A very happy family!
Tuesday, November 01, 2005
Monday, October 31, 2005
Wednesday, October 26, 2005
Captivating
I recently read a book called "Captivating: Unveiling the Mystery of a Woman's Soul" by John and Stasi Eldridge. It is so amazing and was so good for me to read right now as my role in life has changed to include being a mother. I think it also breaks through a lot of the misconceptions and misinterpretations of how God sees women and how Christians should see women. I would recommend this book to every woman...and even if you don't consider yourself religious, it would be an enlightening read as it is a totally different take on women than most Christian books for women.
Here's an excerpt that pretty much sums up the theme of the book:
"You are a woman. An image bearer of God. The Crown of Creation. You were chosen before time and space, and you are wholly and dearly loved. You are sought after, pursued, romanced, the passionate desire of ... Jesus. You are dangerous in your beauty and your life-giving power. And you are needed.
As a woman you are ransomed and redeemed, you can be strong and tender. You speak to the world of God's mercy, mystery, beauty, and his desire for intimate relationship. You are inviting; you can risk being vulnerable, offering the weight of your life as well as your need for more because you are safe in God's love. You labor with God to bring forth life--in creativity, in work, in others. Your aching, awakened heart leads you to the feet of Jesus, where you wait on him and wait for him. The eyes of his heart are ever upon you. The King is captivated by your beauty."
Here's an excerpt that pretty much sums up the theme of the book:
"You are a woman. An image bearer of God. The Crown of Creation. You were chosen before time and space, and you are wholly and dearly loved. You are sought after, pursued, romanced, the passionate desire of ... Jesus. You are dangerous in your beauty and your life-giving power. And you are needed.
As a woman you are ransomed and redeemed, you can be strong and tender. You speak to the world of God's mercy, mystery, beauty, and his desire for intimate relationship. You are inviting; you can risk being vulnerable, offering the weight of your life as well as your need for more because you are safe in God's love. You labor with God to bring forth life--in creativity, in work, in others. Your aching, awakened heart leads you to the feet of Jesus, where you wait on him and wait for him. The eyes of his heart are ever upon you. The King is captivated by your beauty."
Monday, October 24, 2005
What Do You Need?
Got this from another blog I read...
Google this phrase: "[Your first name] needs" and see what you get. Here is what I need according to Google:
1. Ms. Molly needs to do her homework
2. Molly needs a catchy slogan for running for third grade student council.
3. Molly needs outdoor play.
4. Molly needs a job and Conrad is scared to help her get one at his company. (This is funny since I have a brother-in-law named Conrad.)
5. Molly needs to be in a stable environment that will provide nurturing.
6. Molly needs to remarry, and isn't shy about dropping hints.
7. Molly needs a good home, she is a very cute, black toy poodle.
8. Molly needs you more, besides this won't take long.
9. Molly needs outdoor play, she can't control her activity levels.
10. Molly needs to gradually work up to spending periods of time on her own. Molly is
a feisty fun little lady who loves toys and is happy to play with them.
If you do this let me know your top ten results! :)
Google this phrase: "[Your first name] needs" and see what you get. Here is what I need according to Google:
1. Ms. Molly needs to do her homework
2. Molly needs a catchy slogan for running for third grade student council.
3. Molly needs outdoor play.
4. Molly needs a job and Conrad is scared to help her get one at his company. (This is funny since I have a brother-in-law named Conrad.)
5. Molly needs to be in a stable environment that will provide nurturing.
6. Molly needs to remarry, and isn't shy about dropping hints.
7. Molly needs a good home, she is a very cute, black toy poodle.
8. Molly needs you more, besides this won't take long.
9. Molly needs outdoor play, she can't control her activity levels.
10. Molly needs to gradually work up to spending periods of time on her own. Molly is
a feisty fun little lady who loves toys and is happy to play with them.
If you do this let me know your top ten results! :)
Sunday, October 23, 2005
Friday, October 21, 2005
Betsy's Two Month Checkup
Betsy had her two month checkup today--and with that came shots.
SOB!
They gave her four, two at a time, in her little thighs and she cried like her heart would break. Big tears, purple face, the whole deal. Mommy and Daddy cried a few tears themselves!
We also found out that her recent fussiness and spitting up is probably acid reflux and that we should give her some Mylanta and see if that helps. Glad there is something we can try.
But, she is growing well and seems very healthy. She now weighs 12 lbs 8 oz and is 22 inches long. She is the 90th percentile for weight but in the 40th for length--guess she's short and chubby! :)
Poor baby has been crying a lot tonight. I think her leg where she got the shots is pretty sore. Boy, you don't know heartbreak until you watch your little one cry in pain and know there isn't much you can do to help. My poor sweet baby girl. Sigh...
SOB!
