tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-80598282517855706372024-03-13T23:51:13.958-07:00The Legend of Thousand Hills FarmThis is where family and friends can keep up with the clan! Grab a cup of tea or coffee and see what we've been up to.Mrs. Dolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05600603877394736687noreply@blogger.comBlogger153125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8059828251785570637.post-27405002076689890602012-05-31T09:01:00.000-07:002012-05-31T09:01:00.581-07:00Jethro's Story<div style="text-align: center;">
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<div style="background-color: white; color: grey; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">There's a problem with his heart</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">He may not survive 'til birth</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The heart is enlarging</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">There's no room for his lungs</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The defect is severe</span></div>
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: grey; display: inline; line-height: 16px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><div style="padding: 0px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;">
Frightened, alone, terrified of loss</div>
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Driven to my knees</div>
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Pray and pray</div>
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His story is his own</div>
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Finally, peace</div>
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Birth, sedation, intubation</div>
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Decisions, turmoil</div>
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Counsel, hope, the return of peace</div>
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Surgery, prayers</div>
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Nurses, doctors, excellent care</div>
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Recovery, therapy, growth</div>
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Doctor's visits, feeding tubes</div>
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Long hard days</div>
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Triumph at last</div>
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Joyful life</div>
</span></span>Mrs. Dolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05600603877394736687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8059828251785570637.post-60337455896296269182012-03-29T23:29:00.001-07:002012-03-30T12:04:04.960-07:00My Journey<div style="text-align: center;">I was compliant</div><div style="text-align: center;">When I was young</div><div style="text-align: center;">And stupid</div><div style="text-align: center;">And didn't know any better</div><div style="text-align: center;">When I thought doctors must know</div><div style="text-align: center;">Everything</div><div style="text-align: center;">Before I found out they're just human too</div><div style="text-align: center;">And then I began to learn</div><div style="text-align: center;">I discovered herbs</div><div style="text-align: center;">And alternatives</div><div style="text-align: center;">Not everything was as it seemed</div><div style="text-align: center;">I became educated</div><div style="text-align: center;">I found out I had choices<br />
I started asking questions<br />
And more questions<br />
Until I understood </div><div style="text-align: center;">I began to make decisions</div><div style="text-align: center;">I became an advocate</div><div style="text-align: center;">For me</div><div style="text-align: center;">For Jethro</div><div style="text-align: center;">For all my family</div><div style="text-align: center;">And I wasn't compliant</div><div style="text-align: center;">Anymore </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Mrs. Dolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05600603877394736687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8059828251785570637.post-74626567466648789852012-03-28T22:18:00.001-07:002012-03-28T22:22:23.492-07:00Run, Run, Ezra<div style="text-align: center;">Bright orange shirt, and impish grin</div><div style="text-align: center;">Run, run, run</div><div style="text-align: center;">Shorts on bottom, today he's not a nudist*</div><div style="text-align: center;">Run, run, run</div><div style="text-align: center;">Lightning McQueen, Tow Mater</div><div style="text-align: center;">Run, run, run</div><div style="text-align: center;">Short blonde hair, denim blue eyes</div><div style="text-align: center;">Run, run, run</div><div style="text-align: center;">Lots of questions, I have no idea</div><div style="text-align: center;">Run, run, run</div><div style="text-align: center;">Constantly eating, where is the cereal</div><div style="text-align: center;">Run, run, run</div><div style="text-align: center;">MMA fighting, are you going to tap out</div><div style="text-align: center;">Run, run, run</div><div style="text-align: center;">Spiderman and Levi, those are my heroes</div><div style="text-align: center;">Run, run, run</div><div style="text-align: center;">Love playing football, I am contrary</div><div style="text-align: center;">Run, run, run</div><div style="text-align: center;">Ezra</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">*Ezra is not really a nudist. But he does love to run around (in the house) in just his unmentionables...he's 3, so we let him. =)</div>Mrs. Dolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05600603877394736687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8059828251785570637.post-39592187475647495142012-03-26T23:17:00.000-07:002012-03-26T23:17:57.542-07:00A Slow Goodbye<div style="text-align: center;">We are six days into Spring, and the snow is gently falling. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Yesterday, the weather was truly spring-like, reaching into the low 60's. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">The children, thrilled to be out of the house </div><div style="text-align: center;">and not bogged down in mud, </div><div style="text-align: center;">spent the day playing in the sunshine; </div><div style="text-align: center;">in shirt sleeves and shorts, despite my</div><div style="text-align: center;">prostestations that wasn't *that* warm out.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Daddy and Logan took advantage of the beautiful day and </div><div style="text-align: center;">spent it re-decking the porch</div><div style="text-align: center;">and giving it new stairs. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Both of which were desperately needed.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Later today, after the snow quit falling </div><div style="text-align: center;">and there was a lull in the rain,</div><div style="text-align: center;">they returned to the porch, </div><div style="text-align: center;">making it a bit safer for the little set,</div><div style="text-align: center;">adding rustic posts and top rails made of branches </div><div style="text-align: center;">blown off our trees this past winter.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Apple branches will likely be the lower rails, but until we can</div><div style="text-align: center;">get them brought home, </div><div style="text-align: center;">1x2's make for temporary railing.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I love these early Spring days, </div><div style="text-align: center;">bringing the urgency of outdoor projects </div><div style="text-align: center;">and new life.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Raking the yard, beginning to prepare the garden area,</div><div style="text-align: center;">fixing broken windows in the greenhouse.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Checking on the berry bushes and herbs</div><div style="text-align: center;">planted last year</div><div style="text-align: center;">and</div><div style="text-align: center;">seeing leaves beginning to bud </div><div style="text-align: center;">and plants starting to green.</div><div style="text-align: center;">And yet amidst that, there are still remnants of Winter.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Cold winds, rain, snow.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Weather perfect for settling in next to the fire</div><div style="text-align: center;">with a hot cup of tea and my Bible ~</div><div style="text-align: center;">or a small child</div><div style="text-align: center;">or three</div><div style="text-align: center;">and a pile of picture books.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">While each season holds its own fascination,</div><div style="text-align: center;">tugging at my heart for reasons</div><div style="text-align: center;">no other season has,</div><div style="text-align: center;">Winter is truly my favorite.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I love the quietness brought by snow,</div><div style="text-align: center;">the warmth imbued to a cold winter night by lights </div><div style="text-align: center;">shining through windows.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I love the romance and coziness of candlelight and fire,</div><div style="text-align: center;">I love flannel and woolens</div><div style="text-align: center;">and all things snuggle worthy.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">And so, while everyone else runs out the door </div><div style="text-align: center;">and embraces the first flush of Spring,</div><div style="text-align: center;">I move slowly toward it,</div><div style="text-align: center;">savoring the dying embers of Winter's life.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Soon enough, Spring will be here in full force ~</div><div style="text-align: center;">no turning back.</div><div style="text-align: center;">And then, for her moment,</div><div style="text-align: center;">she will be my favorite.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Until then, I will cherish these last moments </div><div style="text-align: center;">with my dear Winter.</div>Mrs. Dolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05600603877394736687noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8059828251785570637.post-56817739781214621932012-03-18T15:49:00.001-07:002012-04-01T08:23:02.893-07:00Birth<div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Unspeakable Joy</div><div style="text-align: center;">Anxious anticipation</div><div style="text-align: center;">Exhausting, rewarding work</div><div style="text-align: center;">Labor</div><div style="text-align: center;">Bringing forth new life through a wall of pain</div><div style="text-align: center;">The sweat of my brow</div><div style="text-align: center;">The fruit of my love</div><div style="text-align: center;">The song in my heart</div><div style="text-align: center;">Digging deep</div><div style="text-align: center;">Pushing through fire</div><div style="text-align: center;">Sweet relief</div><div style="text-align: center;">A newborn's cry</div><div style="text-align: center;">Baby</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-55uPUFYVXco/T2ZmHRkByRI/AAAAAAAAAWg/jrNCzJGQTDI/s1600/Tobias5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-55uPUFYVXco/T2ZmHRkByRI/AAAAAAAAAWg/jrNCzJGQTDI/s320/Tobias5.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tobias James </td></tr>
