Miracle Birth Story Part 2

Friday

Within several hours of being in the hospital, they did an ultrasound of my kidneys and concluded that there were no kidney stones. This made the doctors rule out the "better" diagnosis. The high risk doctor came to visit me and they did an ultrasound to see if there were any adhesions from my previous c-section. They found some things that looked suspicious but could never get clarification on if that was the issue or not.

Things had finally calmed down some and my parents had left for the evening and Matt and I were trying to settle down to sleep. At that time, my nurse came into the room and asked me if I knew that I was having contractions every 2 minutes. I told her that I just felt constant pain but no contractions. I was no longer allowed to have food or drink and she went to call my doctors. Her words were "you might be having this baby tonight". We called my parents back up the hospital and the anxiety levels increased again. Have this baby? Tonight? This was NOT the game plan. He was to be born on July 23 during a 12:30pm c-section. He would share the same birthday as my late grandfather who he was named after. This was all planned out!! THIS WAS NOT THE PLAN! I still had bottles and things to sterilize at the house (yes - that was still all I could think about - things that I thought I could control).

My nurse came back in and said the high risk doctor said that as long as I could not feel the contractions then we were okay. Again, all I could think about was that I had all these things left to do that I had not done. Matt told me that I mentioned about sterilizing items about 10 times. I was trying to gain control over something and I realized that had control over nothing. My nurse found me something to eat, got me some pain medication, and a sleeping pill. Thank God for ambien because I do not how I would have slept at all during this entire ordeal.

Saturday morning I woke up to having contractions again but this time I could feel them. They were coming at 4 minutes apart. Doctors were called again and my food and drinks were taken away AGAIN. We then called my parents back up to the hospital because there was talk we would be having him in several hours. Contractions subsided and I was again able to eat and drink...except this time my appetite never really came back.

The high risk doctor came back in and explained that their main concern was uterine rupture. They talked about how rare it was but they couldn't explain my pain. The only thing that they could tell me was that I was not allowed to leave the hospital. There was then more talk about when we would do a c-section. I was given a steroid shot to help develop Will's lungs further and an amniocentesis was scheduled for the next day.

This is when I felt that I had completely lost control. I felt so scared and so mad at God. Him and I had so many conversations...well...I wouldn't really call them conversations. I did a whole lot of talking and yelling at God. Doesn't He understand how I like everything in order and nothing off schedule?? What was all this about? I just kept praying my pain would go away and we would be discharged....that never happened....

Miracle Birth Story Part 1

The last few weeks have been a complete whirlwind. We did not know what all was going on so we kept things pretty quiet except for our close friends. I have found that I have been telling our story a lot lately. The more I keep telling our story, the more I realized that I really needed to write everything down. God has done so many amazing things in our life and it would be crazy to not share it. This also gives us a way to be able to look back and remember this amazing time when God showed out in our lives!

On Wednesday June 11, I woke up early in the morning in extreme pain right below my pregnant belly. I waited for Matt to wake up and then I called my doctor's office. They told me to come straight in. After being hooked up to monitors and talking with my doctor, it was concluded that I probably had a kidney infection but we would know more the next day when the culture came back. Another doctor's appointment made for the following day. So I went home....still in pain.

Thursday we went back to the doctor and did the same thing. They still felt it was a kidney infection so they gave me a shot of an antibiotic just in case and told me I should have immediate relief. Another appointment made for the following day. Well...that relief never came.

Friday we drive back to the doctor and I am now in more pain than I was the previous days. A high risk doctor was contacted and both doctors talked for a while and had several concerns. The culture came back negative for a kidney infection but they still wanted to do an ultrasound of my kidneys to confirm. The worst case scenario was now given: there is a great risk of uterine rupture. The prognosis is not good for both mom and baby. It was decided that I would be admitted to Doctor's Hospital for a 24 hour observation. We were given several hours to go home and pack a bag and then report in to the hospital.

This is about when I started to get very nervous. I felt that I was slowly losing control and I did not like it. We went home to pack and I started panicking on what could happen. There had been talk of delivering Will early but I knew that as of that day (Friday the 13th), I was only 34 weeks and the thought of him coming early just scared me. I remember sitting in the middle of his nursery stressing because I hadn't sterilized anything yet (it was on that lovely to-do list of mine) and that I probably needed to get my breast pump stuff all together because if he came this early, he would surely go straight to the NICU.

We checked into the hospital knowing only a few things:
1. I was in intense pain
2. This was probably going to last more than 24 hours
3. The worst case scenario was very scary and becoming more probable the longer it went on....

