My Three

I always thought that growing up in a family with three kids (as opposed to the 2 kids that most of my friends' families had) that our house felt busier, more fun and definitely just like a "bigger family." I loved my big brothers and loved the excitement of their activities and lives as much as I liked my own. It all contributed to a great big family feeling.

So as I look at pictures of my own 3 kids, I get excited for them (and for me and Bill) that hopefully they will end up feeling the same way about growing up in a bigger family. Even more so than my own family-of-origin because our kids are all 3 so close together in age.

Anyone who knows me well knows that I'm a big fan of the Duggar family from the TLC show "19 Kids and Counting." I've noticed that there are virtues born and grown in big families that just aren't available to small families. This family happens to share some of my beliefs and values, which of course, makes me partial to liking them - however, there are some things that are simply a function of family-size that are apparent to me from watching this show.

Now I don't know if I'm up for 19 children but I am interested in knowing how their family works. I'd love to visit them - anyone with me?

We may not be on our way to 19 but I do love looking at my 3!

My Zoe Girl

Zoe is adjusting well to life in the Patterson-family. And we like her a lot! Andrew says "mom - we get to keep her, right?" He's in love. And so am I. Here are some pictures of my Zoe from the past few days. And yes, the shirt she's wearing says "Mommy Adores Me." I guess Dora knew how I'd feel since she just had a daughter of her own! Indeed I do.

Zoe is here!

Our beautiful baby girl arrived in dramatic fashion on Monday night. We are so so happy to have her with us. Here's how her birthday progressed until she arrived....

I woke up with a few hours of contractions beginning around 345am. These contractions were noticeable but not too painful and about 10-13 minutes apart. So we knew we had a little time.

As I took a bath I started to hear over and over again in my head "This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it!" Later I opened my bible to the EXACT page where that psalm was to be found: Psalm 118:24. I knew God had plans for our day and that my job was to be glad and to trust Him.

Around 930am the contractions had all but disappeared. So I told Bill he should go to work and we'd just see how the day progressed. Mid-day I felt a lot of cramping and pressure but no real contractions anymore. Krissy gave me a good word that continual progress toward birth didn't mean consistent and she felt that God knew exactly how my body needed to prepare. Ok great!

430pm - I call Bill and tell him to come home: contractions back and definitely real.

530pm - I start timing them and quickly jump from 10 minutes apart to 6-7 min apart.

6pm - Call doctor and she tells us to go ahead and get to the hospital.

7pm - Pull into Christ Hospital and contractions are now 4-5 minutes apart and gettin' rough.

730pm - We get assigned a room and are still in our own clothes. I'm getting anxious because I know how the processes work (get changed, answer questions, get an IV, get checked, call doctor, etc) but something inside tells me that it isn't going to go that way. Contractions are VERY big and hard now and maybe 2 minutes apart at most. I'm hurtin' right now. Lots.

745pm - Nurse finally checks me for the first time and reports that I'm a "good 8cm" and everyone goes into higher gear. They're firing questions at us, Bill is answering for me because I can't focus on anything at this point. Nurse calls doctor AT HOME to come in for the birth. We all know there's no way she'll make it.

I start saying/yelling "I feel the baby" "This baby's head is right there." "I have to push" - stuff like that. And I'm wondering if anyone believes me! The Resident on call shows up and tells me she's going to "catch my baby" since my doctor isn't here.

I think I scream a couple times at this point and Zoe is pushing her own way out now...I just need to get on board. Which I wasn't entirely...but really had no choice!

Irony here? We had decided we'd go ahead and have another epidural for this birth. A while ago the discussion about going natural had surfaced. I had seriously believed that perhaps God had that in mind for this birth. However, Bill and I had never reached that decision together and we agreed again in the car that we'd go ahead and get an epidural. I now know that God had other plans.

One of the beautiful things about this fast and hard birth was that I realized the ONLY person that comforted me in any way was Bill. I got scared when I realized what was going to happen. And through every contraction and every second I could have cared less about the doctor -- I just wanted Bill. He was my only comfort.

And so out came our baby girl at 756pm right in the midst of all this. She wanted out. She wanted life. NOW. And so she came.

I was stunned, amazed, grateful it was over so fast, speechless at the circumstances....I just kept staring at her in wonderment that she was already on my chest. I kept asking Bill what had just happened and we were both just speechless in amazement. We've talked it over again and again and still can't quite figure out what happened those last 15 minutes.

I guess God had a plan for this day. Let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Our baby girl Zoe Elaine (which means "life and light") was born at 8lbs 4oz, 21 inches long at 756pm with no OB doc in the room. Just perfect for all of us.

We didn't name her until about 20 minutes after she was born. Bill and I both felt strongly that this was her name and hoping the other agreed. We believe our unity around her name was endorsement from God that it's the right one for her! So welcome our little bundle of life and light with us - and rejoice!

Egg McMuffin Love

My husband really is amazing. Last night I happened to mention off-hand that it had been forever since I'd eaten an Egg McMuffin. It just sounded good. This morning he came downstairs dressed and said he'd be back in 10 minutes. He returned with an Egg McMuffin for me. He does these little things that make me grateful and amazed at the little ways he loves me. Egg McMuffins are a sure sign of love.

I couldn't resist taking a few bites before I took the picture! Mmmmmm.

Last Family-of-4 Photo

I think it's nice to record some family history along the way...so here is what I imagine will be our last picture as a family of four. This was taken on Saturday January 2, 2010.

We've had a great holiday time and glad we've made it through the new year, taken down the decorations and done all the final preparations for our daughter to arrive. Now we are just waiting for her to come and meet us! We love her already. Every day Andrew gives her hugs and kisses and tells her to come and see us. Luke isn't as sure....sometimes it's yes and sometimes he says "not right now!"

Today I spent the day organizing: disassembling the diaper cake from my party, putting new toys away, throwing away old things, putting boys clothes in storage containers and even a trip to IKEA for some storage units that I'm sure won't get put together for another few weeks. Maybe Papa will do it when he comes! But I just need all those final little things to be in place. Now! :-)