Finally Arrived

Zadok Brian Andrew finally arrived at 11:00 AM on November 13th, 2008. I suppose I shouldn't say finally, we really weren't done waiting for him to come. I suppose the reality is though, that Stacia was done waiting by the end of the hours of labor. Well, I suppose the best thing to do is just tell the story.

Tuesday, November 11th
We had an appointment with Barb, our nurse midwife, at the off hospital site where we had originally planned on delivering. When we got there we got checked in and did our normal routine. Part of the routine is a urine check. Stacia brought me her result stick and showed me that the color indicated the highest level of protein that could be shown. At the time, I did not know what that meant, only a matter of time though and we BOTH became more educated.

When Barb came into the room to talk to us, she was a little concerned about Stacia's protein, but wanted to start with listening to the baby. He was super active, and more than a little ornary. Each time that Barb tried to feel the top of the uterus, Zadok would push back at her hand. Barb said, "Well, do you want to measure 36 weeks, or 37 weeks?" We all chuckled and Barb moved on to the other issues.

Stacia's blood pressure had been creeping up the last few weeks, but we were trying to do natural things to get it back down. However, because the blood pressure was so high, and Stacia's legs, ankles and feet were so swollen, Barb called the OBGYN at the hospital that supports the Birth Center and came back with some not so wonderful news.

Barb came in and told us that though she had wanted to send Stacia home and put her on bedrest and monitor things, the OBGYN said that the risk was too high and that she wanted us to report to the hospital that night to be monitored there for 24 hours. There was only one problem with that. We had our baby shower in about an hour from the time that we were sitting with Barb. We told her about it, and she said that it would be ok for us to go to the shower and then report the hospital. The shower was nice and we got some really nice things, that we didn't think we would need for another month. God had a different plan for us.

When we got to the hospital it was about 9 pm. We were shown to our room and Stacia was asked to change into one of those wonderful hospital gowns. I must say, however that it was quite flattering....mostly because whenever she walked away from me, I got a free show! Anyway, we met our OBGYN for the first time, and were both thoroughly unimpressed! She came in and immediately was the bearer of bad news. As a matter of fact, at some point in time during the night I told her she was a funsucker. In all honesty though, she was most definitely ONLY doing what was ABSOLUTELY the best for Stacia and our little Zadok.

Since I was not writing this play by play as things were happening all the details are a little hazy now, however I do know that Stacia was quite the trooper. Stacia was started on a labor inducing drug at about midnight on Tuesday. The drugs started working pretty quickly, and Stacia went into a zone. She didn't really come out of it until after Zadok was born, and was not fully herself again until we were walking out of the hospital a week later. Back to the labor. Stacia labored very well! It was hard, there is no denying that, but she took it like a man...hmm, that saying really does not work in this situation. She took it better than any man EVER could! That is better. During her laboring, her contractions would be pretty consistent for about an hour, give or take, then the medicine would just kind of stop working. The doctor would order a higher dosage, her uterus would respond for about an hour...and then back to slow and unresponsive. Finally the doctor came in (because of Stacia's blood pressure being too high, and due to the lack of progress) and said that it would be best to break Stacia's water. Even though Zadok was not showing signs of distress, the situation could have turned for the worse very quickly.

What we were dealing with was Stacia being ecclamptic. The worse case scenario would have been that her kidneys would have failed and she would have gone into seizures. This, obviously, is bad. Weighing all factors, the doctor decided that breaking the water would be best because getting the baby out should help with the blood pressure and help get Stacia back to normal. Should is the operative word there.

Fast forward...Finally around 9:00 am on Thursday morning, after some long, hard laboring Stacia and I agreed to her having an epidural. The biggest reason we did this is because she was still not progressing past 5-6 cm, and she was VERY tired. The situation was interesting because they had checked her last about and hour and a half before they actually came in to start the epidural. She was 5-6 cm. When they came in, I almost asked them to check her one more time, but I decided that I should just let them move ahead, because we had already talked about it, and I didn't want Stacia to get any more discouraged by not moving any further forward. I should have asked. As soon as they completed the tap for the epidural, but before they started pushing the meds, they checked her, and she was complete! We both were a little downhearted, but still decided that this was for the best. Stacia could now rest for a while and get ready to push this baby out!

I went to the cafeteria to get some breakfast. I was gone for about an hour, and Stacia was sleeping the whole time. When I finished I headed back upstairs and shortly after that, we were ready to have a baby! It was approximately 10:30 when Stacia started pushing, and by 11:00 we had met the new member of our family! Zadok Brian Andrew came into our lives. I would like to say that all the pain and labor was worth it, but I can't...becuase it was Stacia that went through it all. I was just there to hold her hand, to pray with her, to help her breathe through the contractions, and, oh yeah, to catch the baby! When Zadok came out, it was into my hands he slipped and I announced to world for the first time, Zadok Brian Andrew was glad to meet everyone.

When he came out, he immediately started crying, but as soon as he made it to mom's chest, his eyes were open and he was just looking around. No crying. We had requested that he stay attached to mom as long as possible, via the umbilical cord. But again, the neonatal people "thought he looked too blue." I know that if they had left him there for even another 45 seconds he would have pinked up quite nicely, but again in the end it was all about what was going to bring about the healthiest momma and baby.