How Can I Keep From Singing??

Busy schedule. Everyone tugging from every direction. Christmas list to be made and start shopping. Thanksgiving meal to be planned out and start preparing for. Every day routine sometimes thrown out the window. People close to us are sick or in need of extreme healing. Hurt all around.

This morning was one of the those mornings when I felt that life was spinning out of control. In preparing for a crazy weekend, I received a phone call that threw a curve ball in it! And...the call happened during my quiet time.

I was mad. Who calls this early and don't they know I have MY time with God??

"Mrs. Sarah, I just wanted to let you know that I am in the ICU at Doctor's Hospital and they don't know what is wrong with me."

Heart sinks.

There is a reason why I got that phone call right in that moment. God was reminding me that my time with Him is not supposed to be all about me.

In the midst of chaos, He brings us back to reality.

Then I pick up Jesus Calling needing some profound thoughts and it says:

"This is a time of abundance in your life. Your cup runneth over with blessings. After plodding uphill for many weeks, you are no traipsing through lush meadows drenched in warm sunshine. I want you to enjoy to the full this time of ease and refreshment. I delight in providing it for you."

What?? Obviously this was not for me this morning. Then I felt this overwhelming urge to BE STILL.

For those of you that know me know that this does not come easy for me. Then I heard this sweet voice saying, "your cup runneth over with blessings". I have been given opportunities to share His love in ways that I never thought possible. I am walking in warm sunshine of His love but the "things"of this world were like clouds trying to block that sun.

Thankful for my "come to Jesus meeting this morning".

I go on about my morning and drive to work. Usually I drive in silence but today I turned on the radio and I heard the most perfect song.

A song I couldn't help but sing at the top of my lungs this morning. Here is the You Tube video. I hope you can sing it at the top of your lungs at some point today!! How can I keep from singing when He does this EVERY DAY. Overwhelmed with His love and patience with me!

How Can I Keep From Singing

It's a New Day!!

The sun comes up, it's a new day dawning

It's time to sing Your song again

Whatever may pass, and whatever lies before me

Let me be singing when the evening comes

Bless the Lord, O my soul
O my soul
Worship His holy name
Sing like never before
O my soul
I'll worship Your holy name

You're rich in love, and You're slow to anger
Your name is great, and Your heart is kind
For all Your goodness I will keep on singing
Ten thousand reasons for my heart to find

Bless the Lord, O my soul
O my soul
Worship His holy name
Sing like never before
O my soul
I'll worship Your holy name

10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord) 

Organizing 101: Part 1

I have had a few friends suggest that I share some of my organization techniques so here we go!!

In our Community Group, our ladies are doing the study of Saving Super Mom (if you missed my review of it, check it out here: Saving Super Mom). What I have learned (among other things) is that we as moms make our lives so much more complicated when we are constantly running around doing things - can't find the homework, what is my child taking to show and tell today, I can't believe I haven't cleaned the guest bathroom and we have guests coming over right after work, etc, etc. You can fill in the blank with whatever you might be stressing out with right now. 

Don't get me wrong, I still stress. Organization cannot take away all of the stress, but it can sure help!!! So, here are some tips that have worked well in our house as well as a few we are going to try out: 

1. Lay out clothes for the week.

• I have Lizzy's clothes laid out in this hanging shelf. Every morning, she picks out what she wants to wear but it doesn't take very long because she only has 6 choices (some mornings I tell her to pick between the top 2)

• The white container underneath has her underwear and socks. This is right at her level so she can pick those out on her own. 
• I also pick out my clothes for the work week and sometimes for the weekend as well. I simply hang them up in one corner of my closet. This has helped my mornings out SO much because I don't have to make any of these decisions. 

2. Meal Planning 

• I try and plan with Matt at least our weekly meals. We have a 15 day budget for food (we get cash out on the 1st and 15th so sometimes we try and plan for 15 days). 
• We do NOT plan a meal each day. We (or Matt) cooks about 3-4 meals a week. We eat leftovers. This has helped our food budget tremendously. Also, cooking takes TIME and so now only have to cook maybe 3 days out of the week instead of 7 allows time for you to do something else. 

3. Cleaning Schedule

• This is what we have tried the last few weeks.  Matt was gone for an entire week and so I had time to clean the entire house and get an idea of what needs to be done each week. I have felt that Matt and I are doing double the work lately (I will get home and he will say he vacuumed and I will ask why because I just did yesterday - no dirt on floor, he was just trying to do the weekly vacuuming but didn't know that I already did it). So...I created this schedule and have put it in a picture frame so that we can mark off with a dry erase marker when that task has been done. This way we both know what is to be done. That way, if he is off that day, he knows what I might need help with. Ladies - this is KEY. Most of the husbands I have talked with say they will do more around the house IF THEY KNOW WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE. I know your response is, "he should just know" but he doesn't...trust me! So...I will keep you posted on how well (or not) this goes for us. 

