You can click on Chris' blog for a few more pictures.
Monday, August 31, 2009
A picture update
What a week! Today, Chris is back at work, Natalie is at day care, and family has all gone back home. I looked at Micah this morning and said, "well, it's you and me kid." He looked really worried and although I assured him that his sister survived, he still was concerned. He has rightfully earned the nickname, "Mr. McGoo" with his facial expressions. So far, he has been a great baby. Natalie was never a good sleeper. The last three nights, I've had to set my alarm clock to wake him up every three hours to eat. I keep waiting for him to stretch really good, realize he has joined the world, and get loud. But, I'll enjoy the quiet for now too. I think second babies are great cause I'm less stressed and soak up the moment more. Here a few pictures of our new family.
You can click on Chris' blog for a few more pictures.
You can click on Chris' blog for a few more pictures.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Welcome Micah Christopher!
Just a picture to show off the new little guy. Aunt Sarah took some amazing pictures that we will upload soon. In the meantime, enjoy this one taken just a few minutes after he was born. Two for two with both babies born on their due date! :-) We are home and are adjusting. More soon.
7 lbs 11 oz
20 inches long
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Uncle Raymond
Most of you know that Chris' Uncle Raymond passed away earlier this week. We had the funeral service today and it was a beautiful service, full of stories and love for Uncle Raymond. Even though it is my job to help people walk others through times likes these, I struggled with how to help Natalie understand death. The following is our conversation at the visitation last night.
Me: "okay, lets go look at Uncle Raymond, remember he cannot talk to us."
Natalie: "okay."
Natalie: looking in the casket: "he looks like he is sleeping."
(You shouldn't explain death as sleep to a child because they may fear going to sleep themselves. So I say)
Me: "I know he looks like he is sleeping, but he is not, he died."
Natalie: "but if I'm loud, I could wake him up... UNCLE RAYMOND!"
Me: "Shhhhhh. No baby, we cannot wake him up. He has died."
Natalie: "When will he wake up?"
Me: "well, when Jesus comes back."
Natalie: "Mommy, did Jesus go bye bye too?"
(Okay, now I'm really struggling.)
Me: "you see Jesus is in our hearts, but when we get to see his face, then we will see Uncle Raymond again and many other people who have died."
Natalie: "oh, why are those flowers covering up his feet?"
Me: "because he is like us and his feet might stink and the flowers smell good."
Natalie: "Oh."
Not getting hospice social worker of the year this time folks. :-)
We will all miss you Uncle Raymond!
Me: "okay, lets go look at Uncle Raymond, remember he cannot talk to us."
Natalie: "okay."
Natalie: looking in the casket: "he looks like he is sleeping."
(You shouldn't explain death as sleep to a child because they may fear going to sleep themselves. So I say)
Me: "I know he looks like he is sleeping, but he is not, he died."
Natalie: "but if I'm loud, I could wake him up... UNCLE RAYMOND!"
Me: "Shhhhhh. No baby, we cannot wake him up. He has died."
Natalie: "When will he wake up?"
Me: "well, when Jesus comes back."
Natalie: "Mommy, did Jesus go bye bye too?"
(Okay, now I'm really struggling.)
Me: "you see Jesus is in our hearts, but when we get to see his face, then we will see Uncle Raymond again and many other people who have died."
Natalie: "oh, why are those flowers covering up his feet?"
Me: "because he is like us and his feet might stink and the flowers smell good."
Natalie: "Oh."
Not getting hospice social worker of the year this time folks. :-)
We will all miss you Uncle Raymond!
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Why I love being pregnant.
Things people have said to me:
"Wow you are so big!"
"Are you sure you are due so soon? You are so little."
"Oh, the way you are carrying that baby, it must be a boy."
"Oh, the way you are carrying that baby, it must be a girl."
"I would double check the doctor, because that's a girl."
"Just make the doctor check your cervix, that will send you into labor."
"You sure have dropped. You'll have that baby any time now."
"You haven't dropped at all, I bet it will be a while."
"You are probably wondering when you will get your chance."
(After two of the three of us preggo folks delivered this past week)
"Well, I guess we know your next."
"Are you sure your eating enough?"
"You look really tired."
"You look so great!"
The above is just what I can remember from my conversations with others in the two and a half hour span of church for me this morning.
For the record, assuming that Micah is a boy and the doctors are not wrong, I have carried my two babies of two different sexes the exact same way.
It's time to give up the idea that we can predict sex this way.
Again, assuming, Micah, is in fact, a boy.
And yes, since two out of three of us have had our babies, (and I am not due yet) I'm hoping I'm next, or someone else has kept a very big secret.
:-)
"Wow you are so big!"
"Are you sure you are due so soon? You are so little."
"Oh, the way you are carrying that baby, it must be a boy."
"Oh, the way you are carrying that baby, it must be a girl."
"I would double check the doctor, because that's a girl."
"Just make the doctor check your cervix, that will send you into labor."
"You sure have dropped. You'll have that baby any time now."
"You haven't dropped at all, I bet it will be a while."