So this is where our story ends, right? No, actually it kind of begins here. We stayed in the labor and delivery for a couple nights, because the doctors were still monitoring Stacia's blood pressure. Finally, they decided to move us over to post-partum. There was something about that, however, that Stacia's body did not like. After being there about 12 hours or so, Stacia's blood pressure got worse. So back to labor and delivery we went. Apparently, they can monitor patients better in the latter ward. Stacia and I really didn't mind all that much, we felt like we received more immediate and personalized care in the l&d ward anyway. When we were just getting ready to move back, we found that we would be cared for by one of my buddies from college, sister. We were thrilled. It made home feel a little closer. By now we were asking every other person that came in the room when we would get to go home. Typically the answer was, "it depends on what the doctor thinks about Stacia's blood pressure."

Well, the time came for us to move BACK to the post-partum ward. This time the light was at the end of the tunnel. We were in this ward for another couple of days and then finally the doctor came in and said, "well, when someone has hypertension, we treat it as outpatient, so there is really no reason for us to keep you here any longer. I am going to put Stacia on some blood pressure medicine, though." By that time, we would not have cared if she said she was going make us dress drag and do the hula, we were just ready to GO HOME!

After a few more hours, and a wonderful visit from our friend, the nurse who had helped us a few nights before, we were released to take our new baby home. There are a few more stories tucked in here about the wonderful lactation consultants, and other really kindly nurses that took care of us during this extraveganza, but Stacia can tell those stories at her leisure. After all, all she does now is sit at home and nurse our son...just kidding! She is keeping busy, though, and everyone we see looks at her and says, "you look really good for having had a baby only a month ago!" And the truth is, SHE DOES LOOK GOOD! I might be a little partial though.

Thus ends the tale of how our little Zadok came to be with us. We are working on the happily ever after. The end.

The Kingdom

Since Stacia has been so good about posting, and I set up this blog, I knew I should take some time and do it too. God has had my focus on one thing lately. His Kingdom. What does this look like? How can we get it replicated now as it was in the first century church. Replicate really isn't a good work though, because for a God who is infinite in all things, why would we expect that he would do the same thing twice? However, I look for a powerful move of God that will resemble what God did at Pentacost. There is a greater annointing that God is longing to pour out on His people. These people are ones that are looking for something more. The thoughts that have been stayed in my mind are about being hungry. I have been praying for an insatiable hunger for the Kingdom. I want to be satisfied by NOTHING else, but God's presence in power.

There are a few ways that I believe God wants to make himself manifest. One, the presence of supernatural signs and wonders. These, I am more convinced now than ever are to be part of the normal Christian life, not the exception. I am still searching for what this looks like in my life, but I know that God has a plan, and I also know that perfect timing of the fulfillment of God's plan is just as important as the fact that it is fulfilled. This is in line with a sermon I heard recently on the descerning of the seasons, and knowing what to do in the season. One can have an accurate revelation of the season, but have no idea what to do. Another, however, might know what to do, but have no discernment of the appropriate time. The wonderful thing, though, is that God puts us next to people who compiment our calling, to bring us each into full fruition.

The other manifestation of His presence that I believe we must look for is not so much a occurance, but rather a state of being. God desires His people blessed. Now lest I be accused of preaching a 'Prosperity Gospel' consider that God desires us to be blessed, so that we have plenty to share. God does not want us to be scraping to get by, rather, "we are to be the head and not the tail, the lender and not the borrower." God wants to so position us that we can adaquately fund the needs of the Kingdom. I was listening to a podcast this week in which the speaker was encouraging believers to maintain five streams of income. He was challenging his listeners to ask God to show them how they would become blessed. Not only that, he instructed the people to bless themselves. A strange thought at first, but think about it. If no one else will pronounce it over you, why not pronounce it over yourself. Jacob wrestled with God until he received his blessing. I believe God wants to bless us exponentially more!

Lastly, I do not know what these things all look like exactly for Stacia and me, but I am convinced they are part of His plan. We have a rich heritage in being believers. We are priests, therefore we are to be recipients of Aaron's blessing in Numbers 6, "The Lord bless you and keep you, the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you, the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace." Amen and amen.

Fall is here!

Holding Hands is one of our favorite things to do in the fall. I remember the first "date" we had in Brown County. Spencer took me on his fall break just before we were actually girlfriend and boyfriend and was taking pictures. When he would help me down the stairs, I could tell he just wanted to hold my hand. To this day it's hard to walk beside each other not holding hands and I feel safe.

Spencer and I have enjoyed the last few weeks just being outdoors in the fall weather. We have gone to Brown County, Apple Works, and just out and about.

Not a lot has gone on, just the normal work and home life. We are also preparing for baby and are excited to see when the little one will arrive. The nursery is about done and are hoping to finish it soon. We have a baby shower on the 11th so I'm excited to see all the surprises we will receive!

One day last week Spencer and I went to the grocery, there was the Wiener Mobile! Spencer wanted a pic so I took this one. There is one of me as well but that will definitely not make it to the public. I'm 8 months pregnant and swollen, need I say more?

It's amazing where the last 2 and a half years has gone since we have been married. A lot has happened, trips have been taken, problems have been resolved and we are still growing together. God has helped us and we are excited to see exactly what is in store for the next few chapters in our lives. I'm so happy to be married to Spencer and enjoy what every day brings. He is the light of my life and life is never boring!