A GIFT

FIRST, we had some friends of ours with 4 children of their own offer to take the kids during our labor time. Little did we all know that it would be 2 days long so..



SECOND, Nate's parents took the kids for the second and third days, brought them over to see the baby twice and then drove the kids to...
THIRD, ... Nate's cousin's place at the coast. Megan and Gavin watched the kids along with their three children for an entire week. Our kids gave them a run for their money and ate them out of house and home but I tell you what, Usually when the kids come home from being gone there is an adjustment time that takes place of 'retraining' the kids and reminding them of the proper attitudes to have and so on. This time was different, there was absolutely no issues. They were polite and respectful, gentle with the new baby and me (who was still in bed).
FOURTH, Nate's mom came in the afternoons and gave me a nap for the days that I was alone which is the reason that we made it through our second week. She made us dinner (or warmed up what someone from the church so graciously brought us) and read to the kids, focusing on them and made them feel special as well as me getting rest.

FIFTH, This lady and her youngest 5 came and stayed with us for the third week. She did all the cooking, cleaning, taking care of my kids as well as her own, She even got school done most days and made me tea. I was able to spend some up time with my kids when I could and still rest whenever I wanted to. It was half price frapps at Starbucks so we took advantage of that a couple of days. Her husband kept things going at her home with their eldest daughter so that she could be here.
SIXTH, Then to top it all off Jacki (the above super mom) left her second born daughter (Sami) for another week (week 4 of babies life). I again got rest and was able to focus on getting the house in order from the months of really not organizing anything or deep cleaning anything... I was able to shop alone and have coffee with Nate, go out for our anniversary and have dinner... When we took her home to Bend Jacki had gifts, cake and dinner all there for Todd's birthday. Grandpa Carne came over and then after church that Sunday he and GrandMaria took us to pizza that had a super fun play place. We were soooo spoiled all weekend.
SEVENTH, Allison Strait lined up meals from everyone in church to give us a meal and some of them even a meal for the freezer as well.

Our good friends Mick and Jeanne Seppa brought us over meals for the freezer that have lasted ALL this week and we are only have through them. The kids are sure that I need to go to cooking school. They haven't complained for several weeks now. It's been really nice but I need to go get a few recipes from you all.
EIGHTH, My sister and her friend came and cleaned my entire house and Carrie stayed with me another day (the day after Vance was born) so that Nate could go to a very important meeting.

The gifts that were sent through out the weeks surrounding the delivery of our son was so fun, it was like Christmas for two months.

We owe the success of our recovery to all of the above mentioned people. And I OwE a ton to my husband NATE for taking care of me so well and making some hard (and at times scary) decisions during labor. He never once let up and I knew that he was on top of things so that I never needed to worry. NOW to get him some rest and a break, that's my goal for the next couple of weeks, now that I have energy we are going to try and spoil him 'rotten'.

Catherine (our midwife) was very instrumental in helping us make those decisions and encouraging us along. We felt very protected. She even would call and bounce stuff off of other trained persons to make sure she wasn't missing something (even tho she has been doing this for over 20 years)...

ULTIMATELY, We give most humble thanks to our LORD for lining up ahead of time all this help and getting us through a very tiring time in our lives. We were not only helped physically, we were ministered to through all of these people who helped. We saw His hand a leading in everything (as usual). We are so very grateful for the health of our new little man...