Not that I got asked all these questions in the past week. I don't think I've seen anyone I'm not actually related to since I left the hospital. But these are questions I'd want to ask, so I assume others are equally nosey. Curious. I meant curious.
How did you choose the name?
Well, primarily the way we chose all our kids' names: we like it. I had it on my mental list long before I got married. The fact that it is Darren's dad's name sealed the deal. Our runner-up name was Isaac, but when we met him after the birth, we knew that Phillip was the name that suited him.
Gabriel is the match to Stuart's angel middle name, Michael.
This was your third c-section. Any more to come?
Surprisingly, after going my whole pregnancy with hardly any questions about my family planning, I got asked this question four times in the hospital. As I lay recovering from major surgery, strapped to IVs and on morphine to kill the pain, people asked me if I planned to have any other children. My answer, "Not for the next nine months, anyway."
How did the birth go?
Someone asked this, and I thought, "It was a c-section. That's how it went." Then I realized that lots of women don't have sections, so have no idea how they "go." It's a little nerve-racking walking deliberately into surgery, knowing that the IV in my wrist is only a warm-up for the spinal block in my back. But my body responds very well to anesthesia, I don't have a particular fear of needles, and the entire surgical team was cheerful and sympathetic. There is very little actual pain. The surgery began at 7:30ish, Phillip was born at 7:55, and I was in recovery by 8:30.
How do Addie, Stuart, and Daphne like Phillip?
They think he's pretty cool. Addie gets sporadic bursts of maternal feelings, Stuart thinks it's hilarious when I make the baby dance and talk, and Daphne coos over him and wants to hold him.
How are you doing?
I'm sore. I have to learn, yet again, that recovery doesn't mean taking pain pills and then going about like normal. It means lying around and doing practically nothing at all. Mom and Darren are running the household, meaning that the kids aren't running wild, and they have to remind me every twenty minutes that it hasn't yet been a week so would I please sit down and put up my puffy feet.
What's it like having four children?
It's a jolly little crowd. We love it. Thanks for asking.
-- SJ
Showing posts with label Baby. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Baby. Show all posts
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Look! Pictures!
Many thanks to Nina, who let me borrow a "cup of computer" (as my mom put it) while ours is still sick.
First off, our pleasure to introduce Phillip Gabriel Jones:
His sisters and brother were pleased to meet him too:
When it came time to bring the baby home, Stuart and Addie dressed up for the occasion:
And now there are four:
First off, our pleasure to introduce Phillip Gabriel Jones:
His sisters and brother were pleased to meet him too:
When it came time to bring the baby home, Stuart and Addie dressed up for the occasion:
And now there are four:
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Mundania 21
* We were at a prayer meeting tonight with most of the rest of our church, which meant we like packed out that little living room! (We're not exactly a megachurch.) Everybody was opening Bibles to a particular psalm, when Doris -- who is in her seventies, I think -- got up and said to someone else about her own age, "Let me get you a King James Bible. It will make more sense that way." King James = make more sense? My mind blew a few fuses.
* One of my favorite rhymes of all time is in a Veggie Tales song. The Babylonian counselors (asparagus stalks) are plotting ways to get rid of Daniel, and they rhyme "Babylon" with "a table to play Scrabble on."
* Tomorrow, Addie and Stuart are each in a play at co-op. Addie plays the part of a possum and has one line. Stuart plays the part of a Cloud and has about four lines, plus the parts where he improvises. Darren will get to watch these off-Broadway performances. I hope to get pictures of their costumes.
* I don't usually take "baby tummy" pictures of myself because they make me feel self-conscious. But Lindsay wanted to see one, and it's hard to refuse her because she has such nice blue eyes, plus was guaranteed to like it. (Her response: "WICKED CUTE!!!!") Thus encouraged, I'll post it here. I'm in my eighth month. One to go. But who's counting?
* One of my favorite rhymes of all time is in a Veggie Tales song. The Babylonian counselors (asparagus stalks) are plotting ways to get rid of Daniel, and they rhyme "Babylon" with "a table to play Scrabble on."
* Tomorrow, Addie and Stuart are each in a play at co-op. Addie plays the part of a possum and has one line. Stuart plays the part of a Cloud and has about four lines, plus the parts where he improvises. Darren will get to watch these off-Broadway performances. I hope to get pictures of their costumes.
