crazy life indeed...

We have a four month old now! I can not believe how quickly Elijah is growing. He is developing such a little (or rather big!) personality! He is such a people person, smiling and laughing at anyone who will stop and talk to him. I guess you can say the apple doesn't fall far from the tree, Elijah loves being the center of attention!

We have had a few milestones over the past couple of months

-Elijah can now roll on his own from his belly to his back! It is the cutest thing, but has made bed/naptime quite interesting! He just wants to play!

-He has realized he can pick up his pacifier and put it in his mouth all by himself...that is if he doesn't want to suck his thumb! He loves sucking his thumb!

-He started eating rice cereal every morning a few weeks ago. He LOVES it! When he sees his bowl he starts reaching for it and opening his mouth. He also tries to feed himself by pulling the spoon to his mouth! I can't wait to see his reaction to baby food!

-We had our first sickness a couple of weeks ago. Elijah got bronchiolitus and an ear infection. It was a pretty crazy time at our house. However, he never lost his happiness! He kept smiling and playing through it all!

-He participated in his first DNOW! We had a busy weekend but he loved every minute of it. We got great use out of our Baby Sling and Baby Bjorn! We even took the exersaucer outside and he played while the kids had rec time. We love being in the ministry!!

We are having another time coming up! Amber and Adam will be visiting for a few days this week, we are so excited to see some family! It's sure hard being far from everyone. We also have our first church directory family photo this weekend!

great expectations

Back in December we were discussing the birth of Jesus during our Sunday lifegroup. We were all giving our 'favorite' parts of the story and asking questions about other parts. One question was quite interesting to me. Someone asked, 'Why do you think the shepherds immediately left in search of a baby'. Granted, there was a host of angels telling them to do so...but the question remains.

It seems like they were waiting, anticipating, and expecting, this to happen. They probably weren't expecting a host of angels to appear to them in the starry night sky, but they were probably waiting for the news that the Savior had been born. They had likely grown up hearing the prophecies of Jesus' birth. Did they expect it to happen in their lifetime? Maybe not, but they weren't surprised when it did.

Do we live in 'great expectation'? Jeremiah 33:3 says, 'Call to me and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things which you do not know.' God has promised us so many things. He has promised to provide for us, to love us, to show us grace and mercy. Romans 8:28 says, 'And we know that all things work together for good, for those who love God and are called according to His purpose.' We know these things, but yet we seem surprised when God blesses us...like we think he was just joking. God doesn't joke people. We should be expecting, anticipating, just WAITING on what He is going to do next. If a host of angels were to appear and tell you of a mighty work God has done...how would you react? Would you laugh and roll your eyes or would you jump up and run to tell others?

Which brings me to another point. The disciples We have read over and over how Jesus called the disciples and the 'immediately left their nets and followed him'. We have hashed and re-hashed how we should be like them and follow God as soon as He calls...not on our own time. Why not hash it out again...just for old times sake? :) Seriously. God's timing is perfect. It may not seem perfect in our mind's eye...but we don't see the whole picture. God, thankfully, only allows us to see the present. Minute by minute, hour by hour. Therefore, we don't KNOW what is 'perfect' for us. God does.

He may call you to a job that you may not be super excited about. You may go in every day somewhat grudgingly and dragging your feet. Then one day, it happens. You may realize your purpose in being in that position at this particular time in your life. You may meet someone who needs help, someone may say something that you needed to hear about a problem in your life, you may meet someone who pave the way for you in another career. I don't know what it is that God is calling you to do. But I do know this. You will be much happier if you just follow Him. Things may not...okay, things will probably never be perfect, but let's be honest isn't life better when you are in God's will? He didn't promise ease and comfort...but He did promise to take care of us.

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! :)