Long Overdue Update...

The day after my last post, it happened. My water broke...at work. I guess that's what I get for trying to do too much. I had just gotten back from an office lunch and was talking to my boss. I felt a small gush (best way to describe it) and knew that I had not wet myself. I excused myself and went to the bathroom. I quickly realized that what happened wasn't anything I controlled and went back to let my boss know that my water broke.


I then jumped in my car and started my trek to the hospital. By trek I mean a 45 minute drive. I called Thadd, who sort of freaked out, which is to be expected. I then proceeded to drive, above the speed limit, to try to make the 45 minute drive. I took back roads to get to the highway so that there would be less traffic and honestly, drive quicker. I called my mom and dad, both were excited. My mom told me that I shouldn't be driving myself, speeding at 75 on back roads, 95 on highway, and talking on the phone. I told her it was too late.


I made it to the hospital in Owosso in 25 minutes. For all you math majors out there that is a 20 minute slashing of how long it should have taken. I had Thadd pre-register me at the hospital so that I could just come in and go straight to the Maternity ward. Apparently it is a big thing if you drive to the hospital from Lansing when your water broke. Word spread like wild fire and I had a lot of people at the hospital looking out for the crazy lady.


When we got to the Mat. ward we were shuffled into a room and hooked up to monitors. They checked to ensure that my water did in fact break and started all the necessary fluids. I did accept drugs eventually and exactly 12 hours and 8 minutes after my water broke we heard the amazing sound of Elijah crying. It was a beautiful moment when they put him on my chest and we just had our time. For about 5 minutes everything else didn't matter. I honestly kind of forgot that things where still going on.


Exactly three weeks ago he was born. It has completely changed every aspect of my life and I no longer control my time. However, I wouldn't change it for the world. He's a beautiful baby with dark blue eyes and dark hair. It's fun to already style it. I have found that after his nightly bath I can style it and it will remain the same until we give him a bath the next night. He's very content and I feel truly blessed to have him.


If only I could figure something out so I wouldn't have to go back to work....

Before you make your appearance

As I reflect on these last final days of LBB (Life Before Baby) my thoughts are drawn to what I want my child to learn from me. So here are some of the many lessons/ideas swimming around in my mind.

10. Running into walls, movable or stationary, is never recommended

(unless they are padded of course)

9. Be willing to laugh at yourself.

8. Know that God created nature for you to enjoy, so take care of it.

7. Listen to people a little more experienced in life, they just might know what they’re

talking about.

6. When you fall down, know that it’s okay to ask for help to get back up. Just make sure

you get back up.

5. Love other people around you that God brings into your life. Always be willing to serve

and take care of other people’s needs.

4. Love and respect your mother

3. 3. Know that your mommy and I love you very, very much

While 2. While your parents love you, Jesus Loves You much more!

1. Lov 1. Love the LORD your God all the days of your life. Fear God and keep his

comm commandments. (Ez. 12:13)

I’m sure they will be many more lessons and things I will need to teach my child. And I anticipate those teachable moments when something is said or done that will open up an opportunity for him to truly get it. Right now I also pray that I will be open to God’s continual teaching in my life so that I can hand down to my child what God has handed to me.

2 in one month...Wha??????

It's a miracle. Literally, a miracle. Officially, we are posting twice in a single month. Quite possibly more since I will be home on "vacation" for the next two months.

I'm (Nicole) still working. People think that I'm crazy. I figure that sleep and rest are overrated at the point. I might as well go to work and not dwell on the fact that in a matter of 48 hours I will be in active labor. We are going to be induced on Saturday at 6pm if Elijah decides that he is not ready to come out on his own. The way it's looking, he's in there for as long as he can. I keep trying to let him know that he would have so much more room to wiggle if he would just come out. However, apparently he takes after his father's side of the family and is a little stubborn. Everyone knows that it is definitely not from my side. :-)

We went tonight to have our pictures taken by a friend. She is trying to build her portfolio and did not have any pregnant women pictures. So we gladly obliged and took her up on the free picture offer. However, I did learn that when you are 39 1/2 weeks pregnant, there are some poses that you cannot do. For instance, probably not good to try to get a prenant woman to take pictures on the ground. It was super hard to get back up. Oh, and I had to pose for a picture where I sat on my legs. That one didn't work out so well. I'm super swollen and it just hurt. I can't wait to see the pictures though. They should be good and it will be good to remember two days before L-day.