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</div>Mrs. Dolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05600603877394736687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8059828251785570637.post-4079336067921431502012-03-05T01:25:00.001-08:002012-03-05T01:28:33.589-08:00Legacy...For better or worseSomeone who impacted my life in a tremendous way died this week. Monday morning, my biological father passed from this life into eternity. He was in his eighties and had not been in good health for several years, but this last year he had been in especially poor health...going back and forth between the nursing home and hospital.<br />
<br />
I had gotten a call from my step brother a month or so ago saying that the end was closer, and it probably wouldn't be long. So, the call that came Monday afternoon was no surprise. I was in fact, thankful. I had been praying for mercy for him, and I believe that is what God showed Monday morning. He went quickly and now his suffering is over.<br />
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I was not close with my father. He left when I was quite small. He was an alcoholic and abusive and when I was probably 3 or 4 he and my Mom were divorced. I have memories from around the time I was 2 or 3, and they are not good memories. For many, many years I hated him. The few memories I had were horrible, and then to build on that he would promise to come see us and then never show up. I can remember him calling and wanting to talk to me, and me refusing.<br />
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The first opportunity I had to really exercise forgiveness as a young Christian was my father. About the time I got into Jr. High, I began to realize that while we are all sinners, we are not our sin. Our sin does not, or rather, should not define us. And, I was able to begin to see my father in a new light. I knew that I needed to forgive him and move forward. For years, I had gone by my Dad's (step-dad...but he's my Dad) name, and had desperately wanted him to adopt me, but that had never come to fruition. Finally along about 7th grade, I began to use my legal maiden name. My Dad was hurt, I know, but for me it was an Ebenezer of sorts...signifying what God was doing in my heart and of me coming to a point of forgiveness toward my father.<br />
<br />
My father and step-mom lived in Alaska for most of my growing up years...and into my adulthood, so I never saw much of them. My step-mom would write, sending birthday and Christmas cards, and the occasional letter. I began to write to them as well, trying in some way to include them in my life. If it had not been for my step-mom's efforts, I don't think any of us kids would have ever had contact with my father.<br />
<br />
When Mike and I got married, my Dad walked me down the aisle. I never even considered contacting my father to see if he would be interested, because he was not a real part of my life. As grandbabies began to arrive, I would send announcements and pictures, but sometimes not until Christmas.<br />
<br />
Several years ago, they moved down from Alaska to Washington, within a couple or three hours from us. My father's health was beginning to deteriorate, and it was getting difficult for my step-mom to care for him on her own. They moved to where they could be close to her kids and she would have help. We made it up to their place once with all the kids to visit. When we would get a call that one or the other was in the hospital, I always made an effort to go and see them. In the last few years, I really went more for my step-mom. My father was getting very difficult to understand, and, he had never really been much for talking...not to me anyway. My step-mom had devoted her life to him. What a precious example of 'for better or for worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness or in health'. When he was in the hospital, or the nursing home, she would have her son bring her to be by his side each morning, staying all day, until he came in the evening to bring her home.<br />
<br />
As I have received condolences this week, I have thought a lot about the impact we have on our children and the legacy we leave. I did love him. I tried to honor him, although I know that I often failed. With his passing, I have not shed a tear. I feel no sorrow. He was, at best, on the periphery of my life. His choice, not necessarily mine, although somewhat by default, it was mine as well. I mourned the absence of his presence a long time ago, and so there is really nothing to mourn now. It was more like losing a distant relative that I had seen now and then but had no relationship with, rather than losing a parent. I have a Dad, and he is still alive and well. <br />
<br />
My father had been sober for many, many years. He had wonderful relationships with his wife's family. So, he had kids and grandkids and great-grandkids that all were a part of his life and who thought the world of him. I am glad. There are 4 pretty terrific families that he missed out on, because he walked away from them a long time ago, and that is sad, but we have all come to various points of peace over it and it is what it is.<br />
<br />
God has used my childhood...my brother's childhoods to shape us into the people we are. He gave us a great Dad, and I am so very thankful for that. He took four children who lived through a lot of hurt and drew each of them to Himself and we are each serving the Lord in various ways, and raising our children to love the Lord.<br />
<br />
My cousin wrote a note telling about the good memories she has of my father, wishing my kids could have known the man he once was. I appreciated that. I wish they could have known him too, especially who he once was. <br />
This is somewhat disjointed. I apologize. But...I wanted to acknowledge his passing. He is part of the reason I am who I am today. He's the reason that promises are so important to me...don't make a promise you can't keep. He's the reason I was never tempted to be a partier when I was a teen. He's the first 'lesson' God gave me in extending grace and forgiveness. He's part of the reason I'm here. Period. I am thankful that he was my father, even if he never was a Daddy to me. I am thankful that he accepted the Lord several years ago. I am thankful that he is no longer suffering. And I am thankful that when I think of him, I think of a man. A man who struggled and sinned and had faults, but a man. I don't think of him and think of his sin. We are not our sin...we are not our struggles...<br />
And I am so very thankful that I have a Heavenly Father who has loved me in spite of my sins and struggles and shown me that truth.<br />
<br />
Someday, I will see my father again, and I am thankful for that, too.Mrs. Dolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05600603877394736687noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8059828251785570637.post-88101388062077017052012-02-28T08:39:00.000-08:002012-02-28T08:39:37.988-08:00Jethro is 2!<div style="text-align: center;">We once again have a two year old in the house.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Sunday was Jethro's birthday.</div><div style="text-align: center;">This year was low-key. No large celebrations.</div><div style="text-align: center;">But, all the kids were here, plus a couple extra (girlfriends),</div><div style="text-align: center;">and we had a good afternoon of eating and visiting </div><div style="text-align: center;">and cake and presents.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Although Jethro was not that interested in opening presents.</div><div style="text-align: center;">He was happy to play with his toy after it was open,</div><div style="text-align: center;">but if it hadn't been for helpful siblings, his presents would</div><div style="text-align: center;">still be wrapped.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OuvTU3kJSjY/T0z7e5pdSwI/AAAAAAAAAVw/gfQNxilAJT0/s1600/JethrosBirthday+002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OuvTU3kJSjY/T0z7e5pdSwI/AAAAAAAAAVw/gfQNxilAJT0/s320/JethrosBirthday+002.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He loves Lightning McQueen, so of course he had to have a cars cake.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-28V0B9d0qhw/T0z78Hn5gqI/AAAAAAAAAV4/pQbkltbF9V0/s1600/JethrosBirthday+004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-28V0B9d0qhw/T0z78Hn5gqI/AAAAAAAAAV4/pQbkltbF9V0/s400/JethrosBirthday+004.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here's the birthday boy, rockin' his new Under Armour shirt.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HNClAl5VcjY/T0z8V5A2qBI/AAAAAAAAAWA/TC89Op-9tS8/s1600/JethrosBirthday+009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HNClAl5VcjY/T0z8V5A2qBI/AAAAAAAAAWA/TC89Op-9tS8/s320/JethrosBirthday+009.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you!</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AixX1C9Id-s/T0z86qKa6gI/AAAAAAAAAWI/lT3pe-HnTdU/s1600/JethrosBirthday+011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AixX1C9Id-s/T0z86qKa6gI/AAAAAAAAAWI/lT3pe-HnTdU/s320/JethrosBirthday+011.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He didn't get the whole, blowing out the candles idea. He just wanted to grab them. Daddy blew them out for him. =)</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zkjL683elfQ/T0z9cswfufI/AAAAAAAAAWQ/0y_waSlTuck/s1600/JethrosBirthday+020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zkjL683elfQ/T0z9cswfufI/AAAAAAAAAWQ/0y_waSlTuck/s320/JethrosBirthday+020.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Playing with his new wheelies construction ramp...I think all the littles loved it.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JWNhoxv3D5o/T0z947d6ODI/AAAAAAAAAWY/ej9mfUL9vck/s1600/JethrosBirthday+024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JWNhoxv3D5o/T0z947d6ODI/AAAAAAAAAWY/ej9mfUL9vck/s320/JethrosBirthday+024.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Birthday parties are EXHAUSTING! =)</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;">We are so thankful for 2 years with Jethro!</div><div style="text-align: center;">God has sustained him and caused him to flourish. </div><div style="text-align: center;">He is doing so well right now, and if it weren't for his</div><div style="text-align: center;">scars, and the amount of sleep he needs, </div><div style="text-align: center;">you wouldn't know that this baby was</div><div style="text-align: center;">DOA. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Mrs. Dolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05600603877394736687noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8059828251785570637.post-36224653826059742402012-02-25T14:00:00.000-08:002012-02-25T14:00:05.002-08:00TobiasJust a couple weeks after Will and Andie got married, our family expanded again. My due date with this baby was the 3d of October. But, on the morning of September 6, I woke up to a gush of blood. I woke Mike and he called the ambulance. When the ambulance crew got here, they told him that they had already called for the life flight. I was pretty sure we had lost the baby, but Mike kept saying, "No, he's okay. He's fine."<br />
