All Because a Boy Met a Girl

It's been a while....

2011-04-07T12:29:00.000-07:00

Wow, more than a year gone and nothing to be said for it on this blog. I gave it up for loss but maybe there is life in this old gal yet.

Up to date:

August of 2010 we were blessed to get a house sitting position in East Dundee that took care of our finances enough to save for a home of our own! Jordan had to take a pay cut to get health insurance for us and that was a major cut in our lifestyle. Alas we prayed and God prevailed. We had been living in this arrangement until March of 2011.

As all of you who read or will be reading this blog a tragedy befell our family on December 6th. Dad Ferrell had a fatal sudden heart attack and went to be with our Lord that night. It has been the most devastating time in my life personally and to have such a major person ripped away is something I would never wish on my worst enemy. This has been the turning point in our lives thus far. We went from house sitting to owning in a matter of a month to be closer to mom and more accessible for her as well. We are handling and helping her with her financial affairs and seeing to it that we are able to squeeze the most out of our resources for her as possible. We are also still in charge of seeing the house sitting agreement through and are trying to set up home in our new place as well. We have our hands in many new responsibilities right now.

I am not going to lie. Life has been difficult. More so than I ever imagined. We always have had hard times but this trumps anything life changing. Positive life changes are hard, but ones like this you never fully recover from. You learn a new type of normal. And, somehow you have to figure out a way to not hate that new normal for not being the old normal way of life.

I often look on our new normal and think what would Dad say about how we are doing? Is he proud? Sad? Would he do it all better? "Of course," I hear whispered to me, "But alas he isn't here to do it", is the resounding answer I always get to my questions. So I pick myself up by the bootstraps and move forward.

I thought I was grown up when I got married. Then I found out I was a fool once I gave birth to my first and second child. Then again I was tempted to call myself a grown up and Dad passed away. I have fully given into the fact that I will never be a "grown up". Because saying that in my mind means that God is finished teaching me. I will never be there. I will never have the right answer. And I now know that it is only through the grace of God that I make it through my days unscathed. I have no idea how God has been so patient with me all these years to hear all my prideful talk, thinking I was a grown up and responsible. I must have sounded like a brat.

I can at least say that is no longer the case. I am on my face daily and pride is no longer in my vocabulary. It is a scarry and sad thing to have Dad gone from our lives. There are times of utter panic when something fails in my home or we have a financial crisis. Dad was our handyman, financial advisor, biblical scholar, advice columnist... you get the picture. He is missed and needed more than ever right now. We have no idea what we are doing half the time but praying along the path that God protects us from wrong decision making and guides us to the path he deems appropriate for us.

I often wonder how I would be doing if I had no faith. And the answer is too scary to contemplate for more than a minute. I can not imagine life without a fail safe. At the very least each night Jordan and I can say, "Well, at least we have God. He'll always have our back." And that is also at the very most of which we can boast. We are learning what faith means.

It is not to dumbly walking in a way we think is right, but prayerfully and painstakingly tiptoeing carefully, asking God all along the road, "Is this right?"

Gone are the days of frivolity. They lay in waste to responsibility and fear of doing something wrong or out of God's favor. We cross our T's and dot our I's and at the end of each day thank God for giving us the will, determination, and stamina to handle each new day. Really if you think about it that's all we can do. It is all in His hands and who are we to say otherwise?

So if you are reading this and thinking on our family, pray for us. We are fearfully and prayerfully taking on each new day and need all the prayers of hope and support you can give. They are the most welcome gift anyone could give us.

Pipers arrival

2009-10-20T15:33:00.000-07:00

So it has been a rough road from having Piper:

We went into Delnor at 6am to be induced. We started pitocin at about 7:30 and they double the dose every 15 to 30 minutes. Needless to say I was getting really uncomfortable FAST.

I was at 3cm coming into the hospital and by 8am I was four. The doctor broke my water (which was surprisingly relieving...go figure). Then I had to stay in bed for one hour to avoid cord prolaps. The contractions went from a five to a ten within an hour. The nurse kept pushing me to get an epidural, but I put it off because I was handling it well and getting that epidural thing hurts a lot, so until the pain matched the pain of the contractions I was going to hold out. BIG FRIGGIN MISTAKE. (FYI to other potential mothers, get the epidural BEFORE you enter transition, it'll work WAY better!)

So my contractions started getting to be every 60 seconds and I was not able to relax at all so i asked for the epidural. I was still four, by the time the finished giving me the epidural I was a 6-7. That was within 20 minutes people! After the epidural I started getting sweaty and wanted to throw up, which means transition...fun. I kept feeling the pain thogh and was hitting the stupid button for the epidural sauce like every two seconds...it works much better when you get it earlier! So I was really dissappointed in THAT aspect.

Within twenty minutes I was at 8-9 and had to call my sisters back from their jog to Meijer to tell them that I would be pushing within ten minutes. Ask them about that later, funny.

I went from 4 to ten within an hour people, it isn't so much fun, and she was a big girl! I started pushing at 12:45 and Piper was born at exactly 1:00.

She did get stuck with shoulder distocia wherein they had two other nurses come in and one was pounding on my stomach while they held my legs back as far as they could go, the doctor pulled and I pushed. All GREAT fun, NOT. She finally came out and they rushed her away to the other side of the room to check her shoulder to make sure it wasn't dislocated. She was fine.

Then I heard her cry. A strong beautiful cry! They wrapped her up and finally gave her to me after over 15 minutes of stiching me up, it was a rough ride...but we made it.

Piper was born at 1pm sharp weighing 9lbs 10oz, and at 20inches long. She was a biggin, and I felt every extra ounce! Major differnce from a seven pound son to a nine pound girl. BIG DIFFERENCE. Plus match that with an epidural that sucked, it was a rough time.

But she is here and beautiful. We came home on the first and have been recovering since. Here are some pictures of Piper:

Sorry if the story was bland but I am sleep deprived and not nearly as elloquent as my better half!

Coming Contractions

2009-09-11T08:29:00.000-07:00

Well, we went to the hospital on Wednesday night. I was having steady contractions from 1:30 in the afternoon and they were lasting two minutes and coming between 4-10 mintues apart, mostly 6 minutes apart. By 5:30 I thought going to the hospital might be a good idea.

So we went, and waited, and waited, and waited, and waited, and waited, and waited, and waited, and waited... you get the idea.

I was having steady contractions, but nothing else. They sent me home. I wasn't dissappointed or anything. I just found out that I am a luck y girl that contracts.. ALL THE TIME.

The nurse said I'd probably be in and out of the hospital until the baby arrives. I'm the type that, "Comes in dilated to 1, is sent home, then comes back dilated to 10 an hour later ready to push." I am going to be like this until she arrives, so we can't plan on going to the hospital with timed contractions. I have to wait it out until I am in a lot of pain.

So I just gotta hang in there. Because I am 36 1/2 weeks they won't induce me because I am still a little early, but too far along to give me anything to stop the contractions. Everyone is fine though and we are really okay with God's timing. It can still be a matter of weeks so don't get too excited or start rushing to hospital if we post this type of news again. It can still be awhile.

My theory is that I talked with God earlier, and we discussed having to have a c-section. I don't want one. I think this is God preparing my body for a larger baby to avoid c-section. So if that's the case I am totally okay with contractions every 15-30 minutes. She'll be worth every bit of it!

Jordan's Demo Reel!

2009-09-03T07:26:00.000-07:00

Check out this site to view Jordan's newest completed demo reel!

http://vimeo.com/6407250

If it skips turn off the HD. The vimeo website makes things fun with their weird HD button. Jordan has been working on this for more than a month now and I am so excited to see what you all think. Months of work, time away form family and fun, and multiple migranes later he's finally finished, sorta. He wants to post more projects but the reel is finsihed.

Check it out!

Piper's New Arrival

2009-08-27T08:27:00.002-07:00

We went to our doctor yesterday and spoke about the problem that Piper is so big. And that last time we met the doctor mentioned doing a c-section, which we do NOT want. So I asked about being induced. She was more than willing to do that instead to try to avoid a c-section.

We are scheduled to be induced September 29th at 7am!!!

We are so excited and hopeful that she is small enough still for me to deliver her normally. Please pray to that effect! But since we are being induced we will need to keep the revolving door of visitors closed for a bit until we get things under control and get a handle on how the doctor views a lot of visitors.

So as of right now, unless we go into labor sooner, we are asking that immediate family only visit us in the hospital while we are in labor. However feel free to call Jordan's cell to check in and see if we can have more visitors as we progress. We need to get a feel for how well (or poorly) the medication works for us to see what we can handle as far as visitors goes.

We, as always, will keep you posted!

When Piper comes

2009-08-24T10:20:00.000-07:00

People have been asking me what we are wanting when we actually go into labor. Who can come, what time, etc.

We are more than okay with people coming while we are in labor. Jordan and Talitha are going to be the only ones in the room with me though while I actually deliver. T is being amazing and taking all the labor pictures. Just like last time as far as that goes. We just need to be curteous of others delivering in the same area and of the nurses, they were overwhelmed last time, so maybe not too many people in all at once. But there is a waiting area that is plush and inviting a few yards away from the labor and delivery rooms.

We can have visitors immediately after she is born, but the following days we will have to be more strict on who and when we can see people. We found that we had a ton of visitors at all times of the day and perhaps this time we can schedule visitors. We had a hard time breast feeding Noah and we needed to rest more last time. We also had a hard time with children visiting. Well, I did. Nothing against the little tykes, they for some reason overwhelmed me really easily last time. So we are asking no kids for a while until we can get Noah adjusted and us adjusted to Piper.

I guess all this is to say, we'll determine as we are in labor when we can get visitors since she could be born in the middle of the night and the next day could be interesting....

And as always, just call before you come. We need the heads up and we might have to tell some people that now's not a good time. The hospital has a "nap time" of 1-3pm that is enforced, so regardless during those times of day we cannot have visitors, even if they let us, we have to say no just for peace of other recovering mothers around us.

We learned a lot from last time, and hopefully Piper doesn't have the feeding problems we had with Noah. If she doesn't, we might be very open to having many visitors, but we'll play it by ear until then.

Lastly, if we have to have a c-section or are induced early, we ask that we have only immediate family as visitors then. We will need to focus on recovery for me and extra hurdles that these situations bring forth.

We love you all and just like last time Jordan will keep you all posted here and on Facebook once we go into labor in case you want to know but can't come!

The Latest Piper pictures

2009-08-12T19:47:00.000-07:00

That's our girl! Sweet smile and all =)

We went to the ultrasound today to get her measured. Since I have a thyroid problem the doctors were concerned. YEAH, LOTTA GOOD THAT WAS! You know that your kid is huge when the sonogram tech proclaims, "Wow, she um....she has a rather large head. And a large torso. But hey! Her legs are normal!" She is supposed to weight at the large end 4 and a half pounds right now. SHE WEIGHS 5 1/2 POUNDS! Two weeks ahead of schedule! The doctor was like, "I love delivering chunky babies!" I was like, "I DON'T!"

The sonogram tech said she is very very large for her age, hhmmmm, remind you of anyone else as a baby? Maybe...JORDAN! The measurements added up to two weeks ahead of normal. That doesn't mean anything besides the fact that she is big, so don't necessarily bank on an early arrival.

Then the doctor said something no pregnant woman wants to hear, "Well, the worst case scenario is that she is 11 pounds and we do a C-Section."

YEAH! THAT IS THE WORST CASE! I don't want to get cut open! Please pray that she comes early so that doesn't happen!

I thought to myself, well they said the same thing about Noah and he was totally normal. Then she measured my belly. I am 32 weeks along. I measured 35 to 36. There is no mistake....she is huge.

So yes everyone, I look big because my child is huge! And the doctor mentioned c-section, and I have to go in every week sooner than 36 weeks because she is so big. Little freaked. And also really excited that Piper could very well get here sooner since she is so far along. Pray that is the case instead of humongo baby. The doctor said to not get my hopes up, but it is a possibility since Noah came early too and she is so big.

But freak out aside, isn't she cute? Well, what you can see of her that is. Cute button nose and sweet sweet smile. She kept rooting at the placenta whenever it came near, so hopefully that means good eating habits early, since Noah really struggled with latching on and eating. That smile made the whole fat baby issue non existent. I forgot how much I love her for a second there, then she goes and melts my heart with that smile!

Or maybe she is smirking...in that case she is much more evil than I thought.....

Prayers Needed

2009-08-10T14:52:00.001-07:00

So we have been hearing for along time now that Jordan's office is dealing with hard times. The two bosses have cut hours on occasion and told Jordan that he is very useful and they want him to stay.

However this last week they let go of two employees higher up on the rungs to make it easier. They held a meeting this afternoon with the whole office saying that they had to lay off the two men and if they don't get more work within two weeks they will have to either lay off more or cut back hours again.

They are also moving offices next month into a smaller place. Now that could mean that they keep Jordan on until then to help move since he is the youngest and most able to help them move. We think that might be the situation, and if that's the case we have another month at least.

The biggest problem we are concerned about is trying to find a job right now. This is not an easy time to find a job, especially in the field that Jordan has expertise in, Animation and Media Design. He has beefed up his resume with After Effects and video production. If you all hear of anything in these areas that is open, please think of Jordan.

We feel like the next two weeks will determine a lot for our family. Being laid off is a very real possibility, so is a cut back in hours. Both mean hard hard times for us. Especially with Piper on her way within seven weeks... not a great time to be searching for a job or to have to take time off to stay home with a new baby.

So all your prayers are very very much appreciated. We also feel like this is a new chapter in Jordan's life. We knew this job was a band aid for a while, but nothing we wanted to make a life long career out of. Perhaps times are changing faster than we anticipated, it's all in God's hands and time.

Thanks everyone for their prayers and support! We love you all and look forward to what God does in our lives...well, for the most part = )

Happenings

2009-07-23T05:39:00.000-07:00

What's been happening lately:

Hhhmmmm.... Well my awesome husband has taken to running every day to train for the Chicago Marathon (26 miles!). He and dad every Friday take a "cross training" day and bike. They had gotten so addicted to it that they decided to do the L.A.T.E. night bike hike through downtown Chicago and along the lake front. They had a blast, I'm only sad that I am all preggers and couldn't go with :( they looked like they had tons of fun. But they could still use encouragement because Jordan doesn't think he can do the marathon, psyching himself out prematurely I think. But anyone care to chime in and encourage, I am sure he'll appreciate your thoughts!

We had our 3 year anniversary and went to the Science and Industry Museum. He had fun, I had fun watching him be a little kid! Sadly we didn't get to see the Harry Potter exhibit, but we did get to race milking a cow! I won. Obviously. And we had a yummy lunch at Bennihana's, which I am so sad to say was way more authentic than JuRin is and I am TOTALLY going back! I used to go to Japanese restaurants with my parents way back in the day and since then they have "Americanized" the flavors. Three years, it's still hard to believe!

Piper is doing great, we have our last ultrasound scheduled for August 10th (I think). So hopefully here soon you guys can glimpse at her cuteness again before she is born. I think we have something like 70ish or so days left until she is due! When did I pass up the 100 day mark?! Well nesting has kicked in and I have pretty much turned our apartment inside out rearranging and cleaning in preparation for her arrival.

Speaking of rearranging...we also found Noah a......(drum roll please).............BIG BOY BED!!!!!!!!

We were so appreciative to get one from our friends the Thompsons and lucky for us it is just perfect! Noah was so excited he took all his covers off his crib and murmured to himself, "nonononono, on the big boy bed now..." as he proceeded to place all sleeping paraphernalia on the new BIG BOY BED. I guess he was more ready than we gave him credit for. We laid him down last night for the first time in his big boy bed and didn't hear one peep until early this morning (6:30!) when he woke up freaking out...but once he was in mommy's arms and I reassured him how "cool" the big boy bed was, he got happy fast and excited all over again. We'll see how naptime goes...

So there's our life in a nutshell for the last few weeks. Lots of fun and OH YAH, Congrats to Jordan and Jana Huff on the arrival of their new little daughter!!!!! Lydia Shalom Huff was born July 22 at 1:03 weighing a whopping 6 pounds! She is so cute! They are recouping and I hear the Jana was a rock star! You go guys! Many blessings on the new parents!

We're still hanging in there

2009-06-11T15:11:00.000-07:00

I have been busy preparing for father's day recently as well as getting ready for summer camp and a family trip to be had within the next few weeks so nothing much different has been going on except that.

I have been trying to get into the "girl" frame of mind with washing and preparing baby girl clothes for Piper's arrival, and since I haven't the first clue about baby girl stuff I went to Moriah for help.

Oh My Goodness! She gave me what can only be described to as an avalanche of baby girl clothes and suddenly I was in a sea of pink and purple ruffles. Which is so beyond my general frame of mind for clothes that I gotta admit I was overwhelmed. But a few days later, a few hundred loads of laundry later, and massive organization of Noah and Piper's closet later I think I can do this. Forgive me Piper if by chance you are accidentally dressed in boyish clothing from time to time, but I will try my hardest to think girlier than I have the past year and a half.

Speaking of Moriah, if you read this, thank you again for loaning me all those woderful girl clothes! I got to sit and really get excited for this little one coming and truly appreciate how different having a girl is gonna be, plus you inspired a whole room makeover for Noah and Piper's room which will be a huge help in the long run. Once I am HUGE lifting bags of clothes will NOT be an option.

