Jonah Rolls Over!

Turning a corner at 8weeks....

If you would have asked me a month ago if I was loving motherhood – I have to be honest in saying that I wasn’t that excited about it.  Not that I didn’t love my son but that I found motherhood to be very difficult and not a role that I was confident in.  Ask me today if I’m loving motherhood and the answer is much different – I love it!  Add some confidence, better sleep, a routine and a more content baby and viola – you have the makings of a beautiful relationship!

 

Jonah has changed so much in the last two weeks – it’s absolutely amazing!  It was just a few weeks ago that I remember us saying that we felt like the only time he wasn’t crying was when he was eating or sleeping.  Now – the crying is far between and is better understandable.  We have learned how to “read” him better and to look for cues from him to prevent fussiness or meltdowns.  Even when he’s cranky and crying I’ll start to talk to him and he can’t help but smile and laugh.  He’s just a real happy little guy!  Today Aunt Mary taught him the moves for “Itsy Bitsy Spider” – he loved it!  Every time she sang it he would start to laugh – it was so cute! 

 

He has also begun to fight sleep.  Fun fun!  Tonight Rob and I went out for ice cream (to celebrate our 9yr Anniversary), so we took Jonah.  He was so tired and was really fighting it.  We left Frosty Treats and started driving home when he started his tired cry.  All of a sudden there was silence – not long after he was asleep.  So, we thought we might as well drive around a bit more to get him good and out.  So, after a little drive we got him home and in bed.  He fussed in bed for about a half an hour…finally, there was silence and he’s been out since (that was 2hrs ago).  Jonah is only getting up one time a night.  We put him down between 7:30pm and 8:30pm …then wake him at 10:30/11pm for a feeding and then he doesn’t wake us up till about 3am (although, last night it wasn’t until 5am).  It’s so great to only be getting up one time a night.

 

Speaking of… I better say good night – just in case tonight isn’t so nice! Haa haa

 

Cat.

Jonah's Jungle Fun

Jonah loves to play, especially on his Jungle Friends Play Mat!!!!
He dances to the lights and music. He's soooo cute.

Say CHEESE

First and foremost, I apologize for the non-Jonah post. Though 99% of my life revolves around him, that 1% has to rear its head every once in a while!! I promise more Jonah soon!

About a year ago Catherine stumbled on this TV show on PBS called "Fork in the Road". It is a cooking show produced by channel 13 out of Lansing. This odd guy does this show from his restaurant in Okemos and he uses mostly organic or natural stuff and Michigan products whenever possible. This one episode he made "micro green" salads. Apparently there is a farm downstate that actually grows miniature varieties of lettuce and other leafy greens. They really looked like tiny lettuce! Anyway, he served the salads as appitizers in parmisan cheese bowls. Ever since I saw this I have wanted to try it. Now I get my chance.
We are going to a dinner party this weekend with a few couples and I have decided to make them. Of course I can't get micro greens, but I can chop up lettuce really small!!! Below are pictures of my first attempt at the cheese bowls.


You take fresh grated parmesan and put it in a 'mold' to make a circle (really anything round). I used a 4 inch circle and it is a little too big, so I have to try and find a smaller form to use (The recipe calls for 3Tbs of cheese and a 3 inch circle). Then you bake them just until they are golden, about 12 minutes.



While they are still hot you put them over something to shape them into bowls. You have to work quick because they harden fast. I tried a paper egg carton but they just turned into these funny shaped things.

I think I have found the perfect mold though. Baby bottle lids!!! They are flat on the top and rounded so they should yield the perfect shape with a 3 inch circle.

Update

Mom says we need an update.

 

Today is Jonah’s 1 month birthday!!!!

Video

We took some video of Jonah while Grandma and Great Grandma were here. This first one is great. It sheds some perspective on what Great Grandma thinks about pacifiers!



Funny huh!!!

This next video is of Jonah's second "tummy time"



He holds his head up so well. He's only 19 days old!!!!!

Hope you enjoyed the videos.

