Labor details and thankfulness

So here are the labor details for those of you who may be wondering.

I started having painful contractions around 9:30am Saturday. They continued to pick up in intensity so we called Josh and Sarah to say we were bringing the girls over. I quickly stuffed some clothes in a bag for them and away they went. B and I then waited at home, rushing around trying to clean up the dishes and some other things. I think it was close to 11:00am when we got to the hospital, no speeding ticket this time :-)

The first midwife said something to the affect that they would check to see what was going on and if I wasn't in labor they would send me home. I wanted to say "look lady, I think by the third kid I would know what labor is." I refrained.

So they checked and I was at 6cm (or even a bit more) at that time. The contractions were about 3 minutes apart and stayed that way until the end. I am thankful for that because it gave me time to rest in between each one.

Anyway around 12:30 the pushing started. After awhile I was getting confused because he wasn't coming out. I thought I had possibly forgotten how this worked or that my muscles were too weak to finish the job. On top of that confusion there was meconium present when my waters broke. The midwife was trying not to rush me but it was apparent that things needed to finish soon due to risk of infection to Gideon. Still nothing was happening. I heard the midwife talking to someone about going to get someone else, this made me start thinking that they were going to get forceps or the vacuum to move things along. I was a bit angry with that (I didn't want his head being messed with) and a couple more pushes and there he was.

So I hate to say it but I think getting angry helped me finish it. It was no where near as easy as the girls were but I guess that isn't a big surprise since Gideon was more than 2 lbs. heavier than them.

So there you go, the 411.

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Many of you may be wondering what is going on with us and Brandon taking his business trip.

I have much to be thankful for in this area. So far Brandon has not had to leave. The machine is taking longer to be built than the guys in Warragul thought (we are not really surprised with this). Brandon was able to take Mon - Wed of last week off, which was really nice. He went back to work last Thursday but just in the office out back. This works pretty well, if there is a riot in the house I can call him over the intercom and have him rescue me :-)

Although it is not that great for the machine to be delayed this long I am very thankful that God provided a bit more time.

Gideon is doing pretty well. He is doing the stuff he is supposed to be doing, sleeping, eating, and filling his nappies. I have to say that the boy "thing" with nappies is not going so well. I am starting to work out a method so that we don't end up being sprayed...but it still needs perfecting.

The biggest challenge right now is the feeding time. It takes Gideon about 45 minutes to eat. It is hard to be stationary for that long when the girls are roaming about the house. I am trying to work it out so that they are occupied for some of the feeds (lunch, art activity, reading books, watching a video). So far there haven't been too many melt downs.

Today we took Gideon on a walk. He slept. Jolene picked as many flowers as possible. Adele was in and out of the pram as much as possible. The pram only seats two kids. We are borrowing a "skateboard" from Josh and Sarah that attaches to the pram. Jolene stands on the skateboard in between me and the pram. She likes it so far, at least for when her feet get tired.

This weekend we are going to Kennet River. There is a holiday home owned by a family at church there. Josh and Sarah rented it out for this weekend and invited us to come along. We are in need of a little holiday. Especially since Brandon has only had three days off and he will be gone all of the following week. We are all looking forward to it!

gif pics

Thanks for the encouraging emails and comments! We appreciate them all.

Here are some pics of the little guy. Mostly with a crowd of little girls around him.

And in this corner...

gideon ioan fisher
9lbs 14oz
height: unknown
born: 13sep09, 1:15pm
fighting style: greco roman


Yeah...we don't know where his size came from either. Megan and Gids are doing fine and resting at the hospital. Both have recovered well from a fairly arduous labor towards the end, which one might expect for a baby his size coming from someone Meg's size. We could definitely see God's hand at work throughout as we are thankful the baby came today instead of waiting until Tuesday. We're also thankful for the midwives here who let the one in labor dictate much of her surroundings and position with as little interference as possible. Most of all we're thankful for the precious baby boy to add to our family.

Give glory to God!

Nothing yet

I thought I would let you all know that we are still waiting.

I will be induced on Tuesday morning if nothing has happened before then. You could pray that it doesn't come to that...I have never heard anyone speak highly of being induced.

I rearranged all the furniture in the back bedroom the other day. That included moving a bed with mattress, two book shelves full of books, a couple of chairs, desk, and rug. This was of course in the hopes that I would go into labor. Instead of labor I just wasn't able to move the rest of the evening :-)

Thankfully Brandon didn't have to leave today. The machine is still being built and probably won't be done until the middle of next week. I guess that means he will probably won't have to go anywhere next week...just the two after that. Not really sure but I am thankful I won't have to call him to say that I am in labor.

Brandon is sick right now...he only takes a nap when he really feels bad. I think he gave it to me...I feel it in my throat and head. Hopefully it won't get too bad...yuck being sick and going through labor, not a big fan.

Well this isn't so cheery sounding, is it? How about we end on a more happy note.

