Birth Announcement

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DearDaughter2

BORN: July 22, 2007
WEIGHT: 8 pounds 15 ounces
LENGTH: 21 1/2"

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"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power…” (Ephesians 3:20-21)

Thank You, Lord, for a successful, all natural, without medication, VBAC (Vaginal Birth After Cesarean)!

It's For Real!!!

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It has been over a week since I last posted an entry. I have been busily learning how to transition from being a mommy of 1 to being a mommy of 2. Blessedly, my parents are here to help me out and they have been a BIG and WONDERFUL help!!!

Last Friday evening, July 20th, I went through a bout of false contractions as I had during the week. It was very frustrating as I thought it was the real deal and then suddenly the contractions disappeared. I think I reached the end of my "hope" and I just cried and cried and cried. In my mind, this baby wasn't going to come out before July 26th and I would have to endure through a repeat C-section.

Saturday, July 21st, started out just like any ordinary Saturday. DearHubby worked with his business partner "start up" their small welding business while I spent most of the day preparing the house for my parents' arrival. I was feeling a bit more tired than normal, but I really didn't think anything of it since I knew I was at the end of my pregnancy. So, I baked another loaf of Zucchini Bread, and then worked on some detailed cleaning around the living room, the area where my parents would be sleeping.

Around 4pm, DearDaughter and I went outside to play. I had actually started to feel some contractions around 3pm, but since they felt similar to the false contractions I had felt all week, I really didn't want to get my hopes up. While outside, I noticed that the contractions weren't disappearing and were coming steadily around 8 to 10 minutes apart.

I continued to think these were false contractions and went in to prepare our dinner. However, I noticed that the contractions continued to grow closer together.

After dinner, I decided to take a shower and then lay down. By this time, DearHubby had taken out a stop watch for me to start timing my contractions. I had time to take my shower, but my contractions were coming every 3 to 5 minutes by this time. I went out to talk to DearHubby and told him to get ready to go to the hospital because I thought it was time.

DearHubby got everything on our list prepared and the car packed. We prayed that this was real labor and then headed off to our DearFriends' house to drop off DearDaughter. We got to the hospital and I was put on the fetal and contractions monitor. I was also given an IV. This was everything opposite of what our Birth Plan spelled out, but the hospital said that because this was a VBAC procedure, they needed me to be monitored and have an IV.

To make a long story short, I was admitted because I WAS in labor. When my OB came in, she suggested breaking my bag of waters. I agreed. My labor progressed very well. I was admitted into the hospital around 11pm, started pushing around 2:42am, and DearDaughter2 was born at 3:02am.

In the meantime, while I was in labor, DearHubby and I were working out our plans with my parents for their pick-up at the airport. Providentially, their flight was delayed and instead of having to be picked up at 5:00am, they were due in at 8:30am. That gave DearHubby enough time to get a little rest from delivery, pick up DearDaughter1 from our DearFriends' house, and then head off to pick up my parents.

DearDaughter2 arrived just in time to greet my parents, just as I had hoped!!!

Staying Busy and Having Fun

After going through that time of false labor yesterday, I was quite frustrated...A DearFriend had her membrane stripped for 2 out of her 4 pregnancies and she informed me that she went into labor at least 48 hours afterwards..."No more than 2 days," she said. Another DearFriend went into labor 4 hours after getting her membrane stripped. Therefore, though I knew that I could go another week without going into labor, I still hoped to go into labor soon. "I still believe!" DearHubby exclaimed last night at dinner...However, the idea of a C-section is finally sinking into my head that it may be God's best plan for me and the baby.

This morning, DearHubby asked me if I'd felt anymore contractions. I peacefully said, "No."

I also decided that I will treat today as any other pregnancy day, in contrast to the past couple of days where I have dwelt on the question "When?" (Read about some lessons I am learning in "Waiting on the Lord")

As I've waited for our new Little One, I've gotten almost everything completed for her arrival...I looked through DearDaughter1's 0-3Months clothes, sorted through them, washed, and prepared them in Little One's baskets. DearDaughter and I dusted off her cradle and put on clean fresh sheets.In addition, I am trying to keep the house in the ready mode...That means keeping up with the laundry daily and keeping up with my daily house chores so that if I do go into labor, the house cleaning is already caught up and DearHubby won't be burdened by any last minute details.