Jonah: 1 vs. Parents: zip

Rob and I thought we had control of this new life that we’ve created.  I mean – this new member of our family is like 9lbs … we are so much bigger than him, we can take him!  Well – how wrong we were!

 

Today Jonah was fussy… not crying all day, just fussy and REALLY hungry.  Well, he had just eaten and AGAIN was looking for more food.  So, we decided he needed to wait it out a bit.  So, we made dinner and sat down to eat.  We put Jonah in his highchair and had a talk with him: Jonah, we’re going to eat now.  So, you’re going to need to wait for a while until you can eat…you can’t be hungry already, you just ate.  You’re going to have to sit there and just be patient.  Only 3 minutes later… Jonah begins to scream.  (and I mean scream…to the point where there isn’t any noise coming out and you’re wondering when/if he’s going to take another breath)  Rob and I just look at him, both paralyzed and not wanting to be the chicken to break our pack with the little guy.  So, he’s screaming and all of a sudden he stops!  Out of nowhere!  He went from screaming his lungs out to having his eyes closed and being half asleep.  Rob and I look at him and then look at each other and just crack up laughing.  I said, “I think he’s testing the boundaries” (like a 2 week old can do that).  We sat there eating – thinking we were pretty darn smart and had shown him.  Just then he started screaming again… this time the intensity wasn’t as nuts but the duration was much longer.  Rob broke out into a sweat; I just started shoveling in the food (feed the fear, Cat).  Then it happened.  Rob cracked!  He put down his fork and reached over and picked up Jonah.  Jonah stopped crying instantly.  As Rob sat there, food getting cold and shaking from having to listen to this little one’s cry – I could have sworn I saw a smirk cross Jonah’s face.

 

We put up a good fight – but we were no match for the 9lb wonder.  Games over – thanks for playin.

Oh How He Grows (part II)

After running errands today. He was out like a light! This is one of the first times he's put out his little bottom lip. Usually he has it sucked on in!

Only parents would get excited at the sight of a pout! haa haa He's such a little sweet pea!

Oh How He Grows....

He has the funniest faces and arm positions! I guess I was talking too much... he's thinking, "would you please just stop!"

Jonah enjoys his little bouncer. We put him in it and he fell right asleep.

Isn't he just the cutest!

He sure is filling out! Look at that little double chin and chubby cheeks!

Looking Back and Forward - from mom's view

This morning I woke up and remembered that a week ago today I was in the hospital.  What a crazy ride that was.  Not many women get to say that they not only went into labor but also had their water broken, were given Pitocin to regulate contractions, had a needle shoved into their spine (lets see…) 7 times, pushed for 1.5 hrs, given Terbutaline to decrease and hopefully stop contractions, then had an emergency C-section.  All within about 19hrs!!!  When I remove myself from the situation I can say that I went through so much to give birth – but when I put it into context of having this little miracle I can easily say that it was worth it.  I would do it all again just to be blessed with this little love!  Not only were we blessed with the gift of life but I also found a new respect for myself and for my body.  I learned so much about control and when it comes down to it – we are not in control.  And if we are able to just give up the control our bodies and our God know what to do. 

 

Having Jonah in our life has been incredible.  He has been a confirmation of many things that we always knew were true.  One of those things being the strength of our marriage.  I can’t imagine having a child when your marriage is not strong or when you are just starting out a marriage together.  (of course this doesn’t mean it can’t be done – I just can’t imagine it)  Rob and I have worked so well together and we make a great team!  The respect that we have for one another has gone through the roof within the last week.  I have seen Rob once again rise to the challenge when the going gets tough.  He is having to take care of a newborn and his wife who is recovering from surgery.  He has done laundry, dishes, made dinner, late night feedings, LOTS of diaper changes, consoled mom when she has been crying and has brought laughter to situations where anger could have easily been chosen.  My love, respect and admiration for Rob is the highest it has ever been. 

