recently moved out and we are transforming that space into a studio where I can teach piano again. (I have done that before out of the house, but it became increasingly difficult with the children in the home.) We are planning that I will teach a couple of hours a day, while the little ones are sleeping and hopefully, they will not even notice that I am gone! Being with the kids all day (as I school at home) allows me to be away from them for a couple of hours without missing out on their lives. We are praying that God blesses this and gives us wisdom to balance the things in our lives.

We would certainly appreciate your prayers as well!