Susanna is here!

Susanna Patricia arrived at 2:45 a.m. on Wednesday, August 29. You can see her ultra-cute picture at the Web Nursery site. Just request all babies born in August, in the state of Virginia, with the first three letters of my last name. You can even leave messages. :)

She was 7 lbs, 10 oz and a whopping 20.5" long. I was in labor for 22 hours, but thankfully only the final eight or so were really bad, and I had an epidural (wonderful invention, by the way) for the last four hours. I pushed for 45 minutes, and she gave me a 3rd-degree tear. She is worth every pain and every stitch!

I promise I'll post some photos within the next week. We got home last night and James and I are exhausted, I'm still sore, and we're having some problems with breastfeeding (I have slightly inverted nipples, which make latching a challenge). But it's a joy to have our little girl with us, and such a relief to not be pregnant anymore.

James was WONDERFUL during labor and delivery, and has been so supportive in this postpartum period. He's great with Susanna. Woody and Simon are very interested in her, and gave her many welcoming sniffs last night. My mom will probably come on Sunday to stay for a few days and help out, and then James' mom will come next weekend.

Keep us in your prayers, especially with the breastfeeding issues. Thank God for breast pumps, because otherwise I would have had to at least supplement with formula already!

When IT happens...spreading the word

No, I have not gone into labor yet. Hopefully that will happen this week, because I will be a VERY unhappy camper if I am in church a week from today. As I said today, I love my church, but I really want to have this baby soon! I'm still trying to induce labor naturally, with no success as of yet.

So many people (friends, family, church folk, etc) are sitting on the edge of their seats, waiting to find out if Susanna is here or not. I think people are afraid that they'll "miss the boat" and won't hear anything at all...or hear nothing until Susanna is a year old or something. Therefore, I thought I'd let you all know our "grand plan" for announcing her arrival. My goal is to have just about everyone know within 24 hours, either by phone or e-mail. Those of you who "lurk" will most likely find out from this blog, within 4-5 days after her birth.

I (or James) will call the following people ASAP: My parents, his mom, my grandmother, my PPR Chair, my Lay Leader, the pastor who's covering for me, and my District Superintendent.

Once I've moved into a postpartum room and am a little more settled (probably within 4 hours after the birth), one of us will call: the remaining members of the PPR (who can then spread the word to the church) and possibly some close friends.

At some point in the 24 hours after the birth, I'll send James to hunt down an Internet connection (probably in Pastoral Care) and send THE E-MAIL. Months ago, I composed a draft of an e-mail and created a mailing list entitled "Baby Announcement". There are currently 126 names on that mailing list. All James has to do is enter the pertinent info (date, time, weight, etc) and click "send". I have a similar e-mail draft set up on my church e-mail account, to notify church people (I think between the phone lines and Internet, most of the church will know within 24 hours).

Sometime after we come home, I will post an announcement on this blog, and at that point I'll include pictures. We have a digital camera (packed safely in my hospital bag, along with a spare battery and memory card), but probably won't be able to download pics until we're at home.

So...if all else fails, and you don't receive an e-mail from me, check this blog and you should see an announcement sometime within the next two weeks. Hopefully, it will be sooner.

Oh, and for those of you who are Virginia Conference clergy, there will probably also be an announcement on ClergyNet.

I don't know if I'll do paper birth announcements. It depends if I have the time and inclination to make them myself, because the fancy ones you order are really expensive ($1/piece, minimum) and I don't want to spend that kind of money. Sure, they look nice, but I have other things I could buy with that $$.

Still here...

Yes, I'm still pregnant. I'm big as a house, hormonal as anything, and really want to meet this child! I've gotten to the point where I'll try ANYTHING to go into labor. On Saturday, I went on the hayride at our church picnic. I think people were surprised that I made it to church on Sunday. :) On Monday, I went down to Durham (I needed to get out of Danville) for some shopping, and walked around a whole bunch. Today, I had Chinese for lunch. I may go to a health food store and buy some rasberry leaf tea. I've even taken out my breast pump and used it for a few minutes. Nothing's worked so far...I refuse to try castor oil. That stuff is NASTY.

Please pray that Susanna will come soon...I'm afraid if she stays in there for too long, she'll be gigantic and I'll have to have a C-section. I don't want one of those; I've gone almost 31 years without surgery, and I have no desire to change that!

Top Ten Additions (#4, #3)

#4 Your doctor sends you up to Labor & Delivery (aka L&D) "just in case", no matter what you call him/her for: contractions, back pain, possible amniotic leakage, ingrown toenail, etc.

#3 Your fear of labor pain is overshadowed by the fervent desire to have this child leave your womb NOW.

Happy Lefthanders' Day!

