Just the thing we were avoiding...

Hi, we were trying to avoid chicken pox right now with the new baby. We had friends with it and Kevin didn't go work at their house last week just in case he could bring germs home. A friend didn't bring her kids in case they were exposed. Despite our precautions we were exposed to it two weeks ago in a completley unrelated place. My youngest broke out on Friday. She'd been crabby and difficult for two days. I should have thought something was up the day she took a morning nap and an afternoon nap. I thought she was tired out from the happenings with a new baby born. She is miserable with it. Itching and uncomfortable. The five oldest have had it. Just the 5 yo now isn't showing signs so I suppose there will be one more round in another week.

We had Kevin's parent's 50th Wedding anniversary party yesterday. A big party all of their kids put on for them. Well, we decided to go into take pictures only and I would come home but it got later and later and when the place was nearly filled Kevin was going to take me home but I said I'm not leaving without food now. Mashed potatoes, meat, corn, coleslaw, carrots and cake or go home and have a cold turkey sandwich. No way! The meals around here have been a little on the cold side and small side since I'm way too tired to even think about making food. I just pray no one is too upset we were there and that no one breaks out from it. The chicken pox kid had to sit with me the whole time so she didn't wander around. I don't know how contagious they can be. Our midwife thought Lena should be fine with it since she should have a great immune system with breastfeeding and all. But, please pray for her all the same.

Praise to the Lord though, I got at least 6 hours of sleep last night. The previous nights since she was born added up to little more than that combined so I am encouraged there is a light at the end of the tunnel! :)

Erin, I will be calling you!! This sounds like what we are looking for! I'm going to try to post a link. Please check out Justine's site if your interested in seeing someone's dream of adopting come true. Her husband and her are in Ethiopia or on their way home with two little girls. They are beautiful. I tried to leave a comment but my computer is not cooperating. Congrats Justine and Ray!

A funny story on "labor" day.

Lena Mae-Today around 1:30 p.m.

I wanted to share a funny anecdote from the day I was in labor. It was mid-afternoon and I was laying down in my room getting rested because I just knew I was going to be having a baby that day despite there being hardly any contractions. Moriah, my youngest came in often to see if I had the baby yet. Well, she came in and asked "Did you have the baby yet?" I said, "No." She says, "Yes, you did, my know you did, you're hiding it from me." I showed her I was still very pregnant and she just fisted her hands and stomped out :) It was so funny and she had to wait almost 6 more hours to see the baby.

Lena Mae is doing very well. She sleeps and eats right now. I never have to worry about someone holding her. In fact, I am always breaking up fights over who gets her next:) I still haven't gotten any sleep. I get maybe an hour here and there but never more than 2 in a night. Ask me about the Democratic Convention, I've seen hours of news shows talking about every detail of it, it's the only thing on TV from 2 am until 6 a.m. (Just need to add: I am NOT a Democrat.) She just sleeps the long periods of time in the afternoon and around 7-10 p.m. Always at times when it hasn't worked for me to take a nap. I know it will change around but please pray for it to get better soon. I feel fine but sometimes I am so tired!

Getting a little less sleep than I'd like.

Hi, I am quite tired today. I really hoped to get a little more sleep than the night before but little Lena didn't think that was a cool idea. She just wanted her mama to hold her. It is neat how she responds to my voice or settles down when I touch her. God created us in such a wonderful way so that a baby knows the mom's voice from being in there 9 months!

Today is tough. My body is so tired that I can hardly move around. It's all coming back to me though, remembering what it is like to have just had a baby. Another thing amazing about the way God created us, to so quickly forget the birth process and the not so nice things that go with it. The kids did some school and then several went out to continue their cleaning up the trees project. Jordan is still at school when she's not holding Lena so I can rest. Otherwise it is a nice quiet day where I am just enjoying holding her and not doing anything.

We had several visitors last night and that was nice! Thanks Kim for the brownie bites and clothes and other snack stuff! I shared the brownie bites with the kids at lunch even though I didn't want to. Thanks Jana for the meal for supper tonight. I'm just too tired to plan for that!:) Thanks Christine for the cute clothes. I love baby onesies:) The day before my mom brought us many packages of diapers and some clothes for a little later. Kevin's mom already made the name sign to hang in her room and her personalized Christmas stocking! Wow! Thanks for the many thoughts and prayers. They have helped and encouraged us and given us strength.

Oh, and Becky came yesterday and brought me a cherry Coke because she remembered after or during labor my saying how I sure wanted one since I had not drank any soda during my pregnancy. The baby is doing great and everything is going normally for me so that was good to have done. She did Lena's footprints and we had a great visit. This post is getting longer than I planned. Lena is waiting to be fed again!!!!! But, I want to say what a wonderful blessing Becky is and was for the labor and if I had known it could be this good I would have home birthed more of them. My mom just walked in. Bye!

First "bath"

New big sister Moriah (4 1/2) says: "Don't cry little baby. He's just giving you a hair-do."

Lena Mae- 15 hrs

More pictures

Mom, Dad and little Lena just a couple hours after birth.