Not that I'm complaining that I am still pregnant, because I know that every day baby girl is in the womb she is growing and getting stronger. I am irritated that I have now had my second intense false alarm. Monday around 4pm I started having contractions, which is really not that unusual for me, so I didn't think anything about them until 9pm when they were lasting about minute long, coming every 2 minutes, and really strong. I kept walking and waiting to make sure this was the real thing, while Jeff was getting nervous that I was waiting too long. We called a neighbor to watch our sleeping girls and headed to the hospital. Although I was having strong, back to back contractions, some lasting as long as four minutes, I remained 50% effaced and 2cm dilated (meaning the contractions were not bringing about baby) so they released me at 2am, saying I would probably be back in a couple hours. 20 hours later, after sleeping restlessly on and off for about 2 hours out of shear exhaustion, my contractions finally spread out and eventually stopped. I went to bed and dreamed that I was holding my baby who was just beautiful and I knew that all that work was worth it. People kept telling me how perfect she was, and so Jeff and I named her Perfect Jean. It was encouraging to wake up relatively free of contractions and with a positive dream of holding my baby girl soon.
Another positive side is that Roger and Cindy came to help keep me company and take care of the kids (Jeff went to work for a few hours yesterday after most of the contractions had passed and again today when they had passed completely). They were wonderful, talking to me and keeping me company as I paced through the house breathing like a crazy woman hoping the labor pains would increase or go away. Cindy also entertained the girls on this rainy day by making gingerbread cookies. Fun times!
And speaking of baby names, "Perfect Jean" is not on the real life list. We now have the names narrowed down to three options:
Norah Jean
Hope Jean
Rachel Lee
We reserve the right to change the names, but just wanted to assure you all that Perfect will not be her name! Also, we would love your prayers that baby girl comes next time I'm labor for 20+ hours!!
What a blessed Christmas we have had! From visiting with extended family to just the four of us (plus one), giving presents and opening presents, talking about Jesus as well as Santa, attending Christmas Eve service and watching our girls in their first performance and eating, eating and more eating has made this week an exciting fun filled blessed time!
Luke, Erin and baby Nate came for breakfast Sunday morning. My mom was still here from the Friday night false alarm, and we enjoyed a nice breakfast and morning playtime before Nate needed a nap. What a sweet little boy he is!!
Hans, Audrey and Henry arrived on Wednesday and spent the night with us. The rest of the Murry crew arrived Thursday. We had a gift exchange with the entire family and then headed over to Uncle Jeff's house for more fun with aunts, uncles and cousins on the Murry side. Emily, Roger and Henry then spent Thursday night and Friday morning with us.
Friday afternoon my Mom and Dad arrived, but due to flu and colds the rest of my family will be getting together sometime later for Christmas celebration and gift exchange.
Friday night we attended the Christmas Eve service where Hannah and Kate made the cutest sheep (yes, this is my completely unbiased opinion). Although Kate knew all the words to the songs and the hand motions she decided to observe a silent night.
Christmas morning was bright and wonderful. The girls slept late and Hannah was amazed that there was no snow. Poor girl, someone needs to explain that the books with snow never accurately represent Southern California. Instead, it was a beautiful day and we played baseball outside with Hannah's new T-ball set and went for a walk around the neighborhood.
I continue to have contractions on and off, and have learned to ignore them until they get strong. After timing them for a while I try to take my mind off of the pain and wait for them to subside...Jeff assures me that one day the contractions will not subside even though I am sure that this baby girl (who still does not have a name!) will just mess with me the next 3 weeks. I have to admit that as much as I want to meet her and to have relief from my aches and pains, I am happy she is not a Christmas Eve or Christmas Day baby. I do think it would be neat to have a New Years Day baby since her birthday would be 1-1-11. Jeff thinks that we would make Yahoo headlines if she were born at 11:11 on 1-1-11 or 1-11-11 at 11:11 (my actual due date is 1-12-11). So, who knows, she may become famous!!
I had my 36 week appointment the other day and the doctor said that baby girl is head down and the perfect size for a 36 weeker. I loved hearing the word "perfect" to describe my baby! I can feel some HUGE movements from the baby. The doctor did an ultrasound and revealed that the baby's knees are right by my ribs, so she was not surprised at all that I was hurting when she kicked or feeling pressure when I breathe.
We also had an exciting weekend with baby girl. I began having contractions at 1pm on Friday. I find that I have contractions usually midday and early evening, so I was not surprised. I had waited for them to subside long enough and they were only getting stronger, so by 7pm they were strong, 2 minutes apart and lasting a minute. It was clearly labor and time to go to the hospital. We called some friends and our pastor's wife, Karen, came over to watch the kids. We called both parents, and reached my parents who were able to come down.
The hospital hooked me up to the machines and my contractions were 2 minutes apart, but not as strong as they would like. The examined me and let me walk around for an hour...walking the same square around the labor and delivery side for an hour was not as fun or easy at it sounds. After an hour they put me back on the machines, I was having stronger contractions but 5 minutes apart rather than 2. Jeff and I decided to come home and labor for a while at home rather than walking the same square again and again and again.
I feel asleep finally around midnight, and woke again around 3am with contractions still. I hopped in the shower and then woke Jeff to walk with me since it was really dark (and drizzly) outside. I continued to have contractions about 5 minutes apart until about 5pm and finally stopping at 6pm...29 hours after they started.
