Tick Tock, Tick Tock

While waiting there are a few things I have been doing to keep myself occupied.  Obviously one of those things is taking care of my husband and my daughters, but I have also quite literally cleaned the entire apartment (including having the carpets cleaned and cleaning all the baseboards).  I have washed every stitch of clothing in the house, disinfected the bathtubs and toilets and scrubbed the kitchen and dining room floors several times.  I think the only thing that hasn’t been “scrubbed” is the cat…but I am certain to get to her soon!  

Whilst cleaning or “nesting” is certainly common for the pregnant woman, there are other things that I have been doing to keep myself occupied.  I downloaded ChristianAudio’s free download for the month, “Adopted for Life” by Dr. Russell Moore (I even went out and purchased the book to highlight things in the book I found very helpful).  Per the recommendation of a sweet friend in England I purchased Seasons 1 and 2 through iTunes of the BBC show “Cranford” and LOVE it!  I have been watching it on my iPhone at night after the girls are in bed while Malachi works on the computer he is building. 

Patience is obviously key when waiting on labor to begin.  My due date is February 28^th, and while we had expected Ellie to arrive early, it appears as though this sweet girl might be our first “on time baby” or “late baby”.  My midwife had warned me that women who choose the homebirth route typically go longer than they expect.  This could be because hospitals tend to intervene when labor isn’t going as fast as they would prefer. So, we wait…

In the meantime, I am trying to keep myself calm, relaxed and occupied.  I know that once little Miss Eleanor arrives our whole lives will change and there will be a period of adjustment for us all.  I am doing my best to enjoy Sofia and Charlotte as this will be the last time it is just the two of them.  They are so excited about their new baby sister, and I think the anticipation might be driving them just as crazy as it is Malachi and I!  HA HA

I continue to be grateful for all the prayers and words of encouragement that come from my readers.  Hopefully my next post will be Ellie’s birth announcement!

Serving God and My Family,

Crystal <>< (SAHM)

The waiting game

Yes...we're still waiting on Ellie

That's right; Ellie is still in there!  I really thought she would be here by now, but apparently she has different plans.  It actually works out well because Sofia and Charlotte are both sick with colds.  Miss Ellie must know it and doesn't want to catch it! 

We are having the carpets cleaned today and I am hoping to have a massage today to help me relax.  The past week I have been anxious and tense, so hopefully a massage will help. 

I have been having contractions, some pretty painful ones, but nothing regular or consistent.  Ellie is very low and engaged.  My lower back is killing me constantly and there seems to be nothing I can do to get relief...other than have Ellie.  My midwife thinks she is about 9lbs now, and I have another week before I reach my due date!  So, we might have another 10lb baby!  I love chunky babies! 

So, as we wait, please keep me in prayer for strength and patience.  Also keep my sweetie pies, Sofia and Charlotte in your prayers; that they would get well soon!

Serving God and My Family,
Crystal <>< (SAHM)

Still waiting!

Me and My Charlotte

(I wore pants this day (a rarity) because I couldn't find my tights to wear with my skirt and I didn't want my legs to freeze while we were out and about running errands...felt so weird!)

Well, we’re still waiting on Miss Eleanor.  I had a checkup with my midwife yesterday and everything looks good.  She estimates that Eleanor is 8 to 8 ½ pounds now and thinks Ellie might make her debut as late as middle of next week (so Eleanor could be 9lbs when born!).  This doesn’t in anyway bother me because Sofia was 9lbs and Charlotte was 10lbs, so apparently I birth good big healthy babies!

Everything is ready.  My midwife gave us the birthing tub yesterday and we finally got the hose we needed.  That was a fiasco in and of itself to find a 50ft “safe drinking water hose”.  But, we got it, and that is all that matters!  (Thanks to the Thacker family for gifting that to us)

I started having contractions about 7 to 10 minutes apart last night around 9pm.  They were lasting about 30 seconds or so, the longest ones lasting one minute.  This morning is still somewhat the same with lots of lower back pain.  If Ellie is coming this week, she is apparently going to take her sweet time.  I’ve done everything to see if the contractions change or stop, but they just stay at about 7 to 10 minutes apart.  So, we’ll just wait and see what Miss Eleanor has planned.