Lastly, please pray for our family for this summer. It looks like Jordan has four extra side jobs to get done by AUGUST, summer camp this next week, an anniversary to have fun with, Moriah's birthday, and a family trip to Arkansas. We need time together desperately and this is a huge summer for us. By the time it's over we'll have just enough time to catch our breath before Piper's arrival is to happen... so prayers for happy hearts and family time toghether are appreciated.

And lastly, some pictures of Noah and me (featurnig Piper in da womb).

It's a........

2009-05-26T19:18:00.000-07:00

GIRL!!!

Piper Shea Ferrell

Next Ultrasound and Names

2009-05-22T09:16:00.000-07:00

The next ultrasound is this tuesday, the day after memorial day. We will hopefully find out if we're having a boy or a girl! We don't mind either way.

We also have a few names picked out for the little ones, now everyone gets to vote:

Boy = Miles/Milo
Girl = Parker, Piper, or Tatum

We like Parker and Piper the best. I like Piper, Jordan is pulling for Parker.

So which is your favorite? We also need a middle name for Miles if its a boy....any suggestions?

The names, by the by, are non negotiable. If you don't like em please don't poop all over them since we do like em. But we do need help with middle names...... so your skills will be best placed there! Your turn : )

Impressive....

2009-04-25T13:55:00.000-07:00

We recently started teaching Noah "School" in the mornings. We review numbers 1-10, letters, and Colors. Colors are his favorite. Jordan sat down with Noah today to go through them for fun since our cable is out and Noah loves his "school". Here was the result!

I was amazed at how much Noah knew! I had to get it on camera. When we do school in the mornings he MAYBE maybe can get two colors without help, but today he got a lot more! It was more or less to impress Daddy. He loves Daddy praises. Which altogether made me very happy that he is learning fast and that he is such a smart little cookie. God gave me a gifted little boy!

What's new?

2009-03-29T15:11:00.000-07:00

'Cause not much is going on here...

Jordan and I have discovered the early signs of gray hair...on JORDAN! I think having this surprise child with all it has to offer in the financial department has finally gotten to Jordan. He has a patch of gray hair in his eye brows. Only one though and if you didn't know it you'd think it was a scar that didn't grow hair, so not terribly noticeable. But nevertheless it's there and I for one am so EXCITED!

Why you ask? because ever since I have known Jordan I have said that he will look stunning with salt and pepper hair, and that I will totally find him even more sexy with it. I'm glad that i was right! I really can't wait until he gets more. It makes his demeanor and stature seem more graceful and worldly. I just like it on him.

As for me, I am getting no new hair. In fact pregnancy forces me to lose my hair rather than gain it, or get thicker hair, or shinier, or healthier... but I get a kid at the end so it's worth it. Plus not shaving for a while is a plus.

We are 13 weeks now and it astounds me when someone tells me, "I had no idea that you were expecting again! Congratulations!" I swear we told everyone twice! Not to mention I have a bump the size of a grapefruit under my shirt.

That's about all that has been happening round here. Not a lot to show for all the weeks gone by and whatnot. Maybe something new will happen and I'll be more interesting later.

Nobo doing fun things

2009-03-09T13:53:00.000-07:00

Noah is very interesting these days. I thought I'd share a few things with you.

First, he likes to dance and sing when we are singing or playing music. He's a really talented dancer! He gets that from Jordan.

He has suddenly grown an attachment to his cuddly blanket we use to put him to sleep with. We don't encourage this behavior but somehow it snuck up on us and he FREAKS witnessing it being washed. FREAKS. This video was only after he saw the blanket make it safely into the dryer after the horribleness that is the washing machine. He knew it was only a matter of a few more minutes at that point. You'd have sworn I was suffocating his best friend or something.

A belly shot of me. Jordan is insisting we take photos every day to watch the bump rise. At this point I am in maternity clothes because a rubber band isn't the most comfortable clasp for my pre-maternity pants. But alas, I am showing... a little : )

And lastly, i have been working all day with Noah to respond when someone asks, "What's your name." He points to himself and says, "Nono." Close enough for one days work. But he still points to himself and also says, "Mama" or "Dada" So it's a 1 in 3 chance you get the right answer.

I think it's a girl

2009-02-27T09:26:00.000-08:00

We went to the doctor's yesterday for our first ultrasound of the newest edition to our family. We were able to talk to the doctor afterward and I got a picture of our little plum sized miracle!

I have to admit, the nausea and tiredness haven't been enough to really convince me about this new creature in our lives, it wasn't until I heard her heartbeat! I had my own reservations about what today could have held for us, but God is true to us and we got to see our little angel is safe and snug as a bug in a rug. The heartbeat was about 167 per minute which is in the girl range. i know, I know, that's a wives tale, but think about this. Noah's heart rate was never above 156. His was in the 130 range most of the pregnancy. Charis and Selah's were also high....

So I think we're having a girl. Which is fine by me cause I want to finally be able to put pigtails and barrettes in SOMEONES hair! And Noah doesn't appreciate being dressed as a girl (ask Moriah).

Well, here it (she) is!

Why Morning Sickness is a Ministry

2009-02-09T13:41:00.000-08:00

I have been talking this over with God lately and I think I have decided that morning sickness is my ministry right now. As a woman bearing children is our goal in being fruitful Christians, bearing the next generation and bringing them up in the word to make more disciples. I would not be as Godly of a woman if it weren't for my husband and child(ren). They are my refiner's fire. They teach me what it is to be selfless, truly selfless. What it means to set and example with a good foot forward. What it means to be humble, and more importantly what it means to show Christ's love through my actions daily.

If I were single (this is just me know folks) I would be a much more selfish and greedy human being if not for my family. I have learned how to love unconditionally and thoroughly through them. This next child will be no different. What I haven't yet learned I know this next child will endear me to it. With Noah I learned self control and patience. I learned the true meaning of the timing of God. I learned how to put myself last (that was the hardest lesson for me). Moreover I learned how much God is in my life and in control of it. Noah was conceived the month Jordan lost his job, and we had absolutely no health insurance. We lived in a one bedroom apartment above a very noisy and smokey neighbor. And yet God changed all that into good. God proved to me the words for the good of those who he has called according to his will.

So why should I doubt this morning sickness is any different? Through my newest child this morning sickness has already proven to me my perseverance is more than I thought possible. I CAN eat food I don't want to. I CAN get up and take care of my house while I am ill. I can love this child with every fiber of my being while afflicted with nausea. If I can love my children and accomplish all this through my suffering how much more so then can Jesus for me? Morning sickness isn't my affliction. It's my first step onto the new path God has for me. It's the first indicator that things are changing and this new change brings with it new challenges and new lessons to be learned. Much like graduating to the next grade, it has new and different and harder problems to be solved.

Morning Sickness is not only my ministry to the world for bring forth (hopefully) another believer in Christ, but it is MY ministry. How God is shaping me and preparing me for His will and purpose. So I should embrace it. I WILL embrace it! I will wake up each morning and say, "Praise God for this nauseousness for without it I would not know you Lord!"

I hope. Or at least I'll think a little more positively about it. Speaking so early in the morning makes ma gag a little.... But I'll try!

WHAT?!?!?!?!?!?!

2009-02-02T08:15:00.000-08:00

So, it all started with me thinking I was pregnant because of my charting and talking to the doctor at my yearly exam. She said that I was showing some basic signs of being pregnant, and I was like, "Nuh uh!"

So, I spoke with Jordan and told him the doctor's findings and we started the waiting game. I took a test at the 5 day marker before my period, and it was negative. Three tests laster over the course of a week and i thought, "Whew, that was a close call!"

I was getting sick and tired of the, "Am, am I not?" game that I decided to call the doctor and be put on the pill. It wasn't worth the roller coaster ride of "what if" each month only using a diaphragm. I thought to myself that they'd take a pregnancy test before they issue the medication and I don't have maternity insurance to cover that cost, so what if I just bring in a pregnancy test taken that morning and use that as proof so as to not incure the costs of the doctor's test. Well, I didn't have to pee.

So i drank water, and waited, and waited. Finally a small trickle happened, I quickly grabbed the test and got a few drops on the test before I dried up again. DANG IT! So I put the test down and waited a little while longer until I had another urg to pee. 30 seconds later I grab it up again to pee on it only to see not one, but TWO LINES!

My initial reaction was, "Well that's new." Just like Rachel on Friends dreaming of kissing Joey.
I literally said it out loud. I didn't think I had enough pee on the test to even get it wet let alone to turn it positive! So I immediately call Jordan and tell him at work. He was happy, But had to stifle it cause we weren't telling anyone just yet, it was only one test after all.

Then I called my mom. She shreiked the news to her entire office!

Then I raced to the corner walgreens and bought a package containing three more tests. Came home (by that time all the water kicked in) and took two more tests. PREGNANT! POSITIVE!

Then I waited with tthe three tests on the counter for Jordan to come home.

Three days later I took the last test just for grins and, what do you know, POSITIVE.

Needless to say, we are PREGNANT!And by the way, for those of you wondering, First Response is the best test out there. It never gives false positives and was the most clear and correst test we've taken.

Lastly, we are due early October. We aren't sure of the exact date yet but we'll get there soon enough. We'll keep you posted. Please pray in the meantime for a healthy baby and that health care costs are overseen by God. We have done a lot of research and we have found so much that God is already helping with, but a little more would be great!

P.S. Anyone needing help with the financials in the area I have a wealth of knowledge to impart! You'd be surprised how much money is out there and help!

Thanks! and God bless!

While You're Gone

2009-01-09T17:36:00.000-08:00

Jordan, Moriah and Josh these are a few videos for your enjoyment while you are away. The girls are great and loving Nana and Opu's house to run around in. And Charis has made it her personal mission to exhaust Nana to no end. Mission well accomplished I might add. Selah has also taken to spitting up orange goo at the most inopportune times, mostly while Nana's in the way. Here you are!

Also, Moriah I have seen that you are buying Meijer brand formula, please let , me get you the stuff from Costco the next time I'm there! It's so much cheaper and better!

While I was Vacuuming

2009-01-05T07:52:00.000-08:00

While I was dutifully doing housework I let Noah have a spoonful of chocolate pudding. A spoonful. The rest of the pudding was on the kitchen table aprox. three steps away from Noah's reaching arms. Somehow when I returned to vacuuming Noah went into super stretch mode and retrieved the cup of pudding this was the result. I was astonished. I couldn't have reached the cup how the heck did he reach it?!

Baby to Toddler

2008-12-18T09:19:00.000-08:00

Noah has turned ONE! I can't believe that it was only a year ago that we welcomed this new little creature into the world, and every day has been wonderful. We celebrated at Grandma Porter's house with food and cake (of course cake) and Noah had lots of help unwrapping his gifts from the Huff girls.

To be honest, he couldn't have unwrapped them without Charis' help. Noah is such a joy in our lives, hopefully the videos and pictures will tell the story...
Birthday CAKE!

See, he needed Charis' help....sorry Charis, but you were his only hope and you kept him interested.
Daddy and Noah playing with "Piglet" The big brown bear (ask Jordan...the name will eventually mess with Noah's future recognition of animals, and I fully understand that I will receive phone calls from future teachers as to why my son refers to frogs as snakes.)

Noah chasing Daddy around the apartment. Hunting Daddy is good game... especially when he shrieks!

Halloween...and a BIG surprise!

2008-11-09T19:16:00.000-08:00

We had a great Halloween this year with our little man! He was so cute in his little puppy costume, and Jordan looked amazing as my wife, Mage. I was her husband Wilbur. We made an amazing couple, except that I had a roaming eye and wanted to hit on anything that moved, sorry kids! I might have played that part a little too well.....

Anyway, we went to the Gallagher's party and had a lot of fun. We really enjoy seeing all the kids and we love how much the kids like Noah, he thinks they are all his older siblings and tags along after them....so cute.

But, something else has happened. Noah began walking!!!!!!!!!! My BABY! SO BIG! We cannot be any prouder than we are of him. Below are some pics of our fn times and a clip of our little man doing his thang!

Walking...Almost

2008-10-21T07:51:00.000-07:00

Mom Ferrell bought Noah a puppy toy that allows toddlers to learn to walk, and I did not realize that he had started to actually use it! I yelled across the room, "Jordan LOOK!" And Jordan looked over, nonchalantly said, "Oh, yeah, he does that for me all the time."

RRRGGGGG! I never get to see the new things first! But at least we caught it on tape. It's only a matter of a few more weeks before he is doing this all on his own!

So big. I prayed to God that the next child won't come until Noah is potty trained, and after walking that's the next step........Am I ready for all this yet? YOU BET I AM! Maybe even twins! Man I'm crazy, but what can I say? Noah is so fun and such a blessing to me that I can't wait until we are ready for number two. This is how God's shows his grace in my life, through my family.

Babysitting and Burfday

2008-10-20T11:56:00.000-07:00

This weekend T and Isaac came home which also meana lot going on in ne weekend. We watched Charis and Selah for Moriah and Josh so they could have a fun night not going to the corn maze (it was sadlt rained out but they played Killer instead...spooky). The girls were great and I even had time to bake brownies, which were amazing. Charis' favorite phrase after that was, "Moo. Moore Pees. Eat. Moo Pees!" See picture below.

Noah was a little turned off by the incasion of his home and his toys, he sahres well outside of the house, but apparently his home is his turf, and we had a fight over that. We played a little in the bathtub and Noah freaked out every time Charis dumped water on her head, he thought she was hurting herself. Such a cute video of that too.

Then there was my trip to the Shedd Aquarium for my birthday. I was so excited to go and see the dolphins and the whales. Unfortunately that whole exhibit was under renovations until June 2009.....bummer.

But the day was beautiful, and my hubby treated me like a queen for the day. We went to flattop grill for lunch and then headed home for a much needed nap.

The pictures say it all. My Husband is great!

And Lastly for Moriah and For Jordan, the videos for your enjoyment

this is noah calling his Dada. He positively loves calling his dad throughout his day!

Sweet Hubby

2008-10-14T10:50:00.000-07:00

My husband came in the house yesterday with an arm full of flowers.....for me!!!!!!!! He is so sweet. I had to brag cause they are so pretty and I wanted to show them off!

I love Jordan, they are beautiful. Thanks for being a great husband ; )

HELP!

2008-10-13T20:00:00.001-07:00

As you may notice, we have added a song to the right side of the screen, but I can't get it to play as a background song, how do I get it to play automatically and loop????????!!!!!!!!!! Rosie, any thoughts?

Halloween

2008-10-08T09:19:00.000-07:00

So, Jordan and I haven't yet decided if it is good (good in the biblical term) to take our children trick or treating. Since this "holiday" is a satanic/paganistic ritual we aren't sure if this is a good thing to do, but on the other hand, for us it's a day to dress up for candy, nothing more.

We went ahead and purchased a costume for Noah in the case we can figure things out and wish him to go. Either way, on the 31st he will be donning this costume and looking every bit as cute as the day he was born! Any advice on this matter will be helpful as we are on the fence. We don't want to rob our children of simple pleasures in life, but we also don't want to compromise our integrity of faith.

On a lighter note, here or some cute videos and pics of Noah in his costume!

For Talitha

2008-10-05T18:33:00.000-07:00

This weekend was the yearly family trip to Edwards Orchard, and it was Noah's first time there post womb. This post is more for Talitha who missed this years outing with the fam (she's going again later with the rents).

First we have to say the new barn is amazingly big and much more spacious than before. The apple cider doughnuts were as great as ever, and Jordan felt the deep need to take up doughnuts for you which made his grand total of doughnut consumption to EIGHT. That's right, seven for him and one in honor of you T. Noah tried and loved apple cider, and the video will give you an glimpse of his first taste of cider doughnuts. All in all it was a great day, great weather, and a wonderful family outing (minus the spectacularness that is Talitha). You were missed... = (

Picture Story

2008-09-29T08:10:00.000-07:00

Hello Ladies.... This is a day in the life of Noah Riley. Welcome to my crib, wipe your feet, and stay a while...

First I play with my box

Then I get frustrated...

Then I cry until my mommy gets me and gives me kisses. I feel better.

We eat a little breakfast and after it's time for a nap

First I sleep, then I rip apart my bed if mommy doesn't get to me in time after I wake up...it's funny watching her face when she sees what I've done!

Next is bath time. Arguably the best time of the day because I get to be naked AND splash my mommy in the face.

I love my toys for bath time. I like to chuck 'em at mommy's face too, she's a quick target!

We eat lunch, and play some more...Mommy says I have pretty big brown eyes... I think she's bias

The parents all think I'm gonna be walking soon. I say I already do when they're not looking....shhh don't tell them, it's a secret.I love the camera, this was my good side. Yeah, full on frontal, that's right, I don't have a bad side.

Usually then Daddy comes home and we do some work together.

Seriously, these people are lucky they have me, I really don't know what they'd do without my help around here.Lastly mommy tells me it's time for bed, I don't like putting my toys away, but it's alright, i get her back at 3:00 in the morning when i wake her up to come and comfort me. It's a new thing I have been working on.....and she thinks I have nightmares....! Silly mommy, I have her trained. ; )

We went to the ZOO!

2008-09-08T07:47:00.000-07:00

Saturday we went to the Brookfield Zoo with Moriah, Josh, Charis, and Little Selah. I really really really had a great time. The children were great all day and the animals were all out and close enough to see. Noah was a little apprehensive at first but I think he started to understand what was going on when we went to the dolphin show. His eyes went wide and then there was screaming...from Charis saying, "YEAH!!! YEAH DOLPHIN!". Which in turn made Noah more excited to what was going on in the water. He enjoyed all the animals, and passed out in his stroller for a half hour then we went and saw more animals.