I am also planning to do some light grocery shopping today to keep us stocked through the weekend. My parents are arriving, from California, this Sunday, to help us out for 2 weeks. At that point, my mom and dad can do the grocery shopping for us on Monday.

Lastly, I am trying to spend as much quality time with DearDaughter as possible. Today, while doing chores, I was still able to play stickers with her, draw with her, and we even got out a new "toy", play dough!!!

Having such a peace over this situation has been nice. It's "freed" me in the sense that I don't feel like "life" has to stop just because I am waiting...

I'm still trying to relate this waiting period for Little One's arrival to our waiting period for Jesus' second arrival. I still haven't come up with a good connection or lesson yet. I know God will show me what He wants me to learn, eventually...

Is It Time Yet???

So, this morning I felt some contractions beginning around 4:30am. It was really exciting because they seemed to be coming every 10 minutes. At 5am the alarm clock rang and DearHubby got up. I informed him of the contractions and asked him if he would be able to turn around easily on his way to work if this was the real thing. He told me he could easily turn around, but he suggested that he stay home until I was sure...He then suggested that I walk around and change my activity to see if anything changes.

I got up and paced in the living room for awhile. The contractions were still coming every 10 minutes.

I ate a bowl of cereal...The contractions were still coming every 10 minutes...

I took a shower...The contractions were still coming every 10 minutes...

"Hey, DearHubby, I think this is it..."

I laid down for awhile so that I could be rested up for the big event...I didn't feel the contractions at a regular interval anymore...DearDaughter was up and I asked DearHubby to get her and feed her breakfast...I stayed in bed for about another hour. The time between the contractions grew further apart...NOOOOOO...

I got up and told DearHubby that maybe he should go to work because I didn't want a vacation day wasted...He said we'd wait a little longer...

I went to the rest room and then back to the bedroom to lay down again for another hour or so...The contractions were almost gone, maybe I felt 3 in that hour?

I got up and told DearHubby to get dressed and go to work...It was false labor...

Going Back to a Normal Routine

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So last night when I reminded DearHubby that I was going to get my membrane stripped today he asked me to take it easy today and not do anything so that I would be well rested when I go into labor.

This is what happens when Mommy takes a rest...I decided that I couldn't rest any longer and just had to do some picking up...

I don't feel any signs that I am in labor and so I will return to my normal routine...Perhaps take it a little more easy so that I'll still be rested, but at least keep the house in order...

Waiting on the Lord

Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD. (Psalm 27:14)

I went to my 39th week OB appointment today and got my membrane stripped. Basically, the OB "placed her gloved finger through the cervix and swept the amniotic membranes free of their attachment to the lower part of the uterine cavity." This is a natural form of induction.

I inquired about the liklihood of going into labor. Dr. Nevins said that the stripping of the membrane works with the body. If the body is ready then this just helps jump start the contractions. If not, I could possibly go another week without anything happening.

As the procedure was being done, the comment that the doctor made was that my cervix is good. I'm not sure if she meant that it is ripe? However, she stretched me out to 4cm dilation and I was already 80% effaced.

Dr. Nevins reminded me that I cannot be medically induced and that because I am a short person, meaning I have a compressed pelvis already, I am still at risk for having another C-section. I guess it's more difficult for a big baby to go through a compressed pelvis? Anyway, at last week's ultrasound, the baby already measured 7pounds 11ounces. Since babies gain about an ounce a day, at the end of the pregnancy, our Little One will probably be, if she's not already, over 8pounds. Therefore, Dr. Nevins reminded me that if the baby is not with us within the week, I would need a C-section and she went ahead and scheduled my C-section for next Thursday, July 26th.

As soon as the doctor mentioned scheduling a C-section, I became disheartened and never felt more at the mercy of God until that time. Whatever way possible, except for eating spicy foods, I have tried everything suggested that seemed safe for me and the baby to naturally induce labor contractions. At the mere knowledge of a scheduled C-section for next week, I, myself, feel defeated. Not that I had any sort of control over the timing of our Little One's arrival, but I now literally have NO control over when and how our Little One will be born and I must now truly and completely wait on the Lord. There is nothing more my husband and I can do, but wait. It is true that I have one sure date, July 26th, and yet that is not my desire...