Yesterday when seeing my midwife she reminded me of something that I needed to be reminded of.  As “D-Day” approaches and I know I have an excellent God-fearing birthing team on my side for support, she reminded me that I am rooted in Christ.  That He will be my strength through this birth.  I am so thankful to have a God-fearing midwife who will remind me where my hope and strength ultimately comes from.  So, as we approach the arrival of Ellie, and while I know the labor will be hard and painful, I know that the Lord is with me every step of the way.  He has preordained this path for me at this very time, and it is for my good and His glory!  He has set everything up the way it is, to the birthing team I have, to the supportive and wonderful husband that will encourage me throughout the entire process.  I am so very blessed and grateful.

As the day approaches, for me to give birth to my sweet Eleanor, I will keep my mind focused on the Lord and embrace and endure through having my very first natural childbirth at home.  The Lord meant it to be this way, and I will keep my faith, trust, hope and delight in Him alone.  Soli Deo Gloria!

"The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O LORD, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands."

 -Psalm 138:8

Serving God and My Family,

Crystal <>< (SAHM)

Oh the Anticipation!

I had the best visit and check up with my midwife and Doula yesterday!  I even had a great check up with the OB!  Everything is happening to fast now that I have to remind myself to slow down and enjoy every minute.  

            I received the sterilization instructions from my midwife this morning and we have a few more things to get in order to be prepared for the homebirth.  We are so excited and grateful for everyone who has chipped in to help us out.  We’re hoping Ellie holds off until next payday so that we don’t get caught in the throes of labor still needing stuff.  

            The OB did a check yesterday and I am 2cm dilated, which means that the contractions I have been having are real ones!  YAY!  What it doesn’t tell us is when active labor will start…but it does mean the process has begun for Ellie to be born!  

            I can’t even describe the feelings I am having today about everything.  I’m not fearful or worried, but I am 100% excited and joyful.  To think that just a year ago we were experiencing another loss of a child, to this year the Lord blessing us with another one.  He is so good to us and I have nothing to complain about and I am thankful for my lot in life (good or bad).  

            I’m constantly day dreaming about what Ellie’s personality will be like, or who she will look more like.  I can’t wait to count all ten fingers and all ten toes, and just snuggle with her.  I love that new baby smell!  What a wondrous and marvelous thing for the Lord to bless us with; children.

            In the meantime, I appreciate all the prayers and encouragement as we venture into our first homebirth.  I will keep you all updated!  Soli Deo Gloria!

Serving God and My Family,

Crystal <>< (SAHM)

Ready for Miss Ellie

            It is just about time for Miss Ellie to make her sweet debut into our world!  While I am totally excited and trying my very best to enjoy every last moment of this pregnancy, I really am ready for Ellie to come.  I find myself teetering on total elation and then total emotional meltdown over insignificant things.  Hormones can play horrible tricks on us I do believe.  Through it all I am fighting very hard to keep my focus on the Lord, and I know that Eleanor will arrive in perfect time.  Until then, we are just waiting.

            We pretty much have everything ready, except we do need to purchase a new infant car seat as the one we used for Sofia and Charlotte has expired.  In all the planning and preparing I totally forgot about it and never budgeted to purchase a new seat.  So, this means we are praying our income tax return will be in before Eleanor arrives so that we can get her a new seat.  Have I ever mentioned how much I loathe doing our income tax return?  This year was a bit more involved as we had to wait on more forms than we have in previous years.  However, I got it all done and submitted, and now we wait.  (Seems like we have been doing a lot of “waiting” lately)