I forget how wonderfl it was to be a kid. I love the zoo!

A little apprehensive.....
Getting curious...

We got to touch the sting rays! They are so slimey and yet so friendly. They all swam in a large circle looking for fingers to touch them! Gross and yet so much fun too!

Now he's happy!

This is the sleeping goat that made Noah really happy, he got to touch it! Charis was a little more concerned for this animal (it was really tired and trying to sleep amidst the group of touching children). Charis got right into this goats face and asked so sweetly, "You okay? Goat....you okay goat?" So precious!

This Giraffe was only a few weeks old, it was born August 18....and it was taller than me.

New things

2008-08-21T12:33:00.000-07:00

Noah started to crawl yesterday!!! He was so awesome and showed it off at Oasis last night and wowed the onlookers. He went from a little movement to full on crawling in a matter of hours once he learned what was happening.

So here is what I have found out:

1. Crawling babies are fast. Not speedy fast, but fast like a magician. Poof he's gone.........into something he isn't supposed to touch. I turn around, still speaking to him, and I find I am talking to myself and He is off eating every last cheerio I missed on the carpet.

2. I say "NO" a lot.

3. He stops when I say "no" so at least he is obedient....or the smack on the hand works for anything I say "no" to. It's amazing that he understands me when I say, "Noah, no touch or I am gonna have to smack your hand." When I say that he smiles and simply turns and does something else as if to say, "Okay mommy." Such a blessing.

4. Everything is now "dadadadadadadadada"

5. When he does test boundaries it's a long test. He'll touch the blinds, "noah no touch". Then he'll look at me and sllloooowwwlllyy place his hand on the window sill and wait for me to do something. He's gonnna be our tester.

6. He has found just about every power outlet in our home and likes freak me out. I have them covered but still... no mother likes to see her child infatuated with electrical outlets.

7. He loves his father more than me cause his name really is "Ddadadadadada" and "Dada" is the fun and rough parent. Or it's cause he's a guy. But I swear when Jordan comes home Noah always has the biggest grin to give him!

8. He stands up on his own.......and then falls on his own too. Then blames it on me and tells on me to "Dadada"

9. I am now his favorite jungle gym. I have the bruises to prove it.

10. God could not be any better to us. Even though these things are happening I love every second of it. I know that it's only a matter of time before "dada" turns into, "Yo, can I borrow the car?" so I am trying as hard as I can to enjoy every second of this time I have with my baby while he's still a baby.

The more he grows the more I sit back and wonder in amazement that God made him from little peices of me and Jordan. We created life togheter and he is a funtioning work of art. It's so hard to explain this weird feeling but the words, "Bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh" now mean so much more to me than ever before. Adam's wonderment at Eve must have been catastrophic.

On another note, I am going to start a discipleship group with some young girls at our youth, so please pray for wisdom as I begin this journey. I just hope I do a good job of leading thier minds and hearts to Christ. And it's time away from my family but I hope it works out.

Here's our little man doing his crawl....

Florida, new home and a funny video

2008-08-11T14:41:00.000-07:00

So we made it!!!!! We made it through the great/stressful two weeks of going to Florida with the family and then moving into our house the moment we returned. Thankfully we had Isaac with us on the way down and back to help with the driving of 15+ hours. Noah was amazing and he slept all night on the drive and only complained maybe five whole minutes round trip.

We had a great time playing in the ocean and eating sea food! I ate the sea food, Noah watched with mild enthusiasm. I have to say though vacations with small babies are much more difficult than I thought it'd be.

We are finally all unpacked and all set to have visitors at our new place as well. We live in the same apartment that Matt and Emily Knudsen just moved out of. We were lucky to get this apartment! It's been amazing! God certainly blew away my expectations.

Noah started to crawl this week and he has two whole teeth. Unfortunately he hates when I try and see his teeth and won't perform well for the camera to prove this is true, so you'll have to take my word for it.

Without much more to add to this post I'll leave you with pictures and one heck of a funny video.

Fun with Dada and the waves...

Noah and Auntie T

And Noah getting ticked off from the stupid hat I made him wear and his father mocking him mercilessly.

And the bext video ever taped of Charis and Noah....seriously ever...

Moving...still

2008-07-06T18:10:00.000-07:00

So I realized that after I published that the videos never were able to be viewed. So here you are: Oh and for our new address: Jordan, Crystal, and Noah Ferrell 40W304 LaFox Road, Apartment E St. Charles, IL 60175 Here's (hopefully) the videos

Moving

2008-07-03T12:02:00.000-07:00

So the sentimental Crystal has come back with a start. I have been packing, slowly, but packing non the less and have found it oddly strange to say goodbye to this house. Even though the bills are laughable and huge and the neighbors are kinda...special. I still find myself a little sad to be leaving the place that Noah has started his life in. But then I am so happy to move on the other hand that I feel slightly like I am cheating on my old house with our new one....such is life.

But I sti;; need to give you all the new address (I need it myself too). Anyway, we have some fun pictures/videos for you guys to browse through until I get that. Noah "feeding himself", Noah eating ice cream (and lovin it) and fun other things.

Here you are:

More about Summer Camp

2008-06-19T08:27:00.000-07:00

Okay, so wednesday we went to Oasis and watched the summer camp video and it really made me relive and capture more thoughts about the week. I just have to praise God for letting me be a part of that truely amazing time. I got to watch as God opened my small group girl's hearts and minds to his glory and I had a front row seat to the amazingness that is worship, complete and utter worship. I have to say God made me delight in him even more through this experience.

And, as far as being a leader, I am so glad I was able to do this. It has made me even more bold for God and I feel like I have a holy fury for God. I am changed for the better to be a bolder Christian through this experience. I have realized it is far more important to be myself and love God than to try and be everyone's friend. I think I came away with a much better respect for our God's name and grace than before and having such is allowing me to see sin for what is really is, ugly. I have had to cut things out of my life since then and can't be happier. I am happy knowing God is being glorified. Having a proper perspective on God is more valueable than I could have imagined, as Perry would say, "He is not our Homeboy!"

On another note, Noah has also learned to finger walk. Meaning he can walk while I hold his fingers!!!! It was so awesome to see that click in his head as he took his first few steps (with help)! I'll get video soon as I get new batteries for my camera.

The Lord is so good to us and we signed on our new place. So, now I am daydreaming about how it will be to watch Noah take his first real steps in the new place, especailly since that is where Gabrie and Addy took theirs! Such a great place to live, Thank you so much Em for suggesting your apartment!!!!!!!! It's going to be wonderful!

Praise for all this be to God because it all would not be possible without him. Even the air I breathe. Such a cliche but totally accurate.

Summer Camp and Moving

2008-06-17T07:41:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone. We're back from summer camp and although I had a blast, I am so glad to be home. I get to sleep in my bed, eat when I want to, and SLEEP! Noah went wih us and he was the talk of the camp. By the end of the week he had Emily Chaly's heart and thought himself to be in a relationship with each one of the Clare girls. Such a stud muffin.

God was faithful over this trip and I am totaly excited to be in youth group with the new girls coming in from 6th grade. Holla out to my chicas! (I know, totally dorky of me to say)

We are home now and looking forward to signing our lease on the new apartment today. We will have the apartment on August 1st. Which means we have to put our things in storage until we get back from Florida with the Ferrell/Huff clan. Please pray that we have a safe trip and everything goes smoothly with the move.

Last but not least, here are some cute videos and pics of our 6 month old little man. A whole half a year old. Time flys when you've got a midget that poops three times a day!

Funny face

So big! 6 months is a blast, I think I'd be okay if he wanted to freeze at this age for a while. He just had his check up and he grew 6 inched in two months! Alas he is only 19 pounds though, so he's following his daddy in the tall and thin catagory. But look at those cheeks, aren't they to die for?

Crawling??????????

2008-05-22T11:57:00.000-07:00

Noah started this today...hmmmmmmm.....

What's New and Rolly Polly Ollie

2008-05-19T14:09:00.000-07:00

We are going to (most likely) be moving into a new apartment! After reviewing our finances and our (VERY high) bills here at our apartment we have realized that this old drafty house houses more than charm, high energy costs. To give you an idea, we paid this month a $130 gas bill, and the heater wasn't even turned on! Lucky for us we have great friends, Matt and Emmy, that are hoping to buy their own home soon and their apartment is just right! We already spoke with the leasing company and have everything set. They reserved the apartment for us and we are all just waiting to hear back from the bank to see if Matt and Em get their new house! (Please pray for them because this is such a blessing of a house for them to have found.) Also, our son is growing by leaps and bounds. He recently learned to control his "roll over" flex and now does it on command. Just watch. I can't keep him on his stomach any longer. He likes to look at the heavens, so holy. We'll keep you updated as far as the move goes and let you all know when the move in date is once we sign the lease soon. Prayers to All, Crystal and Jordan

Long Time Coming....Here you are

2008-05-05T13:14:00.000-07:00

I'm MESSY! (This is after I had a fight with my fist and the food bowl, the bowl won, then Mommy got mad at me for using my hands, but we made a deal that my punishment would be this picture.)
My Poop Face. I was a poopin. Thanks mom for this...I appreciate it...NOT!
Hey.....how you doin'?

My mommy is silly!

Laughter! Finally caught on film!

Dr Pepper Lover...he takes after a long line of Dr. pepper lovers, his father, his uncle, his grandfather......

FOOOOD!

2008-03-31T09:20:00.000-07:00

Noah just started eating rice cereal from a spoon. I know this is no big deal, but his diapers are! HOLY COW!!!! His hiney can produce some pretty amazing things....and smells. Our precious little child has now learned how to clear a room, in one fail swoop and poot.

Aside from that though, he is really adorable eating his food. I got his very first bites on tape for everyone to see his face. Priceless. There are two videos but each have a different face. The first one is a look like, "What the....I don't know if I like this....it's...it's..gooy." And after he got the idea of eating real food the second video is his happy baby face and coos of gratitude. He now LOVES food! He giggle and talks while he eats. It's a great feeling to see your child happy from your provisions. How much more must God think when he provides for us? He must be an amazing adorning father always.

So here's our baby's first food tastes. Enjoy!

Easter and new things

2008-03-27T11:35:00.000-07:00

Easter was great. I brought Noah over to Great Grandma's house to meet his 3rd cousin...my cousin's child who was born five days after Noah.

Yeah, can you tell Noah was a little skeptical? Trevor, the other munchkin, couldn't care less, Noah was more apprehensive. He refused to take his eyes off of Trevor, as if Trevor was gonna steal his favorite toy or something. It was....special.

With all the hub ub and goings on with Easter and Selah joining our family, Noah's schedule was totally off. So, for those of you who know Noah, he hates his car seat. Alas he did fall asleep in the car seat...four three hours. So I let him take his normal nap in the seat without waking him....

We also had some fun with Nana's birthday party. She is 34 and looks great! Well, at least that's all she'll confess to, when I said it earlier she never corrected me so I hold firm to 34. We had fun grilled food and corn on the cob, watermelon..all to try and remember the summer that is taking forever to get here. It was a fun day. I finally got to hold Selah. Alas,I forgot my camera, so no pictures yet, check out T's blog for those, or Josh's.

SELAH!

2008-03-21T06:06:00.000-07:00

SHE'S COMING TODAY!!!! MORIAH IS IN LABOR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

HA HA HA HA! I'M GONNA BE AN AUNTY AGAIN!!

Now, I gotta go to the hospital.....where's my keys.....

YEAH SELAH COMING INTO THE WORLD!!!!!

New Toys!

2008-03-12T09:00:00.000-07:00

Nothing new much around here. We are still going through parenting class and lovin it. T and Isaac came home from school for break and it is so nice to have the whole family together again for a bit. We had a blast at Dad's birthday Star Trek Murder Mystery. Though I couldn't leave Noah anywhere because of "mommy-baby" reasons, so I put tin foil on his bib and called him shrapnel from a recently blown up ship. Or Sputnik. Whatever is easier to imagine. So he got to "float" around! And Jordan was Worf, and I got to do his make up. It was amazing. I am trying to get a good picture for you all to see. And...Jordan was the murderer!

We are still looking to replace my Honda two door with a four door or Moriah and Josh's SUV. It all depends on cost and more junk. But...wink wink....um Emily Knudsen might be selling her car, maybe we can get the info? We might just be interested.......seriously. I don't have your number and we'd like more info to make our decision.=D

On to Noah News, I thought about it for a while and though he is still young, I decided to bust out his Jumperoo. It's a jumpy seat that stay stationary. He loves it! I haven't seen him this animated in a while...he just needed a little more stimulation is all. And yes, his feet don't touch the ground yet. Check it out. I apologize for the length of the video, it's a long one, but worth it.
My little faces. He just warms my heart with these cute grins.

Fun at Nana and Opu's

2008-03-09T17:30:00.000-07:00

It was a long time coming for some cute pics.....

1st hair cut

2008-03-06T11:03:00.000-08:00

Noah got his first hair cut. He looks like uncle Wyatt in this one, hmm....

it was afun. Poor Stephie, he kept moving on her. She did a great job though! my little chunky stud muffin =D.

Pole

2008-03-05T12:40:00.000-08:00

Real quick....Who thinks Selah Joy will have brown hair? Or blonde?

I think she'll have blonde hair because I got my hopes up last time for brown hair brown eyed little face and I was totally wrong. Maybe this one will have the dominant genes. Charis you recessive baby girl.

What's your vote?

2008-03-04T07:48:00.000-08:00

he likes to sing along!

Some Funny Pics and News

2008-03-04T07:23:00.000-08:00

Sorry it took so long again to get back to this blog. I am busy all the time. But I have sacrificed a morning shower for you all to view little Noah in his new world. New things he has learned:

1. To eat his blanket, which is a learning milestone for him, but makes me a nervous wreck...he pulls his blanket all the way onto his face then gets mad that it's making it difficult to breathe...yeah, nervous wreck.

2. He started giggling at Jordan. He's only done it a couple of times, but it's precious that he chose Jordan to laugh with first.

3. He is smiling a lot more and he selects who and what he smiles and talks to. Usually it's at me when I am busy cooking because he wants my attention.

4. Today we are going to Stephie's house to get his first hair cut! (more pics to come!)

5. He thinks Nana is an awful dictator of the universe but he LOVES Opu! At first I was sad that he started to cry at Nana, but then I realized that Charis always cried at Opu, so it's only fair. Sorry Mom, he will grow out of it and probably right after he's had his first piece of "Nana's Peanut butter Fudge."

6. He got his first freckle. It's on his tummy. And yes, I am that mom that took a picture of it for documentation. I am a dork.

Praise God moments:
1. Jordan's car is fixed! It runs great and is sooooo sexy.

2. Noah is happy, healthy, and with some help from the Ezzo's, still sleeping through the night.

3. Parenting class is amazingly great and helpful to us and we love going.

4. My Father in law is turning 50 today!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Everyone wish Father Ferrell a happy birthday when you can!

Pray for us things:

1. Jordan's car is fixed.....and it can't hold the car seat as we had hoped, so we need to find a newer four door car and sell my Honda.....sad, I know.

2. I might have a job opportunity to work from home, so that'd help us get a new car! Hopefully......

Welp, I'll leave you with more funny pictures of Noah.

First Freckle

"Mom, that milk was SO GOOD! Don't mind me, I'll just lay here and ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ"

Check out my son. Every night before bed he gets a bath. And every night when I arrive to his room to help get him set for bed my darling Husband Jordan has done this to our son. Every night. He kinda looks like Einstein thought, right? "Excuse me, ze theory of Evolootion directly contradicts ze Divine inspiration of our one and only creator, and zat , I am afraid, is simply inexcusable!" so says Einstein Noah and his relative grasp of his universe. Yes, he does have a slightly horrible euro accent much like Stewy.

2 months!

2008-02-06T10:54:00.000-08:00

Noah turned two months old! I can't believe it's been that long! I can't wait to see what the next two months bring. He's grown so much already and his personality is so sweet. God has blessed us with a sweet little boy.

And this one was his face after a half hour of shooting pictures...he was done. Can you tell?

Look what I can do!

2008-01-31T09:21:00.000-08:00

I look like my Papa!

Praise God! We were struggling to figure out how we are going to fork over a ton of money for all Noah's doctor visits. We were looking at about $600 for the immunization shots he'll be getting next week and and $240 for the past visits. Thankfully I have found that if you are nice and up front with the billing department then they are more than happy to work with you. We only have to pay $120 for the visit and then $16 per shot. That's all! Not to mention we won't have to pay $900 a month for health care, plus a $1500 deductable! We decided to forgo the health care that Jordan's office provides and pay for this all out of pocket. It's cheaper for us this way. We are going to sign onto a different plan that isn't as expensive as soon as we clear up the existing bills for Noah's birth. It's nice to know that right now we are able to get him in to the doctor and we can afford to do so. God is good to us and he keeps providing beyond our dreams. I am so glad we found the group of doctors that we have. They are amazingly nice to work with and kind people. Please just pray that we find extra ways of making some cash to help pay for all the medical expenses. God is providing some short cuts, but at the end of the day, we still have outstanding bills.

Noah video

2008-01-22T13:29:00.000-08:00

Work

2008-01-22T12:46:00.000-08:00

So, life outside of work...yeah right! Life is work!

