Labor and Delivery

I have been meaning to sit down and write this for a couple of weeks now... but between nursing, burping, rocking, (remembering to) eat and sleeping...well I have been a little busy. :) I hope I can remember all the small details that led up to and happened during and after Elijah’s birth.

After church on Sunday, October 10th, Rushing and I went to dinner with some friends. While there I started having contractions, I didn’t think much of it because I had been having irregular ones for several days. After dinner,

we headed home...well after we stopped at Kroger so Rushing could run in and buy cookie dough and milk for his pregnant wife! Once we got home, Rushing made the cookies and I am pretty sure we just watched tv. I was anxious for the next day because it was my ‘estimated due date’. I really thought I would have already had Elijah by then...let’s face it, if you saw my belly you probably thought the same thing.

I had a doctor’s appointment on Monday, October 11th, and my doctor had already said that if I wasn’t in labor by then she wanted to induce that following Wednesday. I did NOT want to be induced and we had everyone we knew praying that I would start labor on my own. By late Sunday night I was not feeling very confident that it would happen naturally.

Boy, oh boy did that change on Monday morning. :) I got up around 7 am and went to the bathroom. Something didn’t ‘seem’ right when I went so I told Rushing I thought my water might be breakingbut I wasn’t sure. He was already heading to the church and I told him that I would call him if anything else happened. I immediately called my mom and told her what was happening. While I was on the phone with her and looking up my doctor’s office phone number it happened. That ‘gush’ that you know is not normal. My water broke!!! I hurriedly told my mom that I was pretty sure it was my water breaking and that I needed to call Rushing. I called him as he was pulling into the church parking lot...so he turned around and headed home. I then called my doctor’s office and they told me to be there by 8. My doctor wanted to check to make sure it really was my water breaking...hello, I’m pretty sure I know I didn’t just wet myself :)

Thankfully, I had already put the bags and car seat in the car. All I had to do was change clothes and grab a few last minute things and we were off. Looking back now, it seems so surreal, that ride to the hospital. I thought I would have been more panicky, but in my opinion I was pretty calm if I do say so myself.

Once we arrived at the doctor’s office they took me straight back and my doctor ‘confirmed’ that it was indeed my water breaking, no kidding, right? :) I was then put in a wheelchair and wheeled to the hospital which is attached to the doctor’s office. I was then instructed to put on the hospital gown (not fun, by the way) and hop into bed. My L&D nurse was awesome, I couldn’t have asked for a better nurse. She inserted my IV and asked if I wanted any pain medication. I immediately responded that no thank you I would not be using any meds including an epidural.She was super encouraging about that and I am very thankful I didn’t have a nurse who acted like I was crazy for not wanting any medication. All of this happened between 8:00-9:00 am. At this point I was dilated to a 3. I continued having contractions and let me tell you they were not pleasant at all, but I endured. Rushing and I walked the hallways several times trying to encourage things to move along...walking the halls in a hospital gown while attached to an IV and having contractions is not fun, let me tell you. ;)

My doctor came around 12:30 to check me again. I was up to 5cm. At this point, she felt things should be progressing a little more and said that if I hadn’t progressed in a couple of hours they would start pitocin to encourage the dilation. I was not excited about this. We prayed that things would move along. We walked more, we joked, and my mom and sister and Landon arrived around 3pm. I was so happy they were there!!

Around that time, my doctor came back to check me again. I hadn’t budged a bit. We started pitocin and the contractions continued to get stronger. The nurse asked again if I wanted any medication, again I declined. She could not believe how easy going and relaxed I was at this point. I was having really intense contractions, but I was still talking/joking/fussing at Rushing :)

Around 5ish my doctor once again checked me and I had made it to a 6...barely she said. At this point she said I should be progressing about a cm an hour and that the baby’s head just was not descending. There was also meconium when my water broke, we decided to go ahead with a c-section. If I was upset about the pitocin I was really upset about having a c-section. This was not in my plan at all. I had planned to have a natural child birth without any pain medication, epidural, and definitely no c-section. Well, my plans got altered and I just had to cope with that.