"You are probably wondering when you will get your chance."
(After two of the three of us preggo folks delivered this past week)
"Well, I guess we know your next."
"Are you sure your eating enough?"
"You look really tired."
"You look so great!"
The above is just what I can remember from my conversations with others in the two and a half hour span of church for me this morning.
For the record, assuming that Micah is a boy and the doctors are not wrong, I have carried my two babies of two different sexes the exact same way.
It's time to give up the idea that we can predict sex this way.
Again, assuming, Micah, is in fact, a boy.
And yes, since two out of three of us have had our babies, (and I am not due yet) I'm hoping I'm next, or someone else has kept a very big secret.
:-)
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Wednesday, August 05, 2009
A day
Less then three weeks. That’s how much time until Micah’s due date. Right now, I’m trying to motivate myself to start working. I’m tired and I really could just sit and watch television all day. However, if I decided to stay at home, I know myself well enough to know I would do anything but sit.
It’s a hard morning to start. My young patient died early this morning. She has three children, the youngest is 12. Her daughter and I sat and talked for a while yesterday. She knew we were this close to her mom’s death. I think she knew it better then all the adults in her family. For a few minutes she pulled out her baby book and we looked at it together. She smiled at some of her pictures that only a mom would take. I felt Micah moving about inside of me. I ached for this mom. She’s fought hard. We want to watch our children grow up. It’s a hard hospice day. Young adults, children, strange deaths, all make for hard days.
I heard it again yesterday from another patient’s sister. “It takes a special person to work this job.” Not really. I get tired of hearing that. I want to say “it takes a special person to live as though death never happens.” That would be unprofessional though.
I have a good job. God allows me to talk with people when they are faced with the end. Some of them are challenging, some accepting, but life ends for them, ready or not.
My job is good because it reminds me all the time that I am no different then my patients. Ready or not, I’ll face it like them someday.
My job, I would like to believe, forces me to spend more days on the ready side, more days soaking up my family, more days with more important things to think about. More days about people and less days about stupid stuff. At least, that’s my goal. I hope I accomplish it.
It’s a hard morning to start. My young patient died early this morning. She has three children, the youngest is 12. Her daughter and I sat and talked for a while yesterday. She knew we were this close to her mom’s death. I think she knew it better then all the adults in her family. For a few minutes she pulled out her baby book and we looked at it together. She smiled at some of her pictures that only a mom would take. I felt Micah moving about inside of me. I ached for this mom. She’s fought hard. We want to watch our children grow up. It’s a hard hospice day. Young adults, children, strange deaths, all make for hard days.
I heard it again yesterday from another patient’s sister. “It takes a special person to work this job.” Not really. I get tired of hearing that. I want to say “it takes a special person to live as though death never happens.” That would be unprofessional though.
I have a good job. God allows me to talk with people when they are faced with the end. Some of them are challenging, some accepting, but life ends for them, ready or not.
My job is good because it reminds me all the time that I am no different then my patients. Ready or not, I’ll face it like them someday.
My job, I would like to believe, forces me to spend more days on the ready side, more days soaking up my family, more days with more important things to think about. More days about people and less days about stupid stuff. At least, that’s my goal. I hope I accomplish it.
Monday, August 03, 2009
One of the best weddings...
One of my good friends got married on Saturday. No stress. No chaos. Just the bride and groom, the preacher, two witnesses, and two kids. We all arrived at the park, surveyed the land and our bride picked the picture perfect spot. Right under the shade of giant Florida tress with the river in the background, they got married. In ten minutes all was complete and everyone was smiling.
I watched them laugh and soak up the moment. I watched the bride stare at her new husband and manage to look at moss with her son in the same second. I smiled myself as we convinced her little boy to stand still for a picture. I watched the groom, with his eyes fixed on his bride the entire time; probably because no one was there to distract them. Everyone over eighteen had a place to sign on the marriage certificate. As I autographed my name, I thought, this is probably exactly how it is supposed to be. No distractions. Just each other and the commitment of a lifetime. It is without a doubt, one of my favorite weddings.
Our couple hasn't seen the pictures yet, so I'll just show you a few of our family before the wedding. I tried to seize the moment and actually get a decent maternity shot with Natalie. I know you all may be tired of the orange dress, but it's the only one that works right now. So here are a few pictures:
I watched them laugh and soak up the moment. I watched the bride stare at her new husband and manage to look at moss with her son in the same second. I smiled myself as we convinced her little boy to stand still for a picture. I watched the groom, with his eyes fixed on his bride the entire time; probably because no one was there to distract them. Everyone over eighteen had a place to sign on the marriage certificate. As I autographed my name, I thought, this is probably exactly how it is supposed to be. No distractions. Just each other and the commitment of a lifetime. It is without a doubt, one of my favorite weddings.
Our couple hasn't seen the pictures yet, so I'll just show you a few of our family before the wedding. I tried to seize the moment and actually get a decent maternity shot with Natalie. I know you all may be tired of the orange dress, but it's the only one that works right now. So here are a few pictures:
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