Here is the actual document:

Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday	Sunday
Dust All of Downstairs	Wash Lights	Wash Darks	Wash UA & Lizzy’s Clothes	Clear Off Kitchen Counters	Wash Dog Towels and Beds	Lay Out Clothes for the Week
Wash Dishes	Vacuum All Downstairs	Wipe Down Kitchen and Breakfast Room Table	Swiffer All Downstairs	Clean Downstairs Guest Bathroom	Clean Lizzy’s Bathroom	Wash Dishes
	Clear Off Kitchen Counters	Clean Out Refrigerator	Wash Dishes	Wash Dishes	Wash Dishes
	Wash Dishes	Clear Off Kitchen Counters	Clear Off Kitchen Counters	Clean Master Bathroom
		Take All Trash Outside and Trash on Street

1^st Week: Dust and Vacuum Upstairs 

2^nd Week: Clean Baseboards                                                                                          

3^rd Week: Dust/Wipe Light Fixtures and Dust Fans                                                                                       4^th Week: 

4. Mail/Clutter Station

• One of the things I cannot stand is when someone brings the mail in and then just puts it in a pile - half of it opened and half not. I created this mail station with the inspiration of this blog: The Nest Effect. All mail goes right into the incoming mail file and then I go through it once every few days and then sort things from there. 

5. Organizing Husband's Junk"

• So for everyone out there who has a husband that wears a uniform, you can may share in  my misery that EVERYTHING  that he needs to get ready in the morning (shirt stays, radio, gun holster, ear piece, etc) ends up on the counter in our bathroom. So...I bought these cheap little baskets at Wal-Mart and he can put everything he takes off into that container and I NEVER have to see it!!!

More to come :)

Universal Language

Love.

Love is a universal language. 

When you come from different cultures, socioeconomic backgrounds, states, countries...the one thing that is easily understood between all people is Love. 

In the last month, my family's life was thrown an amazing opportunity to show love to a very incredible little girl. Through circumstances, she was placed in our care from the Department of Family and Children Services. I have learned so much from this last month. 

I have learned I do not have nearly enough patience that I want. 

I have learned that it is only through God's grace and strength that I made it through hard and heartbreaking conversations with her. 

I have learned that I have an amazing church family who opened their arms not only to my family, but to this sweet girl. She looked forward to every Sunday so that she could see her new friends (most were actually adults) and of course, Ms. Vickie. 

I have learned that I end up loving my husband even more when I watch him step out in faith, out of his comfort zone, and show Christ's love to little people. 

I learned that a snuggle and a cuddle is sometimes all any of us really need. 

All we need is LOVE. True LOVE. To know that even when I am not your mother, I can still show my LOVE to you. 

What if we all treated each other the same way? In your group of friends, have you loved their children as if they were your own? Do they feel that love? Do you treat strangers this way? Isn't that what we as Christians are all called to do....to Love As Christ Loved Us???

Love...it is a universal language.

Breath of Life

Hurt.

Despair.

Pain.

Sleepless nights.

Questions running through the mind.

Anger with God.

Why ME? Why NOW?? Why THIS???

My husband like to scuba dive and he dives for work as well as for pleasure. One of the things he does to get ready for his try outs as well as just to scare me, is to see how long he can hold his breath under water. Have you ever done this? Put your face under and push yourself to see how long you can make it. You close your eyes and try to think that you can go longer...you don't need that breath...but then that feeling comes. That feeling that you just may not make it. The worry sets in that if you don't breathe you think you might die. Then you rush to the top of the water to breathe in a nice big breath.

http://www.jbgphotography.com/jbsessions.html

This is how life tends to be. Big things come our way and we think we can handle them on our own. Just a little bit longer...I don't need God's help. Then that feeling happens. Maybe you have felt it before. That feeling that there is nothing else that can help you. That no one else can help you. That is when God is calling you up out of the water to take that breath. The breath of life. Then once you breathe and give it all to Him, it is a feeling like no other. Feeling like you can breathe again.

Whatever it is you are going through, God knows about it. If you are hurting, He is hurting with you. He is a Father looking down on His child. He wants so desperately for you to look up through those waters and take a breath of Him.


Romans 8:28 "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."

John 16:33 "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."