The nurse brought in Rushing’s scrubs and prepped me for surgery. My mom, Rushing, Brenna (who had arrived around 3), and the nurse said a quick prayer and then I was pushed into the operating room. What an experience. I was put on the operating table. The anestheologist put in my spinal tap-which made me go numb from below the chest to my toes. I remember talking and joking alot to the nurses and doctors who were in the room. I’m pretty sure they thought I was a crazy person. The nurse went to grab Rushing and I remember asking her to make sure he had the camera. Rushing came in and sat beside me and rubbed my arm. About 2 minutes later, at 6:19 pm I heard everyone gasp and exclaim that A) we had a BIG baby and B) he had tons of hair! And then I heard my sweet boy’s first cries. Man, does that kid have some lungs! He was 9 pounds and 10 ounces and measured at 21 and a half inches long with a 15 and a quarter inch head.

I think I was in shock that we actually had a baby here! I teared up a little and then Rushing went over to see him. They had to suction out his nose and mouth really well asap because of the meconium in the amniotic fluid. Then the brought him over to me and I got to touch him and kiss his sweet little head. One thing I distinctly remember is that a doctor was holding him and he started crying. They handed him to Rushing and he immediately quieted down. Rushing took him to see the family and I got all cleaned up.

I was then wheeled back to my room and they brought our little boy in. Holding him for the first time was a life changing experience. Here was this sweet little baby boy that God has given us...it seemed unreal. We spent the next little while having skin to skin cuddle time and feeding him, it was wonderful.

That is the labor and delivery story of Elijah’s birth. We were in the hospital from Monday until Thursday morning. Someday soon I will write about those few days and then our first days home. For now, I think I hear a little baby waking from his nap. Blessings to all! :)

Countdown...

Well, here we are at 39 weeks! Our due date is less than a week away, Monday, October 11th and I can not believe it has all happened so quickly. A year ago I jokingly told a friend that we would have a baby by Christmas 2010 and ta-da it looks like that is about to become a reality!

We have been extremely blessed during this pregnancy. We have been given so many wonderful things for Elijah and are beyond grateful for the generosity of friends and family. It has also been a pretty easy pregnancy... I had the basic 'morning/all day' sickness but that is about the only issue I 'suffered' from. The only other thing that has been bothering me is the inability to sleep, but I've started getting used to waking up every couple of hours-I think it's God's way of preparing me for when Elijah arrives. :)

I have been working full-time throughout the pregnancy and I will admit that has been a challenge at times. Working with 13 children age 4 (or age 2-3 like I had this summer) is always challenging...but especially the past month has been very draining both emotionally and physically. But I will say that they have had their funny moments...I think at least one of them has asked me every day when I am going to get my baby out. When they found out it is a boy all of my little guys cheered and the girls begged me to bring him to our classroom...they don't want him to go to the nursery/baby room (me either girls, me either)! I am starting my maternity leave tomorrow...well I will go in for a little while just to make sure my sub has it all under control and doesn't need anything. I already know I am not going to want to go back to work. Not because I am lazy, but because I am not going to want to leave Elijah with someone else all day. At least he will be just down the hall...but that even seems hard because he will be so close but so far...you know? I've thought about begging my boss to let me keep him in my classroom...I don't think she would go for that. Oh well.

In other news, we are still loving Mississippi! We have started to really get immersed in the community and it's great! Last Friday night was Football Homecoming and we went to the Homecoming Parade Thursday night and then the game Friday night...that was an experience. 38 weeks pregnant sitting on concrete bleachers for a game...whew. We have joined a gym and are trying to get in shape...well Rushing is and I will be after our baby arrives!

Please keep us in your prayers. We should totally have a baby boy by the middle of next week...fingers crossed he will come naturally and will be strong and healthy! :)

6 weeks left...

I can not believe we only have 6 weeks (give or take a few days) left until we meet our precious baby boy!!! There are still some days when I am in shock that it's actually going to happen. I really am going to give birth and become a mommy! It's such a great feeling. I just keep praying that I will be the mom God wants me to be, to raise Elijah to love and serve Him. Please be praying for our new little one and for his parents. Pray that we will always remember to put Him first and to teach Elijah not only through our words, but through our actions and attitudes.

We had a baby shower last weekend. It was our youth and youth workers shower, we were blessed immensely! It was a great shower, with TONS of people, great cake and lots of fun! Rushing and I were thankful that our teenagers had the opportunity to celebrate our little one with us! We are also thankful that we have a slew of teenage girls to pick from once I am ready to turn Elijah over to a babysitter. :)

I just got the crib bedding last night and of course I had to put it all together! I LOVE it and I can not wait until we have a little baby boy to put in there! I also made a 'to do before Elijah arrives' list a few days ago....whew. Being a homeowner is intense, you have to do all the 'fix-its' yourself! Pray we can get some of those projects done in the next month!!