 

Last night Jonah slept through the night – what a momentous occasion for two new parents!  Rob went and got him from his crib about 8:30am – changed him and brought him to bed with us.  After Rob fed Jonah the three of us just laid in bed together.  Rob and I held hands and stared at this little boy who God had given us.  Everything felt so right – as if that is how life is meant to be.  My sister asked me yesterday, “do you feel like your life has changed?”  Rob and I both answered that although life has changed – in a way it hasn’t.  Jonah just fits into our life.  It is as if the last piece to the puzzle was found and finally the picture is complete.  Yes, even during the 3am bottle feedings or the 20 min. crying jags – life is how it should be. 

 

And with that – I must go now to wake up the boys who are still sleeping.  It’s time to give Jonah a bath so that we can go on with another day.  Life for sure is an adventure now!

Home

Well, we've been home for just over 24 hours now. The first night was a bit shaky (for mom and dad, not for Jonah). We had to figure a few things out...Jonah doesn't like to be in his big crib (we fixed that by putting him in his Moses' basket and putting that in the crib), and the pre-mixed bottles were not good for him (the nipples let in too much air and he was getting sick. We fixed this by putting the formula into our VentAire bottles and only feeding him 1oz at a time). We spent the night sleeping in 1 1/2 hour shifts while the other snuggled with a sleeping Jonah in the recliner. Today we figured out the bugs and he has done great and we hope and pray that we have a good night tonight.

We want to say thank you to everyone for all of the well wishes and support. You have all been wonderful throughout the pregnancy and we look forward to introducing you all to Jonah.

Speaking of introductions...though we are looking forward to visiting with everyone, we are going to take a few days to get used to being mom and dad. With Cat recovering from the C-section and all of our new experiences we would like to ask a favor. If you would like to visit, just call us first to see if its ok and please keep your visits short. In a few weeks we'll have the hang of things and Jonah will be ready to meet lots of new friends.

The Scoop

Well, now that things have settled down I have a few minutes to tell you a story! For those of you who want details, here they are (but not the gory ones).

Catherine started having small contractions on Wednesday evening. They weren't regular but it was enough to get us excited. Thursday night the contractions we pretty strong and about 9:45pm Cat called the hospital just to see what they said. She talked to a nurse named Anne who told her it seemed good and to keep monitoring and to call back in an hour. So we did. The contractions hadn't changed much, and Anne told Cat she'd know when it was time to come in and "we'll probably see you in a few hours".
Well, that didn't happen. Cat tried to get some sleep and I got a few hours but not much. On Friday morning the contractions were nothing like they had been. So, off to work I went. Cat gave me updates throughout the day. By the time I got home the contractions were about 8 minutes apart. Cat toughed it out but at 4:00am enough was enough. We called the hospital and they said see ya in a few. So, all of 8 blocks later we were there (it was 4:30)

Cat was dilated to 4cm and her cervix was 100% effaced. This was great news!!! From there things progressed kinda slowly though. Later in the afternoon the contractions got pretty tough and Catherine got some staydol (a drug that makes you loopy, and it was pretty funny to see Cat on that stuff). Eventually she needed more pain management so she had an intrathecal (basically a morphine shot in the spin). That helped a lot, though it did take 4 tries to get it. It takes away the contraction pain, but unlike an epidural it doesn't numb you so you still fell the need to push.

And push we did. Catherine was ready to push around 9pm (long day!). By happenstance Anne, the nurse Cat talked to on Thursday was our nurse for this shift. She was so helpful and was amazing. She really helped make us feel comfortable and safe. Cat pushed for an hour and a half and was really getting exhausted and the pain was getting intense (the intrathecal had started to wear off). Dr. Pond said we could certainly keep pushing but it might be a long while yet. She hemmed and hawed around the subject of a C-Section, not actually giving us the option, but hinting at it. So, around 10:30pm she finally said a c-section was a definite possibility. And we took it.

We did't have to rush because the baby wasn't in distress but it didn't take long before Cat was prepped, I was in my scrubs and we were off to the OR. I had to wait while they did the spinal block. I was in this room all by myself, which was ok, except the 5 minutes I was supposed to wait had turned into 25 and I was starting to panic. A nurse kept going by and saying things like," they're still working on the block", "Still trying", "not yet". That same nurse finally came out and said "the block didn't work they have to use general" but she was leaving as she said this. I was like "WAIT, what is going on, nobody has told me anything" and she actually said "I don't know I just got here". I almost blew up (literally, the words were on my tongue) when Anne came out the door. I just looked at her and started to cry. She gave me a big hug and explained what was happening.

