We are enjoying having Kate here at home and again standing in awe of God and provision over our family. The first couple of nights were a bit long...long would be a good word as little girl had her days and nights mixed up, but last night the Lord knew we were tired and she slept really well.
Kate had her first visit to the pediatrician who was pleased with her weight (7lbs 1.2 oz) and said she looks great. We go back to see the pediatrician in 2 weeks for another check-up. Tamara got her staples out yesterday and is getting along amazingly well. Cooper and Jack love having a baby sister in the house. Many times you can hear Jack walking around the house when Kate is fussing saying, she sad....she sad....she sad. I know it seems early but those boys are so great with baby Kate and love her so much.
My biggest struggle right now is finding myself loosing sight of God's great favor on our family and I don't know why other than I am a selfish me centered person. However, when I stop and thank about it even for a minute I am so amazed and blown away at the amount of love God has for me and my family. Kate is a visible reminder of that love and blessing every day and so are Cooper, Jack, and Tamara. I will post more soon, and hopefully more pictures.
Blessings,
stephen
Tuesday, September 19, 2006
Friday, September 15, 2006
Providence...Sweet providence
God is beyond good and today I know that again in my life. Today, September 15th, 2006 we were able to bring Katherine "Kate" Grace Martin home from the hospital just 2 days after she was born. This is the day we have been praying for that we would be able to walk out the doors of Willow Creek Women's Hospital with our precious little baby girl in our arms and today God has allowed us to do that.
Providence encompasses our delivery of this baby girl from the beginning of this pregnancy all the way to the time we pulled up in front of our house to welcome her into a home that is full of love for this gift from God. Providence is defined as divine guidance or care.
Providence, Tamara decided on a feeling to call the clinic on Wednesday due to the contractions she had been having and a few other symptoms that were different than days before, when she called the clinic Dr. Partridge-Hix said she would wait for us at the clinic and we could slide right in. Providence because Dr. Partridge-Hix is married to Dr. Hix that delivered our baby and had seen us throughout this pregnancy. Providential in that Dr. Hix has 4 children all of which were premature so he knows what he is doing as does Paige his wife also an OB/GYN.
When we went to visit Paige she examined Tamara and discovered that she was already dilated to a 3.5 and informed us that Robert (Dr. Hix) was on call and would be waiting for us downstairs to do a c-section "pretty quick".
More providence, Dr. Hix doesn't usually do call on Wednesdays but this Wednesday he was on call and knew every bit about this pregnancy and how we wanted to proceed not to mention was able to walk us through every step of the way.
After Kate was born she was having some issues with her blood pooling in her extremities, nothing serious but unsightly and what do you know in comes more providence. Our wonderful nursery nurse for the first day was a sweet lady named Lorraine who "just happened" to have had several years of Neonatal ICU training. Kate was experiencing some discoloration due to the fancy word that I can't remember, we called providence...oops I mean Lorraine and she came right down. Lorraine told us that if it was ok with us she would take Kate back to the nursery and put her on monitors to watch her and make sure everything was still stable, which it was. While in the nursery Lorraine taught Kate how to improve her suck/swallow reflex necessary for proper nourishment by lovingly working with her through the night.
Thursday came and we were able to have Kate in the room with us all day as we continued to pray that we would be albe to all leave together, and Kate and Tamara would be ready sooner rather than later. We had a good day on Thursday and Kate stayed in our room for all but about 1.5 hours in the early morning Friday.
Then the news came as Dr. Davis the pediatrician came by to tell us that Kate looked great and that if it was ok with Dr. Hix to be discharged today then it was ok with him too. We got excited that we had received clearance to bring this little girl home, and then Dr. Hix came by with more great news...GO HOME!!!!
We drove home thankful that exactly what we had been trusting God for had now come to pass. Cooper and Jack are so excited to be big brothers though Cooper understands more and is sooo sweet with her. We are home and excited to be here. Check back more for more pics. Providence...sweet providence. Like I told Lorraine during a special story she shared with me, it's like God really does know what is better for us than we do. Home sweet home.
Wednesday, September 13, 2006
She is Here
Well Praise God, she is here!!!! Katherine (not sure this is how we will spell it yet) Grace Martin was born today a few days before her scheduled delievery date of Sept 22nd but hey can't blame a girl for wanting to wear a bow like that. She was born at 5:14pm on September 13th, she weighs 7lbs 8ozs and is 20" long. She is so cute and reminds us a lot of Cooper when he was born. Mom and baby are doing well.The nurses are going to watch Kate overnight and make sure everything continues to show wonderful health. These pics don't do her justice she is so chubby and cute and has a head full of dark hair and signs of curls.
The boys are excited and I will post more pics soon...I am home packing my bags...Donna, isn't that something you are supposed to do beforehand? Love you all, join us as we thank God for the arrival of this precious little girl.
