How we chose his name!

Jeff and I have always been very secretive about the names we have choosen for our children. Probably because we know we like different names and we don' want everyones opinion about it. We would much rather announce the name when the baby arrives and it will just have to grow on eveybody.

We also think that the meaning of a name is so important but finding a name we both like that has a significant meaning to go with it is pretty difficult!

So how did we end up with Jeremiah John?

Jeremiah was a top 5 name for us when we were expecting Matthias. So when we knew we were expecting again we decided we still liked it! Jeff also really admires the prophet Jeremiah and we both loved the meaning "The Lord be exalted". It is our prayer for our son that the Lord is exalted and praised in an through his life. I feel like everytime we say Jeremiah's name we are praying that over him again and again.

Now John is a bit of a family name on my side, my dad is John and so was my Opa. Both are Godly, wise, loving men and we wanted to honor them by naming Jeremiah after them.

Here is my dad with his namesake!

Jeremiah's newborn photos

My very talented friend Kayla who did my maternity photos also came out to do a few newborn photos as well. They are stunning if I can say so and then she also did a few of the rest of us.

I am so glad to finally have a summer baby, along with many other perks, outdoor pictures!

 

How we became 5!

God's love, wisedom and faithfulness astound me once again as we welcome our 3rd child into the world. I know that is shouldn't take me by surprise how my Lord knows best and allows for that in my life. I always feel I know best and then when God shows me what is best I am so humbled and thankful.

I started having contractions at noon on July 9. They were definatly stronger than my usual braxton-hicks but for sure manageable. A week earlier I had a similar feeling and did get assessed and nothing was happening so I sort of figured this would be the same thing and just decided to go normally about my day. The kids and I had a nice afternoon outside but I did have to stop about every 10 minutes for a breather.

Supper rolled around and i was contracting every 8 minutes and Jeff could see I was uncomfortable. I was supposed to go for coffee with a friend and he kept asking if I was going. I figured either this is nothing (denial) or this might be a last chance to go out by myself for a while so I better seize the opportunity. So off to town I went for a coffee, checking my phone to time contractions about every 7 minutes.

After coming home and trying to settle for bed I quickly knew that sleep was not going to happen so I tried to prep myself for a long night and next day. At 3am we called my coffee friend to come stay with the kids and off to the hospital we went. At 5am I was 5cm dilated and we knew that this was the real deal and that we wouldn't go home without our newest member.

I was GBS positive this pregnancy so the nurse got my IV and antibiotics going. Jeff and I then tried to prepare ourselves for the journey to that magical 10cm mark. I paced and swayed and breathed my way there, hoping and praying for it to all go quickly. Unfortunately it would not be like Matthias (I arrived at hospital fully dilated and gave birth quickly after) and we had to settle for the average 1cm an hour dilation rule. They offered me an epidual a couple of times but after having Matthias au natural and knowing how much easier it was to know when to push and how much more quickly I recover after I opted to give birth drug fee again. This choice earned me a few nicknames such as birthing machine or beast by the staff and I just wondered if I was just plain stupid. By noon I was nearly fully dilated but my Dr. wanted me to try "hold off" pushing for another hour if possible to make sure I was dilated and off to lunch he went! Oh I could have kicked him but being a nurse and knowing the risks and possibility of cervical tearing I tried my best to get through that hour. By 12:45 I was not having it anymore and told the nurses I needed to push and just at that moment Jeff looked out the window and told me Dr. Venter just pulled in the parking lot! I gave him a couple minutes to get his butt upstairs, gown on and according to Jeff 3 pushes later our beautiful son, Jeremiah John entered the world. Screaming, slimy, tiny and absolutely perfect.

There is no way to express the joy and relief of welcoming a healthy child into your life and heart. Even after a 3rd time the feelings are as intense as the first and I've come to realize that there is always room in my heart for more love for each of my children.

I got to enjoy a few minutes of Jeremiah resting on my chest and Jeff and I checked for all his fingers and toes and studied all his little features. Then the nurse took him and did the usual checks as well. Our little man only weighed 6lbs 5 oz! Our smallest baby yet! I suppose for being one week early it shouldn't have surprised me. Meanwhile, I got checked (no tearing...yay!!) and cleaned up and taken to the next room where we would stay for the next day or so. Jeremiah was a natural at nursing and we got some wonderful bonding time before Jeff returned with Jil and Matthias. Jil has been in love with Jer from the first moment and Matthias was intrigued by the new baby but was mostly excited to see mommy again,

Wow, our little family of 5! I would not have dreamed that this is what God had in store for Jeff and I when we got married 9 years ago. I am so thankful and humbled by His goodness.

Whoa! Where has the time gone?

Hello, my name is Bethany and I'm a super non-committed blogger. OK, I got that confession off my chest for anyone who may have thought otherwise.

Seriously, has it been 9 months since I last blogged... pathetic, but I hope to renew my blogging and be a little more present in the future.

So where do I start after a 9 month sabbatical? After New York I re-entered the work force as a Home Care RN. I didn't know how I  would adjust to a new area of nursing and even though I miss a little bit of an adrenaline rush from time to time from the ER I truly love it! I get to really take time to know and help the patients I come in contact with. I'm also so thankful for a flexible schedule from Jeff so that we don't have to send our children to daycare.

Oh right, children. After beginning work I began to notice my New York pants where a little tight. Weird, right, since I am the only person in the world who has trouble putting on weight and have to consume large amounts of calories just to maintain my weight. (This truly is a medical concern and not a gift as many of you might think. It is equally hard to gain weight in a healthy manner as it is to lose weight in a healthy manner). I hadn't had a period since before I got pregnant with Matthias but I don't get one while breast feeding and I had just weaned Matthias so that didn't trigger any thoughts either. I didn't think much of it and then I just got so tired and gross feeling. I must be coming down with something. Well, after about 3 weeks of Jeff telling me I was pregnant and me denying it I took a pregnancy test. Sure shooting that little plus sign popped up! After a bit of figuring and thinking I realized, I got pregnant before NewYork and I'm at least 8 weeks pregnant! How doesn't figure it out until 8 weeks!?  Well, me of course!

So after that little surprise we have been working our tails off! New room from Jil downstairs and thanks to Jeff's handywork that all was finished with weeks to spare. I decided that on top of working casually I would paint all the kids' rooms, nursery, tackle pinterest projects for all 3 rooms, paint a spare room, dejunk, increase the size of my garden and tear off our crumbling front steps and side walk. We always go crazy before a baby is born! On top of it all 5 weeks ago Matthias fractured his tibia in a freak accident going down a slide, then 2 weeks ago had severe tonsilitis that obstructed his airway and 5 days ago I gave birth to a beautiful boy, our second son! So that is 9 months in a nutshell but I'll save some good stories and details for later. For now, here's a few pictures prebaby!