I used to think that being a SAHM (Stay at Home Mom) was going to be easy and I'd have plenty of time to devote to Christ and the church and everything else on my "Perfect Mom" Checklist. WRONG! Being a SAHM is the hardest job I could have signed up for. Its a pride swallowing, puke on your clothes every day of your life gig that is a 24 hour circle of poopy diapers and messy house. I have to say though that it is the most rewarding job I have ever had. I love that even when I am at my wits end with Noah, he'll smile and coo at me and melt me right back to the mushy start and break down my wall of anger with one look. It's a humbling experience and I don't know who I'd be without him and my Hubby.

I can say right now in our lives we are still living day to day and I am slowly starting to adjust and get Noah on a schedule. I have just today found out a long standing problem with feeding Noah and hopefully have found a solution to our feeding dilemmas. So maybe it'll run better here on out. I had to actually break down and call the lactation specialist....yeah, just the thought of the word "lactation" makes me feel like a milk cow.

The past few weeks have brought on only a few amazing changes. Noah recognizes Jordan and me and is starting to smile at us and talk to us. It's is the best feeling you can imagine. It's like an angel chose to talk to you specially and no one else!

Anyway. God is providing for us and faithfully keeping my house, marriage, and motherhood all priority in my life. So I'll leave it at that and leave you all with some pictures.

Noah N Papa smiling

Peek a boo!

Where is Noah?!

okay......

2007-12-31T13:27:00.000-08:00

So having a four week old is much like having a bad case of diarrhea in the respect that you have just enough time in between feedings to do absolutely nothing. Hence why there haven't been any updates from me as of late. But we are doing well. Noah is a great baby, he lets me sleep a few hours at night and is not really all that uoset about anything. He is a fairly content child. However that still makes me his slave for the next 18 years of life. It's worth it.

And for those of you out there, the saying, "It's different when it's your own child." is completely true. Midnight feedings are not as bad when you made the thing your feeding. Plus having a cute face doesn't hurt. Anyway. I'll leave you all with pictures as my head is slowly dropping and my face is falling off from a lack of sleep.
Noah and Aunty T

Noah and Opoo making faces

My bobble headed boy.

Catching up (part dou)

2007-12-13T06:22:00.000-08:00

(WARNING: IF YOU HAVENT READ THE PREVIOUS BLOG "Catching up...but definitely not on sleep", THE JOKES CONTAINED HEREIN WILL BE SHALLOW AND STUPID. THAT BEING SAID, THE JOKES HEREIN WILL PROBABLY BE SHALLOW AND STUPID ANYWAY BUT FOR THOSE FEW PEOPLE WHO DO READ THIS AND CHUCKLE, A COMMENT WOULD BE MUCH APPRECIATED TO HELP MASSAGE THE EGO OF THIS BLOG WRITING AMATUER.)

The hospital room was bustling with testosterone and masculine pheromones for the new life that had emerged only moments before. Noah was chilling out in the baby incubator glass container posing for the next issue of GQ. The nurse called me over because she had heard me count from 1 to 10 for the last 2 hours and had me use my skills to verify digits of our little burrito. I was remotely disheartened to find that he didnt have his father's extra 11th finger but was relieved to see that he did get his mothers webbed toes. (Neither of the last two statements are true.) He was awake and staring down the nurse with her cold instruments poking and prodding him with a cynical and angry expression on his face. The next thing that happened will scare me for the rest of my life, he turned his wobbly head toward me and pointed his right index finger right at me and opened his eyes extra wide. The look he gave me was almost accusatory as if he was saying, "You just wait.....you'll get yours. Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but one day you will be lying naked in a glass container with people snapping pictures of you, *snap*, mocking your cry and rubbing cold metal objects on your chest and I will just stand over you and laugh." I think he was just mad that I emasculated him by cutting his umbilical cord ( a very clean and easy process in all, not nearly as disgusting as I expected.)

I decided it was a good time to go check on the wife, so I left the quivering ball of skin and turned around to face a bowl full of vomit inducing unhappiness. (For those of you who are queasy, skip ahead.) Prior to the birth, I had told Crystal that the one thing I would least like to see is the placenta. The doctor decided that she wanted to leave it in a cereal bowl in the middle of a table as if saving it for later. Traci (the nurse) and I had joked around about religious beliefs and how they would coincide with this whole birth process. I told her we were of the religious perspective that feels it necessary to, (how to put this politely), indulge in the life giving sack that my wife had just passed. (Yes it is true that some people actually do eat the placenta). When the conversation was being had earlier in the day, I thought that I had made it very clear that we were joking, but looking at the veiny bloody matter, I feared that Traci would pull out a blender any moment and hit "puree". I simply lifted a hand and blocked the bowl from my view as I meandered around the bed to Crystal's side.

She was laying back smiling, enjoying our son's induction to the cold cruelness that is this world. We watched from a distance as Noah was moved from the incubator to the scale and roll from side to side trying his best to make things that much more difficult for the nurse. Eventually she put her hand on his side to hold him still and he saw his chance to spring free. He grabbed the edge of the scale and nearly rolled out. (Check out the picture : sdgphotography.blogspot.com) Im on my tip toes trying to watch the numbers go up when the doctors calls out "T.O.B. 22:03". I turn to Crys and I say, "Thats 10:03."
She turns to me incredulous and says, "TEN POUNDS?!!"
Me and the doctor laugh and I say, "No, his time of birth is 10:03....military time is 22:03." The doc says, "He weighs 7, 10." (Now, I was expecting my kid to come out wearing shoulder pads and screaming "send me in coach." Nearly 6 weeks earlier the ultrasound said that he was a VERY LARGE 5 and a half pounds. The pregnancy math says that for the last 5 weeks the kid will gain anywhere from half to a full pound per week. In other words, I got gipped! Crystal said that he was "big enough" and we have left it at that. The nurse inked up his feet for the birth certificate then had papa lean in with his scrubs on and stamp the chest pockets with his little imprint. I told Crys that I would run out and let the stalkers know that everything was ok and then I would be right back.

So Mama, Papa and Burrito were put together on the bed and we were given the opportunity for a little prayer time. The kid was calm and started flirting and cooing at anybody that would get near enough. The funny thing is that all this happened within the first 3 minutes of him being born. The doc smiles at us and says congratulations with that "You Owe Me $13,000" smile. The next thing we know the door has burst open and in floods a sea of tearful women. There are shrieks of glee, and awwwws and a plethora of shallow comments that one would hear whilst following a group of pre-teens through an Ambercrombie and Fitch store:
"Oh, he is so cute!"
"I want one."
"I just want to kiss his little face off."
"Is this sweater on clearance?" ( I couldnt help myself )
I get to sit back and watch them pass around my little midget as the men start coming in. My brother pats me on the back and me and my dad shake hands. "You're a father."
"The Ferrell name shall live on!"
People lingered for a bit and talked about this and that. I mostly just sat back and watched and waited patiently to pass out. Crystal has said that she would much rather be the one delivering the baby than the one who has to watch the spouse go through that pain. Well, I was dead tired just watching and she was dead tired for some other reason and so the fam started to head out due to prompting from the nurse. Crys and I had that cliche moment where we looked at each other and said, "Now what?" I prepped my pull out bed chair from Satan's home and shopping network and asked Crystal to pass me the phone so that I could call room service to scan her preferred card for a memory foam bed. (In all actuality, the bed wasnt that bad. It did pull out to a reasonable length for any 4 foot tall husband whom is used to sleeping on a file cabinet.) ***(Not my best description, but give me break, still trying to get back into the swing of things.)
Too our luck, our nurse had to change shifts again so we met the next wave of interesting people. By now it was about midnight and in walks the nurse to discuss Newton's 2nd law (an object at rest remains at rest, an object in motion.....constant velocity..unexpected force.. blah blah) with me. I politely explain that the door was shut and the lights were off for a reason. She gives Crystal another plastic bag full of water *click* and rolls Noah out of the room to get him tagged like a stranded whale.
I have to speak for a moment on the security precautions that Delnor takes to keep their babies safe. Crys and I both get a little piece of paper wrapped around our wrists that seem innocent enough, but oh no, thats how they trick you. Noah gets a plastic jaws of life clamp that attaches to him from a hoop around his foot. The hospital pays someone millions of dollars to sit in a room and just watch the little red dot being transmitted from our bands move around the hospital, if by chance, you get too close to a door exiting the ward, the man in the room will give you an electric shock of 10,000 volts. If you feel like trying your luck and just sprinting to a door and running out with a baby, the little clip detaches from around babies foot and acts as a hand grenade pin. You have approximately 8 seconds to return to the maternity ward or your wristband will detonate with the power of 2 bricks of C4 dynamite. (Now I know what you are thinking....how does the baby survive the blast? Thats the amazing part! The fluids and whatnot from the delivery actually act as a solvent that turn the fiery blast into a whisk of lavender and lilac scents that carry the baby gently to the ground. I didnt believe it either until I saw some overly excited father bringing his newborn out to the family car. Poor sap, didnt even know what hit him.) But seriously, the people there are very protective of parents walking near doorways. Skipping ahead for just a moment....Crystal had to have a test done that next Tuesday while in the post labor room so I thought instead of kicking all of the people out of the room to wait, I would bring Noah into the hallway. There was a posse of 6 of us standing around me holding him just outside our door. A little 4 foot tall nurse comes scampering over freaking out that I didnt have him in his crib.
"I dont mind holding him." I said.
"Well, Delnor doesnt allow newborns to carried outside of the room for fear that someone could come up, grab them and run off." (THIS IS COMPLETELY SERIOUS! ASK MY DAD)
"And you think it would be easier for that person to do so if the babies father is holding him surrounded by a group of people?"
"It isnt permitted. If you want to walk the halls, he will have to be in a crib."
Well excuse the heck out of me. I would think that crib theivery would be easier than getting in a fist fight with me and 6 other family members. Anyway, lets move on.

My cell phone clock says 1:02 am, Crystal and I are pretending to be asleep in hopes of fooling our brains that we actually got some rest. The nurse comes in again wheeling Noah back to us just to say that our credit card had been declined and that we would have to leave the room. I start hauling all of our stuff into our few bags and grab Noah's crib cart to wheel him out into the hallway. (I learned my lesson from the troll nurse) They decided we would like the view better at the front of the maternity ward to recoup from the long day. The receiving room was similar to the delivery room except it was a little longer, less doo dadds to play around with and sadly....no mirror. I asked our nurse if we could get one *clicked to our tab and she obviously didnt either understand the joke or think that I was even a little funny. So she stays just long enough to say, "the equation's solution to the polynomial can be found by getting the sum of the squares of both sides." Then she leaves. Why they felt that we should move to recoup at 1 in the morning beats me, I would have preferred to just sleep where I was without the interruptions.

So anyway, we get our stuff laid out for 3 seconds, climb into bed, kiss the midget goodnight and turn off the lights when another nurse slides in to ask Crystal what her level of pain is. I dont remember what exactly Crystal said to the nurse but I do remember watching the EMT's come in to escort the body of the beaten nurse to the O.R. (We just wanted to sleep!) The nursery had to come in and pull Noah out again to verify his x-ray vision and super sonic hearing. He passed with flying colors and they speculated that he would gain his super human strength sometime in his pre-pubescent years.

Crys and I slept for an hour or 2 and they wheeled him back in for a feeding. It was awkward to watch another man kiss on my wife like that but Crystal assured me that it was simply an innocent fling and that it wouldnt happen again. I fell back asleep and woke up again to the whine cry of Mr. Magoo (Crystal's nickname for him). We tried to employ some of the "Baby-Wise" book and let him release the energy to pass out again but I guess he was still hungry. He stole my wife again.

The nurse came in around 7 am to take Noah to get circumcised. I wasnt exactly giddy about the pain he would go through but I figured he would thank me one day. Mom was tearful for her baby boy so we just sat together and I held her. He came back in about 20 minutes later and was passed out. I joked with Crystal that the nurse told me he broke the knife but the timing wasnt right. (She laughs about it now)

The next day was similar to the previous except that the kid was out. People came in to visit, leave gifts, flowers, cards, all that hoopla. I tried telling Noah not to accept anything because these were all belated birthday gifts and that he should act angry and hold it over their heads for a REALLY GOOD GIFT but he seemed content with all the attention. The nurse popped her head back in, "Jewel Osco'd " some pills for the wife and tried to make more small talk. Papa jumped online and checked Rosie's blog and saw that she had ALREADY put up pictures from the previous night. Rosie, I hope you got a fat check from my family members to get those pics up that fast because that is just ridiculous. (Very much appreciated, but ridiculous) I went about emailing friends and family giving the scoop and then chilled out and read a book.

Crys and I slept intermittently throughout the day when we got a chance and weren't interrupted. The day didnt bring us anything too over the top, we just enjoyed the visits and rested up. Papa made a "special request" to the cafeteria for their "homemade milkshake" and was sadly disappointed. There was very little milk, even less shake and after killing off half of it, a light went on in my brain saying....."hmmmmm......you know what Jordan......this doesnt taste like a milkshake." I popped the cap on it and look down into a cup full of......pudding. Crystal enjoyed her grilled cheese, Noah got a good fill of milk and papa sat back and waited for his mama to bring some homemade mostacholi.

That night it snowed something fierce. We got something like 5 inches. They kept us overnight again and did the most wonderful thing in the world. The offered a "nursery night" for the kid wherein he got to be babysat all evening so Mama and Papa could get some sleep. Woot! We missed the kid by 6 a.m. so we got him back. That morning the nurse helped us scoot along and pack up to leave the hospital. Papa went outside in his slippers (cause he is a dork) and got the car seat into place, scraped ice off the windows and warmed up the car. The actual leaving wasnt anything too terribly special. I was actually expecting a little more. A small musical number with a parade of babies doing synchronized swimming movement in their cribs. We just got his jaws of death clamp removed from his foot, said "piece out" to the receptionist up front and got into the car to go home. You'll be glad to know that the wristbands that we were wearing as we left didnt explode but simply left a faint hint of urine and poopy butt......or maybe it was just the midget in the back seat.

Catching up....but definitely not on sleep.

