Great Week!!

Sorry I haven't posted at all this week...Grandma was here and we just kept busy all week!! It was so great having someone do my laundry and cook my meals and get me stuff when I had already started nursing (gonna have to get better at remembering what I need before I sit down). My mom took me shopping (which completely exhausted me...did not expect that at all). But she got me some normal clothes!! It feels so great to have regular pants on and I look forward to when I can wear normal shirts and not really long big and long ones.

My mom just left and now I am officially on my own during the week...a little scary, but I think that I have been well trained by all the people that have offered advice and showed us how to do stuff. Yah a little scary, but part of me is really looking forward to spending some one on one time with my little guy!!
Everything is going soooo well!! He is a great sleeper and he seems to love schedules as much as I do...granted I know that everything could change tomorrow, but for now we have fallen into a nice routine. The holidays will probably disrupt that a bit, but after the new year I am sure we will find our rhythm again. He is also eating like a champ!! Right now we are just trying to regulate how much he eats...when he eats to much he spits up alot, so we are working on that right now! Funny how a baby changes everything:) I love it though!! I love being a mom. I never imagined how awsome it would really be...I feared colic, which could still happen, but I have been soooo very blessed with a little angel.

I hope to start adding a little variety to my blog from here on out!!! I love talking about the baby, but I am in dire need of other conversation at the same time:)

Family Photo

Our First Family Photo

Every day seems to get better and better!! Josiah is nursing well and I am feeling much better. I could actually see my ankles today:) This is good news indeed!!! I think we are finally on the upswing of the first week home from the hospital.

Dan is an absolutely wonderful father. He has taken to fatherhood with a natural ease a mother could only hope for:) It brings tears to my eyes when he is holding Josiah and looking down at him with the look only a proud father has. Dan has been so wonderful to me over this past week home and over the rough parts of pregnancy. Sure there have been ups and downs just like at any other stressful times in our lives...but we always come out on top and with more of an understanding of each others needs. I don't know how women come home to a household with a newborn and no father. I give them a ton of credit and just could never imagine Dan not being there for me at my beck and call (literally). There is so much you can't do when you first get home with a newborn that I feel so blessed that Dan had that first week to spend at home with Josiah and I. It brings tears to my eyes thinking that he has to go back to work tomorrow...we will miss him dearly and I know he will miss Josiah a ton when he is gone. Thank goodness Christmas is just around the corner and he will have another week to spend with us (be it on the road, but still time together).

I am looking forward to my mom coming to visit and stay with us for the week. She is coming down tomorrow morning and she gets to take us to the doctor to get my blood pressure checked. But I have a feeling that things are finally stabalizing since I can see my feet again:) At any rate; I don't think I am ready or should I say I don't think I want to be alone yet. I know I could handle all the baby stuff, but just having someone around for the company will mean so much to me. I am looking forward to doing some shopping and napping this week too:) It should be fun!!

Breastfeeding going well

He is just so snuggly and cuddly. I am so very glad that he didn't lose interest in the boob over the past couple of days when we had to cup feed. He is just such a good baby. In fact I decided to see how long he would sleep last night and I finally had to wake him up after 6 hours. Any of you that know me well...know that he must have inherited that from me...even if it is only for a couple of nights!! We will definately take what we can get!!!!

Update on High Blood Pressure

We went to the Dr. today and got my blood pressure taken. It was still high, but not to scary to the dr's I guess. It was 148/94...still something they are going to monitor though! Apparently I don't have a UTI and my anemia is normal with post delivery...so I was scarred and depressed and didn't really need to be. To bad the dr didn't take into account the fact that I am post partum and I will take everything and blow it out of proportion:) They did a complete blood work up today and I am going to the dr again on Monday to get my blood pressure checked again. At that time they will decide what action needs to be taken if any at all. Just wanted to let those of you know who were praying for us...and thank you!!