            My midwife and Doula are coming tomorrow for a visit/check-up, and then I visit with the OB for a check-up to meet the state requirements for a homebirth.  I am getting more and more excited about our homebirth and I am so blessed to have the birth team I have to help me through it.  I’ve been having real contractions on and off for a couple weeks now; nothing regular or consistent.  Eleanor can be born safely in a week, and I have a feeling this little sweetie pie will only hold out for one more week.  She is definitely in position, and while she still moves around, it certainly isn’t as much movement as a few weeks ago.  I’ve been seeing my chiropractor a lot more often now.  My hips seem to pop out of place every other day, and I am SO very thankful to have a chiropractor who does her best to make sure I am comfortable.  Sofia and Charlotte went with me to my last appointment and had the best time playing in the “play room” that the doctor has set up for children.  Sofia calls the chiropractor “the bone doctor”, and was so excited to be able to come with me this last time.  

            Speaking of my sweet girls; both are totally excited about their new baby sister.  Sofia has insisted that she be allowed in the birth tub with me, and that baby Ellie is sleeping with her in HER bed.  I love to see how much she has grown and the excitement and joy she has about babies.  Charlotte has begun to really show excitement over Ellie after we explained to her that she will be a big sister like Sofia.  Every morning Charlotte kisses my belly and says “good morning baby Ellie”, and then proceeds to ask me “what Ellie doing?”  When we are sitting on the couch snuggling, both girls put one hand on my belly because they want to hold Eleanor.  My heart just melts every time!

            So as we head into the final week/s of this pregnancy, I just have to say thank you to everyone who has been lifting us up in prayer throughout, and for all the kind words of encouragement I have received over the last 37 weeks.  I can’t put into words how truly blessed I feel to have friends and total strangers keeping us in prayer.  I pray that you all are well and walking steadfast in the faith for the glory of Jesus Christ alone!  Soli Deo Gloria!

Serving God and My Family,

Crystal <>< (SAHM)

Baby Ellie Update!

We are in the home stretch my friends!  Everything is ready for baby Ellie's arrival, and I couldn't be more excited!  Eleanor is head down and I've been having contractions on and off for about a week or so.  Everything is ready for the homebirth, and I see an OB for a check up next Monday to meet the state laws for homebirth.  We're not expecting Eleanor to be as big as Sofia or Charlotte, but probably a good 8 pounder. 

Malachi, my sweet husband, helped me clean and organize everything yesterday.  We have lots of clothes to sort through, but other than that, our home is finally all cleaned and organized!  He also has been helping me keep the kitchen and the living room cleaned.  He has been so helpful, and I love him so much. 

I just can't believe we are coming to the end of this, our 8th pregnancy, and that the Lord would bless us with the honor of snuggling, caring and raising another blessing for the glory of the Lord.  I feel like the most blessed wife and mother in the world, and I have nothing to complain about.  Thank you to everyone who has been praying for this pregnancy.  Ellie will be here soon!

Serving God and My Family,
Crystal <>< (SAHM)

Just a Few More Weeks!

Me and My Sweeties

          My Sweet girls are getting super excited about Miss Ellie's arrival.  This time when I was having Malachi take my weekly belly photo, both girls jumped in...too sweet!  As we patiently wait for Ellie, I am still amazed at how much my Sofia and Charlotte have grown.  It doesn't feel like all that long ago Malachi and I were awaiting their arrivals.  I never knew that motherhood could be this way; actually desiring more children, even on the really bad days of parenting!  I can say it is all the Lord's doing, because in and of myself I know that I would be immensely selfish, which of course would make for very poor parenting. 

          Malachi and I are getting very excited about having another little "squeaker" in the house (as he affectionately calls little babies).  We still have a few more things to get done, like rearranging the master bedroom for the homebirth, and just some basic cleaning and organizing.  I think that Ellie will arrive the first or second week of February, so that leaves us with just a few more weeks!  I can hardly wait to snuggle with my new little blessing, and watch my daughters grow in their own love for babies too!

Serving God and My Family,
Crystal <><  (SAHM)