Schedule

I am SO excited! It has been about a couple weeks that we have been working on a schedule here for the Jack-man. He is getting up pretty much around the same time every day: between 8 or 8:30. So he has his first bottle pretty early and then he takes a pretty long nap in the morning. I sit him in his swing and he naps pretty much up until his next feeding. That gives me plenty of time to get ready for my day. Then he eats between 12 or 12:30. Afterwards, he will play until around 2:15 or so when he goes down for his afternoon nap (in his crib). He sleeps about 45 minutes to an hour (sometimes more). Then we'll play a little longer before he eats again (between 4:30 or 5). Then daddy comes home and plays with him. Depending on the day (Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays are bath around 8ish), he will take his last bottle around 9 and then it's off to bed! This has been so fantastic! He gets put in his crib wide awake. He will cry for about 10 minutes (less now) and then he is out until the next morning! I can't believe that it has been working out so well. I am so excited about it.

Anyway, I plan on homeschooling him when he's able. I was looking up some stuff to see if there is anything I can do now to prepare him for school when he's older. I found a website that has a (sort of) curriculum for infants starting at 3 months of age. He turns 3 months on Sunday so I think we are going to start that next week. I'm really excited about it!

I just went outside to get the mail a little while ago. It is so nice out! I can't believe that Fall is almost here in Florida! I LOVE this time of the year. It's just perfect out (minus the mosquitoes in the evening). I can't wait to take Jack out during the day for some fresh air. It's been too hot for us to be outside for too long. Jack hates to feel sweaty. :o) So, I am celebrating today by putting up our Fall decorations. I can't wait until the day that Jack can appreciate all of this with me!!! Until then, it looks like I'll be able to catch up on my reading! ;o)

Quotes from the events surrounding September 11, 2001

For a detailed account of the events of 9/11 please clink here.

“Terrorism against our nation will not stand.”
- George W. Bush – Remarks at Emma Booker Elementary School. Sarasota, Florida – delivered 11 September 2001, 9:30 A.M. EDT

We will not tire, we will not falter, and we will not fail. -George W. Bush, Speech after 9/11 attacks

"You can be sure that the American spirit will prevail over this tragedy." --Colin Powell

"The city is going to survive, we are going to get through it, It's going to be very, very difficult time. I don't think we yet know the pain that we're going to feel when we find out who we lost, but the thing we have to focus on now is getting this city through this, and surviving and being stronger for it." --Rudolph Giuliani

The full horror of what has happened in the United States earlier today is now becoming clearer. It is hard even to contemplate the utter carnage and terror which has engulfed so many innocent people. We've offered President Bush and the American people our solidarity, our profound sympathy, and our prayers. But it is plain that citizens of many countries round the world, including Britain, will have been caught up in this terror. --British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Interview, September 11, 2001

This morning we were notified about the horrible news of the series of terrorist attacks in the United States, that have left a great trail of destruction. Mexico expresses its condolences to the Government and the American people for the irreparable human losses. We also express our energetic condemnation to these attacks. I have informed President George Bush of our feelings of sorrow and our solidarity in such difficult moments. --Mexican President Vicente Fox, , September 11, 2001

"Thousands of lives were suddenly ended by evil, despicable acts of terror. The pictures of airplanes flying into buildings, fires burning, huge structures collapsing, have filled us with disbelief, terrible sadness and a quiet, unyielding anger." -George W. Bush

This is a day when all Americans from every walk of life unite in our resolve for justice and peace. America has stood down enemies before, and we will do so this time. None of us will ever forget this day, yet we go forward to defend freedom and all that is good and just in our world. -George W. Bush 9/11 Address to the Nation

“Time is passing. Yet, for the United States of America, there will be no forgetting September the 11th. We will remember every rescuer who died in honor. We will remember every family that lives in grief. We will remember the fire and ash, the last phone calls, the funerals of the children. “
- President George W. Bush, November 11, 2001

