This is ministering to me...

If you are a mom than this will encourage you... scroll down to where the page is blue and read from there...

Wesley Haddon VanRyckeghem

Oh my! I can still hardly believe my little babe is here with us! It seems like they live in the womb for so long that it becomes their little home! But on Saturday (Oct. 16th), the exact due date, my little man decided he had had enough, and came out to meet us. Or maybe it was finally me who decided it was time...whatever the case. So Saturday I woke up feeling fine but READY. So I headed to the YMCA and did the stair-stepper for 20 min. I then googled 'natural ways to induce labor', and this very helpful blog came up. So after weighing my options I took two tablespoons of castor oil with orange juice and then drank several cups of hot raspberry leaf tea. Clay was at work so Nelly and I took the girls shopping. Half way through we stopped back at home because my tummy was going crazy...um, the RUNS! After our shopping I started dinner and at about 4:30 I felt a few contractions. Nothing that hurt but enough to remind me to cover my car seat with a trash bag and beach towel! During dinner I had several more and by about 6:30 I told Clay we should be safe and pack a few things just in case. On our way to my sister's harvest party my water broke in the van. Then the 'real' contractions started. We dropped Giselle off with my parents and headed to the hospital. I called my midwife and told her my water had broke and we were on the way (25 minute drive) and she said she should be there in 45 minutes. On the drive to the hospital I told Clay I was really nervous and needed him to pray for me. He prayed and I felt the Lord very near to me. Because my midwife was not there when we arrived I was submitted to a regular delivery room to wait. There the nurse made me stay on the bed and monitor the baby. My nurse kept calling the baby 'she' so Clay & I assumed we were having another girl! My midwife got there about 20 minutes after us and measured me at only 5cm. With my back killing me and thinking I had hours left of labor I calmly turned to Clay & said, 'If I ask for an epidural you need to listen to me'- in which he replied simply, 'no'. I looked to the nurse for support and she said once I was were I wanted to be, the hot-tub, I could make that decision then. I got in a wheel chair and went down two halls to the midwifery center and had two contractions along the way. By the time I climbed into the tub I felt like I could push. I asked my midwife if that was ok since I was only at 5cm and she said my body was progressing fast and i could do whatever felt best. At this point things got crazy as I seriously felt like I pushed him out within 3 contractions. I was in total shock at how fast he came, along with finding out we had a son! He peed on me first thing and I held him close for the longest time. What a miracle new life is. The Lord was so gracious to me as well. From when we arrived at the hospital to his birth it was less than 30 minutes! Our dear family rushed to greet Wesley and shower us with love. After everyone left Clay & I both felt overwhelmed by how blessed we are, especially by all the family we have who love us.

I had to add this picture of the kitchen we bought Giselle- Brookie and her are starting to play together-

Only days now

This has been the fastest 9 months of my life! It feels like a few weeks ago that I woke up Sunday morning (Feb. 14th) and took that pregnancy test. It has only been since this past Sunday that I have felt 'peace' and genuine excitement about delivering another baby. I've been thrilled from the very first moment of finding out we were expecting to have another child but the whole 'delivery' and hard first few weeks has been a looming cloud of anxiety for me. The past week I have been in the process of changing Giselle's nap schedule from two a day to one. It is slowly starting to stick but at first she hardly slept during the day and would throw terrible tantrums at night. We are still praying for wisdom in addressing her bed time tantrums. So anyway, after church I really felt like a different person. Not fearful, that is. I can't wait to see this little one and be cozy at the Midwifery for two days with my Clay! HA! I told Clay I'm looking forward to the time there...change of pace I guess. I also am looking forward to seeing how God will provide grace for this new challenge of having basically two babies. I know that during the hardest times with Giselle as a baby the Lord drew my heart so close to Himself, that all the fatigue and tears were worth it.

Giselle sporting the reversible apron I made her Brookie-Lynn looking extra cute in the outfit from Aunt Joan

playing together at the park

mama and baby (for a little longer) resting together

my scrappy little gal. she loves shoes

God is Faithful

Today while holding my extra emotional little lady I was reminded to give thanks for God's faithfulness. Fear and worry have never been my 'top' struggles but it's the little worries (will i get to nap today? will i have energy for the day? will i serve my husband or snap at him this evening? when am i gonna get to grocery shopping? should i be thinking about Christmas shopping? bla bla bla) that I get hung up on. But as I was saying, as Giselle clung to me I just started thanking the Lord for that moment. Not feeling 100% (being prego), not feeling totally cheerful with the rain outside, I still felt so blessed by God's promises to sustain me and never leave. So, friends, no matter your feelings today/tonight, know that as a child of God you are loved by a Faithful, Unchanging, Heavenly Father. (here's a picture of the darling stroller we bought from craigslist)

happy birthday darling

Happy 1st Birthday beautiful girl. I love you so much, I'm a very blessed little girl to have you as my cousin. Thank you for always greeting me with joy and a big kiss. I can't wait to play with you next. Love Giselle

3 wks to go

Once I hit 30wks in my pregnancy I start to count down the weeks...it's way more exciting that way! All along I've been nervous of going super early (who knows why, I was only 9 days early with Giselle) but I would 'risk-out' of the midwifery center if I'm any earlier than 38wks along. Today I started thinking maybe I won't be early after all, because I'm still not 'ready'. Mentally, that is. Remembering the pain from 19months ago still is vivid. But thankfully I realize the reward of laboring since I already have my sweet Giselle. Of course, that's another subject...Giselle! She loves attention (who doesn't?) so praying through how to transition with another baby is something on my mind. So far I have been too anxious. We will 'unveil' her new play kitchen the same day I 'unveil' the new baby to her! I am very blessed to have Nelly close by and of course my parents and Jap. It's such a blessing not to worry about Giselle while I'm in the hospital. Another blessing is the fact that Giselle loves baby dolls- maybe this will translate to baby brother or sister? If anyone has any creative ideas on introducing baby #2 to her or on functioning smoothly with two- please comment!

more everyday life

I have had a wonderful summer thus far. This pregnancy is flying by and been really enjoyable. My little gal is growing up fast and becoming more fun to be with daily... I feel so blessed. I also struggle with accepting and understanding the sufferings (financial, physical, spiritual, marital ect.) of those around me. And yes, there seems to be too many to count. The other night as I lay in bed I found myself thinking of how 'sad' it is to be bringing a baby into this fallen, broken, painful world! I actually had those thoughts- sorry LORD! But the very next morning (at church) the Lord brought a friend through the doors of our church and Jesus gave me a whole new perspective through this friend. He helped me see HIS GLORY! Although this world is so badly fallen and broken and sick... God has overcome it and given to His children VICTORY in the midst of everyday sorrows. Such that we can say..."Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?" (1 Corinthians 15:55). Our worst fears and pains have been overcome and our tender Savior will not lead us down any path He already hasn't walked down Himself or that we can not handle. The line from a song that has been going through my head daily this week is, 'HE IS MIGHTY TO SAVE!'. I can't wait to hold this little one in my arms (in less than 7 wks) and say, 'Oh, how Jesus LOVES you. I can't wait for you to learn more about HIS LOVE and POWER to save and comfort.' We serve a MIGHTY GOD.