We took the girls to the beach this evening. I told Jolene that the water was cold and that she shouldn't get her clothes wet. Her pants were soaked in about five minutes. Adele on the other hand was very careful not to get her feet wet. She did splash herself in the face which she promptly came and showed us.


Adele now calls Jolene "Jean". It is very cute when Adele asks for her..."Jean, where are you?"

Like at the beach today. Adele couldn't see Jolene so she was walking around the beach saying "Jean, where are you?"


It makes me smile.

As one enters the world many others are being silenced

Once again I have passed my due date (Sept. 6) and am now heading into the 40+ stage. Oh hooray. This is one record I don't really care to keep.

Wednesday I have to see a doctor about the date to be induced.

Friday Brandon leaves for his business trip. He will come back Saturday afternoon to take the youth group aboard the Doulos.

He will then head back up to Warragol (2 1/2 -3hr drive) on Monday and stay until late Saturday. This will be the same for the week following as well. At least that is what B said we should anticipate.
Of course the baby has to come at some point in this schedule so I guess 3-4 days in there somewhere B will be home. Just when though?

All of this is on a happy note because a little voice will be coming into the world shortly.

However, on a sad note there are political actions taking place over here that could silence many more voices in the years to come if a conscience vote goes a certain way.

Today Victorian PM's will begin to debate changes to the state's abortion laws.

In short some are pushing to decriminalize abortion.

This sums up what the Abortion Law Reform Bill of 2008 says...

"A woman less than 24 weeks' pregnant who wants an abortion, the Bill says, can get one from a registered medical practitioner. In the case of a late-term abortion, two medical practitioners must "reasonably believe that the abortion is appropriate", with regard to "all relevant circumstances and the woman's current and future physical, psychological and social circumstances".

Brandon and I both strongly oppose this bill and as suggested by the pro-life organizations over here wrote to the PMs. Here is one form letter that we received twice but from two different people.

"Dear Brandon,

Thank you for your email of August 29, 2008 regarding the proposed Abortion Law Reform Bill 2008.

As you may be aware, on 29 May 2008, the Victorian Law Reform Commission’s (VLRC) report on options for reform of the law relating to abortion was tabled in the Victorian Parliament.

It is essential that the law reflects contemporary community standards and that it is simple, clear and transparent. In line with the terms of reference provided to the VLRC (available at www.lawreform.vic.gov.au the report provides the Government with three options to clarify and modernise the law.

Following consideration of the VLRC’s advice, the Government has put before the Parliament a Bill to modernise Victorian abortion law.

This will be the subject of a conscience vote for all Government Members of Parliament and one in which I will be supporting the Bill as it currently stands.

I thank you for your thoughts on this very sensitive issue.

Yours sincerely

MICHAEL CRUTCHFIELD MP
Parliamentary Secretary for the Environment and Water "

It is the third paragraph in this that I think is ridiculous. Why does a law need to "reflect contemporary community standards"? What if those standards are wrong? Just because there is a majority approving of something does not make it morally right. As I see it laws are to uphold the truth, not what is currently trendy or popular. Of course when a country does not follow Christ the truth is lost and you head in this sort of direction.

Even though we are not citizens we thought we should write due to the fact that our taxes will pay for some of these operations. It is after all "free" health care.

In closing, we got around to writing these letters a bit late. While writing them I thought "well better late than never". Afterward I was a bit ashamed at that thought. What would be the case if we had more of an attitude of "better earlier than later"? Could acting quickly on an issue such as this make a difference in the outcome? I am not sure of the answer but I think at least the attitude should be the latter no matter what.

Heading on a collision course for chaos

At this very moment I should be working, but the site is down due to maintenance issues so here I am.

I am somewhat annoyed at the maintenance being scheduled for now. I have an Enewsletter I need to layout and upload on the NSW gov. site before Monday. For me it is more like before the baby could come.

I follow with this...

"Ode to Bub #3"

Come out!!!!!!!!

Come out!!!!!!!!

The due date is Saturday but it would really be great if this little person came sometime Friday-Monday. This is of course is mainly due to the fact that we now know when Brandon will be going on his business trip. It seems that he will be leaving on or a bit before Sept. 15th. It also looks like he could be gone for about two weeks. Not what I really want but that is what happens sometimes.

Kind of funny that with each of our kids we have had some major upheaval to deal with.

Jolene - Moved three weeks after she was born to a trailer behind Brandon's parent's house.

Adele - The house burnt down. She still had a few months in the oven though.

Number 3 (almost wrote the name...too bad you have to wait) - Brandon leaves for a two week business trip.

Is there some kind of message behind all of this? Apparently it isn't getting through :-)

Hmmmm you know what I would really like to eat right now? A bag of frozen raspberries. The past few months I have really had a craving for berries of any sort. Thankfully my smoothie box (box in freezer that is full of various frozen fruits) is full so we have been having smoothies several times a week. I think I should stock up before B leaves. I told Brandon that it is a good day when the smoothie box is full. Doesn't take much to please me does it :-)



Oh and here is my belly