Brand New Life

It's the same old thing, but it's brand new. It's happened over and over, but this is the first time it's ever happened. Children have been born every day since the beginning of time, but this is the first one born to me in my time.

It's not a routine thing that I just did by giving birth. It's not normal to suddenly be sharing our home with a baby. There is nothing ordinary about this complete change of schedule. My way of thinking about space, God, myself, and love is forever changed.

It's my brand new life and I love it.

Thank you, God, for the freshness you give to me in the ageless event.

"He put a new song in my mouth." ~ Psalm 40:3

(Taken from: Meditations for New Moms, by Sandra Drescher-Lehman. Given to me by MY Mom. =)

xoxox

She's growing up so fast!

Guess who's one month old today?!?! =)

Decisions, decisions...

Do I shower, eat, nap or cuddle my baby while she sleeps? What about a walk outside, or maybe read the emails that are piling up? (let alone replying to them...) Or should I do a little catching up on Facebook? How about a video chat with family back in the states? And I still have tons of pictures that need to be posted of this precious new addition to our family... Thank God Mom is here to do the cooking and cleaning and help with the baby. I am so blessed (spoiled) to have such support and my Mommy here to care for me while I learn to be a Mommy and care for my little girl...Seems like most days I opt for some combination of the first four options in between feedings and leave everything else for another time. But another time never seems to come...maybe next year. Haha! =)

Still recovering from childbirth/surgery. It's taking longer than I thought it would, and supposedly I'm only half-way there. Patience is apparently a virtue but personally, I think it's overrated. Again, so glad to have Mom here. I'm seriously not looking forward to having to do everything on my own, but I know by the time Mom and Dad and Mama Lisa leave I should be pretty close to completely healed (I HOPE!!) so maybe it won't be as bad as I'm picturing it to be...

The lesson I am (still) in the middle of learning is to take this one step at a time. While pregnant, I was learning to take it one week at a time - staying in awe of what was happening to me and my baby instead of just yearning for her arrival and therefore missing out on the beauty of the moment I was in. Before going into labor, I was learning to take it one day at a time, as I waited for my (late!) baby girl to come out and play. During labor, I was learning to take it one contraction at a time - to focus on what was happening in the moment, be it hard work or relaxation - and not dwelling on the pain of the past or dreading the pain of the future. During these first few weeks of motherhood I am learning to take it one feeding, one nap, one day at a time - soreness, exhaustion and emotional unstability seem to have combined into the perfect storm. Once again, thank God for Mom, who is taking the midnight feedings from me so I can now get a good 6 hours of sleep per night!! It's AMAZING what a little extra sleep can do for one's physical and emotional wellbeing...who knew?? ;)

God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. And thank you, thank you, Lord, for this beautiful, precious baby girl you have blessed me with. She is such a treasured gift and I cherish her immensely... xoxox

And baby makes 3!!! =)

Well folks, WE DID IT!!! After 19 hours and 45 minutes of labor, we have the most perfectly beautiful little gift from God to show for all our efforts. I would love to recount all the details for you, but it still seems quite a blur to me, so you'll have to talk to Mom or Joe to get the full story. =)

Speaking of Mom and Joe, let me just sing their praises for a moment. Mom was amazing for even coming over here to help out in the first place. She committed to staying with us for 2 whole months to be here before the birth, at the birth, and to help out afterwards. What an angel. Mom was a great buddy beforehand, going on walks with me and keeping me company, helping me to work through the final realizations that we were about to have a baby, and she was a great help during labor as well. She was right there when I needed her with a cold drink, a little snack, a cool wash cloth, an arm to lean on while walking to the bathroom, a reasuring prayer, and whatever else I needed. And since our baby girl has been born, she's kicked up her game even more! She's makes all the meals, cleans the house, does the laundry, takes turns with Joe for who gets up with me in the middle of the night to change diapers and help with feedings...what a God-send. I am so thankful she was willing and able to come stay with us, and that Dad was willing and able to let her go for that long. (Can't wait to see him for his visit next month!! =)

And Joe...Joe was, is, and forever will be my hero. He was such an amazing support to me emotionally, mentally and physically. He helped me breathe through all my contractions, he calmed me when I started to feel overwhelmed, he let me lean on him in all kinds of awkward positions to lessen my pain, he gave me pep talks and encouraged me to push my limits, he fed me ice chips, helped me to the bathroom, and worked through all the hard decisions with me that we had to make along the way, just to name a few examples. Basically, he was the most perfect coach anyone could've asked for and I am forever grateful to have had his undying support when I needed it most. And that was just during labor!