The anesthesiologist (the same one from earlier) couldn't get the needle in the right spot. He tried 4 times with no luck. So they were going to have to put Catherine to sleep. She told me later that she cried because neither one of us would be there to witness Jonah's birth. Anne calmed me down and took my camera to take pictures for us (which will be posted later).

Shortly thereafter I could here crying...Anne brought me the camera with pictures! She told me to go and talk to the folks in the waiting room (Grandma Calcaterra, Grandma and Grandpa Hardenbergh, and Aunt Mary and Uncle Dennis) that Jonah was born. Then they came and got me to see him. He was so precious. I held him and cuddled him.

All the while I was still worried about Catherine. They brought her into the recovery room shortly after and the three of us were finally together!!!!!!

So Jonah's birthday was rather hectic! But we all came through wonderfully. Catherine is doing great. Jonah is....well there aren't words enough......I'm good too, though I cry way more than I thought I would!

I'll leave you with a picture of newborn Jonah and we'll have more tales to tell soon.

JONAH ROBERT

Sorry about the delay...things got hectic, but thats a post for another day.

Jonah was born on June 28, 2008 at 11:36pm
He weighs 8lbs 10.6oz
He is 20 1/2 inches long

Baby and mom are doing great!!!

Still Waiting

Well, its 4:30pm. 12 hours since we got here. Cat got an interthecal (spelling) and is now sleeping!!!

I'll keep you posted

So it begins

Well, after 2 sleepless nights (well, I got a little, Cat didn't really sleep at all) we've made it to the hospital. At 4:30 this morning we headed the 8 blocks to Marquette General. Now it's 10:30 and we're still here!

At 5am Cat was dialated to 4cm and was 100% effaced at 0 station! This is all birthing jargon for "doing good!" We haven't seen the doctor yet, but the nurse thinks she'll break Cat's water. (We have to wait for that because there's an emergency C-Section). Then we hope things will pick up.

I've been saying for 2 months the Jonah would be born on the 29th. I may not be right it may be the 28th (here's hoping I'm wrong!!!) I'll try to post a quick one when he shows up (I actually have a template programmed into my cell ready to go at a moments notice!)

Waiting Game

Well, tomorrow is our due date. What does that mean? NOTHING. Let me fill you in on the crazy last few days we've had...

We had a Dr.'s appointment on Thursday. They always make Cat pee in a cup and check for protein (which is bad). Well the test showed +1 (out of 4 and any + is cause for further scrutiny). So the Dr. ordered a full urinalysis and a Non-Stress Test for the baby (which I mentioned in the last post). We scheduled an appointment for this Thursday and went on our way. Friday a nurse called and said that the urinalysis came back a +2. Not good. They moved our appointment to Monday (today) and scheduled another Non-Stress Test a 24 hour urine test and some other blood work. Basically they thought Cat was getting preeclampsia (a bad version of high blood pressure in pregnancy). Of course, this is an ok development considering how close we are to the finish line. So we figured that we would go in today and we would schedule an induction or c-section.

When we got to the doctor today we had the Non-Stress Test and it was great. The nurse showed as a chart of what they wanted the graph to look like and bingo, Jonah was textbook! Then the Dr. came in and couldn't explain it, but all the tests were NORMAL. It was amazing.

So now we wait. We have an appointment next Monday (we'll be 40 weeks and 6 days). If the baby hasn't come on his own this week, we'll schedule an induction for next week. We'll see. At least everyone is still healthy!!!!

I'll keep the blog updated, so check back. If we have Jonah soon, I'll update the blog with the vitals within a few hours of his birth!!