It has been great having visitors...a great distraction to all the little problems that keep creeping up on us. I will start posting visitor pictures soon!! I just love showing off our little Josiah:)

Update on Mom

He's got Dad's hair...it even sticks up on one side of his head (only on the opposite side of Dan's cowlick)

I haven't been really sure when to get real on this blog yet...but I could really use some prayers. Last night I went to the ER here in Eaton Rapids because I had a really strange headache and just felt really off. I got there and they checked my blood pressure only to find that it was sky high (153/103). Not good...so they did a work up on me and also found that I was anemic (which is probably pretty common this soon after delivery) and that I had a UTI. Not fun at all!!! So I am going back to the ER to get my blood pressure checked again this morning and we will go from there. I will keep you posted as I can...but prayers would be greatly appreciated. Also keep breastfeeding high on our prayer concern list. We are slowly getting there, but still pumping and supplimenting with formula. I know that God is taking care of us but with all these emotions that keep poring out my darn eyes, I could use some good news and a break from the tough stuff:)

On a positive note for me...I have already lost 22 pounds!! I knew there had to be an upside to delivering a big baby:)

Adorable Baby Pictures

Dan, baby and I are doing very well today!! It feels good to have a few more steps forward and less steps backwards:) Josiah slept very well last night and it sure made a difference for Dan and I today! We had a great time taking these pictures...not professional, but when you have a subject like Josiah...all the pictures turn out perfect:) Yep, we are some proud parents and don't even pretend to take credit for this perfect little guy. God had it in his plans for Dan and I to meet and one day have a baby. All part of God's perfect plan for us:)

Josiah had his first Dr. Apt today and checked out perfectly...like we doubted:) But he still weighs 8lbs12oz (which is what he weighed when he left the hospital) and is 21 1/2 inches long give or take a half an inch.

Thought I would have more time:)

Just a quicky update!! I really thought I would have more time to update my blog...but all in good time. Things are going relatively well...but with all the normal stuff that comes with having a big baby who loves to eat:) But he is the most precious thing and whenever things aren't going great I just have to look at him and it takes all the aches and pains and frustrations away:)

Thank you again for all your prayers! It has been truly awsome to see God's hand in all things baby:) When I have more time I will share more. But He provided an angel to me when I needed help (which brings tears to my eyes, like everything else;)

It's Picture Time

First Cute Outfit at the HospitalHe's a Spartan from the Get Go!!

Snug as a Bug in a Rug

Thank you for your Prayers!!!

(He already found his thumb...so much for not giving in to the thumb and pacifier...he loves them both:)

We are home safe and sound!!! I definately promise to post more tomorrow, but wanted to let everyone know that we made it home and we are all doing well. Grandma and Grandpa Loose were here today and got here early enough to shovel the snow before we got home....what a blessing (since I was still wearing slippers)!!!

I will post many more pictures tomorrow...so stay tuned!!!

Love you all and thank you so much for the prayers...it was an absolutely wonderful experience:) God has truly blessed our family!!

Josiah Kenneth

Here's some pictures of the newest addition to our family
Josiah Kenneth
Born: 12-2-05
Weight: 9 lbs 3 oz
Length: 22 inches

Happy Birthday Baby J

Today is the big day and I couldn't be more excited. And I thank God for that. I prayed alot last night and Dan and I prayed together. He has filled me with a peace and joy that only he can provide. No more sad tears (maybe tears of pain;)! Only tears of joy and happiness today:)

I can't wait to hold him and touch him and know that Dan and I have begun a new chapter in our lives...we have started our family. Thank you again for all your prayers and I can't wait to reveal his name and to show him off to everyone:)

God is good.....ALL the time

and

All the time.....God is good!!!

Tomorrow is the big day..

I am filled with so many emotions...but mostly scared to death right now. I cry even as I write this, in fact I cry all the time. It's like there is a continuous supply of tears...I just can't wait until they are tears of joy instead of tears of fear. Knowing the tomorrow is the big day is making today even harder, it makes the reality of it much more real. For so long it could be today or tomorrow, but now I know that it is definately tomorrow, no matter what.

I am scared of all things unknown and know that I just need to hand it over to God...but still I am scared. Dan has been a rock through these last few days and he keeps reassuring me of the things I doubt. But all this time that I keep thinking that I want it over (the pregnancy part), now I wish I could just keep him safe and warm inside for a little while longer:) I think I just need to call Katie or Jody and have them tell me how wonderful it is to have a baby...because right now I am not feeling the excitement (it comes and goes I think).

So that is how I am feeling at 11:50am today! If I come back in a couple of hours it may have changed and it may not have changed, but it doesn't change the fact that in less than 48 hours I will have a baby boy in my arms and our lives will have changed overnight.

Thank you all for your prayers and continued prayers as the next couple of days will be when we need them the most. God has been so good to us this far, I know He will carry us through and still be carrying us when we get to the other side (see my emotions have already changed a little and I am not even done typing this post:)

Talk to you all on the flip side:)

3 Days and Counting...

We went to the dr. this morning and had an ultrasound and a non-stress test and found that everything looks good. He is just as comfortable as he could be. Somebody said it was like a nice little condominium in there..and I think they are right...it is just toooo comfortable in there for him.