2007-12-12T07:28:00.000-08:00

OooooooooooooooK!. We get it, you want us to update. Sadly, Crystal is slightly preoccupied with our little burrito, so I will have to fill you in on the schpeel. Crystal's was sleeping rather uncomfortably early Monday morning when she began to feel cramping similar to those of the monthly visitor. She dismissed it as regular aches and pains and got up to go to the bathroom. I had already left for work at 5:45 and was a good 40 minutes away. (In an attempt to not be too graphic.....) things get wet from there. She claims that it "wasnt quite like going to the bathroom because there is a lack of control" but for you movie buffs out there, it certainly wasnt a re-creation of Jane Curtain's scene from Coneheads. Needless to say, she was shocked and excited and called me to ask, "How would you feel if you didn't go to work today?"
"Are you serious? I'm turning around right now."
She seemed reasonably calm and started making calls to people to let them know that everything was beginning to go down. I got home and she was prettying herself up for her long day. Check out some of the pictures from the other blogs (sdgphotography.blogspot.com, talithaamber.blogspot.com) she was a good looking delivering lady. Her mascara didnt even run the whole time. Anyway, we lingered around at home for a bit and left for the hospital at 7:30ish.
The whole process of getting in to our delivery room was extremely easy. It puts all those sitcoms with the pregnant couple trying to deal with the front desk and whatnot to shame. By the by, Crys and I were impressed with the room at Provena for Moriah and Josh but this room was very inviting. It was overly spacious, had a nice pull out bed from a chair, nice t.v. with cable, pretty much the works. The highlight of the whole room was the overbearing mirror that sat hanging from the ceiling parallel to the delivery bed. If you dont know what it is there for... ask your mother. Anyway, the first thing that Crys and I commented about the mirror is that the hospital had put a large picture on the front of the mirror, (in case the mother didn't want to watch), that looked eerily like a picture that Mo and Josh have at their house. Spooky no? One way to save the memories I guess.
We got "comfortable", popped in an episode of Friends and was rudely interrupted by a nurse who wanted to make sure that Crys had seriously dropped her water. Again, in another attempt to not be too graphic, she used a little strip of paper that changes color. Sadly, she wasnt happy with the dark blue that it turned into. She wanted a pitch black blue with little purple polka dots and smiley faces that sing songs to you and she wouldn't be content with a dark navy blue with elves that tell the whole Lord of the Rings story that Crystal had produced. (By the by, that was an exaggeration). She tried the test twice and finally decided to use a little cup that also changed colors. She told us that it would take 5 to 10 minutes. We waited in the room staring at the little cup waiting for the color change. We began to get annoyed at the fact that she was POSITIVE that her water had broke and she was certain that this nurse was simply being anal. She came back at 5 minutes and it still wasnt any better, but finally at 10 minutes she smiled and said, "Your pregnant!" Woot. What a relief Captain Obvious.
And so began our lovely long day. The nurse asked what her level of pain was on a scale of 1 to 10...1 being minor discomfort (like a dwarf calling you a bad name) and 10 being excruciating pain (like, and I quote, "Getting your arm torn off from a car door"). She said she as at a 2. The nurse adjusted some switches and then left. Crys' contractions came on pretty regularly, and thank God for the machine by the bed that helps track them. The worrying husband can hold his wife and give her a heads up on the intensity of contractions. According the level that Crys told the nurse, the contractions are monitored on a level of 1 to 14. When she is normal and just kind of chillin (still uncomfortable mind you) she is at a 2 (as per her earlier questioning). The contractions came on and by 10 am she was reaching a 6 every 4 minutes or so. The nurse would pop in, make some random comment about the density of a ping pong ball and then leave. The fam came in and out throughout the day and we played some uno just long enough to remember how to properly play when a doctor came in and wanted to see how Crys was progressing. Nearly 2 cm. It was almost noon and she was only getting more uncomfortable. The doc decided that she would finish breaking her water for her because it was a "high break". (Yeah, exactly, I have no idea what that means either but I just smiled and acted like if she needed me too I could scrub up and help her do brain surgery next door.) Up until here, Stal was handling it pretty well as it simply seemed like she had a bad tummy ache but watching this doctor tear the rest of her water bag was pretty rough, even for me. (Just saying "tear the water bag" kind of makes me want to cross my legs crawl into a heap and weep.)
We sampled the delicacy that is the Delnor cafeteria and found it to be just what we expected. They do have a "Garden room" which has a nicely stocked kitchen. They have jello, and chips and pudding and soda and jello and fruit and jello and some sandwiches. Papa partook on a semi-regular basis. Mama stuck to water and ice and downed some chicken broth for lunch...mmm mmmm. Our nurses changed over and we were introduced to Traci, the blunt yet personable queen of all things baby. She was very cool, nicely calm and collected and was willing to volunteer her advice and own personal experience to help Stal. It was about 3 pm and she was 5 cm dialated. Crystal had gone through some rough contractions, some reaching 10 on the monitor scale and they were coming more and more often.
Crys had gone into this planning on doing a "natural childbirth" (for those of you who dont know what that is, it is a form of dimensia a woman experiences wherein the husband literally poops himself watching his wife die slowly on a table) but Crys was really hurting bad. I had been a huge epidural supporter from week 2 of the pregnancy but Stal was adamant about trying. I have to say, she blew my mind enduring what she did and I love that woman more for even attempting it. Despite the 3 to 5K price tag associated with this little (ha ha) barrel full of fun, I COMPLETELY AND UTTERLY ADVISE ALL COUPLES TO JUST TAKE THE STINKING THING!!!!!!! Alright, the process of actually getting the epidural is not a happy one, but the effects were great. The guy came in, said his hellos and had Stal turn on her side. We had heard horror stories about actually getting this so I promised Stal that I would watch and keep her informed. The guy wiped some poo colored water on her back to sterilize. Then he pulled out something that will haunt me till the day I die. It was a rubber tube with a sharp tip. THIS THING WAS A TUBE! It was as round as a pencil and this wasnt the shot! Crys must have seen my expression cause she said that I got real pale, the doc said that there would be some "pressure" and then he pushed the tube in. Stal was in pain, alot of pain, honestly if the guy had moved any slower I would have kicked him in the kidney. He then got the actual shot and put it inside the guide cathidur (tube) . She felt the shot too, it was a huge long needle, like 8 inches long. (I can only assume that there are some bigger people that need to have those extra 5 inches to reach their spine but Crys doesnt have much to her at all.) Anyway, the doc starts making conversation now and Crys is still in pain. He's like, "Ok.......this is going to take just a little bit of time to kick in. Once you begin to feel it you will slowly lose feeling in your legs and the pain should subside. You will still feel "pressure" (These people have completely redefined the word for me) but pain should not be an issue." This whole time, im just watching him take his time slowly empty the thing but I am ready to hop over the bed and take that thing to his face for hurting the wife but then he said..." You should start to feel icy cold run down your lower back" and instantly Stal stopped crying.
"Ohhh, thats cold."
The pain didnt stop instantly, but it was very evident that it was beginning to subside for her. He put another tube into her back and attached it to a bag full of "happy juice" and taped it to her back with a block of styrofoam. (I know that I was extremely dramatic with that last bit of but the response was A....MAZE.....ING! I would sit over by the contraction tracker and watch it hit 12, 13 and Crys would be joking around with people in the room. She would later describe it to me, " I can feel the pressure of the contraction, but it doesn't hurt really. The pain is gone but I feel the pressure." (I know! At this point Im beginning to question whether or not the entire female species has been playing a huge practical joke on men since way back in Genesis. Pressure....pain....whatever, I still wouldn't want to do it.)
So its 4ish and she is almost 6 cm dilated. (Now let me state something that I found somewhat annoying about the whole ordeal. I would be sitting watching an episode of the Office and a nurse would come in with a computer on a tray and a scanner gun. I would soon come to find out that they were scanning in things that they were adding to the room, or giving to Crystal or whatnot. It was like watching a hotel add things to your room bill. She would whip out her scanner, tag Crystal's wristband (almost too similar to a Jewel Osco preferred card) and just start scanning. "Oh look, a bag full of water, *click*, oh, a roll of toilet paper, *click*, a lollipop that I found in my pocket, *click*." I could just picture the insurance company going through the bill and nit picking things out (part of my obsessive nature). I know that it isnt really like that but give me a break, its my wife and my kid.....anyway, I digress) They decide that oxytocin is in order. *click* (Its the drug to help progress you faster.) They added it to her iv and wouldnt you know it, an hour and a half later she was up to 8.5 cm. Woot!
Traci was in and out of the room pretty regularly now and Rosie (our photographer : SDGphtography.blogspot.com) had shown up and was snapping pictures *snap* of the room, the fam, the wife. We were all getting excited reaching the meat and potatoes of the whole day. Stal had been laboring for 14 hours and was and 9.5 cm. Traci had paged the doctor a few times but she was in the middle of watching a basketball game in Batavia. Traci to the rescue! She was just chilling out and commenting on how good my deodorant smelled (Old Spice Red Zone "Showtime") . Crys couldnt seem to get passed that last little half cm. So they decided to prop one leg pointing at Saturn and the other to remain positioned parallel to the equator. (Dont ask me why) Then Traci said that she should push through the contraction. (Cue the intimidating music) The time had come to push? Really? Ok. Crys would tuck her head to her chest, try to relax her face while she pushed and I would grab hold of her foot and prove to her that I could count to 10. She must not have believed that I counted correctly because for the next hour and a half I counted to 10 three times a minute. Traci decided to whip out the game of Twister to play midway through the pushing. She had Crystal put right hand on red and left foot on blue. Then vice versa on yellow and green. Eventually I found my wife gripping a towel draped over bar that protruded from the end of the bed with her feet pressing against these bars running perpendicular to the floor. It was time for the mirror to say hello. Crys had been going at it for nearly 2 hours and then the doctor strolls in to say "hey". Then she leaves. The nurse told me to go and get some sugar in me because I "look like Im going to pass out". I felt fine but I ran for the door. I nearly tripped going out because there was a woman on the floor and two at the door listening intently to what was going on inside. My sister, my sister in law, my mom and my mother in law were all inches from the door listening to me count for Crys and for her pushing. Im sprinting down the hall in my socks and sexy blue scrubs, running to the fridge, grabbing some pudding, popping the lid and chugging it down as I run past the girls back into the room. The doc decides that it may be a good time to come back in so she pushes by the ladies outside the room (ask the girls about that) and into the room. She tells Traci that they want to break the bed. The next thing I know, Crystal is horizontal tugging on her towel, Rosie is helping support her head, Im trying to push her foot back up behind her head and the end of the bed where Crystal's butt used to be is broken off and pulled away. I dont know how she was still sitting there in bed but the doctor came wheeling up on a stool and told Crys to give it all she had. Now, Stal had been pushing for 2 hours and me and Traci had been watching this little hairy headed little man make his way closer and closer (sorry for the graphic bit, it truly was amazing) and Crys is beyond tired. Im counting, she starts pushing and the next thing I know a little purple head jumps out and starts staring at the floor. Doc goes to town sucking out this squeezing out that and there is a little man yell. Crys falls back on her back and gets ready to keep pushing but the doc tells her to stop. My kid is halfway here and the docs want her to stop?! Give me a break. They tell her to wait for the next contraction to push and she is just in agony. 30 seconds later another one comes on and she bears down and plop, out shoots Mr. Magoo in all his glory. He looked ticked off but didnt really cry much. I later told Isaac that his head seriously looked like an apple with a tennis ball attached to the back side of it. Whatever, we can fix that later. Crys had done it. The kid was out and even though the placenta wasnt a treat to labor either she was done 3 minutes later. Noah Riley Ferrell was born at 10:03 pm, December 3 weighing 7 lbs 10 oz. and measuring 19 inches long. (What happened to my line -backer baby you may ask? Just ask Crystal how much weight he has gained since coming home. Hoo Boy, chunker city. On a nice note, he was also born with a full head of hair, which Crystal and I have quaffed into a fo-hawk. The pics look great and Rosie was a godsend of a cheerleader for the whole delivery. (Wow, long post and yet there is still so much more that happened right after he came, from crawling out of the scale machine, to hitting on nurses, to Papa and him trying to get past security.....but that is another story. I'll update or Crys will to let you know what the first 48 hours was like soon.)

How God is Timing This Event

2007-12-01T12:27:00.000-08:00

I went to the doctor's on Friday and waited in the waiting area for almost an hour. The last time that happened our doctor got called away for a delivery and I had to see a nurse. I was kind of relieved at that thought because this was the day that the doctor determined (as well as Jordan and I) when Noah is to arrive. She was planning on inducing us this weekend. Needless to say, I was a little more than a little relieved to think that she wasn't there to make this decision yet. It's a scary thing to be induced....and to have a baby deadline.

So there I was, waiting. Then I hear those fateful words, "Crystal, the doctor will see you now." SHE WAS THERE! In fact my doctor was there covering for another doctor's patients....great. Now I am freaking out. I have to have a baby, like...right now!

So I go in and hoped that she might not remember me. She did. Fortunately though Delnor does not like to induce women unless it it medically necessary or past their due date. They gave my doctor a hard time and ultimately the soonest they could get me in to be induced is not until Thursday evening. Which, if you all know us enough, is Noah's due date anyway. So we won't have a baby this weekend unless God sees fit to grace us with Noah.

I was getting apprehensive about the whole process for a couple of reasons. One is because I want that excitement of not knowing when I'll go into labor, and that surprise phone call to Jordan to have him come home from work. The second is that it is supposed be really painful really fast. And lastly, because I wanted to know what it's like to go into labor naturally. I felt we were also just allowing a "rush" process to see Noah and if I know God the way i do, that's not how he works. I have to always be more patient than I hope.

God is dictating this whole thing no doubt. No matter how badly we wanted to see Noah this weekend, God has other plans and nothing we do can interfere. We should have known better. We can't rush God. We try every time and fail miserably.

So for everyone out there, we can (and probably will) go into labor at any moment. But for now we know that it's definitely going to happen on or by his due date. Not this weekend by choice of our doctor or us. God has a time frame in mind and we cannot change that.

2007-11-29T07:24:00.000-08:00

IT'S JORDAN'S BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!!!

Happy birthday to you

Happy birthday dear Hubby

Happy birthday to you!!!!!!!!

Doctor Update and Answers:

2007-11-23T08:24:00.000-08:00

I had another doctor appointment today with the last doctor in our practice. I have met the rest before. She examined us and found that I was effaced to 75% and dilated to a little over one. I know for those guys out there that means nothing or "eew" but oh well, this is news!

She also said that next week Friday if we haven't delivered by then we can talk about being induced! NEXT WEEKEND! WOOT!

So we won't have to wait until December 6th, poo gas on that date, how does December 1st or 2nd sound? =D

Now now....those of you who are anxiously awaiting this little one, we'll let you know what's happening soon enough, but just know that we are close and we are hopful for this week to go into labor.

Oh, also, for all the friends out there wanting to know, here is our requests as far as the labor, delivery, and recovery:

1. When we go into labor we are asking that only immediate family come to the hospital. Moms, Dads, Sisters and brothers. We can't have the staff all mad at us for clogging up the waiting area, and besides that only two people are allowed to see me when I am laboring. That's Jordan and one other person at a time. We'll call you all accordinly though so you know what's happening.

2. Once Noah is here and we are in our recovery suite we'll determine then how many people we can see. It's nothing personal, it's just that we'll have been through a lot at that point and seeing a bunch of faces all at once might wipe us out further. Plus we'll need time to bond with our new little man. He'll only be a few hours old at taht point and probably really scared and tired.

3. We'll have someone call all of you so that you know what's happening, we just request that you all aren't there in the waiting room while we are in labor and delivering.

Like I said, it's nothing personal, we just know how tired we'll be and how much security and tightness Delnor has about visitors and we don't want anyone disappointed. We love you all and are really excited to have to all see Noah, but for now, we have to be patient and see how we feel and how Noah is doing. Just know we want you all to meet our new munchkin soon and we love you all!

I'm Home

2007-11-16T16:43:00.000-08:00

I cleared out my desk today. It was one of the hardest things I have had to do in a while. I kept my cool and just focused on getting my goal accomplished. It wasn't until Hannah gave me a hug outside to say goodbye that I started the water works. I have realized that I have not fully embraced becoming a mother. It's still a very new dream to me. I have been home the past few days feeling quite ill, but the fact of removing my things from my desk was a hard hit. I am so excited to become a mother, but the fact that I have to quite my job is still really hard to grasp. It's not that I am sad to be a mother, but I am sad to say goodbye to the "non mother" Crystal. I wasn't prepared for that good bye. Nor to say good bye to my Hannah Banana. She's been a big sister to me that I can't ever really say goodbye to in a good way. I know I'll still see her a lot, but it's not the same. = (

Once I got around the bend of route 31 I really started to cry. I had a trying day all in all. I also got the news recently of a family friend with cancer. I saw him today fro lunch and I wasn't prepared for the "kemo" look. Although the doctors are very optimistic, it's still very hard to see him without hair and not healthy looking. He means a lot to me and is like a father to me.

I am glad that Noah is shortly around the corner to brighten my life up. I had a dream of him today and it made me totally excited all over again to have him come soon. Pain isn't even a factor anymore, I am ready for it and willing, as long as it produces our baby.

So, for everyone out there, I am home now, and probably in need of a few friends to play with to keep my mind off being uncomfortable...

Needless to say, my emotions are exausted, as well am I.

2007-11-09T07:55:00.001-08:00

I don’t mean to bore you all with my silly doctor updates, but this is what has been setting the tone for our lives recently so bear with us.

My doctor’s appointment this Wednesday turned up a few things. I still have high blood pressure. It was 140/84. For my nurse girls out there, you’ll know what that means. Basically my doctor isn’t concerned yet because although it’s high, it’s still on the “normal” end of high for third trimester women. Some women’s bodies just cope with pregnancy this way.

If it rises again, then they’ll be more concerned. But for now, I am to go home after work each day and take it easy. No running around and going out to places (Which, I’ll admit, hasn’t happened and I need to get better at resting). My edema is still here and not going away. It’s spread to my hands, but not as bad as it could be. The moment it spreads to my face or I get headaches, I have to call.

All this to say, I am fine. The doctors are keeping a close eye on my progression and know that I can turn the corner from fine to not so fine very quickly.

As far as Noah is concerned….he’s good. He dropped last weekend which is nice and bad at the same time. Nice that I can breathe a little easier and that I have a section of my torso not covered with baby. I call it my “skinny spot”. Bad because I am waddling when I walk because his head is fully engaged and really adding a lot of pressure to my day.

When they checked me last I was effaced 50% and dilated to 1. Or almost one. The nurse that checked me out was rather surprised at how far down his head was and how effaced I am. I told her I was having false labor a lot and she, for some reason, thought I was fibbing…….joke is on her! I love seeing the face of the doctors when my assumptions are correct and theirs were wrong. They sometimes think I am a worry wart or what have you, until they see me. Then they realize I don’t call for the heck of it, I call when I KNOW something is up. Like pitting edema and high blood pressure. Or lots of false labor.

Jordan has been great. Coming back from the doctor’s Wednesday I was so sore and had really bad pain from the exam. He bought us dinner and stayed with me all night, skipping Oasis. We felt bad, but the pain I was in required someone to stay with me. He rubbed my back and listened to me when I was in pain. I love him. He’s my night in shining armor! I can’t wait to see who Noah looks like. I hope he has a lot of Jordan in him, because he had the best funny faces ever!

And I think he’s cute. I wouldn’t mind having two handsome faces to look at every day.

Whoa! What was that?!?!

2007-11-04T15:28:00.000-08:00

Saturday Jordan and I went downtown to see Dane Cook. I would have stayed home, but $200 of tickets were spent and a birthday wish to be had. So off we went. We had a good time. Around 9:45 he started to finish up his act ans we were leaving. My back was hurting pretty much the whole way there and now again as we were making our way to the car. I decided to let Jordan drive.

On the way home these lovely back aches started to generate contractions....timely contractions....every 9-13 minutes! We made it home, and they subsided. For a while. Then in the middle of the night I started to get them again... then they subsided. Then again Sunday morning....then subsided.

False labor is fun! = )

NOT! It like all the fireworks and no grand finale. Kinda depressing.

So I called the doctor and she said to call again when they get to 5-10 minutes apart. Especially since I am "risky" and far enough along, they are not going to stop me. In fact, Wednesday they might determine more progress is good. But that's wishful thinking now.

So thus far, no baby. I'll keep you posted. Needless to say, these extra days of vacation are turning out to be more than necessary. My next doctor's appointment is Wednesday and then they'll be able to tell me how "far along" dilated I am, if I don't go into labor before then. Noah also dropped, suddenly. Last night i was feeling my stomach and below my ribs is a big space of nothing now. Noah is ready and engaged.....any minute. 36 weeks and counting.....and praying that he comes soon.