Counting Down

Well, we are T minus 5 days and counting from due day. Of course, it could be sooner…or later. Cat gets mad at me because although Jonah is due on the 24^th, I have a gut feeling he’ll get here on the 29^th! Of course, I would love if he were here sooner. My heart says he should be here now, but my gut says we have to wait .

All the bags are packed. I always have my cell phone with me (which is actually abnormal, I hate those things!) I have the who-to-call list memorized (and printed in my bag, because I’m sure I’ll forget in the all the rush). Now we just wait. It’s kind of like having Christmas presents under the tree a week before Christmas. I hate that! I always want to open them early!

Cat had a “non-stress test” today. That means they hooked her up to the baby monitor for 20 minutes to see how things are going. Jonah is doing great! (Not that she wants the world to know, but they checked to see if she was dilated too. And she's not.)

Well, we just wait now.

~Rob

Some pictures...

Jonah's crib - crib as in bed... not bachelor pad. haa

When you first walk in... crib on your right, changing table on left.

The door to the hallway - Rob installed a shelf over the door. (great
idea from Martha Stewart) What a fantastic way to use wasted space!

Jonah's closet.. actually, it's Rob's closet which happens to be
in Jonah's room. So, Rob put in a second rod (aka old shower rod). I love looking in there... all the big boy clothes and little boy clothes. haa

Jonah's book shelf filled with tons of new and old books!!!

His changing table along with some letters that I covered with
scrapbook paper. Out of all the projects Rob did to get that room ready
putting up those letters frustrated him the most!!!

Jonah's dresser and bouncer! We took my Grandma Calcaterra's dresser
and Rob sanded it and put a fresh coat of white enamel paint on it. Then we added some new hardware. It looks great!

Tick Tock, Tick Tock

I can’t believe that we have less than a month!  Last night while laying in bed Rob said, “Honey, in less than a month we’re going to have a baby”.  As he was saying it – Jonah was dancing in my belly.  “Going to have a baby?”, I responded, “we already have one!”.  It became real quiet.  “Are you ok?” I asked.  “Yea, I’m just freaking out – I don’t want to talk about it”, Rob answered.  Again – silence.  This time, my heart began pounding – Oh my gosh, he’s freaking out!  We can’t turn back now!  I think I’m freaking out.  Why am I freaking out?  “Rob, it’s going to be ok”, I said.  “We’re going to be great parents, we’ll work together to provide for our family and we’ll have lots of love.”.  Silence followed.  Then this morning I asked, “Are you still freaking out” (secretly, it was still bothering me).  “Oh no”, Rob said.  “That was only for like 5 minutes – I just had a weak moment”. 

 

Just like that the wave of panic came and left him – ok, so it hasn’t quite left me.  Probably because I’m panicking more about the actually deliverly process.  I have to get through that and then I’ll worry about afterward.  If I bite too much off I’ll be a wreck.  The truth is – we’re going to be just fine.  We’re going to be great parents, we have a lot to offer.  We have a secure, faith filled and happy marriage.  The thing that I am unsure of is how our life will change.  We know it will be drastic.  Especially since we’ve been married for almost 9 years and you tend to get used to things after that period of time.  Jonah is going to change our life in many ways (he actually already has) but we also know that it’s going to be for the better.  Sure, we will have more stress but we will have another person to focus on and love.  So, in times like this – we just have to keep that in our scope. 

 

So, I guess I should really stop procrastinating and pack my suitcase for the hospital.  I keep putting it off – I don’t know if I think if it’s not packed it’s not going to happen. Haa haa  That’s my goal for this weekend – pack that suitcase!  Jonah is going to come whether my bag is packed or not.  And then if I don’t pack it, Rob will have to.  And I’ve seen him pack my bags before.  J The clock is ticking…

If only kids came with instructions.....

