Still Here

We are still here, but as you probably guessed, life with one more little one is not as simple as adding one more to the mix.

Malina Grace, (or Gracie, as some of us have taken to calling her), is very sweet and laid back.

Her flexibility has been huge in this transitional phase, but unfortunately a cold found our home, and she is now struggling through the sniffles at 1 month old. Part of me feels tremendous guilt that she is already sick and yet I know there is very little I could have done differently to try and prevent it. Both Allen and Lizzie have been under the weather the past week and a half, and realistically, just trying to keep Lizzie from coughing near Gracie, has been a chore.

Please, be praying that she gets over it very quickly and that it doesn't get any worse.

Also, prayers for Lizzie and Ellie would be appreciated, as they learn how to share Mommy and Daddy. They have been so sweet with their sister, but definitely have made it known to Allen and myself, that they don't appreciate the lack of attention. For example, in the past couple of days they have thrown more temper tantrums, screamed more times and said the words "No" and "Why" more frequently than I care to calculate, than ever before.

Also, there was the melting stick of butter all over the kitchen, newly cleaned dishes and bodies of a 3 and 2 year old. Oh, and today's expression of frustration by Lizzie: the new tube of toothpaste all over the bathroom counters, floor, toilet, hair ties, and carefully shredded toilet paper. It was truly a sight to see. In fact, if I thought I could get a picture without giving my creative bathroom decorator the wrong message, I would have shown you all just what a mess it was.

The Weight of it All

This has been quite the week for me. Having a baby is always a big deal, but this time was especially impacting to me for a multitude of reasons. The biggest factors were being in a birthing center with midwives, Allen and a close friend; rather than being in a hospital back home, with family (in particular my mom), doctors and drugs.

I hadn't realized what a huge experience giving birth naturally would be for me. It was truly an amazing experience on so many levels. Never in my life have I felt such a raw need and desire for God's help. Never have I felt such pain that would bring me to such a point of surrender to God's control. And never has God's timing and plan seemed more obviously perfect.

As I mentioned before, my family, including my mom, were all back in Washington, while I grunted and groaned Malina into the world in Massachusetts. Allen and my good friend, Elizabeth, were huge instruments in helping me cope with the painful process, but it was God's whispered reminders of His faithfulness, strength, love and GRACE, that kept me going. In the haze of thoughts that filled my mind with each mind-numbing contraction, I heard His voice saying that it would be done soon, that He would take the weight off my shoulders if I surrendered it to Him...He would carry my load, my pain...my cross.

In the end, the pain brought forth life. In the end a reminder was born, a reminder of God's amazing and towering grace*. He never gives us more than we can handle, because He is always there to carry our load for us. And in the end of this journey of pain that is life on Earth, there is life eternal with our gracious Father.

This reminder was especially impacting for me this evening, as I was jolted once again into the reality of the frailty of our human bodies and how God's plan is not our own. He is in control. He knows how long we have on this Earth and He knows the loads we can bear while we are here, because He intends to bear them for us. My family has a heavy weight right now, in particular my parents, but we will make it through by the power of His grace, and in the end we will have true LIFE!

So, despite the pain I feel, and will continue to feel, I praise God for His faithfulness, strength, love and especially... His grace.


Note:
*Malina in Hebrew means Tower, so her name essentially means tower of grace.

Malina Grace

Malina Grace was born at 12:09pm, April 2, 2009. 7 lbs 0 oz. and 20" long. -- Mom and baby are great. As a means of precaution (and the extra help of nurses), Steph and Malina will be staying in the hospital until Saturday. Lizzie, Ellie and I are trying to rest up for the coming home of our sweet Malina!

Parental Slackers

Since we never did a baby pool, and now it is just too close to make it realistic to start a pool, I thought I would ask some "poolish" questions to see what everyone might come up with:

1. Name guesses?
2. What day and time of day will she come? (She is due April 5th)
3. Was the ultrasound correct, or is our little guy wearing pink home?
4. What will she weigh (in pounds and ounces)?
5. How long will she be from head to toe (in inches)?
6. What will the weather be like in NE Massachusetts when she is born (temperature in degrees F and general weather forecast)?
7. What will be the last thing Steph eats before her water breaks? (Pumpkin Tortellini Soup?)
8. What color hair does our littlest have and how much of it?
9. Will Steph make it through a natural birth, or will drugs have to be given? (I have been 2 for 2 on epidurals)
10. Who will be the first to be pee-peed on by this little one? (it is only a matter of time)

Any Day Now

She will be coming any day now and it really still hasn't set in at all. We are SO excited about this new little one, but the last months seem to have gone by so quickly, that now it is overwhelming to think that soon pregnancy will end, and our little one's life on Earth will begin.