Uh Oh...Again

2007-11-01T09:33:00.000-07:00

pre·eclamp·sia:

Pronunciation: pre-i-klamp-see-uh

Function: noun

: a toxic condition developing in late pregnancy that is characterized by a sudden rise in blood pressure, excessive gain in weight, generalized edema, albuminuria, severe headache, and visual disturbances

pre-pre-eclamp-sia

: me.

Or so the doctor says. So I have to rest a lot. She might be taking me off of work next week depending on my progress when she sees me next week Wednesday for a check up. “We’re going to have to keep a close eye on you” is how she said.
My blood pressure was 140/84, which is high. It’s normally in the 120’s, which is still high, but I have always been higher than most. And I have edema in my hands, legs, and feet now, not just my feet.
Bottom line, this is not good, because I feel “fine” and a lot of pregnant women tend to fell “fine” and go about their usual activities. This is the trouble starter. They do their regular activities and strain their bodies even more. I fall into that category. So if/when she makes me stay home I’ll have to have a check in person to check on me to make sure I am not doing too much. Jordan is that person right now. So tomorrow and Monday I took off, and I am supposed to rest. Hopefully resting for a four day weekend will prove to be best and help my body out.
I am on the border of preeclampsia. I can either stay this way for the rest of the pregnancy or get worse, and right now we are in a holding pattern. They are going to monitor me closely and if anything changes then “we’ll have to talk”. What ever that means. She tends to say that a lot when she doesn’t want to divulge any information that could frighten me. So for now, I am just praying to God that he delivers Noah safe and sound and keeps us healthy.

Please be Patient!

2007-10-31T11:58:00.000-07:00

I have to say this now, because I am looking at my schedule and I need you all to know that I am working on the thank you notes!

If you all remember last year for our wedding thank you's we ....ehem.....misplaced our list of who to thank in the garbage! But that is not the case this time. I am slowly but surely plowing through them and I just have a lot to be thankful for!

So please bear wih me as I try and get these finished here shortly. I have a very busy schedule and a lot of people to thank.

Another Silly Update....

2007-10-29T14:59:00.000-07:00

19 days left of work (in the traditional sense of the word)

39 Days until Noah is due (I must have passed the 50 day mark when I wasn’t looking)

7 More Paychecks

5 more Saturdays to (hopefully) sleep in

1 last Aunty Talitha visit

By the by….where is Aunty Talitha lately? Clinicals and a boyfriend sure do take all her time….I haven’t heard from her on this blog since she started both....

Hmmmm is it more the clinicals or the boyfriend...I'm taking a pole.

First Ferrell Family Photos!!!!

2007-10-26T14:50:00.000-07:00

All I have to say is that Rosie Siebenthal is amazing! If anyone is interested, her blog is http://www.sdgphotography.blogspot.com/ But here is our first family photos. They are soooooo cute!!!!!

This one is really funny, Jordan is doing his "Fine! I'll SMILE" face at my prompting him to smile better. He did! I love this one. It makes me laugh every time I see it.

Puffy McPufferson

2007-10-26T10:28:00.000-07:00

So I went to the doctor’s office this week for a normal check up. I had concerns about how many braxton hicks contraction I am having and that my feet are so puffy.

The doctor told me that I have to keep my feet up while I am at work because my swelling is not normal. Also coupled with the fact that my blood pressure isn’t the best. So she threatened me with bed rest if I didn’t comply.

I wish my camera did break because I could show you how sad my feet are. I push in at the ankle and the indent stays for about 2 minutes. It’s gross but funny at the same time. Apparently I am the only one that thinks it’s funny though. Moriah and Jordan were grossed out by it. Granted the indents were like a half inch deep into my skin…I can’t say I blame them.

Also, the doctor was kind enough to mention that Noah is…huge. She felt his little leg and head and everything and thought it was funny. She hadn’t had a pregnant woman in a while that she could feel that much kid through the stomach. So we had fun poking him about.

The braxton hicks I am having are a lot for a pregnant woman too. But she mentioned that if I go into labor, they won’t try and stop me. Which is a good thing considering she mentioned his head is firmly planted down, I am having a lot of contractions and am 35 weeks.

So hopefully Noah will just come home early. I keep finding myself praying that I have high blood pressure like Lori Alexander and they have to induce me early. It’s a sad thing I know, but this kid is already probably about 6 to 7 pounds, and I have 5 weeks left!

Plus he seems to be ready. He is really active, very strong, and beautifully knit together. I just want to see him and kiss his little face. Noah, we’re ready when you are kid.

I’ll keep you all updated as to my progress, but just know from here on out, I can go at anytime and we’re all ready for it. The doctors also checked out my heart thing and nothing can be done about it all still. It is abnormal, but it’s not affecting anything so they’ll monitor it for a while.

All in all, a pretty good last couple of weeks.

God still amazes me...

2007-10-12T11:00:00.000-07:00

We had our third ultrasound yesterday. It was one of those 3-D ultrasounds too! Noah was not very cooperative though. He liked to have his face smashed in my hip bone…but we got him!

We started out with the normal ultrasound. The technician measured him and got his little head and body. She showed us what his feet looked like now. He is such a cubby munchkin compared to last ultrasound! His third toe looked a little longer than his second toe, like mine! And he was breathing! It was amazing!

Then she zoomed into his face, he was frowning, then smiling, then numbing on his hands and feet. He then took his umbilical cord and started chewing on that too. He grabbed his feet and played with them, and shoved his finger in his nose.

He was so active. Jordan started to talk to Noah and Noah started to mouth back and move around at his Papa’s voice. She showed us his eyes, and tongue sticking out.

Then came the best part, the 3-D version of what we were seeing! He has the sweetest face ever! And cute pouty lips, my lips! Jordan’s nose. He opened his mouth and pretended like he was eating. I can’t say enough how much God has exceeded our expectations with Noah. He is beautiful!

I had the technician also double check his….downstairs area. With all the baby showers and needing to get prepared, we wanted to make certain he was a boy before we took the tags off anything…..YUP! DEFINITELY A BOY! AND WHAT A BOY! The technician said with all his measurements he is measuring a week older than we thought originally. She didn’t change my due date though, but if he comes early, we won’t be surprised. Jordan totally called it too. He might even have a betting pole going as to Noah’s birthday if anyone is interested.

Anyway, it was the best time I have had at the doctor’s office. Jordan was there holding my hand and I, of course, was crying. He is so beautiful and I can’t imagine how much more I could love this little guy. Jordan has given me the best gift ever. I could not ask for more. I have totally fallen in love…with my son.

So, without further ado….here’s Noah Riley Ferrell.

Silly Update

2007-10-10T14:16:00.000-07:00

Just a little silly update, we have:

8 more Fridays for date nights
8 more Saturdays to sleep in
8 more Sundays to go to church

Because, in 57 days Noah is supposed to come into our lives and change it forever.

Results...

2007-10-08T12:16:00.000-07:00

My echo came back normal, but I do have a heart murmur. They are still waiting on the results of my Holter Monitor to see why my heart is beating irregularly.

The doctor is not concerned as of right now though. He said a lot of women who didn’t know they had a heart murmur or arrhythmia find out during pregnancy from the extra stress on their hearts. Nothing too serious though. We’ll have to wait until next week to get the last of the results back.

But Noah is safe and sound thus far and I did have an episode on the monitor so it will be reviewed by the cardiologist.

The only reason they were really concerned was one episode lasted for an hour and a half. At hat point it’s not good to have that many irregular heart beats. But, like I said, we’ll know more next week. Till then we are anxiously waiting Thursday when we go for our 3-d Ultrasound to see Noah.

I can’t wait, maybe we’ll be nice and let you all see him too….or maybe you’ll have to wait until he’s here to catch a glimpse of him!

Eco, Lines, and Holters

2007-10-02T10:18:00.000-07:00

I went to the doctor and spoke with my “high risk” physician. I explained my symptoms and what happens when I feel these weird heart flutters. I also tracked my pulse and wrote down all occurrences that this has happened in the last few days. He listened intently and asked if I ever have had these sensations before. I told him a few times in my life I have but not anything significant. Not like lately.

Well, its not blood pressure. It’s either an arrhythmia or a weird valve thing. The valve thing is of no consequence. Women with that typicaly deliver normal babies. Plus he said he doesn’t think that’s what it is because I have never been diagnosed before. Arrhythmia can be nothing as well, providing Noah is still getting all the oxygen and nutrients he needs.

So Thursday I am off to Delnor for an echocardiogram and a holter event monitor. The holter even monitor will be hooked up to me for at least 24 hours for observing these weird heart flutters. From these tests the doctors will examine what’s going on and see what the next step, if any, should be.

On a different note, I am getting a line down my belly! I thought ethnic women usually get these things! I guess it’s better than stretch marks, but equally as gross.

Anyway, Noah is still fine and I am fine. We are just now waiting until Thursday to see what’s going on.

Uh Oh...

2007-09-28T11:59:00.000-07:00

So I went to the doctor’s today. I had a strange thing happen the past couple of days. It is a sensation that my heart is skipping beats and I get short of breath. I contributed this to Noah getting too big and putting pressure on my lungs and heart.

So when I brought this up to the doctor today I found out that is not the case. She asked how long it had been going on for, and I told her I have always had this sensation my whole life every once in a while, but last night it lasted for an hour and a half. I had a hard time catching my breath and my heart kept skipping beats. I was complaining that “Noah was in my lungs”.

She looked at me astonished and said, “Next time this happens you NEED to call us. And we’ll get you into the hospital”

I didn’t realize it was a big thing until she mentioned “go to the hospital” “blood pressure” in the same sentence. I instantly thought of our pastor’s wife, Lorie. She was induced to give birth to her son because her blood pressure was too high at eight months, and her son weighed five pounds. I am Eight months! Holy cow! This could be me!

Now I am scared. So I have a doctor’s appointment with the “high risk” doctor Monday to see what is causing the heart palpitations. As far as I know, it’s a weird fluke thing and nothing is going to come of it.

She also said a normal heart palpitations occur when the blood pressure changes and the heart rate increases to accommodate. But is should only last a few minutes. Not an hour and a half.

But on the bright side, Noah is now in the head down position and growing quite nicely, and I only gained a pound from my last visit, which is comforting to me since I have already gained now a total of 33.

So I’ll let you all know what happens come Monday. Or you’ll all know sooner if I get this thing to happen again.

P.S. I have a cute husband. He “operated” on my toe last night. I can’t see or reach it very well, so when I started having discomfort, he stepped in and helped me out. Apparently from then “Wow!” exclamation I heard, it was a big sliver of nail embedding itself in my toe. He’s my hero! He saved me toe from hurting anymore = )

Things Mom Forgot to Tell Me!

2007-09-19T14:56:00.000-07:00

Two things that mothers forgot to tell me would happen.

#1 Braxton Hicks contractions
Wwoooooohhhhahhh. No one said they’d be like this! I get a funny feeling in my stomach that makes me feel like I am on a roller coaster falling down, then my abdomen gets all hard and it’s very uncomfortable. And it ends up with me inevitably having to rush to the bathroom and pee. Then Noah gets all freaked out and starts pounding his fists. It is getting more and more uncomfortable each time it happens.

Now, my mom told me these would happen, but she did not specify the severity of these little “fake” contractions. I can understand now how women might think they are in labor. I am only seven months along and I get it. I have to watch myself I guess that I am not crying wolf every time I get one when it gets closer to the time. I don’t want to be one of those women that runs to the hospital every time I get one, but seriously, three in a half hour yesterday! Granted, I am supposed to call the doctor if I exceed more than four in an hour, but…man! Wahoo! These are getting serious.

#2 Ligament Stretching
That’s the nice way of putting it. No, it’s more like, “Mama, I hate your pelvis so I am going to stretch it out to the point where you need to sit on an ice pack all day long.” Every day I wake up with the most painful ache in my groin area. I feel like there is a midget running around my house in the middle of the night kicking me in the junk. He is not a happy midget…he is an angry spiteful mean midget with a serious agenda to inflict the most amount of pain in my groin area possible. There are days when I don’t want to get out of my bed.

The only thing I can say is that its better to happen now then at the time of labor. I’d rather stretch it out gradually than while in that already very painful time.

Anyway….all this to say, I still love being pregnant. Jordan and I got to feel a little arm or leg yesterday. Noah was positioned in such a way that we could definitely make out a limb. It is so amazing being able to “hold” our child before he’s even here. Jordan was even amazed. It’s not just a bump, but an actual leg or arm….

3rd Trimester and a Rainbow of things...

2007-09-14T14:11:00.000-07:00

We have about 11 weeks to go…..THAT’S IT!!!!

I have to say a few things being a mother now. It is amazing how much God grows your heart during a time like this. Jordan and I share stories of how we think we want play with Noah and cuddle with Noah. It just warms my heart to hear Jordan say he’s going to hog the baby and watch the “game with my boy”.

I could have not imagined how this could happen, but God grew my heart to love Jordan even more through this experience. If my love for Jordan were an array of bright colors, fatherhood with Jordan added a whole new set of colors. I get a whole new side of Jordan to respect and love him for. I can already see it.

I look at Jordan now and think how great of a father he is going to be. I am so lucky to have a great man in our child’s life that is far exceeding my expectations. He will be a better father than I will be a mother. I am convinced he will be the mediator between me and my son. When I simply can’t handle it anymore I know Jordan will step in and handle the situation. And every fear I have, Jordan has a strong arm to hold me up and encourage me in it.

God perfectly matched us together in every way possible. I have a great husband. He is kind and thoughtful and sweet.

I just wanted a brag moment here to say how much Noah has helped me to love my husband more and how great my husband is. God wonderfully and fearfully created the single greatest man in the world, just for me.

Noah has no idea yet, but he has the best dad ever.

Check Ups...

2007-09-14T13:44:00.000-07:00

Poked, prodded, and branded. That’s how I felt leaving the doctor’s office yesterday. I am now ending my 28th week of pregnancy and that meant a glucose screening, Thyroid check, and RH blood shot. Bottom line, all I can say is that I have two areas of injections and they both hurt. So was my ego.

Here’s the funny story:

So I am sitting in the doctor’s office. I was given a bottle of orange sugar liquid to drink in under five minutes. I drank it like a pro! (or like a very hungry pregnant lady willing to eat anything by that time in the morning). Then they sent me out to the waiting area to fill up on the “Parenting” magazines and “People”. I got my dose of gossip for the day. I waited there for an hour then got called back into the office for a blood draw. I sat there and talked small talk with a very cheerful lady, too cheerful to be poking people all day. She took my blood, like a gallon of it and then took out the needle and started to wrap me up, only to find another note on my file about drawing blood for a second time, this time for more glucose and thyroid junk. Woot. Two needles, one hour, great.

Then they sent me back out to the waiting room. An hour later they called me in for my blood shot. I was nauseous, dizzy, hungry, and tired all at the same time. The nurse said, “Go ahead and have a seat in the chair where you got your blood drawn.” I sat down eager to get this over with, I hate shots. Then she came up to me and said, “Oh, wait, lets go to that chair over there (across the room) they need this chair for another patient.”

So I say in the second chair for another ten minutes. At this point I am looking at my poor arm, and thinking, “I’ll get the shot in my opposite arm to even out the bruises and pain.”

The nurse then came back again and said, “Okay, let’s go to room 6 just down the hall.” I was dumbfounded….but I went with it. Keep in mind, I am groggy and nauseous. So we get to the room and the nurse proceeds to gather all the necessities for the shot.

Meanwhile I am surveying my arms to where I think I want the next poke of a needle. “I have had enough in the left arm for one day, so let’s go with the right arm” and I keep going on and on about how I want to be able to use my left arm for lifting some things and such. The nurse just stood there with the shot in one hand, an alcohol swabs in the other, and a pleasant smile on her face.

“Now, you can stand, bend over, or lay on your side dear” she said to me….I didn’t get it.

“Oh, no I’ll just take it in my right arm. My left arm is too tired from the blood draw and-“

“No dear, you can stand, lie down, or bend over”.

“But, my right arm is right here……wait…..You have to put it in my butt!?!?!!”

“Yes dear.”

"Man! This stinks!" and then the pouting ensued, but only on the inside.

So I left with a sore arm, sick tummy, and really sore butt. Sad sad day. I was all geared up for a shot in the arm, only to feel very silly and quite childlike with a shot in my rear end and not even a lollipop to show for my good attitude…

At least I get a cute baby out of the deal.

Here I am!

2007-09-07T13:19:00.000-07:00

I have been having a lot of requests for pictures of me and my belly. So here you go!

I have another Doctor appointment this coming Thursday and I have to get a shot! Bummer, I hate shots, but it to ensure that I don’t have a reaction to the baby. He could be lucky and have Jordan’s type O Positive blood type, which is bad for a type A Negative other. So off we go for a shot, and for a glucose test. Yeah!

But the highlight is that at the end we get to make the 32 week appointment. We get to do the 3-d ultrasound then!!! I can’t wait to see Noah’s little face. I am so lucky.

Also, I read my facebook file and DP wrote on my wall. He said he’d be back in town over winter break and really wants to meet Noah. I ABOUT DIED!!!! Noah will be here then!!!! He really will meet Noah. I’ll meet Noah! Only one more visit from Aunty Talitha before Noah is here! That’s how I’ve been counting my weeks, by Talitha visits.