I am scheduled to be induced on Thursday morning at 8:00am...so unless he comes earlier we will have a baby in our arms in 3 days. A December baby...hadn't even crossed my mind that I would go late enough to have a December baby, but then again he still could come in the next two days. I am sure my dad is rooting for tomorrow, that is his birthday:)

So all is well here and all of the indoor projects have been crossed off our lists and we are just trying to be patient as the big day draws nearer!!

4 Days and Counting...

Thursday: We had a wonderful Thanksgiving at Mike and Mindy's though!! Awesome food and great fellowship. Dan and I were so excited that they had two of our all time favorite foods..Crab dip and corn pudding (also known as corn bake, which we would love the recipe for...I think it was a little different than the one we make...much sweeter and we couldn't quite figure out what made it so sweet and yummy). It was nice to just relax that day and not feel guilty that I wasn't up helping cook or clean up!! Overall a great Thanksgiving Day!!

Friday: Believe it or not...Dan and I made it in shopping on Black Friday! We have not missed a single Black Friday since we got married and gosh darnet, we weren't going to miss it this year. I think we went to about 4 stores. We were to Best Buy at about 6:30am (so everything was gone already) and home by 9:30am. We are very efficient shoppers and have it mastered. So we ended up with some fun things...we generally say that this is our Christmas gift to each other!! Gotta love the sales!

Saturday: Well we had our first trip to the hospital yesterday. I was pretty sure I wasn't in labor, but I was having severe pains in my lower abdomen that just wouldn't let up. So I called the on call Dr and they suggested that I go in to get checked out since it was abnormal pain. Dan and I packed up the car and headed off to the hospital where we got hooked up to monitors and little Gil got to demonstrate his ability to swim in utero:) The sounds that were being made when he was moving around were kind of swishing like sounds...which made it sound like he was doing laps:) Who knows maybe he is just preparing for the Olympics in 2020!!!

They never did figure out what was wrong and the pain went away before we even left the hospital..go figure...that is always how it goes for me!! But they did for tell me I could up my vicodin dosage, so now it is working properly. I have very little pain now, which is sooo great!! Makes it ok that I might not deliver until Thursday..in fact it makes me want him to wait until Thursday, so that my Dr will be the one delivering him.

Sunday: The day to rest!! And I plan to do just that. I am going to work on some crocheting in front of the TV watching old movies and feeling warm and cozy with a fire blazing in the wood stove. So I am off to relax.

Crazy Pregnant Dreams

Dream #1: So I dreamt that the baby kicked so high that he lifted the skin on my belly up...like he was in a kangaroo pouch. I looked down and could see inside and he was smiling!! That was very weird...there was a line acrossed my belly, just under my boobs that would just life up. So then I got this idea in my mind that I could take him out, but also knew I shouldn't. So I snuck away into a room by myself and took him out and held him...at least I thought it was a boy until I looked down and saw that it was a girl dressed in pink (this was inspired because Dan had told me he had been dreaming that we were going to have a girl and he was nervous about that). The umbilical cord was still attached...so weird. Then I put her back and closed up the flap. It was great to hold the baby though!!

Dream#2: I was at my baby shower and apparently Kari Marciniak was good friends with Paris Hilton and Nicole Ritchie (they were fueding in my dream..apparently I had been reading to many People magazines around the time I had this dream). We were at a the house of a friend from 6th grade (Sarah Dittenbir) for the shower and we were hanging out on the front porch, Then they told me they had a big surprise for me and 2 guys in long fur coats and big hats hiding their faces walked up onto the lawn. They dropped their coats and it was Bon Jovi. Apparently Paris Hilton and Nicole Ritchie were good friends with him and they got him to come to my baby shower...it was soooo awsome. I think I woke up happy that day:)

Has anyone had any good dreams lately....pregnant or not:)

One last belly picture:)

Isn't this just adorable! My good friend Christy Guest is an awsome photographer in Midland. We grew up together practically. We met in 6th grade because our teacher gave her and another good friend, Sarah, extra credit to be nice to me. I didn't find this out until high school...but pretty funny story though. And it worked...we have been friends ever since:) This picture was taken at my final baby shower on Nov. 6th!