I have another sonogram in two weeks...we will see how big he is and if he has (hopefully!) turned head-down!

I guess that's all I have to say for now...just a lot of randomness!

flying by...

Wow! I can not believe that July is almost over! It seems like summer just started a couple of days ago! We have had a very fun and busy summer. My sister and her little boy Landon,2, have been staying with us since the end of May and I am going to miss them tremendously when they move back to Arkansas in a couple of weeks! It has been great having them here and getting to spend some much needed quality time with them!

Rushing has been swamped this summer with youth camps, youth mission trips, youth fun days, youth parties, youth...you name it he's been doing it! He has LOVED every second of it and can't wait for more fun during the school year. He leaves with a team of youth and adults tomorrow to go to Texas for a week long mission trip. Please be praying for this group, that they will allow God to fully have control in their lives and their actions.

Elijah has been growing like a weed this summer! We are currently at 28 weeks and 5 days! I can not believe that he will be here so soon!! At our last doctor's appointment he was about 2.14 ounces and in the 87th percentile! We are going to have one big healthy baby boy! He has been kicking me so hard, Rushing felt him give one of his 'big' kicks last night and his eyes got huge...he was so shocked that Eli kicked that hard! I could sit for hours watching my belly move back and forth as Elijah tries to get comfortable...or just tries to keep me awake. :) It's one of the greatest feelings in the world. We can not wait to meet him and pinch his chubby little cheeks :) Please continue to pray for his growth and that we will have a safe delivery!

baby boy...

It's a BOY! We are super excited about our little boy already! His name is Elijah Paul and I already know he is perfect :) We LOVED getting to see him during the sonogram today, he is a feisty little fellow! Although he also kept propping his head with his arms, stretching out his little legs, and yawning...he just wanted to relax! It was so fun to see him and think about his already developing personality! He is right on schedule to be born on or around our due date of October 11. His heart beat was 160 and he weighs 9 ounces.

Rushing and I had already decided that we knew it was a boy, so it wasn't really a surprise to us! As the sonogram tech got me ready she asked what we thought it was and we said 'boy' and after 5 seconds she said 'you are absolutely right!' I couldn't believe we saw him so quickly....he wasn't being shy at all!! Our next appointment is scheduled for June 14th, please keep praying for a healthy little boy!

Rushing and I also celebrated our 2 year anniversary tonight by going to P.F. Chang's for dinner. We had a great time...and can't wait for year 3!! We also stopped by Target and bought our first boy item!

We move into our new house 2 weeks from today...I better get to packing! :)

15 weeks and counting :)

I can't believe I am already 15 weeks along with our little 'gummybear'! The first trimester was pretty interesting to say the least! I'm not sure who coined the term 'morning sickness' but I think 'all day sickness' would have been a better term....thankfully the nausea and upset stomach have gotten better and I am getting my appetite back, yay! I actually lost weight from my first appointment to our second one...but I'm sure that will change soon!

We had our second appointment this past Friday and it was wonderful! I LOVE hearing that little heartbeat and I can't wait to hear it again! Baby's heartbeat was 150! Our next appointment is May 14th and we will find out if we are having a boy or a girl!! I can't wait! What's your vote? I'm interested in seeing what people think we are having!

Life in Mississippi is still going great. We are busy busy busy, but it's a good busy. I LOVE my class of 2 1/2 and 3 year olds...they are special! Not a day goes by where they don't make me laugh...I really need to start keeping a journal of their funny sayings and give them to their parents in a little book...I would like something like that, wouldn't you?

I have also started working with our preschool children's church (Elevate JR) on Sunday mornings. I am the 'director/coordinator' and it's been a blast so far! I love watching children worship the Lord and learn more about Him. It's such a blessing!

Rushing and I went and saw my family this past weekend. We left after my appointment on Friday, arrived at 4pm and spent the rest of the afternoon/evening with them. Then we got to hang out with them on Saturday and left around 6 pm...we arrived home at midnight Saturday night and I am still feeling the effects of my lack of sleep! Although it was a short trip I am SO glad we got to see my parents, sister, brother, little nephew, and my granny! I love my family so much!!

Well, that's not much of a post, but that's all I have right now! It's 9:15 pm and I have 15 mins to get a shower and get in bed...I'm trying to make it there by 9:30...we'll see how that works out!

we're gonna have a baby!