“Now, we have inscribed a new memory alongside those others. It’s a memory of tragedy and shock, of loss and mourning. But not only of loss and mourning. It’s also a memory of bravery and self-sacrifice, and the love that lays down its life for a friend–even a friend whose name it never knew. “
- President George W. Bush, December 11, 2001

America will never run...And we will always be grateful that liberty has found such brave defenders. -George W. Bush

Remembrance

I sit here watching my little guy swinging in his swing and fast asleep. I can't help but think back to the day that he was born. Tomorrow he will be 12 weeks old. I can't believe how fast time has gone. Every day that I celebrate this new life, I can't help but think back to the lives of those I've lost.

August was one year since we lost my Grandma Martin. Life without her has continued on but not without thoughts of what she might be thinking or saying if she were still here with us today. I thought of her the day that Jackson was born. I could just imagine her excitement as she received the phone call that her great-grandson was born.

This month will be five years since my brother, Phil, passed away. I know I post about this every year, but it is really laying heavy on my heart this year. For those of you who don't know, about a month after my niece was born, Phil found out that he had Hodgkin's Lymphoma. I was devastated. Why would this happen to my family . . . to his family? I didn't understand at the time. Now that I think back, I know it was all in God's sovereign plan. I wish so much that my brother could meet my little son. I can imagine him saying, "I can't believe my little sister has a kid of her own." I wish he were here so that he could see his nephew. At least I know that both he and my grandma are smiling down on little Jack.

The last week, I have also been reflecting on the lives lost on September 11, 2001. I remember that I was in college and had just gotten out of my 8 o'clock class when a friend told me that a plane had crashed into one of the towers of The World Trade Center. I remember going to the snack shop and watching the t.v. in there just as the second plane crashed in the the second tower. You could hear a pin drop, it was so quiet. We were all in shock. That is when we knew that this was more than just an accident. Our country was under attack. In chapel, the president of our school told us that classes would be cancelled for the rest of the day. I don't remember much else from the rest of that day, other than I was able to call my mom on the phone and talk to her. It took a while to get through with my calling card (I didn't have a cell phone back then). I just remember that I was a little scared and we talked about how something like this could happen to a country like the United States.

So, this month is a month of remembrance for me. Remembering the birth of my son, the lives of my grandmother and brother, and the lives of those lost on September 11 and the days following. We don't know why God chooses the paths for us that He does. But we do know that He does it to show His sovereign will. Here are some verses that I have found helpful in the past:

Philippians 4:6-Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

Psalm 20:7-Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; But we will remember the name of the LORD our God.

Jeremiah 17:7-Blessed in the man who trusts in the LORD, and whose hope is the LORD.

Nahum 1:7-The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and He knows those who trust in Him.

Psalm 18:30a-As for God, his way is perfect.

Psalm 27:1-The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

Psalm 37:3-8-Trust in the LORD, and do good; dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. Delight yourself also in the LORD, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass. He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday. Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass. Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; do not fret--it only causes harm.

Where'd the time go??

August 18

Wow! We have not made a post for over a month! Sorry about that. We have been a little busy. But I promise to try to post more often. I figure that I will be able to post a little more since I am getting more sleep now than I have for the last 11 months! Jack just turned 2 months last Thursday and he has been sleeping through the night for a whole week. We are thrilled . . . and much more rested! Not to mention, we are finally making it to Sunday School again!!

I guess I should fill everyone in on what has been going on in our lives since our last post. We have had family visitors. My parents were here for the birth of Jack and then my mom came back a week later to help out until I was fully recovered from the hemorrhaging. It was so nice to have them help and to see how they reacted to their 3rd grandchild. Every grandchild is as big of an excitement as the first! :o) At the end of July, Jeremy's mom and sister came to visit. It was Jeremy's sisters first time visiting us and we were glad to show off Jackson as well as where we live. Megan, you need to come back now that we have our schedule all figured out with Jack! :o)

Okay, now it's time to go back to bragging about our baby. Ever since he turned 2 months, he has been so much more fun! Not that he wasn't before--but he is smiling more and laughing. We can actually play with him now. It's a lot of fun. Last Saturday, he actually rolled over from front to back! We were so proud of him--he was terrified. It was kind of funny. Anyway, needless to say, we are having a blast with our little boy. We love him dearly.