I had to have surgery afterwards, and we stayed in the hospital almost a week while I and our baby recovered. I was told by all the nurses that my husband was one in a million, that in all the time they've worked there they've never seen a husband more involved or attentive to his wife. He took over all the responisbilities of the nurses when it came to me, helping with dressings and all the yucky stuff no husband should have to do. And on top of that he took complete care of our baby girl too, because I barely had the strength to make it to the bathroom while holding onto him, let alone stand up to walk her or change her diaper. I didn't change a single diaper until we were home from the hospital, people! He did all of that and walked her and calmed her when she was fussy and gasy in the middle of the night so I could get some rest. I am the luckiest woman in the world to have him as my husband, and I am so excited to have made a family with him!

Now, long story short, Kathleen (Kathy) Marie, was born on Saturday, 12 March 2011 at 7:32 pm. She was 9 lbs. 12 oz. and 21 1/4 inches. She has super soft black hair, and the most beautiful, bright, big brown eyes I've ever seen. She is such a good, sweet little baby who loves to snuggle and we are so in love with her. What a dream come true!! xoxox

FYI

Went to our 41st week appointment today and found out I am about 1 cm dialated. We had to schedule an induction for Monday in case I haven't given birth by then. After our apt. our doula, Tonya, worked with me doing lots of walking and different exercises like squats, lunges, etc. for about 3 hours to try and get labor started and the baby moving down farther. Had a lot of good contractions during our time together, but after going back to the Stork's Nest to rest, they've stopped.

Tomorrow we are scheduled to have a NST and an AFI, and we will also let the Dr.'s do some natural-ish interventions to see if we can't convince our little one to come out and play. (I'll spare you the details, Biffy. =) We will continue to get them done Thurs. and Fri. as well, in hopes that we will not need to keep our induction apt. for Mon. after all!

We were already planning on staying at the Stork's Nest tonight and working with Tonya again tomorrow, but now that we have apts. for the rest of the week, Mom and I will be staying down here until our baby girl is born. (Glad she's here so I have a buddy! =) Joe has to go back to work Thurs. - Sun. but will obviously be called down if/when things start progressing.

The only internet access we have is at the library and obviously we can't do video chats there, so we won't be online until after the baby is born. If you'd like to get ahold of us, feel free to call my cell. (I know I gave it to all of you but if you lost it call Dad. =) Not sure how much emailing we'll be doing either, so calling really is the best way if you need us. (Remember, we're 14 hours ahead of EST, until daylight savings comes since South Korea doesn't observe that. Then we'll only be 13 hours ahead.) Once we go into labor we'll call you, so don't worry that you're gonna miss it. =)

Time's running out since I'm on a library computer but that's all the info. anyways. We appreciate all of your prayers during this time that we will have wisdom in the decisions we have to make, that our baby girl will be born in God's time and His way, and that we will find peace in that during this whole process.

Next post should include pictures of our baby girl!!! =) xoxox

Does your belly hang low? Does it wobble to and fro?

Because mine does!!!! =) Hahaha...Joe is having fun taking pictures of me in all the crazy positions he finds me in - it's just what feels comfortable at the time! =)

Still no baby but I've been seeing signs of prelabor for about 2 weeks now. Also little signs of progression here and there but I'll spare you the details (you're welcome, Biffy =). They all make me happy to know that every day we're one step closer to meeting our little girl! xoxox

Baby's the size of a watermellon! (week 40)

It's hard to say for sure how big our baby will be, but the average newborn weighs about 7 1/2 pounds and is about 20 inches long. Her skull bones are not yet fused, which allows them to overlap a bit if it's a snug fit through the birth canal during labor. This so-called "molding" is the reason our baby's noggin may look a little coneheadish after birth. Rest assured - it's normal and temporary.

Taken from: www.babycenter.com/6_your-pregnancy-40-weeks_1129.bc