Love you
One Proud Daddy
Sunday, September 10, 2006
Bonus Time
Today was a milestone, we are now officially in uncharted territory as far as carrying a baby. In fact, as of 4:43p.m. we have now carried this child longer than Cooper or Jack, and are creeping toward September 22nd. What a day that will be!
I failed to mention in my last post that we are also now past the point where "if" we were to go into labor right now they would not need to give Tamara any steroid shots for the baby's lung development and that is a welcomed relief.
In the pending arrival of this little girl my (our) prayers remain the same, carry her to the delivery date, health, and all leave the hospital together. I am praying specifically for the health of this little girl as both our other boys put the yellow in a banana to shame with jaundice. We are so excited that in just 12 days we will meet this little girl and welcome her into a sea of people who have been praying for her and are ready to love her. Thank you again for praying for us.
More later this week
Stephen
I failed to mention in my last post that we are also now past the point where "if" we were to go into labor right now they would not need to give Tamara any steroid shots for the baby's lung development and that is a welcomed relief.
In the pending arrival of this little girl my (our) prayers remain the same, carry her to the delivery date, health, and all leave the hospital together. I am praying specifically for the health of this little girl as both our other boys put the yellow in a banana to shame with jaundice. We are so excited that in just 12 days we will meet this little girl and welcome her into a sea of people who have been praying for her and are ready to love her. Thank you again for praying for us.
More later this week
Stephen
Friday, September 08, 2006
In Awe
Today we had our 35 week visit and all is still well, no change. I never thought something not changing could be so great, but it is. Tamara is doing well and the baby is doing great, in fact she measures 36 weeks. We go back next Thursday for another visit and then from there the next time we will see Dr. Hix will be on D-day...Delivery day. We are now 2 weeks away from meeting little...oh wait she doesn't have a name yet. In fact, she has a lot of possibilities so maybe we will call her Many Martin (for the amount of names we have looked at and considered) and if you say it fast it sounds like Mini Martin although she will be huge compared to little Jack's entrance into this world at 2lbs 4ozs. Many Martin.
I don't know if you have ever just stood and in been in awe of something, but today I have found myself reflecting on a few reason why I am and should be in awe of God and His graciousness. First, I was in awe again today with the news of no change, not because I didn't think God could or would do that more just in the fact that He has. I hope that makes sense to you, I know in my heart and believe by faith that God is able to do abundantly more than I could ever even ask for but when it happens before your very eyes there is reason to stand in awe. In fact, we were leaving Dr. Hix's office today right around lunch time to go home and relieve our baby sitter (thank you Caroline) and I called one of my best friends to tell him the news of no change when it dawned on me and I shared it with him, 2 weeks from now (then 12:20 p.m.) people will be driving to the hospital on their lunch hour to see our precious little girl. Don't be mistaken there is no chance you are going to hold her...She is mine...MINE. Wait, no that isn't even right she too is a gift from God and again I stand in awe.
Second, I stand in awe because I don't think I ever even came close to realizing the love God is and has for us in giving up his only son for me until I witnessed the birth of my own children. I have never known love like that. I love my wife more than you will ever know and I love my family like crazy, but it feels different when you lay eyes on your own child. All the the other love I can remember feeling or experiencing in my life previous to having Cooper consisted of learning to love things and people through experiences and circumstances, but not with my kids, when they were born and even before but for sure when I laid my eyes on them for the first time I was instantly in love. My perspective was forever changed when I held Cooper for the first time and remember thinking about how much God loves me to send His son to die in my place that I could forever be with God. I stand in awe of our God who loves us so much He gave up His only son.
Third, I stood in awe today because I realized that the Lord has blessed me beyond what I could have ever hoped or imagined with my family and extended family, my health, my job, my house, my friends, and so much more. The crazy part about that is there is a world of blessings out there that I don't even know about yet. A world of awe, and I am grateful because I am His.
I don't ever want to stop having awe moments with God, and I never want to loose sight of the fact that God has done more for me then I can ever do for Him. My life in service, dedication, admiration, and love to Him flails in comparison to what He has already done for me, yet it is what I am called to do, give all of me to all of Him. There is much to stand in awe of for me and these are only my thoughts from today. Praise God for who He is and what He has done.
I will post more later in the week with an update on the boys because let me tell you they are something else and I love it.
Love you all
Stephen
I don't know if you have ever just stood and in been in awe of something, but today I have found myself reflecting on a few reason why I am and should be in awe of God and His graciousness. First, I was in awe again today with the news of no change, not because I didn't think God could or would do that more just in the fact that He has. I hope that makes sense to you, I know in my heart and believe by faith that God is able to do abundantly more than I could ever even ask for but when it happens before your very eyes there is reason to stand in awe. In fact, we were leaving Dr. Hix's office today right around lunch time to go home and relieve our baby sitter (thank you Caroline) and I called one of my best friends to tell him the news of no change when it dawned on me and I shared it with him, 2 weeks from now (then 12:20 p.m.) people will be driving to the hospital on their lunch hour to see our precious little girl. Don't be mistaken there is no chance you are going to hold her...She is mine...MINE. Wait, no that isn't even right she too is a gift from God and again I stand in awe.