I have heard it said so many times…”If only kids came with instructions!”  These people have obviously not been in the right place at the right time.  We have been taking child birth classes the last few weeks, and we have had a lot of information shoved at us.  This week we took a class called “Little Steps” which was about parenting a newborn.  We got more handouts and pamphlets than we know what to do with.  Everyone and their brother has a book about parenting (some of them are even good).  Not to mention that everyone and their sister has some sort of advise for us (some of that is even good).  I searched Amazon for “Kid instruction manual” and the closed I came is “Kids don’t come with instruction manuals:  Basic parenting skills”.  So I thought we could strike it rich by publishing the “Kid’s Instruction Manual”.  We could just compile all the stuff we’ve been given and put it into a book.  Of course, it would be the most contradictory book ever written.  Chapter 1-Bottles aren’t Bad.  Chapter 2-No Boob, Bad Mom.  Chapter 3-Let ‘em Cry, It’s Good for ‘em.  Chapter 4-Babies Don’t Spoil, Pick that Crier Up.  You get the picture.

Really though, we have gotten a lot of good information.  I’m not sure it will matter, because all the studying in the world is no substitute for hands on training.  Some days I feel prepared.  Some days I think I have no idea what I’m going to do.  Some days I freak out, others I’m calm as a cucumber.  What will be will be.  We only have 6 weeks left!  I can’t believe how fast its gone by.  That little guy will be here before we know it and then what!!!  We’ll do great!!!!!

Wiggles and Hugs...

So, today we are at 33 weeks!  It’s amazing that in 4 weeks we will be considered full term – how cool!  Rob continues to say that it’s going by quickly, and I agree with him but at the same time it could go faster for me. J  Every week is a new experience.  Jonah went from flutters to little kicks to my tummy shaking and now to having my entire stomach rolling from side to side.  His movements are bigger, more frequent and yes, even harder.  I know I will miss this, and so I just try to relax and enjoy – no matter how much being kicked in the bladder is annoying. 

 

Tonight Rob and I went for a walk.  While we were walking we found ourselves talking about this summer and what we were going to share with Jonah.  We talked about going for walks down at Lower Harbor, or going to the park and listening to the little kids, and of course… going to the beach so Jonah can experience sand between his toes and his little feet being dipped in Lake Superior!  All of these things that we love in our life – we will be able to share with him and see the world in a new way.

 

Everyday we sit together on the couch and talk/play with little Jonah.  He already brings us peace and tons of joy.  There isn’t a day that goes by that he doesn’t make us smile.  And what is so incredible…is that he doesn’t even EARN our love… we are head over heels in love because he simply IS. 

 

What a gift!!

NESTING TIME!!!

According to everything I've read it's extremely common for women in the second and third trimesters to "nest". This was a new concept for me - but basically for those who don't know - nesting is this behavior of preparing, organizing, cleaning and getting things ready for the baby and her family. Just like a mamma bird gets her nest ready - so do pregnant women get their home ready.

This "nesting" hit me in my second trimester - during spring break! One morning, while Rob was at work this feeling came over me where I HAD to rearrange the living room and take down all the winter decorations. So, in a time period of like 3 hours I took down all our decorations, completely rearranged the living room (moving the couch from one side of the room to the other) and continued to obessively clean the entire room. It was an amazing feeling - it was like steriods!!!

The last couple of weeks this behavior has begun to creep up on me again. I have been washing bottles, boiling nipples/pacifiers, washing baby clothes, lining Jonah's dresser drawers, organizing closets and organizing the bathroom.

I think nesting has even hit Rob. There isn't a day I don't think where he is not doing something to prepare for Jonah's arrival. Today, after raquetball, he worked on Jonah's dresser drawers. (any reason to shop at Menards and use powertools) We're both so excited and we just want everything to be ready for when Jonah enter's our home. That way we can just sit back and devote our energy to him and not to our house.

We love just being in Jonah's room!

Rob working on Jonah's dresser drawers - there's nothing like
wood and power tools!!

Organizing our linen closet...

The bottles and pacifiers are all ready to go!!!

It's Sinking In...

On Friday while I was laying there on the table during the ultrasound, and I looked up at the monitor I couldn’t believe my eyes.  I was the very first person in the room to see it.  I said, “Uh…is that a scrotum?”  The ultrasound tech said, “Well….yep, that sure is”.  I look at Rob and he’s there desperately trying to see what we both were seeing – meanwhile having this silly smile on his face.  A rush of feelings and thoughts were going through my head… no, it can’t be – everyone thought it was a girl – my gut was right these past couple months…it is a boy.  Then – another wave swept over me… how wonderful – a little boy – he’s going to fit so perfectly in our lives – think of everything that we can share with him – Jonah, what a perfect name!!!

