1 Week Old

4/29/09-1 Week Old

It is hard to believe that today Grace is 1 week old. The last week has gone so quickly but a week ago seems like a very long time ago. It has been fun having Grace at home and learning how to take care of a tiny baby 24-7. Who knew I could adjust to sleeping for only 1 or 2 hours at a time, but I am adjusting. Matt is hilarious when he gets woken up after and hour or two. He cannot quite put 2 and 2 together and usually says and does silly things. Grace is doing normal newborn things like eating, sleeping, and pooping. We think we'll keep her!

I know several of our readers are curious about the labor and delivery. Last Tuesday the 21st I thought that I was having contractions starting at 5:30 in the evening. They just started suddenly and were about 5 minutes apart. Being a first time mom I really wasn't sure I was in labor although looking back I clearly was. So I called the hospital a couple of times and we decided to go in when my contractions were 3 or 4 minutes apart at about 9 pm. At 10:15 I was checked and officially told I was in labor and could stay (I still had this fear they would send me home even though I was in a lot of pain). We started talking epidural right away and by 12:30 I had my epidural. In that 2 hour time frame I had dialated from 2 to 8 cm so it wasn't entirely pleasant but I knew the epidural was coming so I could handle it. Then everything was wonderful! I just let my body do some work so I wouldn't have to push as long since I couldn't feel the contractions. Then at 4:20 I started pushing. I could feel enough so I knew when to push and could actually feel Grace being delivered but it was a very endurable pain. I only pushed for an hour and she just slid right out at 5:21 am. And now she's been here for a week.

Hello From Grace

This video was made by Anne's dad.  Enjoy!!!

The Future Of America...

...appears to be bright.  Dancing-wise, anyway.

39 Weeks

Matt was taking forever to take the picture so I lost my smile:)

Not much longer now. I can't believe that I am 39 weeks pregnant today. Wow. Now that I've made it through most of pregnancy I'm just ready to have Grace. I really don't have very much to report but I wanted to get a belly picture up this week. My doctors appointment yesterday was the shortest one ever because I have run out of questions to ask. I'm still gaining weight, my belly measured 39 cm, and blood pressure and urine were good so it was an in and out appointment. Several people have asked me if I am dilated or effaced but I have decided not to get checked on those things until they make me when I am in labor or overdue (of course I'm hoping labor comes before overdue). They really don't indicate anything as far as when labor will start and only have the potential to disappoint me or get my hopes up. The midwife said that Grace will come sometime and that's what I need to think about and not worry when. I just keep telling myself I won't be pregnant forever!

Happy Easter!

Have a great day today and remember how much Christ has done so that we can live eternally with him. I'll leave you with a hymn that I love.

"In Christ Alone"
Words and Music by Keith Getty & Stuart Townend
Copyright © 2001 Kingsway Thankyou Music

In Christ alone my hope is found;
He is my light, my strength, my song;
This cornerstone, this solid ground,
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace,
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease!
My comforter, my all in all—
Here in the love of Christ I stand.

In Christ alone, Who took on flesh,
Fullness of God in helpless babe!
This gift of love and righteousness,
Scorned by the ones He came to save.
Till on that cross as Jesus died,
The wrath of God was satisfied;
For ev'ry sin on Him was laid—
Here in the death of Christ I live.

There in the ground His body lay,
Light of the world by darkness slain;
Then bursting forth in glorious day,
Up from the grave He rose again!
And as He stands in victory,
Sin's curse has lost its grip on me;
For I am His and He is mine—
Bought with the precious blood of Christ.

No guilt in life, no fear in death—
This is the pow'r of Christ in me;
From life's first cry to final breath,
Jesus commands my destiny.
No pow'r of hell, no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from His hand;
Till He returns or calls me home—
Here in the pow'r of Christ I'll stand.

Jano (& Eric's) Wedding

Yay, they are married!

We had a great time at our friend Jane's wedding this weekend and since Jane is such a great blogger I figured I'd give her some blog time on Pennyrile. I've known Jane for almost 5 years since getting invovled at Quest and moving to Champaign. Jane was in my small group for 3 years until Matt and I left to start a new small group (and Jane did a fabulous job stepping into the role as a co-leader with another friend from church). Around this time I think Jane met Eric and things went uphill from there. Unfortunately for us in Champaign they went so uphill for Jane and Eric that Jane moved 3 hours away a couple months ago so that she and Eric could live in the same town. I guess that makes sense since they did get married this weekend:) We miss Jane but are so happy for her. She is such a warm hospitable person and she will be a huge blessing to Eric and her new curch family and friends. We hope Jane is having a wonderful time on her cruise while we all sit in IL looking at the snow on April 6th!

