Everybody needs a daily dose of Josiah. 

He still has family he hasn't got to meet yet.  We're working on a trip back home to make proper introductions (aka - neck kisses). 

Hi, y'all!  I'm still nursing a baby.  Around the clock.  He is the hungriest lil' guy ever.

That pacifier in the picture?  It's the only one he will semi-take.   But mostly he hates them.   

While I am trying to keep his tank full, I am trying to keep everyone's tanks full.  Isn't that what wives and mommas do?  Make sure everyone has enough hugs, kisses, meals, sleep, warm clothes... 

Being momma to these five blessings - The greatest calling of my life.  One that I am thrilled to answer.

P.S. Dear Chief,

Thanks for keeping my tank full (especially coming to my rescue and fixing the flat tires that happen when I take our two week old to the pediatrician).  I wouldn't want to live life with anyone else. 

Judah, Josiah, and I have been homebodies.  Only coming out to go to doctor appointments.

Judah is the homebodiest of all. He rivals me, and I'm legendary.

I'm amazed how having a baby makes me unable to do anything but eat Reeses Pieces and care for a newborn.  Sometimes brush my teeth, if I am lucky.  But really, I've been getting dressed on purpose this week.  It's good practice for when real life resumes. 

Speaking of real life, I've got my girls' basketball games to watch, homeschool to teach, responsibilities to attend to...

Judah and I will still be homebodies.  Just not weeks at a time. 

I  them!

And since his diet consists of "momma's milk," I'll take credit for them too. 

I woke up at 5:00am Saturday (New Year's Eve) with a sudden urge to read birth stories online.  Seriously.  It was like a craving.  So weird.  I found myself on the couch - googling.

By midmorning I was at the birthing center.  Things were moving along FAST and we expected a baby sometime that afternoon. 

(My husband tweeted, "No place I'd rather be on New Year's Eve!")

When afternoon came, we did not have a baby.  My labor stopped progressing.  I stayed "the same" for hours. By evening, my doctor was very concerned.  I was attempting a VBAC and baby's heart rate was starting to have sudden dips.  I've shared with y'all before that after three vaginal deliveries, my fourth baby was 10lbs 11oz, transverse, and born by c-section.  We suspect that I had undiagnosed gestational diabetes.  In this current pregnancy I had diagnosed gestational diabetes that was being controlled by diet.  After a powwow with my doctor, my family, and a time of prayer, late in the evening on New Year's Eve, we rushed into the operating room for a repeat c-section.  It was then we learned that the baby was occiput posterior (OP) position, the cord was wrapped around his neck, and he was big.  In the words of my doctor, "now we know why he wasn't coming." 

(The kiddos seeing him for the first time with cameras and camera phones in hand.)

Swallowed meconium, low apgar score, one severed uterine artery later and ...

He's here.  He's pink, hungry, healthy and well.  I'm recovering, savoring, and wondering how many days I can stay in my P.J.'s?

The joy of having a baby on New Year's Eve can only be expressed in two words: tax deduction. 

All the time we wondered and wondered, who is this person coming/growing/turning/floating/swimming deep, deep inside.

Josiah David

December 31, 2011

9lbs 2ozs

More to come... I'm on my "babymoon" and relearning to type one-handed. 

God is so good to speak into our hearts exactly what we need to hear exactly when we need to hear it.  On January 4, 2011, the Chief and I had a pastor to remind us that God speaks a word into our ear and we need to walk in that word even when it isn't logical.  Even when everything around us says, "be afraid" or it seems too hard.  We need to be confident and faithful to that word.  Looking back at 2011, I can tell you that was a very timely word. 

A New Year represents a time of new resolve.  It is an opportunity to evaluate, renew, or set new goals.  I think God wants to do really big things in our lives.  Bigger than we can imagine.  Bigger than we can do on our own.

Some sweet sweet friends of ours are adopting a child.  Part of financing their adoption was an adoption loan.  They found out at the start of December that their loan had been turned down.  Understandably they were very upset not knowing where they would find the money they needed and fully expecting a delay in their adoption. When I heard their news, I hoped that God was wanting to do something really big - like fund their adoption debt free.  I, along with many others, began to pray for them.  They found out this week that an anonymous donor has contributed the exact amount they need to go forward with the adoption!  Praise God that loan didn't go through!

So, if things don't seem to be going the way you thought, don't be discouraged.  Just be prepared for God to do something bigger in 2012!  God isn't a halfway God.  He does things all the way.  He makes BIG things possible! 

So in 2012:

Risk more than others think is safe. Care more than others think is wise. Dream more than others think is practical. Expect more than others think is possible.

May 2012 be abundantly blessed! 

With love, The Trents

1.  "This will be your best year ever - IF it is your best year sprititually."

2.  "Happiness is a gift and the trick is not to expect it."

3.  "Live in the present."

4.  "Holy and happy are sometimes very far apart."

5.  "You can let it make you bitter or you can let it make you better."

6.  "Christmas really is more than a day."

It's my due date party and I'll cry if I want to. 

Not really.  I mean, I'm not crying.  Yet. 

I've got encouraging words from all of you. 

I've had my "gonna have a baby, need sparkled toes" pedicure.

I've been listening to my Baby Mix.

And tomorrow we enter the land of "post date".

P.S.  If you go shopping on your due date, strangers will ask when you are due.  You will respond, "Today."  They will freak a little and cashiers will express concern that you do not go into labor while shopping in the store.  You will leave knowing that people watch too much television. 

As the year winds down and the new year is beginning, I enjoy reflecting on this story (and sharing it with you yet again),

The founder of the China Inland Mission (now Overseas Missionary Fellowship), J. Hudson Taylor, used to hang in his home a plaque with two Hebrew words on it:  "Ebenezer" and "Jehovah-Jireh". 

 

Ebenezer means, "Hither to hath the Lord helped us" (1 Sam. 7:12). 

 

Jehovah-Jireh means "The Lord will see to it." 

 

And so whether he looked back or ahead, Hudson Taylor knew the Lord was at work, and he had nothing to fear. 

2011 is our Ebenezer.  As we look back at 2011 we can see clearly God's provision and help. 

2012 is our Jehovah-Jireh.  As we anticipate the start of a new year, we can be confident that the Lord is there preparing the way for us and "seeing to it". 

We have nothing to fear.