 

Later on while I was driving home from the radiology office I began to panic – what are we going to do with a little boy?  We’re more girl people!!!  However, as soon as that thought came into my head I remembered what I had been feeling since January …. That no matter what sex our child he/she had been given to us because they were meant for us.  I’m still a little nervous about raising a boy – but I’m really excited as well.  I can’t wait to see the world through his eyes and to grow with him.

 

We wanted a child to love and to share our lives with for so long.  Jonah has already brought us challenges and so many blessings.  I am head over in heels in love.

 

-Cat

 

Jonah!

Well, we finally found out. Whatsit is now officially Jonah Robert Hardenbergh. We had our 3rd ultrasound today and we got some footage of Jonah sucking his thumb! And obviously we found out he is a he!
(in case you can't make out the image: these videos are just of his head. He is facing right and putting his hand up to his mouth)





Hope you enjoyed the videos!

Easter Cometh

Well, the Great Easter Vigil is upon us.  Tonight marks the end of what we in the Hardenbergh home lovingly refer to as “Holy Hell Week”.  Holy Week, the week before Easter, is the busiest week of the year for those who work for and volunteer for the Catholic church.  Because there is so much to do and by the end we are exhausted, we call it Holy Hell Week.  Not that its bad, I love it.  But it really does drain you.  And it isn’t really just a week long.  It starts with the prep for Passion Sunday (the Sunday before Easter) and that can be as early as the Monday before that.  Then there’s the Penance service on Tuesday.  Tenebrae on Wednesday, Holy Thursday (running around before and during church to get things set up), Good Friday (more running) and then……Today, Holy Saturday.

It begins with morning prayer at 9am.  Then RCIA run through at 9:30.  Altar server run through at 10.  Help the decorators at 10:30.  And to top it off today, I painted the baby’s room (well, I primed it.  Good bye red wall)!  If I’m lucky I’ll get a little nap before heading to church for 7:30, but probably not.  The Vigil starts at 8:30, and Cat and I have a whole list of things we need to do before and during the 3 hour service.  Yes 3 hours!  Now, I would never sit in church for 3 hours, but tonight is different.  Tonight is amazing!  The parish’s best lectors, cantors and other ministers humbly perform their jobs (and hey, let’s throw humility out the window, I’m proclaiming the epistle and Cat’s singing the litany of saints!).  It is the best liturgy of the year and is well worth all the work that leads up to it!!!  If I’m really lucky, we’ll be home by 1am.

Easter is the most amazing time of year in the church.  But I can’t wait until Holy Hell Week is over!  God Bless and have a wonderful Easter.

Mango it is

Well, we were supposed to find out the sex of the baby today.  Supposed to.  We have patiently waited for our ultrasound appointment and it finally arrived today.  They got all the pictures the doctor needs; head size, femur size, heart and heartbeat, kidneys, spine.  But none of the fun ones we wanted!  They do a 4-D picture but it wouldn’t turn out because the baby wasn’t in the right position.  Then when they went looking for “parts” it was inconclusive.  The baby is just like its mother, shy.  It had one leg curled and wouldn’t move them.  To make matters more complicated the umbilical cord was right between the legs blocking what little view the baby was providing anyway.  (We think the tech was leaning towards a girl, but there was really no way that it was anything more than a hunch).  So instead of giving the baby a name, we’re still on fruits and vegetables.  But the tech said everything looked good.  One foot was about 3cm and the femur was 3.18cm and the heartbeat was 146.  We can go back at 30 weeks to try the 4-D again.  That’s 11 weeks from now!  It seems like a long time, but I bet it flies by.  In the meantime we got a fuzzy picture of a foot, the spine, and a halfway decent face profile (Cat thinks Mango has my nose).  I’ll post those pics later.