* I don't usually take "baby tummy" pictures of myself because they make me feel self-conscious. But Lindsay wanted to see one, and it's hard to refuse her because she has such nice blue eyes, plus was guaranteed to like it. (Her response: "WICKED CUTE!!!!") Thus encouraged, I'll post it here. I'm in my eighth month. One to go. But who's counting?
Friday, April 10, 2009
Proverbs 31 for Pregnant Women
wideyed suggested in a comment on the preveious post:
Somebody needs to rewrite the Proverbs 31 Woman....like the Prayer of Jabez except "The Proverbs 31 Woman: for Pregnant Mommies", or "The Proverbs 31 Woman: Students' Version". Then I could tailor the meaning of the Proverbs 31 woman's lifestyle to apply DIRECTLY to me!
I'm utterly dumbfounded that no one has marketed this idea yet. I immediately sat down to craft my own personally-applied version. Here's the original.
Who can find a virtuous pregnant woman? for her price is far above rubies.
The child of her husband doth safely rest in her, so that it shall have no distress.
She will eat only good and not evil all the days of her gestation.
She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh cunning baby clothes willingly with her hands.
She is like the merchants' ships; she is heavy-laden with treasure.
She riseth also while it is yet night, several times, to go to the bathroom; and giveth meat to her household while she just eateth saltines.
She considereth a crib, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she painteth a nursery.
She girdeth her loins with spandex panels, and strengtheneth her body for labor.
She perceiveth that her weight gain is good: she eateth not out at night.
She layeth her hands to the dishes, and her hands hold the spatula.
She stretcheth out her hand to the children; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy toddler.
She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for she is always hot.
She maketh herself coverings of generous proportions; her clothing is loose and non-binding.
Her husband is known in the gates, when others ask "knowest thou not what causeth that?"
She maketh chore lists, and posteth them; and bendeth not over if she can help it.
Strength and patience are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in the time between thirty-eight and forty-two weeks.
She openeth her mouth with wisdom for other women; and in her tongue are the stories of birth.
She looketh well to the ways of her household from the couch where she collapseth; and eateth not the bread after seven-thirty in the evening because of heartburn.
Her children arise up, and do not disturb her nap; her husband also, and he praiseth her:
"Many women have pregnant tummies, but thy cuteness excelleth them all."
Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that hath precious babies, she shall be praised.
Give her of the fruit of her womb; and let her own children praise her in the gates.
-- SJ
Somebody needs to rewrite the Proverbs 31 Woman....like the Prayer of Jabez except "The Proverbs 31 Woman: for Pregnant Mommies", or "The Proverbs 31 Woman: Students' Version". Then I could tailor the meaning of the Proverbs 31 woman's lifestyle to apply DIRECTLY to me!
I'm utterly dumbfounded that no one has marketed this idea yet. I immediately sat down to craft my own personally-applied version. Here's the original.
Who can find a virtuous pregnant woman? for her price is far above rubies.
The child of her husband doth safely rest in her, so that it shall have no distress.
She will eat only good and not evil all the days of her gestation.
She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh cunning baby clothes willingly with her hands.
She is like the merchants' ships; she is heavy-laden with treasure.
She riseth also while it is yet night, several times, to go to the bathroom; and giveth meat to her household while she just eateth saltines.
She considereth a crib, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she painteth a nursery.
She girdeth her loins with spandex panels, and strengtheneth her body for labor.
She perceiveth that her weight gain is good: she eateth not out at night.
She layeth her hands to the dishes, and her hands hold the spatula.
She stretcheth out her hand to the children; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy toddler.
She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for she is always hot.
She maketh herself coverings of generous proportions; her clothing is loose and non-binding.
Her husband is known in the gates, when others ask "knowest thou not what causeth that?"
She maketh chore lists, and posteth them; and bendeth not over if she can help it.
Strength and patience are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in the time between thirty-eight and forty-two weeks.
She openeth her mouth with wisdom for other women; and in her tongue are the stories of birth.
She looketh well to the ways of her household from the couch where she collapseth; and eateth not the bread after seven-thirty in the evening because of heartburn.
Her children arise up, and do not disturb her nap; her husband also, and he praiseth her:
"Many women have pregnant tummies, but thy cuteness excelleth them all."
Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that hath precious babies, she shall be praised.
Give her of the fruit of her womb; and let her own children praise her in the gates.