All dressed up and ready to go. Unless someone decides to invite us to a wedding in the next week or two this is our last night out to a formal affair as a family of 2 with no babysitter to pay.

Baseball Is Back

After a 5-month break, baseball returns to action with an opening game tonight and Opening Day tomorrow.  I pride myself in making bad predictions, so here is my attempt at breaking down the NL Central this year:

Cubs.  I see the Cubbies staying on top of the division, even after their postseason failures.  They've got too much offense, too much good pitching, and enough veterans to be able to handle the ups and downs of the season.  They do have the potential to collapse if their pitchers (read: Zambrano, Harden) get injured or their new OF Milton Bradley becomes the clubhouse cancer in Chicago he has been elsewhere.  But I don't see it and I have the Cubs down for 95 wins this year.

Cardinals.  Last year, the Cardinals surprised a lot of people by being over .500 and competing for the wild-card.  I think they're going to surprise people this year, with having Chris Carpenter back and having a closer who can get the done (I believe Jason Motte will do well).  They still have some holes in their lineup, but Mr. Pujols is good enough to carry their offense.  Expect the Cards to be in the wild-card hunt the whole year.  If they stay healthy and the Cubs don't, I could see the Cards winning the division.

Brewers.  Oh, my dear Brewers.  Last year was so amazing.  I'd love to believe they will follow up their postseason appearance with a repeat performance, but I don't see it.  Yvonni Gallardo should have a breakout season if he stays healthy and Ryan Braun should be able to compete for the MVP.  But they've got too many holes in the pitching staff, especially the bullpen.  They've got a great offense, and that will help them win a lot of games, but not enough to get in the postseason.  My forecast has them finishing a few games over .500.

Reds.  Everybody loves the Reds this year and lots of people are picking them as a sleeper team in the NL.  I don't see it.  Their manager (Dusty Baker) has only had success with veteran teams and they have the same nucleus as last year and they were way below .500.  I'd be surprised if the Reds win 80 games.

Astros.  The Astros are getting old, they have one great pitcher (Roy Oswalt), two great bats (Carlos Lee, Lance Berkman), and that's about it.  Pencil the Astros down for 70 wins and thank me later.

Pirates.  They haven't been good for a long time.  I don't think they'll start being good this year.  Be happy with 70 wins, Pittsburgh fans.

=================

And here are my overall predictions for who will make the playoffs and win it all:

American League

Division Winners: Rays, Athletics, Indians

Wild-card Winner: Yankees

Championship Series: Yankees over the Rays

National League

Division Winners: Cubs, Dodgers, Mets

Wild-card Winner: Cardinals

Championship Series: Mets over the Dodgers

World Series

I've got the Mets over the Yankees in a 7-game classic.

Pennyrile Approved: Cottage Cheese

With so much uncertainty going on these days with how food is prepared, along with a lack of trust for food distributors, combined with so much advice on what to eat or not to eat, society is longing for a voice of truth to rally above the noise.  We here at Pennyrile like to eat and we like to give advice.  So we'll start a new food series with a tribute to one of the must underrated delicacies known to humanity.  

Cottage cheese is a cheese curd product that is not aged or colored.  It can be eaten by itself or with fruit, on toast, in salads, or part of other recipes as lasagna or desserts.  My preference for cottage cheese is by itself in the small curd variety, but I have nothing against the large curd style.  According to Wikipedia, cottage cheese "is a favorite food among bodybuilders for its high content of casein protein while being relatively low in fat."  So delicious and healthy.

For those of you who enjoy milk and cheese, you will find cottage cheese to be the perfect mix of the two in terms of taste and texture.  Some mornings, I enjoy cottage cheese with a glass of orange juice for my breakfast.  On occasion, I'll sneak in a snack of cottage cheese about an hour before dinner.  I've even been known to wake up in the middle of the night and slurp some cottage cheese!  (OK, that last sentence isn't true).

If you haven't had cottage cheese recently, give it another chance.  Let the curds and whey soothe your appetite.  Throw in some fruit to spice it up.  Share it with a friend.  Tell your neighbors about it.  Cottage cheese is officially.....Pennyrile Approved.