What is God teaching me? Definitely, this is a true stripping of myself and a lesson of complete dependance on God's sovereignty. He is the perfect creator and master of all things and this is a lesson of trusting in His good and perfect plan and timing and resting in it!

I am to wait, so how should I wait?
- With persevering faith and hope...I must have faith and trust that God is sufficient in power and wisdom to know what is best for me, the baby, my family, and His glory. Having faith and trust in God's sufficient power and wisdom gives me hope that whatever happens in the end IS according to God's will and it will be good!
- With patience and contentment...I must not fret or murmur against God nor continue to ask Him why He is doing this...Instead, I must continue to do what is right and not get angry, especially towards others...I must not complain about my situation nor fall into the tempation of self-pity. If all I am able to do is just rest, I must rest, even take advantage of the time to seek Him more in His Word, and I must humble myself to seek the help of my husband or others, rather than to be prideful or stubborn and continue on with the chores that may make me too tired for labor...
- In prayer... Oh Lord, forgive me as I have sinned against you during this time of waiting. I grew angry at you and the waiting situation you put me in. I've felt discontent. Help me Lord. Give me a strong and courageous heart to wait on you. Lord, help me to trust in your will and help me to rest in knowing that whatever the outcome, whether it is a successful VBAC or a C-section, it is ordained by you because you know what is good. Lord, I do lift up my desire for a successful VBAC. There are so many reasons for this desire, but the primary reason is for less time in recovery so that I may resume my duties as Mommy and Wife in our home. These are tough times we are in...DearHubby has so many other responsibilities and issues on his mind and on his plate that I would like be a help to him rather than another burden. A C-section, especially in recovery, may mean that I would be of minimal help to DearHubby and that he would need to pick up my responsibilities. I know Lord that you can provide the strength and all that we need through this time and that is why I am lifting these desires and burdens up to you, hoping that you will help me trust that you will hear my cries and answer according to your good will, mercy, and grace. Thank you Lord for your son Jesus Christ who died on the cross and was raised up again and who now sits at your right hand intercessing for us. It is only through Jesus Christ that I can come to you with my pleas. Lord, hear my prayer. - In Pursuit of Your Call -

Dear Sisters in the Lord...

Dear Sisters in the Lord,
I can't believe that the end of my pregnancy is here...It has been a long and challenging journey and here is a quick summary of these past few weeks/months...In addition, I have a prayer request at the end...

Around our home, there have been a lot of activity in preparation for our Little One's coming. On my end, I prepared the interior of the house by organizing it better so that when our Little One is with us, "life" can continue on as "normal". When DearDaughter was born, it took me a long time to figure out how to handle juggling the care of child and home. In fact, DearHubby was very patient in watching the house be neglegted for many many months just so I can learn how to care for DearDaughter. In those months that the house was neglected, a lot of things just accumelated. So, I just spent the last 6 or 7 months working out a routine so that things won't get neglected when our new Little One is born and the last 3 months or so getting those neglected things organized. On DearHubby's end, he has been completing unfinished projects. I think he's anticipating having to help me out more as he did with DearDaughter in the beginning months, which means no time for the projects he's been working on. In addition, we should be starting work on the baby room in August, which also means no time for the projects he's been working on.

Well, with regards to the marital and child-rearing issues and challenges that OurFamily's faced in this pregnancy, the Lord has really worked in my heart and in DearHubby's heart to help us. I would have to say that the 2 biggest biblical principles that were being refined in my life were the concepts of trusting and obeying God. The funny thing is that God allowed me to do things my way over and over again to show me that my way is not right. He allowed me to grow impatient, unkind, and angry so that He could show me the fruits of my flesh. As I grew weary from doing it my way, which always failed, He reminded me of doing things His way, with patience, kindness, consideration of one another, and love, and showed me the fruits of His Spirit, which always worked. While I acted in the flesh, I displayed my doubt in God and His character and power. When I recognized my disobedience and began to turn from it, I realized that my obedience to God was a display of "handing over my burdens to Him" and trusting Him. So, God had to work in my heart to trust Him and to obey Him more.

