WOW!!!! I am a grandmother.

I may not have all the facts, or have all the facts right but here's the story as I remember pieces, knowing there is MUCH more that occurred but my brain's to tired as is my body to remember....
It started Tuesday night at 5:30 pm. Joleesa came home from work and was laying on the couch and she said she was having contractions that were different than anything she had before. We began timing them and they were consistently about 8 minutes a part. Dallas arrived and he took over timing them and keeping her busy. She didn't want to have this be false labor so I, along with many at work had told her to walk. Our living room, kitchen and dining room are all open she started walking around it circles with Dallas behind saying right, left, right, left and cracking jokes. A contraction would hit and she would be bend over the couch breathing and crying. This continued until at 2 am when the attractions were 4-5 minutes a part and I called the maternity ward and they told me to get in NOW because if they got any closer together we'd have her be taken in ambulance. We moved quickly and got her in. She was dilated to two and 90% effaced. The nurse wanted her to walk for an hour. So Dallas and I joined her and she would walk but the contractions were 3-4minutes a part and so intense. After 45 minutes her hip and lower back were hurting so bad we went back to the room. She now was dilated to 4 and 100% effaced. They began to admit her. It was when we got to the birthing room the big teddy bear anesthesiologist came and gave her the epidural. That's when it hit me. This was MY BABY. As I watched him, towards the end I started getting light headed and started feeling overwhelmed so I walked out. I needed a hug from my husband. I went out to the waiting area where Jody, Jenna, Jessa and Levi were waiting. I didn't think about what they would think when I came out crying...so as I saw the fear in their faces I quickly told them everything was ok. I just was feeling a moment of overwhelm ... I'm not sure what. Soon afterward Dallas was coming out to check on me. Some where in the time line Joleesa said she was feeling sick to stomach. I didn't think much of it as she had said she was nauseated several times and nothing happened. I was heading out the door to give the family the up date and Dallas was saying she's about to throw up what do I do. I quickly yelled for a nurse and came back in trying to find a basin but couldn't so I grabbed a bunch of paper towels but I was too late, Dallas (who has a weak stomach for vomit and other similar things) was holding his hand out and she was throwing up in it. I gave him the paper towels as the nurse hands me a basin. From then on Dallas began struggling. As she began to progress Dallas made a mad dash for the bathroom and he was throwing up (not just a little either). This had a couple more times. Joleesa told him not to worry about trying to be up there with her that she understood and if he needed to leave she was ok...he stayed on the couch by her bed. After about 18 hours of labor the pushing began. Dallas was either laying on the couch or had his hand stretched out to her holding her hand. By this time tears are flowing steadily down my cheeks as I kept saying this is my baby having a baby. The adrenaline kicked in for Dallas and he was there at the very end encouraging her. After 50 minutes of pushing out comes our little grand-daughter. I dial Jenna's phone and put it on speaker so the family, who are in the waiting room can hear her first cries. Different ones ask her name and they don't answer. A few minutes pass and I ask them and Joleesa tells Dallas to say it, he says ... Savannah Lynn. No matter what girls name they chose they were going to have Lynn (which is my middle name) but Jody and I really wanted Savannah so I called the family and told the family and I guess he was ecstatic. When they put that little girl into my little girls arms the tears were coming hard and fast. I was and am so PROUD of Joleesa. She's had a tough 9 months. But she walked them in the Lord's forgiveness. Some times feeling a lone, and constantly making her thanks to God be known. I am sooooo thrilled to be a grandmother (although it still sounds strange) but whether anybody understands it or not, I so want to be there for my daughter(s) however they need me. I sent Dallas home and I spent the night with Joleesa and Savannah. I got home about an hour ago. It has been a long, exciting, stressful, amazing couple of days. Tomorrow Joleesa and Savannah come home. For those of you who are not on facebook here's a look at my new grand-daughter:

Savannah Lynn
Born: Wednesday, 2/24/10 (on my dad's 86th birthday)
1:25 pm
7 lbs 3.5 oz
20" long
Just minutes old


My precious lamb


I tried to post more pictures but blogger started be sluggish and I'm exhausted; so more will come later.

PTL for LIFE!!!

emotions

You know over the years a person experiences so many hurdles/changes/mile stones, whatever you want to call them. It never ends and I guess that's what keeps life exciting. I don't know which mile stone is the toughest. All of them hold elements of excitement. I experienced another major one as Jessa fulfilled her dreams of finding a Godly, loving man to marry. Rejoicing with her at her wedding which was simply elegant and filled with the love of God and each other.

Then having my youngest, Joleesa facing motherhood has drawn us very close (which I treasure). As I anticipate the debut of my granddaughter, I hurt for my little girl as she experiences the discomforts and pains of carrying her little girl, while at the same time seeing the love and care on her face and within her actions for this little one that she will be bringing in to the world. Watching her abound in strength within her situation. Giving God glory along the way. Knowing she has so many uncertainties ahead of her. Praying that she holds tight to her Master's hand all along the way. Leading her precious little girl to Him from day one.

Add to that, seeing another dream of Jessa's coming true as God has blessed her and Levi with a life inside in her. Listening to her awes of it (and apprehensions) this my first born, approaching motherhood. As I watch Levi take care of her, I thank God all over again. Knowing this grand child is going to be raised in a Christian home as we brought up our girls.

Then as I watch Jenna at her excitement for becoming an aunt. As she also tries to figure out what God has for her amongst this church family full of couples and new little ones. A Godly pride wells up within me as she is ever seeking Him.