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But, I couldn't get him to move. When the EMT's got here, one of them listened to my belly with a stethescope and told me that the baby was fine. NOTE to EMTs...*that* is not reassuring to a Mama! Maybe, perhaps if it had been someone that I know is familiar with prenatal or birth situations...but it was not. He wanted to check me, to make sure baby wasn't crowning and I told him, "NO." After 10 babies, I think I know what labor is, and this was NOT labor!<br />
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When the helicopter got here, it was so small that Mike could not ride with me, so he had to follow on the ground. I had to ride shotgun to the pilot ~ oh, and I don't like heights or flying...so that was fun. :-P I was pretty certain that once we got to the hospital, they would just send me in for an emergency c-section. However, first the Dr. ordered an ultrasound to check on baby. And they got a doppler ~ what a *precious* sound that baby's heartbeat was! I was so relieved...although by then I knew he was alive, because as soon as we were in the air, he began to move. Ultrasound showed that baby looked good and was doing okay, despite the abruption. The Dr. really preferred to do a section, but agreed that as long as everything looked okay with baby and me, we could proceed with labor and a natural birth. I was so very thankful. The one time/place I was not expecting to get my VBA2C. So, knowing full well the risks involved with both a repeat c-section and with laboring...we proceeded with labor ~ and the hospital staff prepared for worse case scenario. Which meant big needles in my arm, that were hard to place, but I was good with that.<br />
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Labor had actually started by the time I got to the hospital, and all day and into the evening, I labored...not strong, hard contractions, but just enough to let me know that we were having a baby. Finally, late in the evening, I told the nurse that if the Dr. would break my water, we would most likely have a baby soon. He came in about midnight and broke my water. By 2 am, I was pushing and pushing and pushing. After 2 hours of pushing, we had a baby! I had such a hard time...and at one point decided I was done and would go ahead with a section, but the Dr. came in and said, "No." So, I pushed. Some time during labor, the baby had turned posterior (I know he didn't start that way, because I asked when they did the u/s), and after my last couple of births, I just had a very difficult time not fighting against the pain of the contractions. After being cut a couple times, those muscles just don't work the same either. :-/ But, we were so very thankful for a healthy, live baby, and I was thrilled with having a VBAC!<br />
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Tobias James was premature by 4 weeks, and still weighed in at a whopping 8lb 15oz. Nice little preemie, wasn't he? ;-) Needless to say, I am thankful he was premature! Had he gone to term, I'm not sure I could have done it. He could have been up to 4 pounds heavier at term.<br />
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I lost a lot of blood, so we were in the hospital for a few days following the birth so that they could give me transfusions and be sure that I was good to come home.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9Wms1aCoXYA/T0lX8bnRdcI/AAAAAAAAAVY/YOLHutDjECM/s1600/Tobias1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9Wms1aCoXYA/T0lX8bnRdcI/AAAAAAAAAVY/YOLHutDjECM/s400/Tobias1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sweet 'little' preemie! I was so relieved to finally hold him in my arms!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Tobias is such a joy to our family, and we feel so very blessed that the Lord chose us to be his family. He is a chunky baby, and such a happy disposition! Jethro adores being a big brother and loves to give his baby kisses. :-)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-j-Q0nHCUjqM/T0lX_r4btqI/AAAAAAAAAVg/LHxIUxv9agg/s1600/Tobias2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-j-Q0nHCUjqM/T0lX_r4btqI/AAAAAAAAAVg/LHxIUxv9agg/s320/Tobias2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Baby in a basket. Daddy took some adorable pictures of Tobias once we got home.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ejsCLQuD-Z0/T0lYiUjnceI/AAAAAAAAAVo/iZETluX2fFI/s1600/CHD+Awareness+017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ejsCLQuD-Z0/T0lYiUjnceI/AAAAAAAAAVo/iZETluX2fFI/s320/CHD+Awareness+017.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And here he is at 5 months. Happy, healthy and almost always with a smile on that chubby little face. :-)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Mrs. Dolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05600603877394736687noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8059828251785570637.post-58782112278513255722012-02-22T09:39:00.000-08:002012-02-22T09:39:09.423-08:00The Wedding2011 brought some big changes and additions to our family. The biggest change was that in August, our oldest son, Will, got married. What an exciting time! It was thrilling to watch him go through a courtship, and move into this new season of life. His bride is from Iowa and they were introduced by a family member/friend. Andie had been a huge support throughout Jethro's first year, praying for him and encouraging me with her upbeat outlook. So, she had won our hearts long before we knew she would be our daughter in law.<br />
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They got married on a beautiful August evening, in the yard of some dear friends. It wasn't a big fancy, tens of thousands kind of wedding, but I think that made it all the more special. They had a pretty small budget to work with, and it was a very lovely wedding. God has placed some very talented and creative folks around us...and it was a little redneck-y too, which added to the charm!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kRlvx39x5a8/T0UhCNPZ9UI/AAAAAAAAAVQ/rg8cidCYbNM/s1600/Willandfolks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kRlvx39x5a8/T0UhCNPZ9UI/AAAAAAAAAVQ/rg8cidCYbNM/s400/Willandfolks.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our last picture with Will as a single man. By my belly, you can tell what our other big change may have been last year. ;-)</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mIitzBoKjhU/T0Ug6qH2rxI/AAAAAAAAAVA/Z-gaGHo_ayk/s1600/The+boys.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mIitzBoKjhU/T0Ug6qH2rxI/AAAAAAAAAVA/Z-gaGHo_ayk/s400/The+boys.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pak, Daddy and the boys. From left to right...in front, Ezra and Josiah (Daddy is holding Jethro). Back: Logan, Levi, Pak, Will, Daddy, and Garth. Aren't they a good looking bunch of guys? </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gnJlXgJ4oE0/T0Ug_rSH_3I/AAAAAAAAAVI/aNxl1mJRqwo/s1600/The+kiss.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gnJlXgJ4oE0/T0Ug_rSH_3I/AAAAAAAAAVI/aNxl1mJRqwo/s400/The+kiss.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The kiss!</td></tr>
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</div>This was Will and Andie's *<i><b>first kiss</b>*<b> </b></i>How special is that, and how often do you see that? It was a very special moment...and long awaited! :-)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y135YDLKhe0/T0Ug39w82WI/AAAAAAAAAU4/YN5p2ZZzKRI/s1600/Mr+and+Mrs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y135YDLKhe0/T0Ug39w82WI/AAAAAAAAAU4/YN5p2ZZzKRI/s400/Mr+and+Mrs.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mr and Mrs Charles William Dole</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</tbody></table>Wow. They have been married for just over 6 months now. I so look forward to seeing how God is going to bless their marriage. They are both very ministry minded, and Will is working on getting a Biblical education and gaining some maturity/wisdom so that eventually he can pastor.Mrs. Dolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05600603877394736687noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8059828251785570637.post-33417585956474229972012-02-14T16:27:00.000-08:002012-02-14T16:27:17.546-08:00CHD Awareness...A Double Portion<div align="center"><em><strong>And the Lord restored the fortunes of Job, when he had prayed for his friends. And the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before...And the Lord blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning.</strong></em></div><div align="center"><em><strong>Job 42:10, 12a</strong></em></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">As the Bible relates Job's story, we learn that everything is stripped from Job. His children die, he loses his belongings, he didn't have the support of his friends. Even his wife encouraged him to curse God and die. Yet though he does not understand, and even questions God, Job does remain faithful and teachable. When all is said and done, God blesses Job with a double portion of what he lost.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">You may wonder why today I am sharing this. What could Job have to do with CHDs? Well...he's just kind of a backdrop for what I want to share. Seven and a half years ago, we lost a son at birth. It was sudden and unexpected. I pleaded desperately with God to allow me to keep and raise my son. I was not strong enough to walk the path of a grieving parent. But, God said, "No." Tucker would not be restored to us. We would commit his spirit to the Lord and his body to the ground; and Mike and I would learn to walk in faithful trust even when we could not understand. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Fast forward five years and we learned that the baby I was carrying had a severe heart defect. We were told he likely would not live. And emotionally, I was thrown back to the morning that Tucker was born. I was terrified to walk through that kind of grief again. I knew that God would carry me if that was His will for us, but I just did not want to go there. As I prayed, God blessed me with such peace. Everything would be okay. I don't mean to say that I had a sense that Jethro would live, necessarily, but just that whatever was ahead of us, we *would* be okay.