Anyway, that’s what’s up. Nothing much else. I still have the best hubby ever (he rubs my feet at night, so sweet, and reads us books).

I truly believe Noah will like Jordan more than me. He only really gets excited when Jordan is in the room….Maybe midnight feedings won’t be so bad after all! Tehe!

FYI

2007-08-31T08:56:00.000-07:00

my niece is a year old tomorrow!!! A whole year of her and I still can't believe how much I love that child. She was the inspiration for our little Noah to come so early in our lives. Jordan and I both agreed that if we fell this much in love with her, we could only imagine how much love we'd have for our own little one.

Ah, Auntyhood is great!

100 Days Again!

2007-08-28T13:44:00.000-07:00

Noah is coming in 100 days from RIGHT NOW!!!!!!!!!

Can you believe it!

I am NOT too big....

2007-08-23T09:38:00.000-07:00

All right! I have to put a stop to this. I keep having reoccurring dreams that everyone is yelling at me and telling me I need to loose weight because I am too big. This is actually affecting my sleep and dreams. Jordan was getting concerned about my confidence because of how I already feel, let alone what people say to me. So please pay close attention to this entry.

Lately the conversation about my belly and body has been as follows:

Person: (With grotesque look on face) “Oh my word! You are sooooo big! I can’t believe how big you are! I was never that big! Wow!”

Me: (With sheepish grin) “No, I don’t think I am, The doc-“

Person: (interrupting) “No way, you are big. I can tell. I wasn’t ever like that. Are you sure there’s only one?”

Me: (Looking sadly at my belly) “Well, the last time I was at the doct-“

Person: (interrupting again) “Well, I’d ask your doctor, cause wow. That’s all I can say, wow!”

Me: (Walking away) “I…um…. have to check on my husband”.

This is what it’s like being in my shoes. It’s not a matter of who says it; it’s a matter of how many people in one day say this type of thing to me. So, since I have everyone’s attention here is what I keep trying to tell you all.

I go to the doctor’s regularly. They measure my belly each time I go. There is a scale of measurements that a pregnant woman should stay within. They measure from the top of the uterus to the bottom. That measurement should be the same number as your week in pregnancy, give or take a few. I was 24 weeks pregnant and measuring 24. I am 100% normal! Not huge, not gigantic. Normal.

The only explanation I can give you all is that started out a thin person. So it may appear that I am large when you see where I started from. Also, for those of you who “never were this big” I’d beg to differ. If your uterus didn’t measure at least 24 or 25 your child would have been born under a pound. Since that’s not likely the case, perhaps you are mistaken or started out a different size than me. Because my uterus is taking over my whole belly, that’s what you see. Your uterus’ might not have had to come out as much as mine, but it did have to get as big as mine is.

Other girls show later when they have larger stomach cavities or wider hips and it appears that they were smaller, but when you have more hip space and room for the baby, it doesn’t come out as quick or as much. It just fills up the space you already have. I don’t have much space in there. Noah has no where else to go but out. Every woman’s uterus gets as big as an eight pound baby. So to say that you “never were that big” is a misjudgment.

All I ask is that you all are encouraging to me and Jordan. Like I said before, I am having nightmares about this. What pregnant woman do you all know likes to hear how big she is? Please have a little more heart and loving encouragement when you all speak with me about this. Wipe the grotesque look off your face and understand that I am a smaller person and my baby and I are just growing. Even if I were too big, what would it matter?

Understand that I am normal, Noah is doing great, and I am a pregnant lady you are speaking too with feelings. Albeit sometimes over emotional, but no one wants to hear how “big” they are.

Thank you to those of you who have been encouraging. Pregnant or not, everyone needs encouragement.

As far as an update on Noah, he’s doing great! The doctor’s ruled out a long time ago any heart defects, or down syndrome. And he is moving a lot! When he is active you can actually see him move from the outside. It’s like a little alien has invaded my belly. Or at least that’s what Jordan says it looks like. And Noah whole heartedly loves his daddy.

Whenever Jordan is around and talking Noah is awake and moving. When Jordan comes home and says, “Bobbid, I’m home” and starts talking, Noah instantly wakes up and moves around. He acknowledges when his daddy is home. I can sing and yell at the top of my lungs but nothing, it takes daddy’s voice to get him going. I love that though. He notices no one else in the world except his pappa. I love it.

Dad's Progress

2007-08-14T14:46:00.000-07:00

As you all have probably heard, my father in law has had a heart attack this week thursday. He had an emergency operation to put a stent in his heart to reopen his artery Thursday. All went well and today he went in for the rest of the operation.

This operation included adding two more stents. His operation was at 11:00 today and all went well again. Dad is really a trooper. He is giving the nurses on the cardiac ward a run for their money and got them second guessing their career choices. I have to praise God for a moment here. He truly saw this whole event through to the end and saw that we as a family stuck together and got through this together.

But all in all, through your faithfulness and continued prayers our father is still here with us and in great spirits. I couldn't have asked for a better outcome. He will be coming home hopefully tomorrow and needs to take it easy for a few weeks. So, look forward to Rich's great return shortly!

100 Days....

2007-08-08T11:40:00.000-07:00

So, Jordan and I have figured that it’s going to be hard for me to go back to work with a little one that is nursing. I might do some part time stuff when we need it, but for the most part, I am leaving the work force to be a mom to Noah.

So, I sat down with my calendar and figured out when I am to leave and how long it is until then. Today marks exactly 100 days until I leave my job for an indefinite amount of time. And although this is great, I am still saddened by change. I still try to avoid driving by our old apartment because I am still very much attached to it, and now it feels the same for work. I’ll miss having my mind sharpened and fun work days with Hannah. She makes any crummy day go by faster. So, I guess this is going to be harder than I thought. But I bet seeing Noah’s face for the first time will change my heart in an instant, and I’ll be thanking my lucky stars that God gave me a husband that is completely wiling to let me stay home with our children.

Speaking of a great husband, I have to give him some praise. He (along with many others!) was totally fabulous when it came to moving. I didn’t give him a chance to settle down at all from work. He went from work, to moving heavy furniture to sleep, and then back to work. He was amazing. I have to say, I love that man! He’s so good to me, and Noah.

But anyway. I really wanted to give you all some pictures of our new place, but #1 I can’t find where I packed my camera, #2 It’s still messy, #3 I am lazy and forgetful. I will get to it though. And, thanks to all of you who helped. We really couldn’t have done this without your help!

Stretch Marks and God's Blessing

2007-07-31T13:53:00.000-07:00

This is our beautiful son, Noah Riley Ferrell. Everyone...meet Noah, Noah...meet everyone!

I might be an adoring mother, but he looks really cute! Even though its an ultrasound picture.

So, I have this picture posted on my computer desktop to remind myself of how cute he is, because last night Jordan finally noticed two (very small) stretch marks on my hips. I was really saddened by this new revelation. They are really small, but they are there! So today at lunch, I posted his picture to remind myself that these ugly little stretch marks are not for nothing, but a significant sign that God was gracious enough to chose me to be a mother to his new creation. Out of everyone he could have chosen to be this little boy’s mother, he chose me. He thought me fit enough to do this job.

So hopefully I can keep myself accountable to not be so vein and seek outside appearances, but to look inward and realize the gift I have been given is precious and not something everyone can do. I should be thankful for each stretch mark I get. That’s one more sign of how gracious God is to me. And, how abundantly he has blessed me and Jordan.

Besides, Jordan still thinks I am hot, and that’s all that matters!

Alright...................

2007-07-23T09:13:00.000-07:00

So, first off, if you already didn't know, I didn't write the last entry. That was all Jordan and his vivid imagination. But at least it got you all wondering and laughing.

Anyway...we did infact find out the sex of our child. and it is.................................................

Drum roll please..................................................

A BOY!

Noah Riley Ferrell is quickly on his way and we couldn't be happier. Thank you all for your patience, it meant a lot to Jordan and I to keep it to ourseles for a little bit. It made it special to us. So, ow you all know, and can celebrate with us. I am actually surprised no one went to Babies R US or Target to see what we registered for. That kinda gave it away......oh well! Ha ha!

Pictures of the ultrasound won't be posted because no offence, we don't want these sensitive pictures of our son's "junk" on the internet. Sorry.

Love you all!

We Found Out!!!!!

2007-07-20T12:29:00.000-07:00

Today Jordan and I found out the sex of our baby! We have been very eager to know and have been anticipating this day for a long time. Even from last night, we both were tossing and turning in bed just out of the excitement we knew the following day would bring. Jordan had to go into work for the early morning because his work wouldnt let him have a full day off of vacation. So he still got up around 5:50ish and headed out to put in a couple hours before coming home. He kissed me goodbye and left me to go back to sleep. Unfortunately I wasnt able to! I just lay there on my side having a million and a half thoughts running through my head.... "I hope it's a boy, cause then the rest will have an older brother. Plus my mom just had Wyatt a few years ago so I kind of know what to expect......But it would be so great to have a girl. She would wrap Jordan around her little finger and dance around the house." I probably laid there for an hour and a half before deciding I should get up and have some breakfast, shower and prep up for the big day ahead. The ultrasound was scheduled at 10:30 with a regular checkup right there after at 11:45. Jordan and I were planning on getting our cars oil changed after that as well as beginning to pack up our apartment for our move. We are also signing the paperwork to purchase the apartment for a year lease later on tonight. It was going to be a very busy day. I had finished my morning routine and was sitting watching Oprah when I got a phone call from Jordan. "Hey babe, there's a little problem."
"What?" I asked assuming the worst.
"Ken wants me to drop off some prints on my way out of here so I might be just a little bit later than we had planned. I should still be able to pick you up and head over to the doctors in time for the ultrasound."
Originally I had assumed much worse but this was only a minor snag. I told him that we needed to be there by 10:25 at the latest and he assured me that we would make it. I sat around for another 25 minutes and then got another phone call from Jordan.
"Hey babe, another problem....I was heading down the Elgin Ohare expressway when a car hit its breaks really hard infront of me. I rear ended the guy and it looks like the car is going to have to be towed."
"Are you okay?! What happened?"
"Well, it was all really stupid, the ugly white Saturn SC2 jammed on his breaks for absolutely no reason and I was too close to come to a complete stop behind him. His car is completely wrecked with the exception of his engine. His engine still runs perfectly fine and he certainly didnt throw a rod or anything like that. But I cant really talk right now babe, I will get this thing taken care of over here and then get a taxi to get me over to the doctors."
"Are you sure you are okay?"
"Yeah, Im fine, just a stupid mistake."
"Ok honey, I will tell them to wait until you get there."
I then headed off to the doctors and proceeded to tell them the dilemma we were in. They told me that they were actually pretty booked up and would do the best that they could but if we wanted to, we could reschedule. I knew that Jordan would be upset if we didnt find out today so I decided that we could go through with it and he may just show up a little late into it. The whole process takes about 45 minutes to do so I assumed he would be there for a part of it.
Well, I was called in and they measured me and weighed me and all that hoopla and then they told me to go down to exam room 3. I walked down the hall and finally found exam room 3 but the door was closed. Normally the rooms that are available have the doors open, so I knocked twice and listened. Either someone was delivering a baby or two people were being inappropriate behind that door. I asked a nurse where I should go and she told me (after listening to the door herself) that exam room 4 was where I would be getting my ultrasound done.
I got inside the room and prepped myself for the viewing of the little miracle inside me and lay on my back. I wasnt even in the room 10 seconds when in walked a nurse dressed like a cowgirl. I thought that it was odd at first but then remembered that sometimes doctors come in from their day off or whatever. It wasnt until the nurse started to walk around that I realized she was wearing scuba diving flippers. Every step she took was a loud clap on the floor. I was obviously shocked.
"Um, Im sorry, but are you wearing flippers?" I asked.
"Oh, dont worry. I just use them in the rare case that your water breaks while performing the ultrasound."
She then proceeded to lather up my stomach with peanut butter and took the ultrasound lollipop and rub it all across my belly while watching Fraggle Rock on the monitor. I sat there horrified thinking that some lunatic must have come into the doctors office and taken one of the nurse's hostage. It wasnt until Jordan walked in that I truly knew something was wrong. He came in dressed in a full tuxedo carrying a tray with Jasmine tea and crumpets. The nurse turned to him and said, "Thank you Mr. Bananahammock. She took one of the crumpets dipped it in the peanut butter on my belly and took a bite. Jordan sipped his tea with his pinky raised and winked at the camera.
DOWN IN FRAGGLE ROCK...(BUM BUM) DOWN IN FRAGGLE ROCK!
A link to our ultrasound pictures can be found here.......

2007-07-20T09:27:00.000-07:00

Stitches, Belly Buttons, and Giggles

2007-07-11T10:19:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone!

So Jordan’s surgery, though mild, is still very uncomfortable for him. For those of you who didn’t know, we found a few questionable spots on Jordan that needed to be removed and looked at. He had one removed on his back already and that came back negative for cancer. The one on his chest however, the doctor flat out told us, “Is bad news”. So under the knife he went on Monday. He now has a scar on his chest that is about 2 ½ to 3 inches long. And another one on his back about 2 inches long. He has internal and external stitches in both. So pray for us now that the lab results come back negative for cancer. Or that if it is God’s will, than a speedy recovery. We know that Jordan will probably have to go back for more surgery on the chest wound, but as of right now, he’s just in discomfort and safe.

Also, a milestone for us! Jordan finally felt the baby move! I was lying on the bed with my feet hanging off the side, so my belly was totally stretched out, I quick grabbed his hand, and then a few seconds later I hear, “Are you kidding? No seriously, is that the baby?!?” And a goofy grin ensued. It was great! I was smiling all night from it.

It’s funny; somehow Jordan feeling the baby kick makes me feel better. I felt like I had a few skeptical friends out there, but now, it’s like, “Ha! I told ya! Vindication at last.”

That and my belly button is not just almost gone, but pushing it’s way closer to the outside than the inside. “Eewwwww!”, was all I could muster when I finally realized how sad it was. Of course I was sitting down when I noticed it, which makes it look worse. But it’s pretty bad! I am not even 6 months yet and already it’s pushing out. I’ll have Mount Vesuvius instead of a belly button soon!

So that is our week thus far. We are eagerly awaiting the next ultrasound on July 19th to find out the sex of the baby! Knowing our luck though, baby Noli will have its legs crossed and too shy to show us anything. Eventually I’ll know though.

I can not believe how fast this pregnancy I going by. I am half way done! Oh…So sad. I want to hold onto these moments forever!

Anyway, please pray for my husband and what is happening in our family. We really could use extra support. And thank you all for your encouragement!

Update!

2007-07-06T13:55:00.000-07:00

There really is nothing to update. I gained 9 pounds already! (Not in this trimester, altogether in the pregnancy for those of you who are gasping right now)Yeah for Mexican food!

And the baby is definitely kicking me. It feels like someone is poking me gently in the stomach. It’s really cute!

And I am just amazed that in a week and a few days we’ll know if Noli is Noah or Lily. Crazy, huh? Well, Jordan and I will know, you on the other hand…not so much.

The baby’s stats are as follows:

6 oz
5 ½ inches
Has eye brows, makes faces, and gets the hiccups.

I have to say, this is the fun part of being pregnant! The only thing that’s different is that I am noticing I can not lift heavy things anymore. Not that I was totally going against the doctor’s orders anyway, but I can’t lift things without feeling uncomfortably unsafe anymore.

But, it’s another excuse to sit back and enjoy my rumbling tummy I guess.

That’s all. Sorry to keep you all in suspense, but nothing is happening…..

Please keep praying that we find an apartment for our growing family. There are so many to choose from, but many are really run down, or in a bad part of town. Or simply just not big enough. Please pray God gives us wisdom in choosing and a happy heart in case we have to settle for something short of perfect.

Thank and I love you all.

"Flutterings"

2007-06-22T09:43:00.001-07:00

Okay, sorry about the wait, I have to do the updates on my own time and not at work, so that’s why it takes so long.

So about “fluttering”. Apparently, my child is as graceful as I am. I have not felt the “flutter” sensation. I have felt the outright deliberate shoving movements of my child. There are no flutterings, or butterfly wings….rather a hard shove and a rolling baby.

Not enough for the outside people to feel, but I tell ya, when this kid moves, it lets me know! It moves as if to say, “Hey Lady!!!! I’m movin’ here! You mind!?!”

On another note, I have been having a lot of baby boy dreams. Hum….wonder what that could mean……

Jordan has been gone, and I tell you, I am a lost sad little person without him. I stay up too late, and eat bad junk food. He’s my rock and he’s not here. The baby misses him to. I can tell (yes I can tell…..it’s my baby).

But….oh yeah! New this week, the baby can make faces and suck its thumb. Its 5 inches long, and soon it will double its length. So in the next few weeks, be expecting a growth spurt. And it moves a lot around the 5:30 and 7:00 am morning times as well as 5:30 evening time.

I have my next two doctor appointments on July 5th and July 19th. Everyone, keep your fingers crossed that the baby cooperates on the 19th. That’s “THE” ultrasound! We are going to find out if it’s a boy or girl very, very, very soon! Hopefully it won’t have its legs crossed……

I am so psyched to find out. We might keep the rest of you in suspense for a while though (when you all get pregnant, you can pay us back for this mean trick). We told you all right away when we got pregnant, but now…we might want a little secret for just the three of us. We haven’t had one of those kind of family secrets yet. And no, we don’t, “have to at least tell the immediate family”. We don’t have to tell anyone. In fact, I really want to have this be just between Jordan and I for a little while. You all will eventually find out, but maybe for a few weeks, we just keep it to ourselves.

