Life in the Slow Lane

We are on Day 7 of no electricity (half of that we had no home phone, no internet, and no cell network coverage…how isolated it felt!). A week ago I would not have known I could make it this long with no power and a newborn. Thank you Lord for strength each day to face a new day.

As I was reading in my quiet time the day after Ike hit, these verses popped out at me.

Ephesians 5:8, 14, 20

“For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light…Therefore He says: ‘ Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light.’ …giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

First, I realized how important light is to me. For those who have ever been without power for any extended period of time, you may be able to relate. Every afternoon around 5ish, I have found myself starting to get depressed. I know that a long evening (without light) is ahead of me. One evening while running the generator, someone in the other room had a light hooked up. I could only see the shallowest rays in my room, but the minute the generator turned off (and thus the light) I found my spirits plunging…Therefore, when I read Ephesians 5:8 and 14, I was so encouraged that in the midst of this time Christ will give me light…even if only in my spirit. He is light!

The latter verse (v. 20) was also an excellent reminder to me that I needed to refocus my thoughts and choose to dwell on the positives and thank the Lord for all of them rather than my current negative circumstances. We have so much to be thankful for:

• Most importantly, our whole family is safe and sound
• No major damage to our house
• We still have water—and hot water
• Our phone lines came back on again (a week earlier than the repairmen predicted)
• I am not pregnant and awaiting delivery still
• The cool weather!!!
• Windows that open
• All the money we are saving on electricity this month
• Living close enough to be able to walk to the grocery store
• A grocery store that is open despite running on a generator
• My parent’s forethought and generosity to get a generator
• God providing one of the last generators in Houston (literally tried 11 different places before finding this one at Sear’s, and there were only 6 or 7 more that were to arrive on a shipment later on Thursday…not even in stock when my dad bought it)
• A few open gas stations in our area
• A nice stroller to be able to walk the baby with—even through one foot water
• The receding of the bayou waters near our house (and NO flooding)
• A grill to cook meals on
• A sideburner on the grill (which we did not even want when purchasing)
• The Ike diet is helping me lose the extra baby weight I have still
• Friends who have offered W/D, A/C, gas, etc…

What have we been doing with our time without power? Life in the slow lane…

• Jigsaw puzzles while comforting a crying baby
• Lots of reading while comforting a crying baby
• Playing bridge with my parents while comforting a crying baby
• Creatively preparing meals without the stove and oven while comforting a crying baby
• Taking many very long walks while enjoying the quiet of a peaceful baby! 

And where are we now? Waiting an indefinite period of time (some have said as long as another 1-2 weeks) to regain our power. God will have to continue to provide the strength each day for one day at a time.

Any excuse for a party

In our family, we try to find any excuse for a party...especially a birthday party (it is not unheard of to have celebrated the same birthday 3-4 days in a row!) However, at this time of year, we do not need any excuses. We hardly have time to finish one cake before starting on the next one. It all began with my new niece, Cana Elisabeth Brown. She was due the same day as Michael David. I even thought there might be a chance to have the babies the same day when my sister-in-law was late having Cana. However, we all know my story. I was even later! Cana was born August 6th. Just a week later, our little Michael David celebrates his birthday! MD's tardiness, actually left us with just one week until my brother Andrew's birthday. We get an 8 day break then before partying with my Dad. Are you getting tired yet? Can't afford to... The next party is just 5 days later as we celebrate my mom's birthday. My sister's birthday (yesterday) is the last to round out this long string (at least for 3 weeks) of parties as we celebrate her big day only 5 days after my mom's. This is a whole month of birthdays back to back to back.

...cake after cake after cake. Next year, I had better go on a diet for the month of July. :)

In case you were wondering...

As a brief follow up (and I promise not all the rest of my blogging will be devoted to our baby!)...

We went to the pediatrician on Wed. for MD's 2 week check-up. After the initial week-long challenge in feeding, MD has settled down to eating quite well...therefore, I have not really ever been concerned about him coming back up to birth weight. He was 8 lb. 2 oz. and dropped at least to 7 lb. 6 1/2 oz. (weight 5 days after birth). I could tell he was getting chubbier, and so I cut back feedings to every 3 hours (and if he was asleep--even during the day--sometimes 4-4 1/2 hours...shh...don't tell the pediatrician) Therefore, it really did not come as a surprise to hear that Michael David now weighs 8 lb. 12 oz!!! Guess we do not have to worry about whether he is getting enough food! On another note...he has been carted all over doing errands four days this week. He is quite happy in his car seat though and actually falls asleep-- so we all win!

Another Photo-Op

Can you tell who the celebrity is? (hint: he is little but certainly attracted a lot of attention~thanks, mom and dad weyler for documenting his first week of life!)

Daddy and baby the happy mama no scratch socks...:) awake and alert--even early on "someone to watch over me..." Grandma Weyler meets Michael David the most recent three (of 5) generations of Michael Weyler Aunt Sarah, Grams (Brown), and Uncle Andrew Don't cry little one... My mom holds Michael David Daddy gives baby a prickly kiss Home from the hospital--the first trip in the car "I like my new home!" Mama and me What a sweet face! The new family Comfort in Daddy's arms Finally, Michael David said, "Enough!" to the Papparazzi...

The Many Faces of...