I did not know this...but today (August 13th) is Lefthanders' Day! I am proud to be a "lefty" and one of the 10% of "perfect" people in the world (heehee). I found the lyrics to this song online, and thought it was hysterical. It's called the "Lefty Lament Song". For the full experience, you need to hear it sung, so click on the link below the lyrics.

Three cheers to all the lefties out there!

Left-Handers Lament by Ian Radburn

Now here's the story of my life,I've had fun but lots of strife,

For I was born left-handed, but I'm proud

To be one of the elite, right-handers we can beat

We're the 10% that stand out from the crowd!
But as a little lad, oh the problems that I had

Winding clockwork toys was just a mystery

Tying laces was a pain, couldn't get it in my brain

Everything was back-to-front it seemed to me

Chorus: We're the Cack-Handed Kings, we're the LEFTIES

You right-handers just haven't got a clue

'Cos if you'd been through what we've been through

Then maybe you would feel superior too!

At 5 I started school where I was treated like a fool

Being left-handed I stood out from the pack

And learning how to write was not a struggle - more a fight

For I had my left hand tied behind my back

"Now get it in your head" the sympathetic teacher said

"You use the right and not the Devil's side"

Those supposed men of vision caused me pain and such derision

Is it any wonder often times I cried?

We're the Gibble Fisted Friends, we're the LEFTIES

(repeat chorus)
Time then came when my voice dropped

And my face was one big spot

But I was glad to see my teenage years arrive,

Because I use my left, I was different from the rest

And the girls saw me as something of a prize!
I learned some handy tricks in the back row of the flicks

It used to drive my girlfriends all berserk

For their eyes would keep apace of my right hand - just in case

And they never saw my left one go to work!
We're the Southpawed Princes, we're the LEFTIES

(repeat chorus)
Well I'm married now, worst luck

But my wife has given up

Asking me to help with chores like peeling spuds,

Or trying to cut the bread, I'll get a 4 x 2" wedge

Lose three fingertips and half a pint of blood
I would love to be a dad, but we've hit a little snag

If you can help please tell us what to do

The problem simply said, is that I'm a left-hand thread

But my wife you see, now she's a right-hand

.....OH, YES WE'RE THE
Scrummy-Handed Heroes, we're the LEFTIES

(repeat chorus)
Now we reach today, where you stand and watch me play

And yes, I play right-handed it is true

For the very simple fact is that I've had to adapt

Something all we southpaws have to try and do

We have trouble tying ties, writing cheques out, using knivesand scissors made for use in your right hand

And when it comes to sport once again we are left short

In hockey and in polo we are banned
We're the Cuddy Wifter Winners, we're the LEFTIES

(repeat chorus)
Now I've finished off my song and as you move along

Please bear in mind the things I've had to say

And please show some respect for your friends who use the lef

tThanks for listening to me this Left-Handers Day.
Copyright: Ian Radburn, 2004

http://www.lefthandersday.com/audio/lefty_lament.wma

Top Ten Addition...

#5 You feel as though a beeping sound much akin to the backup alarm on a loader should accompany your rolling over in bed--- and it takes WAY too long to do!

Top Ten Ways to Know It's Time for Baby to COME SOON!

This is a work in progress...I hope to have it completed by the time I actually go into labor. Right now, I've only thought of a few things...

#10 You find yourself not fitting into/barely squeezing into small, tight spaces like church pews and restaurant booths because of your enormous belly.

#9 Your maternity clothes are getting too tight, but it's pointless to buy new clothes this late in your pregnancy.

#8 You can only wear two pairs of shoes because of your swollen feet/ankles (in my case, it's Birkentocks or sneakers).

#7 You find yourself flirting with the idea of abandoning your staunchly-held principles and parking in a handicapped spot, because all the "Expectant Mother" spots have been taken (by non-pregnant people, most likely), the nearest "normal" parking spot is ten spaces down the row, and the thought of walking that far in 90-degree heat makes you whimper. (NOTE: I would never park in a handicapped spot unless I genuinely needed it. However, the temptation is present...)

#6 You take a church member to the ER, and the woman at the registration desk looks at your belly, and asks if you need to be taken up to Labor & Delivery.

Stay tuned to see if I come up with any more brilliant ideas...

Happy Anniversary to Us!!!

Today is our anniversary! James and I have been married for SIX years. I can't believe it's been that long---obviously time flies when you're having fun. Tonight we're going to Yancey House (in Yanceyville) for dinner. Here's a sobering thought--next year we'll have to get a baby-sitter.

So here are two pictures of us: "then" and "now" (sort-of). The pic on the right was taken last May, when James got his PhD. We haven't had too many pictures taken of the two of us this past year.