We are gradually going into the time of year that I love the most: Fall. However, I wish so much that I could have the pretty Fall colors that are up North. I miss that most of all. I can't believe that we have already gone a whole year. It will be Christmas before we know it! (Another favorite time of year!)

It's also hard to believe that we have made it one year without my Grandma Martin. I still think of her often. Every time I look at Jack, I can hear her excited voice about her great-grandson. I know she would have loved him. She never knew about him because we found out we were pregnant a month after her passing. I still miss her very much.

Sorry it's taking me so long to post this. Jeremy came home for lunch and then I had to feed Jackson. I just wanted to ask you all to pray for Jeremy. While he was home, he received an email informing him that a friend, and former co-worker, passed away. Jeremy had the opportunity to witness to this man on many occasions. He was loved by our family greatly. We will certainly miss him. We covet your prayers during this time.

To finish what I started about Fall almost being here, reminds me that I need to let you know that our schedules at church are winding down! After much prayer, we have decided that we will be giving up being the Directors of our Wednesday evening kids club: The Winner's Circle. We have somewhat mixed emotions. We certainly have loved teaching the children in our church and we have done so every almost Sunday and Wednesday evening since we have been members. Finally, after 5 years, our church family is growing and we now have the help that we have prayed and waited for so long. We are truly blessed and grateful that there are others who are willing to step up and take over some of our responsibilities. We will, however, continue to be the Directors of Children's Church. We figured because of Jeremy's work schedule (and our new family member), this will be the best option for us.

Well, I suppose that is all for now. I will try to post more regularly. As mentioned before, please keep us in your prayers.

Welcome, Jack!

Well, it's taken me almost two weeks to be able to write about this. We have been a little sleep deprived here and trying to adjust to our new schedule. I just wanted to take this opportunity to let you all know exactly what went on in the days surrounding Jack's birth.

Thursday, June 16, we had our final prenatal appointment. It was a normal appointment and then our midwife talked to us about being induced. It turned out that our options were to either be induced or go back the following day or to the hospital on the weekend to get some testing done (including a stress test) to see why I wasn't progressing anymore. Jeremy and I discussed it with our midwife and really trusted her opinion. We decided to be induced.

Friday, June 17 (our 5-year anniversary) at 5:30 am, we went to the hospital to be induced. I was hooked up to the IV's (and Pitocin) by 6 am. Things were going really well and the contractions didn't seem to bother me as much as I had feared they would. Apparently I was supposed to be in much more pain than I thought I was feeling. Around 3 pm, my water broke. By 7 pm, I still wasn't progressing any more so I asked for an epidural. At 10:30 pm, my midwife came in and said I was 10cm and ready to push! I watched the clock start ticking down the hours with every push, wondering if he was going to make it for our anniversary.

Finally, on Saturday, June 18, at 1:07 am, Jackson had arrived! Thankfully, I had him as a distraction because I started hemorrhaging. I really had no clue what was going on around me. I am so thankful that I had gotten an epidural because they needed to give me shots in my leg to help stop the bleeding. (Of course, I am a wimp when it comes to needles, but I couldn't feel a thing.) The last shot that they could possibly give actually stopped the bleeding. I was that close to needing to have a blood transfusion. We thank God that it didn't come to that and I thank God that I had my little man to distract me and the epidural so I couldn't feel what was happening.

At our hospital, they move you to a different room after you have your baby. Because of all that went on, we didn't make it to the room until around 5 or 5:30 am. We were so tired but didn't get much sleep. The nurses had to keep coming in every hour to check my temperature, blood pressure, and stitches.

Our stay at the hospital seemed very long and we were glad that we finally had the okay to leave on Monday at 6 pm. It was so good to be home!