Yep, you read correctly! I'm pregnant! It all seems a little surreal and dreamy...and so exciting! I am currently 10 weeks along (11 weeks on Tuesday, yay!).

This is baby at 8 weeks!

I will never forget February 2, 2010. I was only a couple of days past my cycle...but I decided to go ahead a take a test. Over the previous couple of weeks I had convinced myself that I wasn't pregnant....so when I took that little test and saw the two pink lines I almost fainted. I kid you not...I literally almost passed out. Previously, I had it all planned out how I wanted to tell Rushing that he was going to be a daddy. I was going to buy a sweet little gift and card and on and on. Well. In the shock of the moment I called him. Yes, that's right. I called him 5 mins before his staff meeting. Nice wife, right? :) I'm sure that's what he thought. He was excited too and handled all my surprised and happy tears very well. He's good like that. :)

I had also planned on how I wanted to tell our parents...but alas, we ended up telling them over the phone as well! Everyone was thrilled and surprised and all the other happy feelings you can think of! Rushing's side of the family will be getting two new babies within a month of each other! Caleb's (Rushing's brother) wife, Morgan is also pregnant! I also have 2 cousins who are pregnant and a couple of friends! It's in the water ladies, watch out! :)

On March 3rd we had our first doctor's appointment. I thought my life changed when I saw the two pink lines...but that was nothing compared to the joy I felt when I heard my baby's heartbeat and saw his/her little gummy bear body on the screen. I can not even explain the love I have for this little tiny baby already. I cried and cried...and I'm sure I will cry some more. I'm amazed every day at how big God is and how he has molded our bodies so perfectly to have children...it's unreal. I'm just in awe of who He is.

So far this has been a pretty good pregnancy. I have definitely had my 'all day sickness'. I'm not sure why people call it morning sickness. That's a lie. :) Every day has been different and I never know when it'll hit...so I just take one day at a time and thank God for His little blessing. I know that all the sickness and nausea will be worth it in about 6 1/2 months...

Rushing has been so good to me. He has put up with my getting sick throughout the day, my moodiness/crankiness, my paranoia about every little thing, my talking baby names constantly, and my craving Olive Garden salad and waiting for 45 mins on a Saturday night at 8:30 just so I could have some. I'm so blessed.

My next appointment is on April 16th and I can't wait!!! Please keep us and baby in your prayers!

In other news, I started working at our church Child Care Center. For the past 4 or 5 weeks I have been a floater...but starting Monday I will be the teacher for the older 2s class! I'm really excited and am praising God for this more full time position!

news...well i guess it's news :)

Check out this awesome blog for some great reads, tips, and funny stories! Wish her a Happy Blog-iversary!

This time last week we were asleep at Rushing's parents house resting for the long drive to Mississippi. I can't believe we have only been here one week. It feels like it has been longer! I guess that is a good thing. We are slowly but surely getting settled.

We have so far gone to a Sunday night service and a Wednesday night youth service. Rushing has been to his first staff meeting and we have had lunch with the staff a couple of times...they are a hoot! I have also gotten to spend some much needed quality time with my friend Lindsay and we have spent some time with new friends too! We are SO excited that we have friends who are our age here! We had dinner at Joy and Jerry's house tonight and met new friends Sabrina and her husband Shawn or Sean not sure of the spelling. We had a great time! We are very thankful that God is blessing us with new friends already.

I am pretty sure I am going to do the substitute teaching thing for awhile. I went to the offices today, turned in my resume and now I am just waiting to be approved. Then, I will have to fill out the paperwork, get background checks, attend a workshop and then I'll be good to go! I'm excited!

Well, that's really all that's going on in the land of the Crazy Mayes'...but we'll keep you posted with updates!

Oh wait! Big news that I meant to share earlier! I am going to be an aunt again!! Caleb (Rushing's brother) and wife, Morgan are expecting their second! Their firstborn, Emma, will be 1 on Feb. 1 and they are so excited for kiddo #2! :)

Blessings!

getting settled...

Well, we did it. We packed all our stuff, cleaned the apartment, loaded the moving truck, and drove to Brandon, Mississippi where we got to unload and unpack all of our things. You would think that since we just moved to Texas 6 months ago I would have gotten rid of some of our useless stuff....but for some reason it stuck around. Maybe I will be able to 'toss' some stuff in time for our next move....but hopefully that won't be for a while. At least a year. :)

Seriously though. We are really enjoying our new little town. Coming from a super small town in Arkansas and then moving to the BIG city in Texas I think Brandon is just the right size. and I am LOVING all the trees again!!