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I have told <a href="http://farmlegend.blogspot.com/2010/12/hope.html">Jethro's birth story</a> here more than once, so I won't repeat it now, but know that he had a very rough time of it in the beginning. He was pretty far behind developmentally because of his initial setbacks and subsequent hospitalizations. At 6 months, he could not even hold his head up. He was probably around 8 or 9 months before he rolled over, 10 months before he could sit without support, past his first birthday before he crawled and 19 months when he walked. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">As we have watched Jethro grow and develop, especially over this last year, we have taken such joy in every accomplishment, whether it's moving up to an 8oz bottle from 4oz, crawling, teasing play, or running and keeping up with the other little boys. We always find joy in the milestones our children reach. Each one for each child is special. However for Jethro, each skill is a hard won victory. Nothing has come easily for this sweet boy. And yet even as little as he is, he gives it his all. He doesn't do anything in half-measures. Once he decides he's going to do something ~ watch out! Because he's going to do it fully. The day he decided he was going to try the stairs, he didn't go up just one or two ~ he went up 2 flights of stairs!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">As we were marveling at some common thing he was doing one afternoon, and cheering him on, I looked over at Daddy and said, "I wonder if we had been allowed to raise Tucker if we would have been blessed with Jethro. He's just a double portion."</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I don't know how to adequately describe what it is like to watch him do such ordinary toddler things and to see them as extraordinary and even miraculous. With each milestone to be reminded that it almost wasn't. Each day with Jethro brings such unspeakable joy, I feel like my heart could burst from it. What a contrast to the shattering grief it endured when Tucker died.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">There is just something special about Jethro. I believe that all of our children have a special bond with him, and even strangers, who know nothing of him or what he has been through are drawn to him. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I would never have asked to be a heart mom. It is certainly a difficult path to walk, so much to learn, separation from family, watching your child suffer and have to endure painful treatment so that they can live ~ and not being able to 'fix' it. Entering into a new world of hurt and grief. And yet, I am so very thankful for the blessing of being Jethro's Mama. I am humbled that God chose Mike and I to love and cherish and raise this remarkable little boy. I am so very thankful for this double portion. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">***<em>This year, in my awareness posts, I hope that I have helped to not only raise your awareness of Congenital Heart Defects, but also to know that while we walk an uncertain road with our heart warriors, there is normalcy, although it looks different than it did before. I want to encourage you that there is hope, there is joy...even with, or maybe even because of a broken heart</em>.***</div>Mrs. Dolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05600603877394736687noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8059828251785570637.post-32604147843507679852012-02-11T07:15:00.000-08:002012-02-11T07:19:19.042-08:00What Congenital Heart Defects Have Meant to Our FamilyWhat has CHD meant to our family?<br />
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It's meant a heart broken ~ beyond comprehension. Who could understand a heart so defective that it can't support life?<br />
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It's meant innumerable hours at the computer, researching, learning, writing down questions for the cardiologists.<br />
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It's meant a steep learning curve. Medical terminology, equipment, and skills I never dreamed I'd need to know.<br />
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It's meant more time than can be measured spent in prayer. Asking for healing, for wisdom for the doctors, for clarity in decision making, for peace, for comfort, for joy in the journey.<br />
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It's meant more Dr.s visits than I can count. 3 different doctors before he was born, and close monitoring by the cardiologists after.<br />
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It's meant hospital stays. Some long, some short. Each one bringing separation from the other children, and filled with uncertainties, setbacks, complications, and finally...improvement.<br />
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It's meant lots of new folks in our lives. Doctors, surgeons, nurses, ultrasound and echo techs, therapists, and nutritionists. All coming together for the good of our son.<br />
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It's meant struggles. Watching our son, machines breathing for him. Wires and tubes, needles and probes. Not being able to hold and comfort him. Feeding difficulties and developmental delays.<br />
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But most importantly ~<br />
It has meant our faith has grown. As we have watched God answer prayer after prayer. As we have watched a precious, fragile little boy strengthen and grow.<br />
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It has meant we have a new-found appreciation for the little things, the things we often take for granted. Things like holding a baby and rocking them. Things like rolling over, sitting up, crawling, and walking.<br />
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It has meant joy. Every step of the way God has been by our side ~ often He has carried us. No matter what we have faced with Jethro, we have been thankful and there has been joy.<br />
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It has meant daily experiencing the grace and faithfulness of God. Seeing our older children step up to the plate and care for their younger siblings...to love them and hold things together when it's all falling apart. To watch Jethro make each milestone...each victory hard won. To see him happy and 'normal'.<br />
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I wouldn't have missed it for the world.Mrs. Dolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05600603877394736687noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8059828251785570637.post-30405440226712318222012-02-10T10:49:00.000-08:002012-02-10T10:49:25.785-08:00CHD Awareness Post #2I had planned to post a bit more during CHD Awareness week, but our internet has been iffy, so posting hasn't been possible. :-P Today I'm going to repost something I wrote when Jethro was just months old.<br />
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The thing about heart defects is they change everything. Everything that as parents we take for granted and don't really think much about...now you think about them...you wonder if they will be. When you have a child with a heart defect, it turns your world upside down...and it takes a while to get your bearings back and feel like you are on an even keel once again. Here are some thoughts I had as I was beginning this journey with Jethro.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">Confessions of a Heart Mom</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Hi. My name is Tracy, and I'm a heart mom. I was thrown into the world of Congenital Heart Defects (CHD) in late October 2009, when an ultrasound revealed that there was a problem with our 10th child's heart. One of the most shocking things that I have learned is that CHDs are the #1 birth defect, affecting approximately 1 in every 100 babies. CHDs also kill more children than any other birth defect or cancer. I have been having babies for 20 years and I never knew that ~ until I had a baby with a CHD. <br />
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Some babies have CHDs that are "easy" to live with and some have CHDs that are incompatible with life, and some are somewhere inbetween, but they all change your life as a parent and as a family. Our son has an incompatible with life diagnosis. Only by the grace of God and the hands of skillful surgeons willing to take a risk is he alive today.<br />
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One of the many ways that a CHD changes things is in the hopes and dreams you have for your child. Now, instead of dreaming of the day when he grows up and marries, I think of tomorrow and pray he's well enough to stay home. My prayer is for him to survive and have a good life, and although I still certainly hope for a long life for him, I know the reality may be much different. Many babies born with CHDs do not live to see their first birthday. And that knowledge changes things. I cherish each day with him in a way I never did with the other children. Not because I love him any more, but because the reality that his life will be short is so very *real*.<br />
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Before, our lives were filled with the rhythms of home ~ cooking, cleaning, school, reading stories, caring for babies...now, they are filled with Dr appointments, hospital stays and charting and dosing out medicines every day. <br />
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Before, we raised our children, bandaging their owies and nursing their illnesses knowing they would once again be whole. Now we have entered the world of Palliative care, knowing that no matter what is done, this son will never be well, he will never be whole. There is no making this better.<br />
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And yet, I am thankful. I am thankful for the wonderful people who we have met on this journey: the ultrasound tech who did the majority of Jethro's ultrasounds, and likely saved his life, the outstanding, caring cardiologists who look after our son and his heart, the wonderful nurses who care for him and remember him from one hospital trip to the next, and the supportive, knowledgeable, passionate folks who make up the CHD family. I am thankful for my son, a warrior in a battle that is likely not winnable. I am thankful for the privilege of being his Mama and walking this path with him. To see how God has used this one, small life to touch so many and bring them together in a common cause. But mostly, I am thankful to my Heavenly Father, for loving us enough to walk us through this valley. For drawing us close to Him when we are afraid and hurting, and bringing us peace and comfort in the midst of it all. <br />