Pray for our anxiety levels and for her health as she will be here at ANY moment!!!

Kid Answers

So Steph filled out a questionnaire type deal on Facebook. I think it's funny. Here it be.

Kid Answers to Mom Questions

Lizzie age 3 1/2 and Ellie age 2 answered the following together:


1. What is something your mom always says to you?
Lizzie: "Ellie, you need to wait to eat"

2. What makes your mom happy?
Lizzie: Birthdays

3. What makes mom sad?
Lizzie: When I get out of bed

4. How does your mom make you laugh?
Lizzie: She makes funny faces

5. What was your mom like as a child?
Ellie: She made funny faces

6. How old is your mom?
Ellie: 2

7. How tall is your mom?
Lizzie: big

8. What is her favorite thing to do?
Lizzie: brush her teeth

9. What does your mom do when you're not around?
Lizzie: type and wait for us to come back

10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?
Lizzie: Pray and have her friends sing to her

11. What is your mom really good at?
Lizzie: turning the tv on for Ellie and me to watch

12. What is your mom not very good at?
Ellie: crying

13. What does your mom do for a job?
Ellie: Not crying

14.What is your mom's favorite food?
Lizzie: grill cheese sandwich

15.What makes you proud of your mom?
???

16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?
Lizzie: Teacher Suzi from the Sid the science kids

17. What do you and your mom do together?
Lizzie: play outside in the snow

18. How are you and your mom the same?
Lizzie: Our hair

19. How are you and your mom different?
Lizzie: I'm a kid

20. How do you know your mom loves you?
Ellie: cause she's my mommy

21. What does your mom like most about your dad?
Lizzie: They are nice to each other

22. Where is your mom's favorite place to go?
Lizzie: to a restaurant

Sharing

Lizzie informed Steph tonight that Steph and I needed to not break the humidifier in our room because we would be sharing it with Baby Sissy.

Louis CK

In light of the Presidential address last night, I thought the following clip might remind us of what we have to be thankful for.
I saw this clip from a friend's Facebook link, and it made me laugh so hard. It's a comedic routine of sorts so keep that in mind, but too too funny.



Note: In case you are like me and look to see if Louis CK has other video clips, there are plenty, but they are riddled with swearing that essential destroys his comedic value. Consider yourself warned.

Pooh Day

So the girls got a stomach bug yesterday. It wasn't pleasant and was pretty exhausting for Allen and myself.

We are now finishing day 2 (the recovery day) with a family viewing of the Walt Disney Classic Winnie the Pooh.

I had forgotten just how much I had enjoyed watching these same cartoons when I was little, and now that I am watching them through older eyes, I appreciate them all the more.

For example, who knew that Tigger was the first to use texting lingo in regular conversation, "TTFN...tah-tah-for-now" and before texting existed!

The things one learns from taking a sick day with your children.

Stones

Steph’s been having lower left of her stomach pain for a few days. Normally Tylenol took care of it. But yesterday was different. Nothing would work. We call the midwife. “You better come in.”

Great neighbor watches the kiddos. We drive to the hosptial; labor and delivery unit, simply because Steph is 33 weeks.

Pain med, couple of lab tests, diagnosis: kidney stones.

We got home last night to a wonderful homecooked meal (same great neighbor [who has three of her own kids] ! Thanks Ashley ! ). The pain is better (demerol at the hospital; then Tylenol with codine at home), but Steph is tired. The kiddos didn’t get a nap yesterday so they went to bed early and we are very grateful they went to sleep right away; no fussing. Steph and I went to bed super early for us (10pm).

Steph is recovering: the diagnosis helps mentally, the medicine helps physically. Little One is a-okay. Kicking strong and quite perturbed by the monitors yesterday thank-you-very-much.

We’re all tuckered out, but glad everything will be better soon. Thanks to those of you who saw my status on Facebook and prayed. God heard.