Rushing is the student director at the FBC and he loves it! Today was his first full day at work and he has hit the ground running! We have met quite a few of the teens and they all seem pretty cool. They have all been introducing themselves and are really excited that we are here, which is always nice. :)

It's also awesome that we are sooo close to my Lindsay! I am so glad that God has brought us close to each other again. I have really been missing all of my best friends from college.

I am still looking for a job. Well, let me rephrase that. I started looking for a job today. Our church has a child care center and I talked with the director today. She doesn't have a need for a classroom teacher, but possibly for a floater for the 3 and 4 y/os and maybe for after-school kids. I really enjoy working with pre-schools but I would LOVE to be able to actually be a children's minister again. I know I am being selfish. Anyway. I am thinking about doing the alternate teaching route...which means I would take the Praxis tests, go through an 'education' program for a couple of months and then I would be able to teach in the schools. But...I would be at the bottom of the 'hiring totem pole' because obviously actual certified teachers would get a job before me. So, I am thinking about going to the school district tomorrow and applying to be a substitute teacher...then I would get my foot in the door and get my feet wet. So, we'll see.

Just keep us in your prayers and we try to figure out life in Mississippi! :)

belated Christmas post! :)

I still can't believe that we are moving again. I mean I believe it when I look around my apartment and see all the boxes and empty shelves....but it's exciting! We had a slight change of plans and will be heading out Friday morning, so please keep us in your prayers! We have an apartment waiting for us already, so that is wonderful!!! God always provides, doesn't he? :)

On to other things...I never posted about our Christmas!

We had family Christmas with Rushing's parents, the girls, Drica (a friend from Brasil) Caleb, Morgan, Emma and some of Morgan's family. It was pretty crazy with so many people in the house, but we had a great time! We taught Morgan and her family and Drica how to play WAHOO and Drica won, but only due to the fact that the game was lasting FOREVER...I'm not a sore sport or anything :)

a few of the people at the Mayes' Christmas

Rushing and I had our Christmas on Christmas

Eve morning before we left for Arkansas...

Every year my parents get us matching pjs...my mom even used to make ours when we were little. :) (other than the fact that i look like i'm

12 i love this photo) We had a great Christmas with my family as well. My Granny came over Christmas morning and we ate breakfast, opened gifts, and then ate an awesome Christmas lunch. Then, we pretty much just hung out all day and were very lazy which was nice. I also got to spend some quality time with my super cute nephew, Landon.

The day after Christmas we went to Hot Springs for the Jones Family Christmas. I wish I had taken more photos and that blogspot wouldn't be so tough to load pictures onto because we had a BLAST with the Jones clan. There are SO many of us and it is always crazy when we all get together, especially with all the 'new' kiddos running around! After a great weekend, we headed back to Texas and here we are...a few weeks later packing to move to Mississippi! :)

another year, another move :)

Well, the title of our blog, Our Crazy Life, seems to fit perfectly. Although we just moved to Texas about seven months ago, here we are packing to move again.

This time to Mississippi. Yes, you read correctly, Mississippi. Don't worry, I can hardly believe it myself. :)

Rushing just accepted a job as Student Director at a church in a town right outside Jackson. We are really excited about this new road we are going to be traveling down. He will be working full time and still attending seminary through extension courses taught at the church. The church will be paying for those classes, so that's pretty exciting.

I am pretty excited about this move. It will be wonderful to be involved in a church again and to be working with teens and hopefully children too. This will be the first time ever that Rushing will be able to work full-time as a youth minister and he is sooo pumped about it!!

Right now, we are still looking for a place to live but will hopefully have that nailed down by the time the weekend is over. We found a nice apartment, but it's a little pricey...so we are (well I am) hoping to find something equally as nice for not so much money...but we'll see. The crazy thing is...we are moving NEXT THURSDAY. Yes, as in a week from yesterday.

I have made my packing checklist, every day has a room/area to be packed, I have a schedule and I have boxes...probably not enough, but I have some. I have even started packing...I have a total of 3 boxes ready. Three. Gee, I have a long week ahead. :)

Be praying for us and we will totally keep everyone updated...that is if anyone actually reads this thing. :)