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"Even though I walk through the Valley of the Shadow of Death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me." Psalm 23:4<br />
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Jethro Storms Dole<br />
February 2010<br />
Born with Ebstein's Abnormality of the Tricuspid Valve and Pulmonary Atresia </div>Mrs. Dolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05600603877394736687noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8059828251785570637.post-85365960412252826732012-02-07T13:37:00.000-08:002012-02-10T10:39:26.266-08:00Congenital Heart Defect Awareness WeekSo much has happened since I last posted. Including both my computers dieing, which is one reason I haven't posted. :-/ However, an update will wait for another day. Today through the 14th is CHD Awareness Week, and so I will be sharing facts and possibly other blog posts about CHDs this week.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here is the proclamation signed by Gov. Otter proclaiming Feb 7-14 CHD Awareness Week in the state of Idaho!</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</tbody></table>I was very excited to get a proclamation from the Governor for our state this year. Our local paper, The St. Maries Gazette, also did a really nice article on Jethro and CHDs.<br />
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All across the country, there are moms who are advocating for legislature to add Pulse Oximetry Screening for Newborns. I began to do this for Idaho, but after talking with my representative, decided that the way to attack this was to contact the individual hospitals and ask them to do the right thing and add Pulse Ox Screening to part of their standard newborn care. I have gotten mixed reactions from the hospitals that I have contacted, but most seem willing and anxious to get started.<br />
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You may wonder why this is important. 1 in 100 babies are born with one or more CHDs. That's about 40,000 babies a year in the US alone. Only about 25% of those babies will be diagnosed prenatally. That equals a lot of babies who go home from the hospital with parents who believe their baby is healthy. Some of those babies die in their parents arms a week later...sometimes sooner, sometimes longer...some of those babies end up at the Dr.s office in critical condition ~ crashing, we call it. For those babies, a simple, non-invasive test performed at 24 hours after birth could save their lives. Pulse Oximetry measures the oxygen saturation in the blood.<br />
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Have you ever gone to the Dr.s office or ER and they put a clip on your finger? Yeah. That's pulse ox. Didn't hurt did it? The actual screening process for a newborn is a bit more complicated than that, but not by much. Pulse Ox screening will not catch every heart defect, but it will catch those that are fatal. They are referred to as Critical Congenital Heart Defects. They affect the oxygen levels in the blood.<br />
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If you are going to have a baby, ask for a pulse ox to be performed at 24 hours. Before that, they aren't so accurate because the baby is still adjusting to life outside the womb. The screening needs to be done on the right hand, and on one of the feet. Baby should have saturation levels of 95% or better and no more than 3% variance between the hand and foot. If baby fails the first screening, it should be done again in about an hour. Our hospital also will do a third screening if the second one is failed. This is just a fail-safe against false positives. If baby does not pass, then an echo on their heart should probably be done...definitely someone more specialized, like a pediatric cardiologist should be consulted. This is especially important if you live in a more rural area where your baby will have to be transported if there is a problem. Time is of the essence for these kiddos.<br />
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Most hospitals are not yet doing this routinely. YOU WILL HAVE TO ASK. This is your baby, so don't take no for an answer. Chances are, your baby has a healthy heart. But if not, wouldn't you rather find out about it before you leave the hospital? No parent should find out about their baby's CHD from the coroner.<br />
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If you get home without a pulse ox, here are some signs and symptoms of CHDs. Not all CHDs will show these signs. Some defects are not as complex, and you can get to be an adult before you ever find out you have one. These are signs that *May* be evidence of a CHD. If your baby shows some or all of these signs, don't panic, but do make an appointment ASAP with your Dr. It's better to be safe than sorry.<br />
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From Mended Little Hearts. Signs and Symptoms<br />
<ul><li>Blue coloring</li>
<li>Breathing difficulties</li>
<li>Fast breathing</li>
<li>Poor weight gain</li>
<li>Feeding difficulties</li>
<li>Tiring easily during feeding</li>
</ul>Be aware of the signs, be proactive for your newborn. Blessings to you.<br />
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***I am not a medical professional. So, do your homework... ;-) ***Mrs. Dolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05600603877394736687noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8059828251785570637.post-21238167630739409292011-07-30T19:16:00.000-07:002011-07-30T19:16:46.370-07:00WIFD day 7Today's the last day of WIFD. It was very hot here...for North Idaho. It's in the 90's, and since I'm pregnant, I was wilting. So, most of the day was spent inside...doing a bit of laundry, cleaning a cupboard that I 'inherited' from our church ~ which will be home to my fabric stash, and playing with the baby...hate that! ;-)<br />
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Today I wore a Style and Co. skirt. It's not maternity, but it has an elastic smocked waist, so it works! I had thought maybe I would wear one of my other skirts that is similar this week, but I haven't. However, I will share that one of my newest, easiest maternity skirt modifications is to take a sundress, that has the empire waist that is elastic smocked, and cut the top off. They make a nice, modest skirt, and the elastic smocking is perfect for a maternity waist band...and I'll be able to wear them when I'm not pregnant too! <br />
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I also wore a brown crinkle camisole that I bought at WalMart, and a white gauze Motherhood top that was thrifted. Just some flip flops on my feet...and no jewelry today. <br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Not a great picture of my outfit, but you can see the skirt pretty well. I just had my hair twisted and in a claw so it was up off my neck. :-)</div>Mrs. Dolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05600603877394736687noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8059828251785570637.post-48745601946322971322011-07-29T21:57:00.000-07:002011-07-29T22:00:12.938-07:00WIFD day 6Today was a laid back day at home. I worked on laundry a bit...I'm getting to the point in this pregnancy where I can't do a lot at once. Sore hips and pelvis and a good sized baby equaling a sore back...I do a bit and I sit. I do a bit and I sit. Very frustrating. Thankfully, I have an understanding husband, and he encourages me to do what I can, and he helps with the rest.<br />
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My outfit today was a beautiful brown and turquoise Liz Lange Maternity top that I just bought off eBay. It's not particularly modest, so I wore a brown Old Navy tank top under it. My denim skirt is a Faded Glory skirt that I modified for maternity wear. Just as a side note, I've had a terrible time finding denim skirts this pregnancy! Of course, I lost almost all my maternity clothes in the fire. Most of the new denim maternity skirts I find are mini skirts...and I'm just not interested in those. Even on eBay most used denim maternity skirts that are long enough to be modest go for $30 or more by the time you pay shipping. And on principle, I'm just not going to pay that much for a used skirt. You would think though, that clothing manufacturers would pay attention to the used clothing market, and pay attention to what is selling well there.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--rvxiygnWbk/TjON6F0cAXI/AAAAAAAAATw/_zoiPwUyjxs/s1600/72911+010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--rvxiygnWbk/TjON6F0cAXI/AAAAAAAAATw/_zoiPwUyjxs/s320/72911+010.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The length of the skirt is shorter, although below knee length. It's just a nice, summer length denim skirt.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DJUWkU8yNYk/TjOO6US7O3I/AAAAAAAAAT4/0vJt49VsdTo/s1600/72911+020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DJUWkU8yNYk/TjOO6US7O3I/AAAAAAAAAT4/0vJt49VsdTo/s320/72911+020.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just for fun, here is a picture of our calf, Eliza. She is fascinated by fire!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TOS1N_ED1JU/TjON-2A8QhI/AAAAAAAAAT0/MQkBTz-4-QM/s1600/72911+014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TOS1N_ED1JU/TjON-2A8QhI/AAAAAAAAAT0/MQkBTz-4-QM/s320/72911+014.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here's a better shot of the front of my top. It's very flowy and feminine looking. The neclace is thrifted, and although you can't really see my cute teapot earrings, they are from an etsy shop.<br />
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</tbody></table>Mrs. Dolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05600603877394736687noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8059828251785570637.post-65320333517385608152011-07-28T20:34:00.000-07:002011-07-28T20:34:47.629-07:00WIFD days 4 and 5I missed posting yesterday! Mike was gone most of the day, and by the time he got home and took my picture, I was too tired to mess with posting. :-) <br />
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Yesterday was an at-home day ~ Yay!! Wednesday afternoons Jethro's physical therapist comes to the house, so usually the morning is spent getting things tidy and ready for his PT.<br />