9 Days and Counting

I went to the doctor yesterday and found that nothing has changed and that I just need to keep waiting (which brought on a flood of tears of course, no one at this point in their pregnancy likes to hear that they just have to keep waiting). However that is the best thing for the baby if he decides to make his appearance when he is good and ready. However, if he doesn't decide to come on his own, the doc agreed to induce me a week from Thursday (Dec. 1st). So there is a light at the end of the tunnel (if only "Gil" would go towards it sooner;) On a positive note: if "Gil" decides to take his time and wait until Dec. 1st, my doc will get to deliver me otherwise another doc will do the delivery, so now I am kind of hoping he decides to take his time:) That is the feeling at the moment...and is subject to change at any given moment.

There were many tears shed to get to this emotionally stable point, but I feel so much better having that end date!!! I was actually able to sleep much more soundly last night, which all of you know I love to do. And I am making plans for the week ahead. Dan and I are very excited that our good friends Mindy and Mike invited us over for Thanksgiving dinner...that gives me something to definitely look forward to (she said they made 6 pies...well count me in for eating one of those pies:) hehehe And then since my doc gave me a prescription for Vicadin...I plan on making our annual shopping trip on the day after Thanksgiving. Probably won't do much, but at least we might get a few good buys:)


My next doc apt is schedule for next Monday where they will do an ultrasound and a non-stress test and check me again to see if there has been any progress. I will keep you posted!!!

So as of right now the countdown beings!!! Only 9 DAYS to go for sure:)

The Family Pre-baby

Dr. Visit

I went to the doctor yesterday and he told me that things were progressing nicely. I am 2 cm dilated and 50% effaced. I was sooo worried that I would go to the dr. apt and he would tell me that nothing is going on and it might be another 2 weeks:P Still don't know how long it will take but he stripped my membrane in hopes that it would speed things along. So now, just like for the past 2 weeks, I sit and wait for the contractions that they tell me I will undoubtedly feel and know for certain that I am in active labor. I woke this morning and the back pain that has plagued me for the past 2-3 weeks was lessened only to be replaced by pressure in the groin (which has been there for quite some time, it just intensified over night). So we are all hoping that this little guy decides to make his appearance soon. My house is clean, my bags are packed and we are just "patiently" awaiting this new and exciting adventure that Dan and I are about to embark upon. Just writing that makes me excited:) I can't wait!!!!

Prayer of One Voice

This is something our church prints in the bulletin every Sunday...and this one spoke to me so I thought I would post it:

Eternal God,
you bless us with gifts that are uniquely our own.
We have b een given so much,
yet our talkents seem so small to us.
Help us shake off fear
and boldly put our talents to use,
that they may be a blessing to a world in need of your blessings.
In Christ's name we pray. Amen

My First Post

This is so new and foreign to me that I am not sure where to start. First of all, as you can see from my photo taken almost 4 weeks ago, I am very, very, very pregnant and about to pop at any time....so as you can imagine the only thing I think about at every waking hour is how and when we will get to meet the new addition (some refer to as Gilgamesh) to our family. Therefore all of my thoughts and energy are focused on this little guy, as they should be, and I wouldn't want it any other way.

My husband, Dan, and I have been truly blessed throughout this pregnancy and are continuously amazed how God has provided for us emotionally, spiritually and financially. Never has there been a point in our lives when the rewards of tithing have been so evident. When we began to tithe about 4 years ago, we didn't realize how faithful God was going to be...not that we doubted, it is just that we couldn't have imagined how secure He could make us feel. One of my biggest fears of parenthood was that we wouldn't be able to provide financially for our children. Not only has God provided for us, but he has also allowed me to stay at home for at least 4-6 months with the baby, something I had only been able to dream of doing. God is good...All the time!! (Dan and I have said that alot lately:)

Didn't think I would be talking about that in my first blog, but it just came to me to write, so I wrote!!! Let's see what else is there to say: we have two cats (Toonses and Little Cat) and a dog (Buster). We have no idea how they will greet the new baby, but we can only pray that they completely ignore the little guy. I will keep you posted as that drama unfolds....and I am sure you will all wait with baited breath:)

Well I think that is all for now! The doctor told me last Thursday that he thought I would have this baby within the next week...somehow I think that is a cruel joke that all doctors play on pregnant women to give them hope to keep perservering through the toughest part of pregnancy. We will just have to be patient and wait and see. I am sure that "Gil" will make his appearance when he is good and ready:) I will do my best to keep everyone posted!!!