Ok. So we have to work on smile coordination a bit, but you can't deny those are "real" smiles!!!
Missin' Grandma
Thursday, October 19, 2006
Grandma left today after 2 weeks in Prague helping us and Lydia adjust to Baby Marcus. It was such a blessing to have her here keeping the house running in a normal fashion. We will each miss something in particular about Grandma... Lydia is going to miss her personal play slave and the daily production of finger jell-o; Brandon is going to miss the sanity of his wife that his Mom enabled; Marcus is surely going to miss his hours and hours of cuddles; As for me -- I will sorely miss my chief cook, bottle washer and magical laundry/ironing fairy. She actually said (and this is a quote): "I love to do laundry." And about ironing: "It's FUN!" No joke!
We love you Mom/Grandma.
We're Home!!!
Wednesday was the big day. Because Marcus' weight had stayed the same for 2 days and my iron levels are still very low, it looked like we'd have to stay until Thursday. But Brandon managed to "negotiate" our early release by promising to have Marcus seen by a pediatrician before the end of the week. Our release was not without flaws or typical Czech delays but we were able to leave around noon and it felt SO good to walk out of the hospital!
Lydia was SO happy to see Mommy again. She just kept giving me hugs and asking me to play with her. She pretty much ignored Marcus except for a quick glance at him in the car seat. So far she doesn't have a lot of interest in him but I suppose that will change once he isn't sleeping 18 hours a day!
Momma would've survived the prairie after all!
Many of you know the story already, so I won't bore you with all the details. Just a quick recap:
Friday 9:00 am - Dr. says no chance of "spontaneous delivery"; cervix is closed tight; scheduled c-section for Sat. morning at 11:00
Friday 12:00 pm - Mommy is out to the grocery store stocking up for her family and their week sans-Mommy post c-section
Friday 7:30 pm - Contractions start; go to hospital and am admitted
Saturday 5:00 am - Doctor asseses Mommy; sees very little progress over the past 9 hours; agress to one more hour of trial labor and then insists on proceeding with a c-section at 7:00 am if no progress is seen
Saturday 6:30 am - Out of sheer frustration and hopelessness, Mommy tells Daddy to call the Dr. to proceed with c-section; Doctor arrives, does assessment and her jaw drops as she discovers I am 9cm dilated! No choice but to proceed! Mommy starts to cry.
1-1/2 hours later: Very difficult delivery leaves Mommy with severe battle wounds and an intense forceps delivery with the umbilical cord tight around his neck but big "little" Marcus Lee Verbrugge arrives into the world weighing 9 lb. 4 oz.
God worked so many miracles I have lost count. From imminent c-section to spontaneous labor; Back to imminent c-section resulting in delivery; A safe & successful vaginal birth after ceasarean; Angels surrounding our little boy as the cord was wrapped around his neck...
Am I surprised? Not a bit! We had a legion of prayer warriors literally around the world and a host of angels protecting us all. PRAISE BE TO GOD!
(I apologize that we're still working on pics and will post some asap!)
Friday 9:00 am - Dr. says no chance of "spontaneous delivery"; cervix is closed tight; scheduled c-section for Sat. morning at 11:00
Friday 12:00 pm - Mommy is out to the grocery store stocking up for her family and their week sans-Mommy post c-section
Friday 7:30 pm - Contractions start; go to hospital and am admitted
Saturday 5:00 am - Doctor asseses Mommy; sees very little progress over the past 9 hours; agress to one more hour of trial labor and then insists on proceeding with a c-section at 7:00 am if no progress is seen
Saturday 6:30 am - Out of sheer frustration and hopelessness, Mommy tells Daddy to call the Dr. to proceed with c-section; Doctor arrives, does assessment and her jaw drops as she discovers I am 9cm dilated! No choice but to proceed! Mommy starts to cry.
1-1/2 hours later: Very difficult delivery leaves Mommy with severe battle wounds and an intense forceps delivery with the umbilical cord tight around his neck but big "little" Marcus Lee Verbrugge arrives into the world weighing 9 lb. 4 oz.
God worked so many miracles I have lost count. From imminent c-section to spontaneous labor; Back to imminent c-section resulting in delivery; A safe & successful vaginal birth after ceasarean; Angels surrounding our little boy as the cord was wrapped around his neck...
Am I surprised? Not a bit! We had a legion of prayer warriors literally around the world and a host of angels protecting us all. PRAISE BE TO GOD!
(I apologize that we're still working on pics and will post some asap!)
I Ain't No Prairie Momma...
Friday, October 06, 2006
In Brandon's famous last words, I guess I would've been "one of 'em who died on the prairie". This statement is backed by two instances: Lydia's breech position, and now my body's apparent ignorance when it comes to taking the next step in making it possible for this little guy to make his appearance. So, we are scheduled for a c-section delivery tomorrow morning.
I am learning to accept this fate and all that it entails. But I am also confident that the time has come, especially when Lydia has been heard proclaiming on a regular basis that "Mommy's body hurts". Guess the little ones are more perceptive than we think...
Good news is: Tomorrow "he" will be here. So, check back soon!!!
I am learning to accept this fate and all that it entails. But I am also confident that the time has come, especially when Lydia has been heard proclaiming on a regular basis that "Mommy's body hurts". Guess the little ones are more perceptive than we think...
Good news is: Tomorrow "he" will be here. So, check back soon!!!