Definitely looking forward to Elijah being here. His room is done and actually cleaner than the rest of our house. I can't wait to put him in there!!!

Big Belly Lists

I figure my time is coming to a close with having a belly that makes me out of balance and run into things. So I thought that I would make two lists of things that I will not necessarily miss about a huge belly and things that I might miss a little.

Things that have hit my belly:

Door knobs
Door Jams
Door Frames (are we seeing a trend)
Towel Racks
Counter tops
Strike Plates on Door Jams
The door stoppers on public restrooms
Cardboard boxes
My desk
My desk chair
My car door
The small refrigerator at work
Spit, while I’m brushing my teeth
Toothpaste
All beverages that have come close to my mouth
Most food that I have eaten
The seatbelt buckle
The mop every time I open the pantry door
Thadd's belly- we do a belly bump when we pass each other

Things that are fun to put on my belly:

Any beverage with a straw. It takes no effort to drink it. Thadd thinks it’s hysterical.
Food
The remote control
My cell phone (that way it’s closer when someone calls or texts)
I keep trying to get Francis to lay close so Elijah will kick him, so far, no luck.
Papers, boxes- Easier to balance when you have your hands full and you are trying to get into the door.

The Ol' Turn Around

So I realized this week that I have 5 weeks (less now) left with this pregnancy. What's so crazy to me is that is was around 5 weeks that I found out that I was pregnant. It almost seems like yesterday. These past 8 months have definitely flown by. My concept of time has changed in all aspects of my life. Now I equate the first half of 2008 with pregnancy weeks and what I looked like then.

I guess I should put in a disclaimer. I have just a smidge less than 5 weeks left (exactly one month tomorrow) until the doctors say I'm due. I think that they are off a week and a half. However, Elijah is the only one who really has the final say in the whole thing anyway.

It has definitely been a whirlwind year. A lot of things have happened and changed not only in our personal lives but in our family's lives as well. We went through all the milestones with Elijah growing inside of me but at the same time a small piece of our hearts was in Illinois with family. It's hard being pregnant and e-mailing you mom with the progress. It's even harder when your dad is "too old" to get internet so you can e-mail him the progress and pictures.

We have been through the passing of family and friends and also the birth of babies. We have been through a terrible Michigan economy and job loss. We have had triumphs and let downs. We have seen and heard of our grandparents failing health and listened to our parents when they are worn out from hospital visits and taking care of their parents. We have also moved and started new jobs. It's pretty amazing how much can happen in just 7 1/2 months. And just think, all this time, Elijah is none the wiser to what is going on in the outside world. He has just continued to grow, kick, practice gymnastics and hiccupped. He gets to experience the outside world soon with all of it's problems and successes.

I just can't wait to meet him...

Mr. Blog, I have neglected you

I have decided that I need to do much better about sharing things on this. Especially lately.

I'm amazed by our church body. We went to them with the problem the doctor saw with Elijah. We asked for prayers for our appointment on Wednesday the 18. More people came up to me this week and hugged me then ever before in our time here. They shared how much they had been praying for us and Eli and the relief that they felt after the test results showed nothing. I was amazed of the emotion that people felt toward our unborn child without ever meeting them. Some of which really don't know us terribly well.

I was also amazed at how many people dismissed the miracle factor of this whole thing. They were quick to blame the first ultrasound tech and complain of unprofessionalism. Honestly, we don't know what the first test results were numbers wise. When we went to the specialist, they were much more forthcoming with information and we know the specs of everything. So we really have nothing to compare to. Therefore, I feel that this is a miracle from God and that he did answer our prayers (and those of people around the country). There was a part of me who wanted to blame our doctors office and hold on to bitternesss towards them. But we don't know how much fluid was on Eli's brain and how large his ventricles were, therefore, I feel it is unjustified.