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I wore a brown and white floral motherhood shirt ~ thrifted, a navy Down East Basics skirt (not maternity, but it's a nice stretchy knit!) ~ thrifted, flip flops from Fred Meyer, and my necklace is from WalMart.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RGpQljRqAEI/TjIpBD6ypYI/AAAAAAAAATo/HZf-9cMchJ8/s1600/WIFD+1+010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RGpQljRqAEI/TjIpBD6ypYI/AAAAAAAAATo/HZf-9cMchJ8/s320/WIFD+1+010.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Ezra decided to pose with me. :-) He was just in from playing in the hot tub (which is basically a small swimming pool at this point ~ no heat!)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Today, I wore the blue skirt again, but with a yellow plaid Old Navy top ~ thrifted. Just another day at home, trying to get some laundry done.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Sorry for the quality of the picture. I decided to do a self-portrait instead of asking someone to take my picture.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-s4uxLfzMH6M/TjIpuxTn0kI/AAAAAAAAATs/gmty4SMJg_s/s1600/WIFD+1+016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-s4uxLfzMH6M/TjIpuxTn0kI/AAAAAAAAATs/gmty4SMJg_s/s320/WIFD+1+016.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It's hard to see in this photo, but the top has a button placket, and pin tucks on either side, down to the empire waist. And, just little flutter sleeves.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div>Mrs. Dolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05600603877394736687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8059828251785570637.post-82368120487852504232011-07-28T09:57:00.000-07:002011-07-28T09:57:24.605-07:00A Child's Bible Study ReviewThere will be a post later today for WIFD. :-) This is a long-overdue post...a quick review of a children's Bible study on the armor of God. It is produced by <a href="http://www.quiettimesforkids.com/">Quiet Times for Kids</a>. I will post a more thorough review of this Bible study after we have completed it. <br />
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One of the things that drew me to this Bible study is that it encorporates Lego dioramas. In fact, if you order this Bible study from them now, your child can get in on a photo contest of the dioramas for a chance to win a building block set from Vision Forum. The photos must be submitted by August 31, 2011, so if you or your child is interested, go get this study!<br />
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This is a 6 week study on the armor of God. I spent some time this morning working through week 1 ~ even as an adult, I found some of the questions to be challenging to my thinking. The study is designed for individual study, helping young people develop a habit of daily time in the Word. There are projects for some of the days. Each week a cube is built for the piece of armor being studied and a Lego diorama is worked on. It's designed to be done 5 days a week, so it would fit in well with a school schedule. We will be starting it on Monday, when we start our new school year.<br />
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So far, the only "complaint" I would have, and it's not a big deal is that they have Ephesians 6:10-18 printed out on Scripture cards, designed for your child to cut out and put on their wall. They have used 4 different versions for this. KJV, NASB, NKJV, and NIV. At our house, we use the ESV. Not a problem, I'll just print it out on our computer in our version. :-) And, they can't really cover every version of the Scriptures.<br />
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So, while we have not gone through it yet, I believe it looks like it will be a good study, generating conversations with the children, providing fun with the projects, growth in the walk with the Lord...and I would encourage you to click on the link above and check it out!Mrs. Dolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05600603877394736687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8059828251785570637.post-4730151708891682382011-07-26T13:16:00.000-07:002011-07-26T13:16:32.669-07:00WIFD day 3So, today is just a day at home. I need to get some laundry done, organize the school room (or at least start!), and get working on supper. I have a webinar this evening, so I need to have supper stuff ready to go before the webinar starts.<br />
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It's a little cooler here today, and the house tends to stay nice and cool ~ almost chilly if we have left the windows open over night. So I have on long sleeves. <br />
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I am wearing a grey Motherhood hoodie with a deep v-neck ~ thrifted, a lapis blue tank...I think it's Old Navy ~ thrifted, and a denim and floral Motherhood skirt ~ also thrifted. Just flip flops for shoes. For jewelry, I am wearing a lapis blue pendant that belonged to my great aunt Olga. One of the few pieces of jewelry left that I inherited from her. It's a favorite, so I had it at the hospital with me when the house burned. I am also wearing heart shaped earrings with blue handpainted roses on them ~ yep, you guessed it, they are thrifted as well. :-)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KlE6Cki2NYs/Ti8fS117piI/AAAAAAAAATg/1hwKr-b7xkc/s1600/Tucker%2527s+7th+birthday+017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KlE6Cki2NYs/Ti8fS117piI/AAAAAAAAATg/1hwKr-b7xkc/s320/Tucker%2527s+7th+birthday+017.JPG" t$="true" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The skirt is a bit longer than knee length and it's tiered.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-v4xm2F5jtWw/Ti8fXLQQqBI/AAAAAAAAATk/6V9p1zEFIG4/s1600/Tucker%2527s+7th+birthday+021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-v4xm2F5jtWw/Ti8fXLQQqBI/AAAAAAAAATk/6V9p1zEFIG4/s320/Tucker%2527s+7th+birthday+021.JPG" t$="true" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here is a closeup of the pendant. </div>Mrs. Dolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05600603877394736687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8059828251785570637.post-59800306741426432302011-07-25T11:18:00.000-07:002011-07-25T11:22:05.936-07:00A Week in Feminine DressSo, I have at least one more post rattlin' around in my head on suffering, but this week, I'm going to be posting what I am wearing. :-) I have been a member of the forum over at Sense and Sensibility Patterns for several years. At least a couple times a year, we do a week in feminine dress or a WIFD. The point of it is to encourage the ladies to dress in a feminine manner no matter what we are doing, and to give new ideas and inspiration to those of us who regularly dress this way. I have done this a couple times before here on the blog, but it's been a while, so I thought it would be fun to do once again. Today is actually Day 2 of WIFD, but in normal fashion, I completely forgot about it yesterday, until after I was changed out of my church clothes...and I really wan't dressed very femininely after that. :-)<br />
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So, here is todays outfit:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NMan6Q_m93g/Ti2x7Z1ZFxI/AAAAAAAAATY/vrdG_ybdleo/s1600/Summer2011+051.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NMan6Q_m93g/Ti2x7Z1ZFxI/AAAAAAAAATY/vrdG_ybdleo/s320/Summer2011+051.JPG" t$="true" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I am wearing a thrifted Motherwear sundress. I don't normally wear dresses that are only knee length, but I have been having a terrible time finding maternity sundresses this year, let alone ones that are a length that I would normally wear. I love it though because of all the bright colors. The necklace came from Burlington Coat Factory, and the earrings are from WalMart. I'm just wearing flip flops on my feet. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5bnIw1JpCvk/Ti2x_ueNoGI/AAAAAAAAATc/nWeVBgmupxQ/s1600/Summer2011+054.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5bnIw1JpCvk/Ti2x_ueNoGI/AAAAAAAAATc/nWeVBgmupxQ/s320/Summer2011+054.JPG" t$="true" width="320" /></a></div>Isn't he just the cutest? I couldn't resist having my picture taken with him...he's such a HAM! LOL Tomorrow he will be 17 mo. old. The Lord has truly been good to us. :-)<br />
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Today's plans involve going to town and picking up a few groceries. I'm also going to be getting some rock and hopefully a few plants to put down at Tucker's grave. I'll also pick up balloons for the children to release this evening, in memory of our dear Tucker. He would have been 7 today. <br />
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<div align="center">Happy birthday, dear Tucker!</div><div align="center">Enjoy your birthday in Heaven ~</div><div align="center">Play in peace my sweet boy.</div><div align="center">Mama loves and misses you.</div>Mrs. Dolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05600603877394736687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8059828251785570637.post-4441754046657921122011-06-24T17:07:00.000-07:002011-06-24T17:10:52.412-07:00Suffering Part 3 ~ BFS for the SoulNot too long ago, I was listening to Chris Fabry Live. He had a couple on who had gone through some very hard circumstances. As he was talking, giving the introduction, Mr. Fabry likened suffering to football. Often we feel like it's one thing upon another. Much like a football player who is carrying the ball, and then is tackled...he usually isn't tackled by just one player, but once he is down, player upon player jumps on top of him. This analogy got me to thinking about the BFS program, that our local school uses for their athletes. The 'BFS' stands for Bigger, Faster, Stronger. It's a strengthening program that utilizes weight-lifting, plyometrics (jumping), strength and agility training. The motto for BFS is "Be an 11". They encourage the kids to give their utmost. Don't be satisfied with being a 10, be an 11. Give it your all.<br />
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The first year our school implemented the BFS program, we saw a huge improvement in our second oldest's football game. He was the main running back for our team, so he ended up with the ball a lot. During one play of a home game, he had several guys try to tackle him, but he just kept running. I think he ended up with about 5 guys hanging on, and Levi just drug them down the field, on his way to a touchdown.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZREXg72Cj7Q/TgUmSkUWdPI/AAAAAAAAATU/C2UMq8Kzf6I/s1600/Levi+in+Mullan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZREXg72Cj7Q/TgUmSkUWdPI/AAAAAAAAATU/C2UMq8Kzf6I/s320/Levi+in+Mullan.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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So, how does this relate to suffering? Well, if suffering is the guy trying to tackle you and take you down, then if you have been involved in a 'strengthening' program for your faith, it will be more difficult. We often want easy answers. Just give me a list to follow. Tell me the secret. Hand me the key to live victoriously. But you know what? There isn't an easy answer to faith. It's a gift from God, most assuredly, but it's also work. You have to exercise it. You have to spend time in God's word, getting to know it and Him better. You have to put forth the effort.<br />