You all can wait until we want to share. So there. There are no laws stating otherwise. Call me mean, call me selfish, but this will be the first thing in this pregnancy for just Jordan and I.

But that’s all…nothing more to update, Perhaps once the 20th week rolls around we’ll have more exciting news, but for now, that’s it.

Love you all1

2007-06-06T10:20:00.000-07:00

Hallelujah! Second trimester is here! I passed all my morning sickness a few weeks ago anyway, but this is a milestone in our baby's life. It is 3 1?2 inches long and if I am going to get stretch marks, it'll start showing this month. By the end of this month it will have fully formed and pronounceable sex organs.......

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, start your bidding, because very soon we'll know the sex of the baby! I have absolutely no idea what it will be, so no polling on my "hunch" because it's not there. Also, Jordan and I are still questioning whether or not we're gonna tell you! Ha ha!

Anyway. Our child will learn to breath this week and start peeing amniotic fluids....grrreeeeaaat. Lookin forward to it. Thanks kid. But at least It's getting big. 3 1/2 inches doesn't seem like a lot, but measure it out....no really, go grab a ruler and measure it. It's huge! The website we visit said an apple size kind, but that is one of those HUGE big red ones that they are referring to. This kid is getting to "coo-coo threatening" sizes.

But is also is moving. I have felt it only a few times. I am actually okay with that because that just means a few extra nights of uninterrupted sleep without a kick to my ribs or my lungs. And it's getting harder to bend over. It hurts! So, Jordan, we have a few pedicures to start looking forward to wherein I can not paint my own toe nails.

Other than that, God is good to us, and we still need a few more things in place before we can consider moving into another place. Our house is just not big enough. Not in the respect of a tiny baby, but more for the fact that this tiny baby has a bunch of crap already, and we don't have room for it. So please keep praying about that.

I just also have to say, I love my hubby. He is so cool about my need for french fires and weird food. He hardly complains when I want a specific food. He just complies and helps me get what I want. And I know he is totally willing to paint my toe nails for me. I have a great husband. Thanks you Jordan for being so sweet to me and understanding of my crazy-lady tendencies.

Love you all, I'll keep you posted with the next update.

New Papa and Mama News......

2007-05-29T09:32:00.000-07:00

Jordan and I talked today about our insurance. We have group health insurance but we are covering it ourselves each month. And because we enrolled pregnant we are paying $600 a month! Well, God has taken that into consideration and has granted us a blessing.

Jordan’s employers took notice of how hard Jordan has been working and how fast he is learning. They are now talking of helping us out a bit each month on the premiums, giving Jordan a raise, and allowing home to work more hours to get more money to help.

They have been so generous already, and now this! This is truly God in our lives and working for his glory. Praise God for all his blessings. I know that I don’t need to worry when my Savior has our backs.

And we had another ultrasound. This one was so amazing! I was blown away by how big the baby got! It looks like a baby! Then the best thing of all happened….It moved! Not only did I have a large baby, but it moved and kicked and rolled over! I didn’t feel it though, but watching it was the single most best moment in my life aside from my wedding day. It rolled over like it was annoyed with my coughing. Then it kicked me rapidly as if to say, “Hey, I’m trying to sleep here Mommy, now stop coughing!”

At a moment it held its hands up to its face looking like it was sucking its thumb. Then is held both arms up like it was on a roller coaster. It break danced and stood on its head. It was so amazing to watch. I was glad the technician took a while to do the ultrasound, it really meant a lot to me. I, of course, was crying at everything. Such an amazing notion, having a child.

Anyway, it got me to thinking. Before we got pregnant, I thought we’d have a girl first. Then I thought God in all his Glory and humor would bless me with a boy and really through me for a loop. So this whole time I’ve been thinking boy things. But now I am starting to think, what if it’s a girl!?! I have been referring to it as a boy, or calling it in my head Noah. How will I feel if it’s a girl? Delighted, Happy, Bummed…..

So I have resigned to just think of it as a baby. I’ll learn to not expect anything until I know further I guess. We’ll see. I think my mind has played enough “what if”s for a while, so I’ll just leave it to the master to decide for me.

Anyhoo, here’s our baby….

Mommy Musings

2007-05-18T10:54:00.000-07:00

I had another doctor's appointment yesterday. Just a check up to see how well baby and mommy are doing. Three things happened that I was so happy about.

First, I found that I have not gained any weight. I know that that's not something to cheer over when your expecting, but I am afraid that I'll gain too much from indulging too much in foods that satisfy me and not my nutritional needs. I try to eat reasonable and healthy and just what I need to keep us happy and healthy, and so far so good.

Second, I had to tell the nurse where the baby was. She asked, "WOW, how do you know where it is?" I told her that I was "Just that amazing of a mom already." And....I was right! (And thanks to Aunty T and her stethoscope for that bit of knowledge).

Third, I got to hear my beautiful child's heartbeat on a doplar! It was fun for us the first time hearing the baby's heart beat at 5 weeks, looking at Jordan's face, but that was just when it started to beat and it was very faint. Only 119/minute. This time it was strong! My Word Child! It was a strong 157/minute. Jordan had to work, so it was just me, and I tell you...being able to focus on that for myself was amazing!

I have had Talitha's stethoscope for a few days hoping to catch a sound or something everyday, but to no avail. The baby keeps moving and hiding behind junk. But this time it was clear as day. I kept it together until the nurse left, but as soon as she did, I had tears of joy streaming down my cheeks! I was so overjoyed to hear that the baby was there, and not just a little blip blip blip...but a THUNK THUNK THUNK!!! It was such an amazing feeling. It hit me. The "Mommy-Baby" connection has begun.

I have been feeling very detached from this little miracle until yesterday. I am now starting to feel that awesome connection. That need to protect my child, that amazing love.

It is truly the best feeling I have had so far throughout this pregnancy (all three months of it). I just called Jordan afterwards and gushed about how strong our munchkin is. Please note though, he couldn't wait to hear from me, he called in the middle of my doctor's visit! He is a proud Papa already, but this kinda puffed up his chest a little more. And I thanked him for giving me this great gift (And I thanked God for it too).

But that's all to my story. Just a strong heartbeat, but enough for me to start envisioning what it will be like to look into the eyes of my child for the first time, and see my beautiful husband hold it ever so tenderly. God loves us and we are thankful, he is truly good to us. He has given me a great loving Husband, and a miracle

Mother's Day

2007-05-16T10:59:00.000-07:00

Week 11 and counting, and new and exciting things transpiring in our lives thus far.

We have decided to talk with a Mortgage Lender to find out how much Jordan and I can afford as far as a home (town home-condo) is concerned. I thought living together in an apartment was big stuff! I am really excited to see where God will have us. We are still trying to see if the apartment will work, but in all honesty, I don’t know how with the furniture we have. Jordan definitely needs his own office/gamer retreat. And the baby already ahs enough stuff to make us question where it’s all gonna go!

Any way, Mother’s day was great! Noli (our baby’s nickname) surprised mommy with a crystal etched with a thank you note. It reads something like, “Thank you Mommy for loving me, keeping me warm and well fed. Love Noli”

On the reverse side is etched with little warm sayings about being a mommy. I loved it! Although, Noli must have done this all while I was sleeping. I didn’t know the baby could even use a phone. Strange…..maybe Papa helped a little.

We are just excited to see what new things are going to happen with our lives. We are excited more so about the baby. Every week we get an update, and this week we find that the baby is the size of an APRICOT! That’s huge to me! It definitely solidified in our minds that this is a full blown baby growing here. Not just a ball of junk anymore. That and my belly is getting bigger. Jordan likes to rub it. I like when he rubs my belly, it makes me feel pretty and loved for my sad body shape.

Anyway, I am leaving you with a picture of what our child’s little feet and toes look like. It’s so amazing how God is knitting this miracle inside me. Jordan and I are loving it. Each update gets more exciting! Last week it was hands and feet, this week it’s size and cute toes. Soon it’ll be that our child weighs 8 pounds!

Love you all; thanks for being patient with the slow updates….we have a lot of commitments that keep us very busy.

Growing...Growing...Growing…

2007-05-08T15:04:00.000-07:00

This week marks a mile stone in our young child’s life. It is no longer an embryo, it’s now a fetus! Yea!

To give you all an idea of what’s going on here are the stats:

I am 10 weeks pregnant

The baby is roughly the size of a large strawberry (1.5-2 inches long)

I have a pooch belly now. I feel like I have reached the “fat” stage. Wherein, no one can tell that I am pregnant, I just look like I gained weight. But thankfully I told the world, so they know what’s up.

I felt it kick once, and Aunty Talitha was there with her stethoscope to hear it! I can feel the baby move only if I am lying very still, and it has to basically do three flips to get my attention, and run across my stomach (it’s primarily on the high left side). Or when I bend over, I feel the baby move over. It’s such a weird feeling! Like I dislodged something in there and it moves around when I squish it.

I attached a pic of what a baby at 10 weeks looks like. They say that the baby will triple its size from here till the 2nd trimester. That would be in the real world a baby being born a normal size, then in four weeks growing to be as tall as a professional height basketball hoop!

But that’s all. Jordan is starting to really delve into his job. He is no longer watching training videos, but now is actually using AutoCAD and “scrubbing”. I am so proud of him. This line of work was so different than what he knew, and he is picking it up well.

Keep praying for us that God will give us wisdom in our possible need to move out of our small apartment into a home or a larger apartment. God is so good to us.

We love you all!

Much Ado About Nothing....

2007-04-27T15:00:00.000-07:00

Hello All!

I have officially taken over this blog, and made it my own. Sorry Honey...

Updates on our family:

1. Jordan is sick, again. He's really cute though, cause he's kinda helpless and vulnerable...and I like it!

2. His job is going good. So far we are still testing the waters....

3. Our baby is deciding this week to stay a girl, or turn into a boy. That's always an exciting day!

4. I am still discovering this new phenomenon called pregnancy. This is where the title of today's blog comes in.....those faint of the stomach....leave now.

I am....for lack of a better term...backed up, lately. And in doing so I get sicker each day that things don't happen. So, everyday I have a "Much Ado About Nothing" hour wherein I go to the bathroom, book under one arm, toilet paper in the other, and one determined look on my face.

Only to emerge an hour later sadly disappointed, and still sick. I feel the erg, but nothing. Not even a few toots here or there. It's just sad.

So I bought Metamucil, and more "invoking" things to eat, and hopefully I'll feel better soon.

That's all.

Hey look, Moriah puts the actual poop on her blog, I can at least talk about it!

my Belly

2007-04-24T10:57:00.000-07:00

I have to share this with you all, um, because I do.

So being pregnant makes certain things very interesting. Such as this morning. I got ready for work per usual, and casually I grabbed a shirt to wear. It wasn't until I got to work and went to use the wash room that I realized my belly is already growing. This normally nice button down shirt now looks like it's a size too small. It's sad really. I look silly. I had to let a few of the buttons down to make it look better (i have a shirt on underneath).

So, now I know for sure that even though my mom thinks there is no "lump" yet and I am not showing at all....I am. And my clothes prove it. Plus, Jordan and I love to feel the lump that is our child. I look sad today but I am actually happy, because for the past few weeks I have been feeling like a liar. I am not showing, and my morning sickness is really mild to nonexistent. Well, HA! Now I'm getting pudgy! Take that! At least I can show the pudge off as truth.

That's all. I just need to take a look in a mirror now after I get dressed from now on.

THANK GOD!!!

2007-04-20T11:09:00.000-07:00

So, Jordan got a job!!!! The one mentioned in the last entry turned into a well paying job! Thank the Good Lord!!!!!!! Hallelujah!!!!

We are so thankful to God for answering our prayers. This is truly a blessing. His job entails 2-D drafting work for a steel detailing company. He is basically apprenticing. They have also offered us health care. We are still in the works on that part, but it looks as though we will be covered for the pregnancy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

For those of you out there that don't know, the hospital stay for giving birth alone would have cost us $13,000. Not to mention Ultrasounds, doctors visits, etc..... GOD PROVIDES!!!! He truly loves those who love and obey.

Now for the baby....we heard the heart beat!!!! It was so special you guys.....I could cry now remembering it. We also got pictures......

So our little munchkin is the size of a raspberry this week (week 7). It has grown little fingers and toes, too! Oh, we are so blessed!

I just want to thank you all for your support and continued prayers. We are still feeling out this new job to see if it is right for us, but so far so good. Thank you all for your love and support.

We love you all, and God bless.

This week stinks...

2007-04-12T15:17:00.000-07:00

So, this week Jordan and I found out one of the hidden joys of being a married couple.

When one of us is sick...inevitably the other one will also fall sick. And then if we're lucky...we pass it back and forth until our bodies are immune to the world. We got the flu. Well, rather I got the flu, and then shared it with Jordan. As I am the pregnant one and my immune system is on shut down right now, mine was a worse course than His.

For example, my illness is going on a whole week and counting...his....ONE NIGHT! Yup, one of the many joys of being pregnant....your body shuts down the immune system to allow your kid to be there. Apparently, I am not awesome mom yet and my body just sees my baby as an invader of sorts (which it kinda is).

But, a trip to the doctor's today, maybe another day of rest and fluids, and all should be right again in the world. Now if morning sickness is that icky "I don't want to eat anything, but still want to eat everything, but can't cause I don't want to eat anything" feeling, then it's here. Going on week seven ....and morning sickness is so fun! I have already lost three pounds! (mock gladness) But all in all, I can rest assured knowing that morning sickness is my body's way of telling me that everything is right as rain.

Okay, now praise God moments:

Jordan has once again found himself with a few decisions to make. We are waiting to hear back this week on a potential job that would not only provide a great income, but also health care benefits. (Please pray hard about this) Jordan and I are hopeful that this turns out to be "The Job" that we have been praying diligently for.

But if not, there are two other short term prospects to fall on for money flow! We needn't worry...it truly is all in God's hands, and he is taking care of us more than we could ever imagine! I have found rest and hope in the fact that if God cares enough for the little creatures outside that have shelter and food, then our worries are just silly. He loves us, and will continue to take care of us.

So prayer request for the week, we need health care insurance for the pregnancy, and that this opportunity turns out to be fruitful and an enjoyable job that my husband will take pride in. First ultrasound is Monday also, and prayers for that to show us positive things is also welcome prayer, perhaps twins are in our future?!? ; )

Thanks for everyone's support this past few weeks, and prayers...they are much needed, welcome, and appreciated! We are trucking along and relying on our Sovereign to see us through. We love you all.

So, Now.....

2007-03-30T11:13:00.000-07:00

Now that the shock has worn off....Here's the scoop:

Yes! It's True! We're pregnant! Our due date is December 6, 2007. We are soooooo excited and blessed! We completely feel God's hand in our live right now! Praise God from whom all blessing flow!

We call the little munchkin "Noly" right now. (Jordan is thoroughly convinced that it's a boy.) We are completely delighted in this new joy, and the only thing that makes it better is all of you who are also sharing in our happiness.

Thank you all for your love and support. Our ultrasound should be in the next few weeks, so we'll post the "First picture" then.

Okay, I'll leave you with pictures of Mom Ferrell's birthday, and my cute little brother, Wyatt (he lost his two front teeth!)

Thanks!

This is Wyatt! Notice the lack of teeth....

The kids performing skits for Mom!

Charis...so pensive...

And again.....pensive.... as if to say, "Get that camera out of my face, you are interrupting my quite time....seriously Aunty Crystal...I will hurt you."

Gifts! We love gifts!

So this week....

2007-03-28T07:35:00.000-07:00

Yeah.....so, this happened............yep!

The Search Continues...

2007-03-23T11:53:00.000-07:00

Jordan is still searching for a job. There is nothing new to report. We have realized how blessed we were to have the Outside Da Box job right after we got married. The field that Jordan specializes in is very competitive, and with out extensive experience, it’s hard to find a steady job. And by extensive, I mean 10 + years of experience.

But God is still providing money making opportunities. He hasn’t failed us yet, and we continue to look to him for answers and strength.

Please be in prayer for our situation as it’s still difficult.

Other than that, we are just taking life day by day, loving being married! I could never fully understand this happiness until I got married. Jordan is such a wonderful person. He truly makes my life more beautiful.

Someday I’ll get more pictures up again for all to see. But as of right now……you’ll have to suffice without…

Philippians 4:13 “I can do everything through Christ who gives me strength.”

Love to All,

Crystal

Life and so on...

2007-03-12T20:16:00.000-07:00

So yeah.

We went to Florida this last week with the Ferrell/Huff clan. We had a blast on the beach and soaking in the sun. Remarkably, this trip afforded no rainy days, and mostly warm sunshine.

Jordan got horrible blood blisters from playing basketball barefoot, and we slept in a lot! I loved it! I learned how to play tennis, and can safely say I will take anyone on (I might not win by a long shot though).

T is turning 21 um in like......2 hours!!!!!!!!!! Yeah T!!!!!!!! So we were able to celebrate her and Dad Ferrell's Birthdays while we were there. I love you all, and will leave you with fun pictures.

So this is T, Jill, Mo, and I with our feet in really cold water!

My Gorgeous Husband and my cute niece!

My niece in her Fab swimsuit!!!!!!!! So adorable!!

'Nuff Said.....

Me and My TT! I love you honey....Happy 21st!!!!!!!!!!!!!!