Charlie Back at home....

Well since I am on paternity leave for the next 2 weeks, which makes me thankful for our over politically correct society in one way, I will be doing most of the blog postings; but fret not dear friends Rikki will be back when I hit the hospital on Sept 14th. For now I get paid to fall asleep in a leather chair with my boy, watching a golf tournament.....doesn't get any better than that.

We made it home from the hospital on Saturday. Rikki's dad filmed everything, including the staged drive into the driveway. Figuring out feedings, sleep, poops, and pees has been the agenda for the last few days. Last night charlie slept on a regular schedule eating every 4 hours @ 2 am and 6 am; don't worry I am a neurotic pediatric resident and he will catch up and make sure that he gets 8 feeds in a day :) There are way too many schools of thought for how much, when, where & how a baby should sleep, and eat. It is crazy and frankly frustrating(for me at least). I think that rikki and I have made a nice balance between babywise, AAP breastfeeding book, common sense and my scientific brain. We let him "self-soothe" aka cry himself to sleep and it wasn't as bad as expected; He was out after a few minutes.
We went to see Dr. Freeman at the continuity clinic where I see my patients on Monday. Everything went well. Rikki is an amazing mama. Charlie is an lucky boy, and by luck I mean blessed. It has been incredible to see how God has transformed my wife, even in the last few days, from fearful(though I am sure she still has some of that) to an incredible mom who loves, cares for and provides everything this almost nine pounds of joy needs. It has brought me to tears to see her feeding and talking to our son.
So I probably should go do something productive, but wanted to try to keep people up to speed. Thank you for continuing to pray for our family. As I sit here Charlie is making some little "newborn sounds" from his bouncer on the floor at my feet. Here are a few parting pictures for you to see him as he changes.

Making his debut....

The moment you have all been waiting for. Pictures. Rikki is doing well. Charlie is feeding like a champ. He is getting his circumcision today, by the NICU fellow, circ-master Brad Buckler. We are super excited.













This is the three Generations of Charles's....
Chuck Charles and Charlie.....

The family prayer team that surrounded and prayed for charlie at 1 hour of life!!

Charlie is Here!

Charlie is Here!!!! 8 lbs 9 oz. Big ol' fella. Will post pictures soon.!!1

In the Hospital....

This is Charles.

The alarm clock went off at 400Am, though that was 5 minutes after I hear, "you're awake!" So 355AM we rose from the bed and got ready for the big day. Rikki aparently had contractions all night and Charlie kicked just enough to prevent any sleep.
After the car was packed, we arrived at MCG at a touch before 5AM. We got settled in and the induction was started. The contractions became intense and intense fast; they were every 45 seconds for a while after 3 or so hours of pitocin. The anesthesia crew came in and an epidural made everyone more comfortable. Now we are trying to take a nap, but this chair I am in makes me feel like I am having labor pains, so I do not think that sleeping is going to happen. Well our families are speeding down I20 and will be here before we know it. Continue to pray for us. We'll keep you posted.

Charlie come meet us!

Charlie at 36 weeks 5 days Charlie's crib

My friend Kara painted this picture for Charlie's hospital room door:)
The "three little birds" all holding hands

We are eagerly (that is an understatement) awaiting the delivery of our first son, Charlie. His due date is this Saturday, August 22nd. I have had a fairly normal pregnancy and we are praying the same for Charlie's delivery. His room is ready, our bags are packed, and our family members are all on their toes waiting for our call. It has been hard waiting for God's timing for labor to begin. I, as always, have tried to take matters into my own hands by doing everything I can think of to induce labor. Now realizing that I have absolutely no control over the situation I am finally ready to trust God's timing. Isn't it so funny how we try to control everything when the God of the universe, who created Charlie, tells us that he will give peace to those whose heart is steadfast in trusting Him (Isaiah 26:3). God rebukes his disciples for not trusting him to save them from the storm in Matthew 8:26 by saying "you of little faith, why are you afraid?". So why am I afraid? I fear the unknown, I fear struggles even when they are for my gain, I fear the negative outcomes. I am a fearful woman without Christ. But I can claim peace and salvation through my Lord and in him there is no fear. 1 Peter 5:7 says "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." So I am trying daily to cast my fears upon Christ as I wait for labor to begin. In the meantime check out some pictures of our little man from the inside and outside of utero:).

New blogger on the block

My husband and I set out to create a website to keep friends and family updated on our lives since we will be adding to our numbers by one very soon (maybe even today;). And lo and behold we discovered the world of blogging. After visiting numerous blogs, I think I finally have in mind what is involved in being a "blogger". At first I thought it was a new indie way of expressing oneself in a creative way, and sense I am not as creative as a lot of bloggers I have seen, this slightly discouraged me from starting a blog. But I think blogging can be a great hobby that I don't have to be perfect at (since I usually am perfect in every other since;-). I like the blog world, with all the talented women that have so many great ideas, recipes, and tips for Christian living. But I must be careful not to get "sucked in" to the internet in one other way...I mean I have TV, email, Facebook, and now blogs to get caught up in, and by the time I realize I have been absent from society by being on my computer, and hour or 2 has gone by, easily (I guess as soon as Charlie is born I really will not have near as much time to waste as I do currently, waiting for him). But, it is my hope that this shares with you some of the valuable lessons we as a family are learning in life as we follow Christ as well a some of our greatest family moments as we go from two little birds to three.