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Levi didn't get strong enough to drag those guys down the field by wishing he were stronger. He had to get to the gym everyday and do the workout. It took determination and commitment on his part. He had to follow the program. Our faith isn't strengthened by us wishing we had stronger faith. We have to have the commitment to be in the Word and know God more intimately for our faith to be strengthened. When we enter into suffering ~ and we all will ~ we have to determine to keep our eyes uplifted and *trust* God to do what is in our best interests. But, that will be easier if we have put in our time in the 'gym' of Scripture.<br />
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Breaking those tackles wasn't easy. Levi still felt the full weight of those guys hanging onto him as he ran down the field, but, because he was strong, he was able to keep going. The play didn't end with one guy jumping on him. He wasn't sidelined by an injury. He. Kept. Going. He moved forward, keeping his eye on the prize. For him, that prize was yards gained, and ultimately a touchdown. For us, we run toward a much greater prize. We run toward Christ-likeness. We run toward glorifying God. We run toward a glorious eternity.<br />
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I don't believe we should look for suffering, but I do believe that we should see the value in it. The opportunity to 'flex' our faith muscle, and grow in grace. Suffering is going to come, will you 'be an 11"?Mrs. Dolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05600603877394736687noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8059828251785570637.post-64514462872151279532011-06-17T14:10:00.000-07:002011-06-17T14:10:38.262-07:00Suffering, Part 2Seven years ago, we were joyfully anticipating the birth of our seventh child. In mid-June, I began bleeding one night, and so we headed to the hospital. After a pretty extensive ultrasound, they determined that everything was okay with our son and they didn't know why I was bleeding. After about 14 hours at the hospital, the bleeding stopped and I was sent home on bedrest for the week.<br />
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Late at night, on the 24th of July, I went into labor. We called my mom and asked her to come and get the younger children ~ the older boys were already at her house. We were overjoyed that this child would share his birthday with his Grammie.<br />
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The midwives were called and arrived and we settled in to wait for his arrival. I slept until about 4 am or so and woke up ready to have a baby. He was very active all through labor, and his heart tones were good. Everything was progressing very normally for one of my labors. I was laying on my side, laboring, looking out the window, thinking what a gorgeous day it was and knowing it would only be a short time before I would be holding my newest son in my arms.<br />
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Once I began to push, I felt being on my side was not productive, so Mike and the midwives helped me get upright on the birthing stool. As soon as I was upright, my midwife saw a lot of 'suspicious' blood and told me I needed to push and deliver him quickly. When his body was delivered, the cord hit my leg. Not realizing the gravity of the situation, I said, "The cord broke". At which point, the midwives began doing CPR. Mike called 911 and requested the life flight. And then we began to call friends and family, asking them to pray for a miracle ~ and we pled with God for our son's life.<br />
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It was not to be. Our midwives performed CPR for 45 minutes before the life flight crew arrived and took over. But his cord had broke at some point after he had entered the birth canal and he had bled to death before he was delivered. In the blinking of an eye, we had gone from laboring with a live baby to delivering a dead one. From the joy of a new life to the heart-shattering grief of the loss of a child. In a moment, with no real preparation (is there such a thing?), we were thrown onto the hardest path a parent can walk.<br />
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From the very first moments, Mike and I determined that our grief would drive us to God and that it would <em>not</em> drive us apart. As that first day progressed and we were finally alone, we began a practice that I believe enabled us to keep our heads above water. We actively looked for things within our circumstances to praise God. We were very blessed to be surrounded by folks who loved us and continually pointed us back to our Heavenly Father, reminding us constantly of His great love for us.<br />
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People would ask, "Why?" And I would answer, "Why not?" Who was I to be spared suffering? I don't have the words to adequately share my thoughts without perhaps giving the impression that my grief was not deep and overwhelming. Let me assure you, it was. I spent many days barely able to rise from my chair and many, many nights my pillow was soaked from crying myself to sleep. I carried within me a physical ache, that I truly believed would have killed me had it not been for my faith in Christ. Although my heart was broken and my arms ached to hold my son, I never really felt that Tucker's death was unfair. For me ~ perhaps. But not for him. I never looked at it as if he had died 'too soon', or 'too young'. <br />
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<em>Psalm 139</em> says, <em>"Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in Your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there were none of them." v.16</em><br />
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Tucker lived out every day God had ordained for him. His life was not cut short, it was lived just as fully as someone who we would consider had lived a long, full life. And God showed great mercy to Tucker. He leapt from the warmth and safety of my womb into the waiting arms of Jesus. He never knew or will know pain and sorrow, sickness, or sin. As we grieved the death of our precious son, he was in the presence of the Savior, living life more fully than I can even imagine!<br />
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I took great comfort in knowing that God knows what it is to grieve the loss of a child. We live in a world marred by sin. The immediate consequence of sin was death. We still live with that consequence today ~ each of us is born dieing. Each of us is born spiritually dead. God has grieved much over the loss of life and He is able to draw us close as we grieve and bring peace and joy to our hearts and lives once again.<br />
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God did not allow me to wallow in my grief. We had a houseful of children who needed me (what a blessing that was!), and within a few months of Tucker's death, God began to bring other grieving Mamas into my path. It was not an easy thing to do. Each time I heard of a baby or child dieing, emotionally I would be back at the morning we lost Tucker. But I found that as I reached out to other Mamas just beginning their grief journey, I was less focused on me and I was 'giving' purpose to Tucker's life and my own grief. While I certainly hoped and prayed that I was a blessing to them, the truth was that they were a huge blessing to me. To be able to reach out, to make 'use' of my own suffering ~ to be able to offer comfort to others out of that suffering, brought healing to my own heart.<br />
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<div align="center"><em>"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort</em> <em>those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God." </em></div><div align="center"><em>2 Corinthians 1:3-4</em></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><em>"Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted."</em></div><div align="center"><em>Matthew 5:4</em></div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div align="left">There is blessing in suffering, in mourning ~ God will comfort us. And then, as we take the comfort we have received from Him and in turn comfort others, we are again blessed. </div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div align="left">I do want to point out that I did not just commisserate with these grieving Mamas. There is no comfort ~ for anyone ~ in that. I came alongside with compassion. I grieved with them, because I knew what it was to have my life shattered by the death of a child. And I did my best to glorify God and gently point them back toward their Heavenly Father. To remind them of His great love for them. This is where true comfort and blessing comes from. We will never find comfort and peace apart from God.</div>Mrs. Dolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05600603877394736687noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8059828251785570637.post-63292561706230478052011-06-11T11:37:00.000-07:002011-06-11T14:28:52.845-07:00Suffering, Pt. 1<div style="text-align: center;"><i>"And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you."</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>1 Peter 5:10</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div style="text-align: left;">In our nearly 22 years of marriage, God has brought us through many trials. Some, in retrospect weren't that traumatic or significant, and others were definitely traumatic and life changing. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">We have lost four children to miscarriage, buried a stillborn son, had a son born dead (but thankfully revived!) with a severe - read: incompatible with life - heart defect, lost our home and belongings in a house fire while our youngest was in the hospital recovering from open heart surgery, and gone through over 2 years of un/under-employment for my husband. That would be the 'short list' of traumatic and life changing.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">As you might imagine, I have given some thought to the topic of suffering. We live in a society that shuns suffering and tends to shun the sufferer. While we have certainly been shown a lot of love and care during our various trials, we have also experienced (and observed in the lives of others) abandonment during suffering.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">We don't like to suffer. It's uncomfortable, difficult, unknown, and very often, lonely. Suffering lays bare our deepest beliefs, and, depending on what they are, either sets us adrift or anchors us more firmly. Suffering can bring us to misery and ruin, or suffering can be the catalyst for great growth, maturing and joy. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Wherein lies the difference? How can we know which direction we will go when faced with a trial? It all depends on where (or on Whom) our faith and trust is placed. But faith alone is not enough. If our faith is not placed in the God of the Bible, the Creator God of the universe, then our faith will leave us flailing. Even then, faith without knowledge can still be of little help. If we don't <i>know</i> anything about the One in whom we place our trust, how can we really trust Him?</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I believe a major problem within the church today is a lack of knowledge/relationship with our Father God. We say a lot of things about Him, which are true, but we don't know Him or His word well enough to actually <i>believe</i> those things. </div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><ul><li>We say, "God is trustworthy." And yet we live like He's just waiting to grind us under His thumb.</li>
