My friend had a BABY today!!!!

Yep folks! That's right and I was one of her doulas!!! I met Kate at church through another friend and she is awesome!! Her due date was Dec 30th, and we througb her a shower yesterday at my house ~ it was great fun and i made the cake!!! I love offering myself through cooking and baking!!!

Anyway, Lisa (the other doula) called me this morning saying that Kate was on her way to the hospital just as Jeremy was on his way out the door to work. We had no plan for someone to watch Rachel so I scrambled for a little while til I called Bethy's Aunt Glada and she said to bring her over ~ Aunt Glada to the rescue!!!! THANK YOU AUNT GLADA!!!!!!

SO i drop off Rachel in the loving and able arms of Aunt Glada and fly to the hospital. Kate is dialated to a 5-6 and Baby Jeremiah is doing well. This was around 10:35ish in the morning. Kate decided the epidural was in order because she was having bad back labor. Lisa got there in time for the epidural shortly after i got there.

Contractions, contractions, contractions, crying in pain, crying in pain, crying in pain *I knew the feeling* then epidural and aaahhhhh Oh thank You Jesus for the wonders of modern medicine!!!!

Kate is progressing well and dialated to a 9, the doctor breaks her water and finds thick merconium ~ could be problems but so far its okay ~ we keep going then Jeremiah's heart rate drops a lot ~ trouble! It goes back up quickly but the nurse says that the doctor might want to do a c-section and Kate starts crying ~ do I know where she is or what?? I talked Kate through to stay calm as much as I could ~ the doctor comes in and checks Kate ~ 10 cm but Jeremiah's heart rate is still doing wierd things ~ dr decides to let Kate push through a few contractions I think it was four maybe five but then Jeremiah's heart rate drops again and dr says we gotta go so Lisa gets ready to go with Kate to the OR ~ they leave Eva and me in the room to wait and pray and cry for Kate

sooo waiting, waiting, waiting then text from Lisa saying come to the room with a smiley face ~ walking down the hall we hear crying from Kate's room ~ we walk in and there he was!!! Little Jeremiah David all beautiful and screaming ~ he was born at 2:55pm was 7 lbs 10 oz and 21 in long ~ When Kate comes back in the room she tells me that when she heard him crying it was all worth it ~ i knew it would be like that!!! Also come to find out from the Dr Little Jeremiah had the cord wrapped around his neck three times and wrapped around his arm!! He was doing acrobatics in mommy's tummy!!!

So there you go ~ another birth story with some hard parts but an amazing ending!!! isn't our God a great God or what????

My favorite part of the day

For the past few months, about every night, after Rachel has fallen asleep i go in a look at her sleeping. I really love doing this!! Its a moment that i treasure each time i do it. Not because "the only time i enjoy her is when she is sleeping" as many cynical parents say. I try to enjoy her throughout the day because I know these times are fleeing and she will be grown before i know it. I love this time because it reminds me that her life is precious and i have been given the privilege by God to raise her into who He created her to become. When i go see her at night, its sacred to me. I breathe her in and relish the time I'm in there with her.

Dear Daddy God,

Thank You so much for my beloved little girl! She is one of the greatest treasures You have given me. Remind me to see her as that gift each day of her life please. When its hard to raise her, remind me, Lord. When I am short on patience and have an extra amount of selfishness, Lord, remind me of who You want Rachel to become and my role in helping her become that. Lord, help me to be the mother to Rachel that she needs me to be. Let me always remember to love You first and give myself wholly to You, Jeremy and Rachel. I love serving You, Jesus!

I'm walking!!

On December 4th ~ Rachel took her first steps!!!! She has been walking a little since!! Its very exciting!!!

I'm cute, huh??

I'm the BIRTHDAY GIRL!!

That's right ~ today is my little love's FIRST BIRTHDAY!!! I am amazed!!! I LOVE BIRTHDAYS!!! My mom says that I always have ~ can't believe its MY baby's first birthday!!!

To be refreshed on the actual day of her birth ~ read here ~ bet Aunt Bethy remembers it pretty well!! I cried as I told Rachie about it this morning!! So very wonderful!!!

Birthday pictures with cake and stuff coming soon!!! Soooo very happy today!!!!

Happy day folks!!!!

Happy birthday my beautiful little love!!!! Mommy loves you to the moon and back over and over!!!!

too early to potty train??

But the toilet paper and toilet look toooo fun to resist!!!!!!!

Trying it again

Last week i got this email:

I live on 5 acres and have the means and passion to take in a few dogs at a time,fully vet and find them new homes.They are socialized with 3 children,other dogs,elders, even horses!They are wonderful dogs!I found great homes for both Roxy and her sister and I would love to do the same for my last foster,Sadie. She is a gorgeous 2 yr old dalmatian.She is UTD,spayed and on heartworm preventative. She gets along fine with mellow dogs as she is more of a companion type dog,not a playmate.She is an indoor/outdoor dog and is the type to sit at your feet when you cook,watch T.V. or are at the computer.She is so mellow that she could easily live in an apartment if you were home all day.When,I say mellow,I mean mellow.She doesn't do much.She's Ms low maintenance! email if interested or for pics and let's get this girl a great home!

so we decided to try Sadie out ~ she sounded like the dog I had been praying for!!! And she is!!! We have had her for a week and totally love her!!!! Rachel thinks she is the coolest!!! Sadie is a picture of God's abundance to me ~ the lady, Cory, gave us everything we need for Sadie ~ food, food dishes, placemat, treats, dog bed, leash and the most amazing dog ever!!! AND IT WAS ALL FREE!!!!!!! FREE I TELL YOU!!!! THANK YOU JESUS!!!