You may browse my previous posts for specific examples if you'd like to read about them, but otherwise, I'll just leave you with that above summary of what God has been teaching me.

There were a lot of things "burdening" me and the one verse that would summarize the lesson God has taught me is this:
“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” (Ephesians 3:20-21)

Lastly, please pray for the arrival of our Little One. These past couple of weeks have really been physically challenging. We are going ahead with the plan of giving birth to our Little One vaginally. Throughout my pregnancy, there was a lot of "opposition" from my practice of OB's about doing a Vaginal Birth After Cesarian (VBAC) just because there was concern that a VBAC for me would end in failure. Through much monitoring of the baby's weight and size and by us sticking firm to a decision to do a VBAC, the doctors have finally been supportive and positive about it. I am ready and as the final days go by, I can just feel the toll that this baby is having on my body and the extreme heat and humidity here has not been helpful either. I was hoping to deliver our Little One a few weeks ago, but she wasn't ready yet.

Tomorrow morning, Tuesday, I am going in for my 39th week OB appointment and to get my membrane stripped. Only our Heavenly Father knows the perfect timing (and method) of our Little One's arrival and we do trust in His perfect plan and timing, but my biggest concern with going up to or past my due date is the size of this Little One.

DearDaughter1 was born 8pounds 7ounces. Though that's not as big as other babies, after 3 1/2 hours of trying to push her out naturally and without an epidural, I was not able to push her out and ended with a C-section. I was informed that if our new Little One is not with us by my due date, then a C-section will be needed. My C-section recovery was very difficult and my desire is not to go through that same ordeal again. Therefore, please specifically keep tomorrow's stripping of the membrane in prayer and that God would be gracious in allowing labor to start soon after. I so hope that our Little One will be with us in a few days...


Blessings,
In Pursuit of His Call

Preparing for Little One #2's Arrival: Baby Announcements

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Well, it's unbelievable, but I completed 60 birth announcements last week! It's a very simple card.

All my supplies were from Michael's...

The Card Stock is the generic brand 8x11.5 card stock sold at Michael's called All Girl. It has a variety of pink hues in it. I basically cut each sheet in half and each sheet gave me 2 cards. There was a stack of purple too, but I didn't use it. I think I used 1 pack at $3.99/pack.

The ribbon was also the generic brand sold at Michael's. I don't remember the exact color, but it's like chocolate brown and it's a satin ribbon that's 1/8" wide. I used 3 rolls at $0.50/roll. I actually found the 3rd roll at Wal-Mart for $0.44/roll.

The stamp was my best buy at $1 per set. I found that on the $1 stand, also at Michael's.

It's a really simple card and simple design. Pictured above is the front. The inside left has our Little One's name and its meaning and how we chose it. The inside right will have our Little One's picture and her birth statistics.

In addition, I was able to label all 59 of my envelopes (I'm keeping one announcement for Little One's scrapbook). OK, I have 3 families that I need new addresses for, but 99% of my envelopes are addressed.

Wow, here I was very overwhelmed by my lack of preparation 2 weeks ago and now I feel overly prepared. I didn't get DearDaughter1's announcements out until she was 2 months. Since I'm sooooooo prepared, I should get these out promptly after Little One's birth.

Preparing for Little One #2's Arrival

Last week Tuesday I went to my 36th OB appointment. My OB did a vaginal and rectal culture for Group B streptococci (GBS). She then did an internal exam and discovered that I was already 2-3cm dilated (I don't know what percentile my cervix is effaced).