-- SJ
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Baby's Birthday,
via scheduled c-section, is officially June 8. Imagine that, knowing exactly how long the pregnancy should run. Why didn't God design it this way naturally?!
-- SJ
-- SJ
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Happy Birthday to You!
Today is Sara's birthday. She's back taking a nap (besides working on Jones Product #4, she was up with Jones Product #3 several times during the night). We get a special treat this birthday - we're going out for dinner tonight (Thanks, Deige!) and then again on Tuesday night (Yay, Erin!)
Sara gets more special to me every year we're together. The high point of every day for me is coming home to her, and I am so grateful to God that I work at a job where I can count on doing just that in a reasonable time each night (some of my friends aren't so lucky). I love her sense of humor, and I'm thrilled that she got published in Child Guide this year. I look forward to seeing her byline in more places!
So, in answer to King Lemuel's question, "I can. And you're right; she's way above rubies! I do have full confidence in her, and she's the most awesome wife in the world."
I love you, my wonderful Sara!
--DJ (obviously)
Sara gets more special to me every year we're together. The high point of every day for me is coming home to her, and I am so grateful to God that I work at a job where I can count on doing just that in a reasonable time each night (some of my friends aren't so lucky). I love her sense of humor, and I'm thrilled that she got published in Child Guide this year. I look forward to seeing her byline in more places!
So, in answer to King Lemuel's question, "I can. And you're right; she's way above rubies! I do have full confidence in her, and she's the most awesome wife in the world."
I love you, my wonderful Sara!
--DJ (obviously)
Friday, January 16, 2009
What's In a Name?
Darren's been home sick with a cold, and although it wasn't quite a mancold it did mean I didn't stick to my routine so we've all ended the day tired. So as a bit of a refreshment, I'm going to talk about names. Aah. I feel better already.
Some for the "It Sounds Nice... Whatever It Is" category:
* Taiden
* Timory
To add to the "Why Children Don't Name Their Siblings" category:
* My niece, Camie, said that while her sister might want to name their new baby Jonah, and her mama might want to use Joseph, Camie herself wants to name the baby "John the First Baptist." (Perhaps not coincidentally, the family has just joined the First Baptist Church.)
In our household, names no longer up for serious consideration, assuming that the little grey blob on the ultrasound really *is* what the technician said it is:
* Charity
* Phoebe
* Cordelia
An M-middle name that is half tribute to my heritage, half a joke. I'm glad I don't actually have to decide between the benefits and snickers:
* Eve Magnolia
-- SJ
Some for the "It Sounds Nice... Whatever It Is" category:
* Taiden
* Timory
To add to the "Why Children Don't Name Their Siblings" category:
* My niece, Camie, said that while her sister might want to name their new baby Jonah, and her mama might want to use Joseph, Camie herself wants to name the baby "John the First Baptist." (Perhaps not coincidentally, the family has just joined the First Baptist Church.)
In our household, names no longer up for serious consideration, assuming that the little grey blob on the ultrasound really *is* what the technician said it is:
* Charity
* Phoebe
* Cordelia
An M-middle name that is half tribute to my heritage, half a joke. I'm glad I don't actually have to decide between the benefits and snickers:
* Eve Magnolia
-- SJ
Friday, January 02, 2009
Maintaining the Balance
Darren and I went in for my ultrasound this morning. Although I still can't tell much about ultrasound pictures (despite their being much clearer than even seven years ago when we had Addie's), we did see Baby wiggling and kicking. Also, I am vindicated: I knew I wasn't as far along as the OB thought I was, and now my due date has been adjusted. It was the ultrasound, not me, who convinced them. But still.
Most importantly, the ultrasound revealed whether the baby is a he or a she. The answer is... A Boy.
We'll have the perfectly balanced family! Harmony will reign! Positive energy will flow through our lives! (Yes, Lindsay, I realize that in our zeal for personal balace, we are neglecting the bigger picture. Evan and Jill's family is boy, girl, boy, boy. We SHOULD be producing girl, boy, girl, girl. Sorry.)
Now to figure out how to answer intrusive questions about our family planning, since strangers will assume that we wouldn't want to disrupt our family's delicate balance, and then will want us to confirm their assumptions even though it's absolutely none of their blasted business, not that I feel strongly on the subject of intrusive questions about family planning.
The official due date is June 16. But since this will be a scheduled c-section, the baby will be born closer to June 8.