<li>We say, "God is faithful." But we live like He is fickle.</li>
<li>We say, "God is my provider." Yet we live like the providing is all up to us.</li>
<li>We say, "He will never leave us nor forsake us." Yet we live as if His presence is non-existent in our lives.</li>
</ul>We say a lot of things that would 'prove' our faith, and yet we live our lives out practically as athiests.<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;">Why don't we trust the One who created us? Who thought about us and our lives before time began? The One who numbers the very hairs on our head and who, according to <i>Psalm 56</i>, keeps count of our tossings, and puts our tears in a bottle, keeping record of them? Do you know what that means? God <i>knows</i> each tear you have cried and remembers what it was about. Do you? I know I don't remember every tear I've cried, but God <i>does.</i> That is how important you are to Him. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Again, I ask, how can we trust someone we don't know? We can't. Not really. Until we have at the very least observed their actions, it is difficult to trust someone. If we observe them from afar, we might determine that a person is likely to be trustworthy or not (think: political leaders). If we are able to more closely observe someone and hear personal testimony of their character from someone we know, then we might determine that a person is true to their friends and those they come into contact with (think: a friend of a friend). If we are in relationship with someone, spend time with them and those that know them, then we <i>know</i> if they are trustworthy or not. We have personal, intimate knowledge of that person. Think about it ~ within your circle of friends and acquaintances, you know who you could call in an emergency and who you wouldn't think to call. Where my analogy falls flat is that at some point, every human, no matter how trustworthy, no matter how close your relationship, will fail you. It's inevitable. However, God<i style="font-weight: bold;"> </i><u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">will not</u>. God <i style="font-weight: bold;">never </i>fails. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Let me finish this with this thought. Suffering in our lives is <i>not</i> failure on God's part. If we are suffering, it does <i>not</i> mean that God was taken by surprise, or that He somehow dropped the ball. God will have our lives glorify Him. God is interested in molding us into the image of His son, Jesus Christ. This just does not happen without suffering. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>"He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not."</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Isaiah 53:3</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div style="text-align: left;">I have also posted some thoughts on how this affects us as wives over on my marriage blog,<a href="http://beneathbeamsofcedar.blogspot.com/"> Beneath Beams of Cedar</a> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Here is a song that speaks very much to my heart right now. I hope you enjoy it.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/4mmgV6mPvb0" width="425"></iframe></div>Mrs. Dolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05600603877394736687noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8059828251785570637.post-84846702998109632762011-04-22T13:10:00.000-07:002011-04-22T20:29:06.346-07:00God Speaks My Love LanguageYesterday, as I was driving to town for a midwife appt, I was listening to Dr. Gary Chapman on<a href="http://www.moodyradio.org/brd_ProgramDetail.aspx?id=69092"> Chris Fabry Live</a>. They began by talking about Dr. Chapman's new book, God Speaks Your Love Language. Dr. Chapman spoke more specifically about how God speaks to us in our love language when He brings us to salvation, but as I was driving, I was overwhelmed by God's love and care for me when Tucker died, almost 7 years ago.<br />
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My love language is quality time. And the morning that Tucker died, God showed up. Physically. He knew I needed Him desperately that morning, and He was here. Where we live is almost always windy, we almost never have fog because of the wind. The morning Tucker was born was a glorious, sun-shiney day at the end of July. That morning, as friends began arriving at our home, they noticed that the house (and only the house) was shrouded in a cloud. Clouds are mentioned just over a hundred times in Scripture and all but a small handful of those times the cloud represents the presence of God. I know that God showed up here to comfort and hold me as the realization that my son was dead hit me, as I sank into the deepest grief a Mama can. As my heart was shattered into a million pieces, God was here. My precious Father, who freely gave His son, so that I could spend eternity with Him, came and spoke my love language, came and held me as I grieved.<br />
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I don't have any idea how many times I have told people over the years that God's presence was so *tangible* to me during that time. I have always recognized God being here ~ especially in that initial, horrible time. I often call it the most horrible, precious time. Horrible because we were living such a nightmare, and yet precious because we were able to lift our eyes and praise our God in the midst of it ~ surrounded by those who loved us, and encouraged us in our faith. But, until yesterday, I had never made the connection that God was "speaking" to me. That He was showing me love in the way He created me to "see" love. I am undone. To think of the depth of His loving care, for a simple woman such as I...What words can I share to express the depth of realization that came to me? They all seem so inadequate.Mrs. Dolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05600603877394736687noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8059828251785570637.post-40938138460794567362011-04-18T18:30:00.000-07:002011-04-18T18:30:50.966-07:00The Big News Around Here...<div style="text-align: center;">is that our little Jethro is going to be a big brother! </div><div style="text-align: center;">Along about the first part of October there will be a new little blessing in our house. God is truly good to us, and I am so thankful that He has chosen to bless us again!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I would appreciate prayers for a healthy, uneventful pregnancy, and a healthy baby. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Mrs. Dolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05600603877394736687noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8059828251785570637.post-13999940546110240002011-02-28T12:16:00.000-08:002011-02-28T12:16:59.553-08:00Jethro's 1st Birthday!Wow, I have spent the last couple days in tears at various times. Tears of joy and thankfulness to my Father God for His wonderful faithfulness to us. I can't believe a year has gone by already. <br />
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We have a baby who is happy, adorable, content, adorable, engaging, adorable, playful, funny, and did I mention adorable? ;-) We have a beautiful house that is almost done, and we have been blessed with wonderful folks who were there when we needed them. <br />
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Yesterday, we had an open house to celebrate and at one point had over 80 people in our home! And, you could still move around. I think it's going to work well for family gatherings and hospitality. :-) <br />
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Here's a few pictures from the big day.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-5gRVL8X-QK0/TWwAlew33CI/AAAAAAAAATA/OBdkz3v8on4/s1600/Jethro%2527s+BDay+011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" l6="true" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-5gRVL8X-QK0/TWwAlew33CI/AAAAAAAAATA/OBdkz3v8on4/s320/Jethro%2527s+BDay+011.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2d year MWSB students. They were here last year when Jethro was born. Although they didn't get to see him, they held a prayer vigil for him, and ministered to our family in a tremendous way. We were so thankful that they were able to celebrate this milestone with us.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-qzdb2LAQ4OA/TWwA4HaT3YI/AAAAAAAAATE/VNwlI-SMRU8/s1600/Jethro%2527s+BDay+014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" l6="true" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-qzdb2LAQ4OA/TWwA4HaT3YI/AAAAAAAAATE/VNwlI-SMRU8/s320/Jethro%2527s+BDay+014.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The oldest and the youngest. A couple of handsome young men, I think. :-)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-fuqsWLgsx7E/TWwBKG2vUnI/AAAAAAAAATI/rM_3J693xeo/s1600/Jethro%2527s+BDay+012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" l6="true" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-fuqsWLgsx7E/TWwBKG2vUnI/AAAAAAAAATI/rM_3J693xeo/s320/Jethro%2527s+BDay+012.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just a little of the crowd of party goers. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-8ppzkOPvMbQ/TWwBcWjwPsI/AAAAAAAAATM/6373HUZAEzg/s1600/Jethro%2527s+BDay+022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" l6="true" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-8ppzkOPvMbQ/TWwBcWjwPsI/AAAAAAAAATM/6373HUZAEzg/s320/Jethro%2527s+BDay+022.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Singing Happy Birthday. That would be a pepperochini in the baby's hand. He thought they were the bomb. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-NVIpRgF_JPs/TWwBvEs3FWI/AAAAAAAAATQ/MpdggLB06kM/s1600/Jethro%2527s+BDay+036.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" l6="true" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-NVIpRgF_JPs/TWwBvEs3FWI/AAAAAAAAATQ/MpdggLB06kM/s320/Jethro%2527s+BDay+036.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me thinks the baby likes chocolate birthday cake! That would be a very Happy Birthday Boy! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>Thank you, Lord for a wonderful year with this precious child! We give You praise for all that You have done!Mrs. Dolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05600603877394736687noreply@blogger.com2