As soon as I discovered that I was already dilated, pure excitement rushed over me! I don't think throughout this pregnancy I have felt the emotion of excitement because this was a very challenging pregnancy for me. First, the news of the pregnancy caught me off guard and at the time that I discovered I was pregnant, my mind was not yet ready to have another child. I was still in the middle of learning how to be a new mommy and I was just starting to get back into the swing of activities here at home, at church, and socially. It wasn't "my" time yet to get pregnant. Second, as soon as I got pregnant, my lower back started giving me troubles. It was worse than lower back pain because the pain not only stayed in my lower back, but the pain shot down into my legs on both sides and nothing helped with the pain. It didn't help that DearDaughter is such a tall baby and her weight made the back pain worse as she still needs a lot of comfort from Mommy. Third, my husband went through knee surgery on both legs and was not able to help me much throughout this pregnancy. Though these don't sound like much, to me, there were a lot of obstacles for me to overcome and throughout this pregnancy I felt very much alone. As a result of being faced with what seemed like burdens for me, I had to deal with my anger sins a lot because as I faced these burdens, anger was the sin that was hidden in my heart. My DearHubby took the brunt of my anger, but DearDaughter has suffered also. Therefore, joy and excitement were far expressions of what I would have used to describe my pregnancy.

So, when a rush of excitement fell on me last Tuesday, a sense of peace also rushed over me, and the Lord finally allowed me to embrace and anticipate Little One #2's arrival!!!

I was overwhelmed, of course, because I had not prepared anything for Little One #2. I have been so consumed with my organizational projects here at home that I had not yet packed for the hospital nor gotten the carrier out, etc...

I was in the middle of DearDaughter's scrapbooking project and I decided to take a break from that to focus on Little One #2's arrival.

In the culture I grew up in, out west in California, a mom receives a baby shower for every child. When I was pregnant with DearDaughter, I discovered that baby showers for every child is not the norm and since Little One #2 is a girl and so very close in age to DearDaughter, I knew that I would not be thrown another shower. It made me sad because Little One #2's life is just as important as DearDaughter's. Therefore, DearHubby and I decided that we will be having a "Welcome Our Little One BBQ" after Little One is born. It's not a party to receive gifts from others...We have so much from DearDaughter already. Its primary purpose is to celebrate this precious gift that God has given to us. I designed and printed out the "Save the Date" cards last week and delegated my mom and my mother-in-law to be in charge of the planning.

My next project was to purchase a blanket for Little One. DearDaughter had her own going home outfit and blanket. I had already purchased Little One's going home outfit and needed a blanket. I really wanted to crochet a blanket, but with such little time to get back into crocheting, I didn't have the opportunity to do so. Therefore, I went to Target and found this $14 pink cashmere blanket. It is ADORABLE!!!

Next I created our hospital checklist and reviewed and revised our birth plan.

Then, I went shopping with DearDaughter for a baby doll. I thought that if she received her own "baby" when Little One is born she would be more accepting of her little sister because she will have a little one to take care of just like Mommy. Throughout my pregnancy I have tried to keep an eye out on the perfect doll. I thought about a Cabbage Patch newborn, but they just didn't look right to me. We finally went to KB Toys and I finally found a doll that was just right, a doll I thought that looked authentic. We then went shopping for a gift for DearDaughter to give to her little sister and found a cute special edition Care Bear. I chose Best Friend bear for DearDaugter to give.

DearHubby and I finally dug out our baby carrier and I washed its cover. All we need to do next is install the base of it in the car.

I also picked out my "going to the hospital" outfit, ironed it.

I packed our bags, DearDaugther's bag (while she stays with her friend), got out the cooler, purchased ice, took out some cash, and placed them all on top of our cubby hole ready to go.

Yesterday after church, we took one last family picture together before Little One.

DearHubby also spent the weekend straightening up the outside of the house. Though it has nothing to do with Little One's coming, this project gave me a bigger sense of peace about bringing Little One home. Before this project, the outside of our home looked really neglected. The grass and bushes were overgrown. Our front fence was falling apart. Stuff was just spread all throughout our patio and covered with branches, twigs, leaves, and grass from it being unswept for months. Needless to say, the outside of our home looked very unkempt and I was very embarrassed by it. I was really appreciative to DearHubby for taking the time this weekend to concentrate on this project and he did a wonderful job!

Lastly, I took the opportunity to "design" Little One's announcement. I hope this week I am able to complete at least 50 of them so that when Little One is born, I can just print out a picture and the statistics and send them off promptly.

Yes, we are ready for Little One's coming!!! We are excitedly awaiting her arrival!!!

(Oh...I had already set up her cradle in our bedroom and last week I bought a couple of baskets to store her clothes in while she temporarily "rooms" with us.)