Second, I stand in awe because I don't think I ever even came close to realizing the love God is and has for us in giving up his only son for me until I witnessed the birth of my own children. I have never known love like that. I love my wife more than you will ever know and I love my family like crazy, but it feels different when you lay eyes on your own child. All the the other love I can remember feeling or experiencing in my life previous to having Cooper consisted of learning to love things and people through experiences and circumstances, but not with my kids, when they were born and even before but for sure when I laid my eyes on them for the first time I was instantly in love. My perspective was forever changed when I held Cooper for the first time and remember thinking about how much God loves me to send His son to die in my place that I could forever be with God. I stand in awe of our God who loves us so much He gave up His only son.
Third, I stood in awe today because I realized that the Lord has blessed me beyond what I could have ever hoped or imagined with my family and extended family, my health, my job, my house, my friends, and so much more. The crazy part about that is there is a world of blessings out there that I don't even know about yet. A world of awe, and I am grateful because I am His.
I don't ever want to stop having awe moments with God, and I never want to loose sight of the fact that God has done more for me then I can ever do for Him. My life in service, dedication, admiration, and love to Him flails in comparison to what He has already done for me, yet it is what I am called to do, give all of me to all of Him. There is much to stand in awe of for me and these are only my thoughts from today. Praise God for who He is and what He has done.
I will post more later in the week with an update on the boys because let me tell you they are something else and I love it.
Love you all
Stephen
Saturday, September 02, 2006
T-Minus
We went back for our 34 week visit yesterday, did I mention 34 weeks? All is well once again at the doctor's office and more importantly no change once again. Monday we will be 8 weeks further along than we were with Jackson and rapidly approaching a September 22nd delivery date.
We asked Dr. Hix yesterday what his thoughts were on the size of this little girl right now and after giving the eye to the belly and a little measuring he thinks she is upwards of 6lbs right now. He said he thinks we will hit the 7lb mark with her before this pregnancy is over. The sound of 6lbs almost brought tears to my eyes as I was once again reminded of God's provision and hedge of protection around this baby girl's life before she is ever born. 6lbs now and 7lbs in 3 weeks is bigger than Jack was after spending 69 days in the hospital. Go ahead and pinch yourself and go back to the beginning of this paragraph and read the part about how much this little girl is going to weigh. I am never really sure why I am amazed when God provides for us when we ask...hello, He is God and that is why we trust Him to do all things according to His plan. Praise the Lord for how well this pregnancy is going even though Tam is getting(...err strike that) Tam is ready to have this little girl from a comfort standpoint, we are content to wait until the time has come. Not that I am counting but as of today it is 20 days away!!!
We have plenty of help here this weekend as the family is in town for the USC game here in Fayetteville, GO HOGS! Tamara has baby girl a modified girlie Razorback jersey ready to support her favorite team when she is born. It is a Matt Jones jersey that Jack used to wear that now has pom-pom fringe on the bottom, cute and girlie.
Please continue to pray for this precious baby and for Tamara. Thank you again for your prayers and for your calls and help. We love you all.
Stephen
We asked Dr. Hix yesterday what his thoughts were on the size of this little girl right now and after giving the eye to the belly and a little measuring he thinks she is upwards of 6lbs right now. He said he thinks we will hit the 7lb mark with her before this pregnancy is over. The sound of 6lbs almost brought tears to my eyes as I was once again reminded of God's provision and hedge of protection around this baby girl's life before she is ever born. 6lbs now and 7lbs in 3 weeks is bigger than Jack was after spending 69 days in the hospital. Go ahead and pinch yourself and go back to the beginning of this paragraph and read the part about how much this little girl is going to weigh. I am never really sure why I am amazed when God provides for us when we ask...hello, He is God and that is why we trust Him to do all things according to His plan. Praise the Lord for how well this pregnancy is going even though Tam is getting(...err strike that) Tam is ready to have this little girl from a comfort standpoint, we are content to wait until the time has come. Not that I am counting but as of today it is 20 days away!!!
We have plenty of help here this weekend as the family is in town for the USC game here in Fayetteville, GO HOGS! Tamara has baby girl a modified girlie Razorback jersey ready to support her favorite team when she is born. It is a Matt Jones jersey that Jack used to wear that now has pom-pom fringe on the bottom, cute and girlie.
Please continue to pray for this precious baby and for Tamara. Thank you again for your prayers and for your calls and help. We love you all.
Stephen
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