Pitocin has been administered and her contractions are between 3 and 7 minutes apart. Still at 4cm though. She’s starting to feel some pain and asking for the epidural now before it gets really painful….
Here are the first pics…
Chalkboard in MJ’s room….
In the waiting room…
Hooked up to the IV and all ready to go….
Checked in at the hospital at 8:46 am and were assigned a room a few minutes ago. Janelle has started to have some contractions about ten minutes a part. She’s already wants an epidural! More updates and pics soon….
Okie-dokie, we made it! I’m awake, I’m calm, and I’m ready to meet my baby. Had a great night of sleep last night. Thanks tons to my mother-in-law who picked up Caly yesterday in order for me to get that sleep.
No first birth day entry post would be complete without the “just out of bed pic.” I almost put up the one with my hair in curlers, but it was scaring even me. 
I simply cannot express to you enough how much your prayers mean to me. Thank you! Nicole will take over from here.
The end is in sight! Since MJ refuses to come on her own they are gonna force her out. Yep, I’m all set to be induced tomorrow morning at 9 a.m. My girl was looking healthy and way too happy at this morning’s appointment. My doc (she practices with a few doctors) is on call tomorrow, so she’ll be there to oversee my delivery which is what I wanted from the start. And while I was hoping to avoid inducement this time around, it is very obviously the Lord’s will for me and I’m at peace.
Last night I tried (one more time) to induce labor naturally by joining in the family wiffle ball game. I ran (yes, ran) the bases and played as hard as my big belly would allow. Still nothing. But at least my team won!
I thoroughly enjoyed my “last meal” tonight. French fries were on the menu.
Tomorrow morning I will get the posts started and then Nicole will take over and live-blog the rest of the day. Thank you in advance for your prayers. They are truly a gift to me and my little one.
Well, you’d think MJ would get the hint, but she doesn’t show any signs of being born today. We’re just waiting and watching Janelle—very carefully. She’ll go to the doctor tomorrow and give you an update when she returns.
These thoughts on Labor Day (from the former familyroom blog) were so good we’re re-posting them for another year.
Whether you are working, resting, or waiting today, I hope you have a great one!
Nicole
for the girltalkers
Labor Day has been around for over 100 years. For most Labor Day marks the end of summer and the beginning of a new school year. For others, it is simply a three-day weekend where family and friends have one last cook-out. Ultimately, Labor Day exists to honor all workers.
United States Labor Department defines Labor Day as, “The first Monday in September that is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country.”
So how can we as Christians celebrate Labor Day? Here are three ideas:
1) Take time to thank those who have graciously provided for you by working day after day. Children thank your parents.
2) Reflect upon and give thanks for the many blessings of being a citizen of the United States.
3) Thank the Lord for providing your job and the financial blessings that have come to you.
And praise God that Christ completed all the work that was necessary for our salvation. When his earthly saving work was done, He said, “It is finished.”
Another great one from our friend, Kimm!
Until Monday (unless there is a special appearance from baby over the weekend),
Janelle for the girls
An older, tired-looking dog wandered into my yard; I could tell from his collar and well-fed belly that he had a home and was well taken care of.
He calmly came over to me, I gave him a few pats on his head;he then followed me into my house, slowly walked down the hall, curled up in the corner and fell asleep.
An hour later, he went to the door, and I let him out.
The next day he was back, greeted me in my yard, walked inside and resumed his spot in the hall and again slept for about an hour. This continued off and on for several weeks.
Curious I pinned a note to his collar: ‘I would like to find out who the owner of this wonderful sweet dog is and ask if you are aware that almost every afternoon your dog comes to my house for a nap.’
The next day he arrived for his nap, with a different note pinned to his collar: ‘He lives in a home with 6 children, 2 under the age of 3 - he’s trying to catch up on his sleep. Can I come with him tomorrow?’
You know what they say, “A watched pot never boils.” I’m case in point. Five days over as of today and I don’t think I even see any bubbles in the bottom of the pot. Still trying to have fun though. I went for blueberry pie for this morning’s breakfast. I had eaten all of the peach.
Back to my doc yesterday. All is well. Baby passed her stress test with flying colors. I passed my sonogram with equally high marks. Looks like I will be induced on Wednesday or Thursday if nothing happens over the next few days. So one way or another we will have a baby by the end of next week.
So many of you have communicated that you are keeping me in prayer. You cannot do me a greater kindness. Thank you.
Hopefully you will be hearing from me this weekend…
“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.” Deuteronomy 6:4-7
These verses describe the stuff of sowing. We must talk to our children every day, instruct them throughout the day, teach them in every circumstance, train them on every occasion, tell them God’s words over and over again.
Sowing can be hard work. Sometimes exhausting work. We moms can wonder: Is anything getting through? Will this child ever get it? We may feel our words are falling on deaf ears; that our efforts are in vain.
Oh, but let’s keep reading in Deuteronomy chapter six. Look at the hope and encouragement we find in verse 20:
“When your son asks you in time to come, ‘What is the meaning of the testimonies and the statutes and the rules that the Lord our God has commanded you?’
Though it is not a promise, there is much encouragement we can draw from this verse; because there is a time coming when it won’t simply be us doing all the talking, teaching, and instructing. One day our children will act in response to our instruction. They will come with questions of their own. They will inquire about the meaning of God’s words. They will desire to understand God’s ways for themselves.
Now that “time to come” is different for every child. It’s sooner for some, later for others. Scripture does not give us an exact timetable for the duration of sowing. But Scripture does tell us: “In due season we will reap, if we do not give up” (Galatians 6:9).
I’m carrying my phone with me wherever I go these days, waiting for the call that baby MJ is about to make an appearance. But I’m also preparing for my son Jack’s first year of kindergarten (Those old ladies in the grocery store were right….time really does go by fast!).
As Jack embarks upon his life as a student (officially, that is) there are so many things he needs to learn—his phonics sounds, how to count and add and how to tell time. It’s easy to focus so much on educational benchmarks that I forget what I really want Jack to learn this year.
You see, Jack, as far as Steve and I can tell, is not a Christian. So what I want most of all is for Jack to learn of His need for a Savior and to turn to Christ in repentance and faith.
In Isaiah 54:13 God promises his covenant people: “All your children shall be taught by the Lord, and great shall be the peace of your children.”
Regardless of whether Jack learns to count to 100 (properly!) or not, I want him to be “taught by the Lord.” If God so graciously wills, I want Jack’s first year in elementary school to also be his first year in God’s school. Then, I know that regardless of his test scores he will be embarking upon a lifetime of peace.