They gave her four, two at a time, in her little thighs and she cried like her heart would break. Big tears, purple face, the whole deal. Mommy and Daddy cried a few tears themselves!
We also found out that her recent fussiness and spitting up is probably acid reflux and that we should give her some Mylanta and see if that helps. Glad there is something we can try.
But, she is growing well and seems very healthy. She now weighs 12 lbs 8 oz and is 22 inches long. She is the 90th percentile for weight but in the 40th for length--guess she's short and chubby! :)
Poor baby has been crying a lot tonight. I think her leg where she got the shots is pretty sore. Boy, you don't know heartbreak until you watch your little one cry in pain and know there isn't much you can do to help. My poor sweet baby girl. Sigh...
Wednesday, October 19, 2005
Monday, October 17, 2005
My Sweet Friend Jo
Jodi is back home in Oregon again already...the weekend went by too fast!
Jo arrived on Thursday morning after a flight from H-E-double-hockey-sticks, as they say. The poor thing came down with a stomach bug or food poisoning or something soon after getting on her first flight and was sick on every flight and on every layover until the leg from Detroit to Grand Rapids. Besides feeling terrible she was so worried about giving the bug to us. We took her home and she slept most of the day and 12 hours that night and was thankfully feeling better on Friday.
We spent the rest of the weekend talking about motherhood, watching TV, and on Saturday, taking a day trip to Saugatuck for some shopping, just us! My INCREDIBLE husband took care of the baby all by himself for the whole day so I could get away! Wow...he is so awesome!
Thanks, Jo, for spending the money and taking time away from your own family to bless me with your friendship and love! I miss you already!
Jo arrived on Thursday morning after a flight from H-E-double-hockey-sticks, as they say. The poor thing came down with a stomach bug or food poisoning or something soon after getting on her first flight and was sick on every flight and on every layover until the leg from Detroit to Grand Rapids. Besides feeling terrible she was so worried about giving the bug to us. We took her home and she slept most of the day and 12 hours that night and was thankfully feeling better on Friday.
We spent the rest of the weekend talking about motherhood, watching TV, and on Saturday, taking a day trip to Saugatuck for some shopping, just us! My INCREDIBLE husband took care of the baby all by himself for the whole day so I could get away! Wow...he is so awesome!
Thanks, Jo, for spending the money and taking time away from your own family to bless me with your friendship and love! I miss you already!
Wednesday, October 12, 2005
How do you spell insanity? C-O-L-I-C
According to "What to Expect in the First Year" a textbook case of colic includes:
Baby's fists are clenched and she is very active.
Check.
She closes her eyes tight or opens them very wide and screams.
Check.
She frantically searches for a nipple, only to reject it forcefully when it is offered.
Check.
She drifts to sleep only to awaken suddenly five minutes later screaming.
Check.
HUGE SIGH.
Monday night and all day Tuesday Betsy showed us a textbook case of colic. I have never been so tired in my entire life. My whole body hurt, I felt sick to my stomach, and I wanted to cry, but just didn't have the energy to put into it. I know Myron was feeling the same. We actually got in the car and got lunch at the Arby's drive-thru just so we could drive her around and get her to sleep for a few minutes, which is the only thing that worked. She probably slept a total of 2 hours the whole day, which is very, very little for a baby! She also wanted to eat every half hour or so, but would then freak out after only eating a little.
Last night at about 10:30 Myron and I stood in the dark in her nursery while he rocked her and I stroked her head and we laid hands on her and prayed...HARD! And you know what...that was the turning point. Soon she was asleep and she didn't wake up again until 4:00 or so! We need to remember to pray!!
So it seems that she might have just been having a rough couple of days because she's been sleeping soundly for about an hour now and is MUCH more peaceful today. Thank you, Lord!!
Baby's fists are clenched and she is very active.
Check.
She closes her eyes tight or opens them very wide and screams.
Check.
She frantically searches for a nipple, only to reject it forcefully when it is offered.
Check.
She drifts to sleep only to awaken suddenly five minutes later screaming.
Check.
HUGE SIGH.
Monday night and all day Tuesday Betsy showed us a textbook case of colic. I have never been so tired in my entire life. My whole body hurt, I felt sick to my stomach, and I wanted to cry, but just didn't have the energy to put into it. I know Myron was feeling the same. We actually got in the car and got lunch at the Arby's drive-thru just so we could drive her around and get her to sleep for a few minutes, which is the only thing that worked. She probably slept a total of 2 hours the whole day, which is very, very little for a baby! She also wanted to eat every half hour or so, but would then freak out after only eating a little.
Last night at about 10:30 Myron and I stood in the dark in her nursery while he rocked her and I stroked her head and we laid hands on her and prayed...HARD! And you know what...that was the turning point. Soon she was asleep and she didn't wake up again until 4:00 or so! We need to remember to pray!!