Michael David...(still yet to be nicknamed) ...And these two I just had to add...sorry I forgot them in the delivery blog post. These prove that even dads who swear they will never change diapers find themselves doing so at some point. I was so proud of my husband. He actually changed the first diaper (and it was a dirty one!) Look how pleased he looks when he is done!

He's Here!

After much drama, our little Michael David was born last Wednesday in the wee hours of the morning!

We were told at the doctor's appt. on Monday last week that there was enough progress (1-1 1/2 cm dilated, 80% effaced--again--, and baby had dropped some compared with nothing but 50% effacement the week before) that our doctor recommended that I cancel the scheduled induction for Thur. and wait for the baby to come naturally...he would see me again the following Monday a.m. (TODAY! going on 3 weeks late at this point) I was really distraught and asked for much prayer that I would go into labor before I was required to make the decision to cancel or not (Wed. sometime). Oh ye, of little faith! I never expected God to answer as quickly or as suddenly as He did.

Tuesday afternoon at 4:00, I was watching a DVD with my mom and stood up to change out the movie. I felt the oddest sensation of having gone to the bathroom ALL OVER myself. I didn't think that was likely, yet, I also was not so certain how likely it was that my water had really broken. (who have I known whose water has actually broken before going to the hospital? and even fewer, whose broken water actually gushes!?!) I tried to play it calm while walking right in front of my mom to go check--she never even noticed (despite the HUGE wet spot all over the posterior and legs of my pants!) Sure enough, when I got to the bathroom, I was still gushing all over and was quite certain it was time! I called Michael and let him know...I think he thought I was kidding at first and told me he had a lot to get done, but after realizing it really was time, he packed up and rushed home to take me to the hospital. That's when things began for real.

People are right. When the water breaks, the contractions come on stronger and stronger. I had not really experienced any real contractions until that point. They started out about 5 minutes apart at that point though and were increasingly more uncomfortable. We arrived at the hospital around 5:30 and were checked into a room by 6:30. Even though I was still only 1 1/2 cm. dilated, the broken water and contractions now 3 minutes apart left no doubt about them sending me home.

By 8:00 pm I was 3 cm dilated and 100% effaced. I was holding out for the epidural as long as possible so not to slow down labor (especially since I arrived at the hospital so little dilated etc...) But...by 9:10 when I did request the epidural, I was already 5 cm dilated. WOW! God really moved when it was time! I received my epidural about 9:45 (and I do highly recommend it!) and was 9 cm dilated by 12:30. (forget the epidural slowing down the labor--I actually was faster than the predicted 1 cm/hr. rate)

That is when things started slowing down. Baby MD had positioned his head so that it was sideways and not wanting to come out. He also had a really high heart rate (perhaps in part because of my low grade fever) Because of the sudden arrival of meconium in the fluid at the end of the labor, the doctor informed us he would either need to deliver via forceps or c-section to get the baby out quickly. We opted to try the forceps first--The doctor was successful in turning him and within 2 pushes he was out!

Baby Michael David Weyler was born at 3:42 a.m. on Wednesday, August 13th, 2008! He weighed in at 8 lbs. 2 oz. and was 21 1/2 inches long. Not too bad considering he was 2 weeks late! He has extremely long feet and fingers and a full head of hair. Probably will take after his daddy! :)

We have so many things to be thankful for! First, we are thankful everyday that God chose to answer our prayer of 5 years for this little baby! I am thankful that my pregnancy was easy and enjoyable. I am thankful that God brought the baby in His perfect timing--and before we had to make the decision to postpone another scheduled induction or not. I am so thankful for our wonderful nurse, Linda! She began her shift at 7 p.m. (right when we got there) and went until 7 a.m. the next morning (after we had a chance to catch our breath from the delivery) Linda is a mother to 4 girls and was so compassionate, sensible, relaxed, helpful, comforting in the whole delivery process! God really provided! She even came back in again the following day to check on us (even though we were not her patients!) I am thankful to have only had about a 12 hour labor and delivery from start to finish (not bad at all for a first time mom) and that really only about 1 1/2-2 hours of it were pretty miserable. I am thankful that our doctor is skilled and was able to deliver the baby easily and quickly. I am thankful that the meconium in baby MD's lungs was not worse and that he was able to leave NICU quickly the next morning. I am thankful to have a beautiful little boy!!! and I MUST tell you--I am so thankful to have a sweet, supportive, encouraging and wonderful husband throughout all of this!!!

I will not sugar coat the time since then at home...it has been very challenging at times--with bucketful of tears. Almost no sleep will do that to anyone, not to mention someone with raging hormones still healing from intense labor and worried about the health and welfare of her baby who was struggling to nurse. This part was by far the hardest thing I think I have ever been through yet. However, once again, I have a supportive husband, wonderful family and friends who have lifted me up in prayers and a Faithful God who has supplied strength and sustained. Things are more cheerful than a couple of days ago, and I am really enjoying the precious little one that God has blessed us with. But...despite hard times yet to come (I am sure!), I do know that I have a Faithful Lord and Savior who will guide, sustain and provide!

And now for the part that most of you were really looking forward to--and I applaud those who actually read all the ramblings above. And to those who skipped to the pictures...

leaving the hospital a new family of three!

Strike a pose!

His newest sleeping arrangements!