Sheesh...lots of laboring without any sign of baby. She may come soon, she may not. I am just thankful that I am 36 weeks plus 4 days, and am only 3 days away from "full term." We'll see if we have a 2010 baby or a 2011 baby! Here we all are, waiting for baby girl to join us!!
Hannah and Kate love their dad. They go crazy, running around the house and screaming the second he walks in the door. They look forward to Friday because they know that Saturday is after Friday and on Saturday it's "daddy stay home day." They L-O-V-E their dad. love, Love, LOVE!!
Today Hannah hit her eye while building a tower and she cried and cried and wanted "Da-da" as she usually calls him when she is hurt and wants him. I asked her (trying not to sound jealous or upset), "Why do you call for daddy when he can't help you? I'm here and I'd love to hold you." She looked at me and said, "My da-da holds me extra tight and makes me all cozy when I'm hurt. I like you but I love my da-da." Yup, this girl LOVES her Dada and I can't blame her because I love him too, and when I get upset or hurt I often want him there to take care of me too.
What a blessing you are to our family Jeff!! Thanks for being a wonderful husband and an outstanding Dada.
Our family night out of Saturday was spent at California Pizza Kitchen for dinner and then a stroll down Christmas Card Lane in Rancho Pensaquitos. There were over 200 houses decorated with different people sized cards and displays. The girls had a great time and so did I.
And yes, the girls are wearing their beanies and mittens...it was a chilly 50 degrees here in the evening!
During this weeks trip to Trader Joe's Hannah asked for a Cookie Decorating Kit. I looked at the box that cost $3.99. It was not on the list which is usually get the "Not this time" answer, but it looked fun, so why not? Tis the season, right? This kit included the dough, decorative sugar, frosting and 3 cookie cutters - everything we need for a family fun night.
We got home and made the dough, cut out the cookies and cooked them. We then waited for Jeff to get home to decorate the cookies. It was such a fun time that I am tempted to get another box, but I also don't want a ton of cookies in the house just waiting to be eaten!!
An Advent Wreath is a wreath with four candles on the outside and one candle on the inside. Every Sunday you light a candle, starting four Sundays before Christmas, remembering different aspects of the miracle leading to Christ's birth. The first candle lite (two weeks ago) reminds us that Jesus is the promised light of the world. So, we lite the candle and put Christmas lights on our tree and our house. Every night when we plug our Christmas lights in we say together, "Jesus is the light of the world!" The second candle (which we lite two days ago) reminds us of the long journey to Bethlehem. The day after Thanksgiving I set out the Nativity scene and let the girls play with it. On the first Sunday of Advent I took away all the people from the scene. When we lite the second candle I added Joseph and Mary riding on the donkey as well as all the other barn animals. The third week is the Angle candle and the fourth candle is the Shepherd candle. I will add those figures, leaving Jesus in a wrapped box under the tree to be the first present we open Christmas morning since Jesus is really the greatest gift of all, and the real reason to remember Christmas. To remember the long journey that Joseph and Mary took we took our own journey around the neighborhood looking a lights. At 34 weeks pregnant I can't imagine riding a donkey for miles and miles.
Oh, and we also saw this black Santa which Kate almost brought home with us!
Hugs for Santa.
I love these family traditions that make this Christmas time special and meaningful. What a blessing it is to know that we are forgiven and loved!!
This Saturday a few friends and family got together to celebrate and pray for baby girl #3. It was a lovely time filled with chatting, laughter and yummy food. Despite the fact that I asked for no presents, baby girl was given many wonderful things that will be very handy in the near future. What a blessing to have a community around us as we prepare for and raise baby girl!
Julie, Ginnette, Sarah, Jen: the Monday Playgroup
Yolanda with Lillian, Emily, Bridget, Melanie, Sarah, Karen, Melissa, Jennifer, Jamie: Harbor Presbyterian Women
Catherine, Sarah, Aunt Margie: Murry Family (Cindy was also there)
Rachel, Aunt Christine, Sarah, Aunt Connie, Jenna, Mom, Kara, Amy, Natalie: Nichols Family
Praying together
Back at my house for lunch
All the girl cousins, waiting to add one more little girl!!
O Lord, you know the plans you have for Baby Girl, plans to prosper her and not to harm her, plans to give her hope and a future. Let Baby Girl seek you with all her heart and find you when she seeks you. Jeremiah 29:11-13
We have many traditions surrounding Christmas that make this season special, and one is getting, decorating and making ornaments together for our Christmas tree.
Kate took the process very seriously...Hannah enjoyed finding sticks.
"Helping" dad put the tree stand together
In 2009 we used model magic to make some ornaments (which really just look like dry hunks of clay on our tree), and in 2008 we made hand prints with the McFadden family. This year I found a quick recipe for dough ornaments using things I already had on hand:
1. 1 tablespoon Salt 2. 2 tablespoon Flour 3. 1 tablespoon Water
Mix the ingredients, use cookie cutters or just sculpt ornaments (make sure to put a hole at the top so you can put some ribbon or string through the ornament to hang on the tree), and then cook the ornaments at 250 for 2 hours. Once they are cooked and cooled, paint the ornaments and put ribbon on them. We spent two afternoons making the ornaments: one sculpting and one painting. It was a lot of fun, and now we have keepsake ornaments on our tree.