So it seems that she might have just been having a rough couple of days because she's been sleeping soundly for about an hour now and is MUCH more peaceful today. Thank you, Lord!!
Friday, October 07, 2005
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
THE GOOD (and some of the BAD):
Myron's parents spent Tuesday evening through this morning with us--their first time meeting their 13th grandchild! They were so helpful and gave Betsy lots of love. Grandma Ruth even made us a delicious pumpkin pie out of acorn squash...I didn't know you could do that! They also saw us through Betsy's roughest evening ever. I think I ate something that caused her stomach to be upset--she wailed all evening like she was in pain. We all took turns holding her and trying to make her feel better. BUT...that night she slept for nearly 6 hours! And yesterday she was content as can be and last night she slept from 11 to nearly 4 and from 4:30 to nearly 8! What a good girl!
THE BAD:
I had two migraines this week...sigh. And both of our cars had to go in to the shop...double sigh.
THE UGLY:
My ankle. I won't gross you out with a picture. On Monday afternoon Myron called to say he was on his way home with supper after golfing. I decided to go enjoy the afternoon sunshine and sit on the porch with Betsy and Gideon until he got home. As I was stepping out the front door I didn't catch the screen door since I had the baby in my arms and it slammed onto my ankle (the door, not the baby!). It really hurt, but I figured I just scraped it pretty good. I sat down on the step and looked at it and realized that it was way more than a scrape. By the time I got in the house, put Betsy down in her swing and grabbed a paper towel I was bleeding profusely and feeling very faint. I called Myron and probably scared him half to death...he raced home to find me sitting on the floor beside Betsy's swing, trying to comfort her (she was screaming) while I also tried to hold a towel on my cut while I tried not to pass out. Agh. Myron cleaned my cut (oops...I almost typed "Myron cleaned my but!"), bandaged me up and loaded me and Betsy into the car and took me to the emergency room where I got three stiches. Sigh...just what we needed...more doctor bills.
Oh well...life happens. My ankle is healing quickly and I had my 6-week postpartum checkup yesterday and the rest of me is doing well too. So the good is really good and the bad and the ugly are mostly just annoying. :)
Below are some pictures of Grandma and Grandpa Detweiler's visit! Enjoy!
Myron's parents spent Tuesday evening through this morning with us--their first time meeting their 13th grandchild! They were so helpful and gave Betsy lots of love. Grandma Ruth even made us a delicious pumpkin pie out of acorn squash...I didn't know you could do that! They also saw us through Betsy's roughest evening ever. I think I ate something that caused her stomach to be upset--she wailed all evening like she was in pain. We all took turns holding her and trying to make her feel better. BUT...that night she slept for nearly 6 hours! And yesterday she was content as can be and last night she slept from 11 to nearly 4 and from 4:30 to nearly 8! What a good girl!
THE BAD:
I had two migraines this week...sigh. And both of our cars had to go in to the shop...double sigh.
THE UGLY:
My ankle. I won't gross you out with a picture. On Monday afternoon Myron called to say he was on his way home with supper after golfing. I decided to go enjoy the afternoon sunshine and sit on the porch with Betsy and Gideon until he got home. As I was stepping out the front door I didn't catch the screen door since I had the baby in my arms and it slammed onto my ankle (the door, not the baby!). It really hurt, but I figured I just scraped it pretty good. I sat down on the step and looked at it and realized that it was way more than a scrape. By the time I got in the house, put Betsy down in her swing and grabbed a paper towel I was bleeding profusely and feeling very faint. I called Myron and probably scared him half to death...he raced home to find me sitting on the floor beside Betsy's swing, trying to comfort her (she was screaming) while I also tried to hold a towel on my cut while I tried not to pass out. Agh. Myron cleaned my cut (oops...I almost typed "Myron cleaned my but!"), bandaged me up and loaded me and Betsy into the car and took me to the emergency room where I got three stiches. Sigh...just what we needed...more doctor bills.
Oh well...life happens. My ankle is healing quickly and I had my 6-week postpartum checkup yesterday and the rest of me is doing well too. So the good is really good and the bad and the ugly are mostly just annoying. :)
Below are some pictures of Grandma and Grandpa Detweiler's visit! Enjoy!
Wednesday, October 05, 2005
Tuesday, October 04, 2005
In Loving Memory...
Our furry niece, Willow, passed away yesterday. She lived a long and mostly happy life thanks to my brother-in-law and his wife who have loved her and cared deeply for her ever since they adopted her 10 years ago. She had been found wandering along the highway but found her forever home with Linford and Karin and later with her Great Dane mix brother Elroy. Willow will be missed like the member of our family that she was. Farewell, sweet pup.
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