A mother is always mother. The transition from motherhood to grand-motherhood is overwhelming. As you are still a mother but now a grandmother.

I need to add too, watching Jody in his excitement to be a grandpa.... For years he's looked at babies and little ones oohing and awing over them looking forward to the day that he's a grandpa, with me saying not yet, I'm not old enough :o). He has been cherishing Lillian for months. He thrives on her running to him, and holding her. It's so cute to watch. He is going to make an awesome grandpa. I hope I'll be an awesome grandmother too, but I can't help but want to be sure I'm there for my daughters however they want me to be.

Once again my prayer, is give me wisdom in this another milestone in my life. And Lord I pray for deliverance for Joleesa. She so wants to hold her baby girl, and so do I.

The Waiting Begins

Tonight we spent several hours as Joleesa began having contractions at 4 pm. Unlike the braxton hix contractions that she has come to know very well, she knew this was different. Several other signs said so too the number one being the intensity and the severe lower back pain. Her contractions were anywhere from 10 minutes to 20 minutes a part. So I called the triage nurse and she told us to bring her in. She had such a RUDE nurse... It's so hard and yet exciting watching your baby going through this. Not knowing how long and how hard her labor will be makes all of us anxious. Jessa and Levi landed in Hawaii just as we were headed to the hospital. I know they so want to be here but I hope they'll have a great time and not fret or kick themselves over not being here. Who knows, baby girl could wait until they get home and then some. We just want them to relax and enjoy the sun and sand.

She is currently sleeping. I'm going to wait until her dad gets home to go to work. Dad will have his cell phone at his bedside, I'm only 1 mile away at work, Dallas is only about 5 minutes a way so we'll wait for God to deliver our precious bundle in His time.

By the way, grandpa was almost as bad as when he became a daddy. He was so cute when we were signing in telling the ladies "I'm going to be a grandpa". But I think the next hospital run (which should be for real) it'll be just mom and Dallas in the room. Cute and excitement from grandpa or aunt doesn't cut it when a woman is in labor.

Well I'm headed to bed. There may be some long nights ahead.

Exhausted but Refreshed

This past weekend marked men's retreat 2010. Since Brother Sutton was coming in for men's retreat, Sister Annette came in and stayed with us. It was so good having her around. Friday night, before Brother Nowling and Brother Sutton left for men's retreat we went to Red Robin for dinner. Then Sister Net, Jenna, and my boy Braden headed over for a pedicure and a mini-manicure. Ohhhh I loved the pedicure. I had a rough week at work, playing catch up from my vacation, covering my co-workers desk while he was on vacation, ending one month and beginning another month. On the way to the restaurant I even got called back to work. So I was desperately needing to relax. Oh the spa for my feet, the massage of the feet and the legs, the great company and even the staff as they had us cracking up as the owner and his wife worked on me. I didn't realize they were husband and wife until they were almost done. She was doing my pedicure and had a mask on, he was doing my hands. He was telling so many stories about his age, how long he'd been married,etc. You could tell from her eyes that she was grinning but she didn't say a word. I mentioned that and he said her words were too expensive they usually cost him diamonds, or gold. I should caught it from that but remember I had been stressed and was trying to relax (that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it). Then when he walked away I asked her if any of the staff was related (they'll all Vietnamese). She said just him and her and slow as I was, I said brother and sister and she said slowly husband and wife. We laughed so hard. It was so fun.

We then headed to the house and Net got Braden ready for bed and Jenna watched him while we went and busted in on men's retreat. Not really, we went to the hotel after their service for Net to get some cash from her husband. He tried to follow them to Village Inn but my husband's eyes told me I better not.

Saturday was a day of shopping for Net to get supplies. I enjoyed just walking around in her and Braden's company. My little boy is such a good baby. After shopping we came back to the house to rest on weary bodies. Then we left Braden with Joleesa while we went to Costco. When we came we began our ladies night. Megan out did herself with lasagna, biscotti, pasta salad, homemade mozzarella sticks, chocolate cookies and Net used her skills to buy wonderful cheesecake. We then watched 7 Brides for 7 Brothers and August Rush. It was great to spend time with another cutie Lillian, and then of course Heather, Megan, Jenna, Joleesa, and Jessa even made it. It was fun. Oh and God wonderfully touched Net's migraine. When we came back from Costco she had a migraine that was causing her to vomit. I texted Brother Nowling and he had the men pray. Within the hour God had touched her and she came up to eat with us and enjoy the time together.

As I sat there Saturday night I had moments of feeling overwhelmed at my responsibility as mother, pastor's wife and older woman to be an example to these young mothers. I continue to pray for wisdom and along with that wisdom strength as I want to help anywhere I can.

Sunday it was just ladies for church. God put a message on me about the process of being a Godly woman (if a man was to have come, God would've had to help me tweak it because I felt like it was ladies retreat). Heather, Lillian, Jenna, Joleesa, Megan, Net and Braden were there. There were several times that our two little ones were crying and I couldn't help but think what it was going to be like with 3 crying babies and a toddler. It could get mighty loud in there as the acoustics are strong in our building.

Sunday night the men were back. Some had headed out but we had Johnny Furlong and Isaiah Peter there. We had a good turn out Sunday night but more importantly the presence of the Lord was very present. From worship, to the altar, to the message to the close. Exhausted from the weekend but truly refreshed.