I have come to a reality that God wanted us to go through this. Although we pray for our unborn child's health every day, we still needed to trust that God was going to provide it. I'm still trying to figure out all of the lessons that we learned from this. I guess that in nearly a week I'm still processing it all and trying to understand why my faith was so weak when we found out that Eli was sick. It definitely made other things that I thought were important fade away and helped me to not take for granted this pregnancy. I try everyday to find joy in the kicks to the ribs and the pain and swelling that I am experiencing. I love feeling him move inside of me, it reminds me of how God created us.

After we found out that we were having a boy (for sure) I pondered Mary's (the mother) roll in the crucifixion. Not that she was the one who physically put Jesus on the cross, but how hard it would have been to watch her first son suffer and die for all the world so they could be saved. I'm sure that it was hard for her to not be bitter and angry at the sin of others for putting him there. Honestly, I've never thought of this aspect before. Maybe it's because the bible really doesn't put a lot of emphasis on Mary's life after Jesus' death. However, I do feel that Elijah is going to do great things for the Lord. And as hard as it is to say, that could mean sacrificing his life for others to learn more about Jesus.

I will try to be better at writing. I guess this is a start.

lunch

Today I ate lunch in one of the most unique arenas. It is one of those places many of us travel through but we seldom ever return to visit again. A place where not only are the pangs of hunger set at bay, but the hierarchal order of society is continued to be shaped and molded in our minds. The place I’m talking about is the Middle School cafeteria. Today in this place I was able to feast on much more than a simple chicken cordon bleu sandwich with sides of government issued cottage cheese with flecks of pepper, a helping of sliced cubed peaches in heavy sauce, and stale “tater tots” that could not be redeemed by any amount of ketchup or mustard.

I drank in what it was like to be back in those days that long passed me by when I daily tried to navigate the seas of junior high. Where at one moment the waters were cool and calm as you find you’ve aced your math test but only a little while later to have the waves crash over the bow as your shirt was stained from peaches and cottage cheese “accidentally” spilled down the front of you by your worst enemy. Now faced with this tragedy you must sail through the rest of the day trying to hide your stain marked shirt from the stares of other students who either understood what you were feeling or from those who simply looked on in disgust and passed you by like a power boat jetting by your simple little dinghy.

I watched students enter the lunch room running with reckless abandon. Some eager to meet with their friends and share the latest news of who is dating who and what teacher now holds the record for detentions awarded. I also saw students who tried to go unnoticed, those students who were just trying to get through the day without being in the middle of any major incident.

Personally, I received a fairly warm welcome. Due to past events with junior highers, I have made connections with many of them. However, for those who didn’t know me I received an interesting reception. The looks from the students who did not have any clue as to who I was were very comical. Some in the 7^th grade whispered to themselves that they thought I was a new 8^th grade student who just moved from out of town and did not know that he was out of place. Others simply stared and the funny looking, slowly balding beardo. I was finally asked what I was doing there why I would want to go and eat lunch with a bunch of 7^th and 8^th graders. At first I joked that it was because I had read the latest Zagat Survey which ranked the Middle School Cafeteria as the up and coming place for culinary delights. While the students did not believe this first response, they also did not believe my second and truthful reason. I was there to hang out with students on their time and on their turf; to meet with them and get to know them in their own environments.

In my short time in the cafeteria here is what I learned in no particular order:

<!--[if !supportLists]-->1. <!--[endif]-->School can be a source of joy for some students as they connect and interact with their friends and a source of pain for others as they try to simply get through their day without being picked on or made fun of. This often times requires the students to keep a low profile as they try to go unnoticed.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->2. <!--[endif]-->Seventh and eighth grade students do not know what a Zagat Survey is. Pokemon character? Um, no.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->3. <!--[endif]-->I missed the equality of humanity we try and instill into the generations that come after us. I watched as students jockeyed for position in the food lines and at their tables. I listened as students talked about each other in both positive and negative ways. And I spoke with students who it was clear they hadn’t had a kind word uttered to them all day.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->4. <!--[endif]-->The person who invented the chicken cordon bleu sandwich using the lowest grades of chicken, cheese, ham product, and buns need a stern talking to. For this is certainly not a culinary delight!

<!--[if !supportLists]-->5. <!--[endif]-->I am still struggling for position in line and a place at the table.

Awaiting the Savior,

Thadd