-- SJ
Most importantly, the ultrasound revealed whether the baby is a he or a she. The answer is... A Boy.
We'll have the perfectly balanced family! Harmony will reign! Positive energy will flow through our lives! (Yes, Lindsay, I realize that in our zeal for personal balace, we are neglecting the bigger picture. Evan and Jill's family is boy, girl, boy, boy. We SHOULD be producing girl, boy, girl, girl. Sorry.)
Now to figure out how to answer intrusive questions about our family planning, since strangers will assume that we wouldn't want to disrupt our family's delicate balance, and then will want us to confirm their assumptions even though it's absolutely none of their blasted business, not that I feel strongly on the subject of intrusive questions about family planning.
The official due date is June 16. But since this will be a scheduled c-section, the baby will be born closer to June 8.
-- SJ
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Don't Play It Again, Sam. It's Nauseous.
I'm not badly plagued by morning sickness. I spend a few weeks feeling carsicky -- all the time, all day and night -- but it's rarely worse than that. But it's enough for my body to form permanent aversions toward innocent offenders.
Food isn't much of a problem: I can eat everything I normally like, and lots of it, too. My aversions instead take the form of what I hear.
When I was newly pregnant with Addie, I watched "My Best Friend's Wedding." I hated it, of course, but that had more to do with Julia Roberts than morning sickness. I did like the opening song, "Wishin' and Hopin'." Liked it so much that Darren got me the soundtrack. I listened to it maybe four times. Ugh. Ugh. The thought of that song, and the pink background on the movie itself, still makes me ill. I lent the CD to Lindsay, who let someone else borrow it, and I hope whoever that was mailed it to Australia. I was glad to get the CD as far away from me as possible.
When I was pregnant with Stuart, Addie (barely a year old) watched a lot of Baby Einstein videos. Six years later I can hardly be in the same room with Baby Doolittle. The rest are okay, but the music for Doolittle nauseates me.
I seem to have passed through Daphne's pregnancy unscarred, but this one is making up for it. So far I'm unable to listen to the kids' CD "Songs of America," and the very sight of the BigFish.com game "Monster Mash" -- even without hearing the music -- makes me feel icky. Oh, and also I can't play the game "Pirate Poppers" (some $9.99 game we picked up at Target) because I played it in the early days of pregnancy so, well, you know how it goes.
Do you have any odd aversions thanks to sickness (pregnancy or otherwise related?)
-- SJ
P.S. Handy-dandy way to remember if you should use the word "nauseate" or "nauseous.":
1. Nauseated means you feel sick. It's something you ATE - nauseATE.
2. Nauseous means it makes you sick. It makes US sick - nauseoUS.
Try not to tell people that you're nauseous. They might agree with you.
Food isn't much of a problem: I can eat everything I normally like, and lots of it, too. My aversions instead take the form of what I hear.
When I was newly pregnant with Addie, I watched "My Best Friend's Wedding." I hated it, of course, but that had more to do with Julia Roberts than morning sickness. I did like the opening song, "Wishin' and Hopin'." Liked it so much that Darren got me the soundtrack. I listened to it maybe four times. Ugh. Ugh. The thought of that song, and the pink background on the movie itself, still makes me ill. I lent the CD to Lindsay, who let someone else borrow it, and I hope whoever that was mailed it to Australia. I was glad to get the CD as far away from me as possible.
When I was pregnant with Stuart, Addie (barely a year old) watched a lot of Baby Einstein videos. Six years later I can hardly be in the same room with Baby Doolittle. The rest are okay, but the music for Doolittle nauseates me.
I seem to have passed through Daphne's pregnancy unscarred, but this one is making up for it. So far I'm unable to listen to the kids' CD "Songs of America," and the very sight of the BigFish.com game "Monster Mash" -- even without hearing the music -- makes me feel icky. Oh, and also I can't play the game "Pirate Poppers" (some $9.99 game we picked up at Target) because I played it in the early days of pregnancy so, well, you know how it goes.
Do you have any odd aversions thanks to sickness (pregnancy or otherwise related?)
-- SJ
P.S. Handy-dandy way to remember if you should use the word "nauseate" or "nauseous.":
1. Nauseated means you feel sick. It's something you ATE - nauseATE.
2. Nauseous means it makes you sick. It makes US sick - nauseoUS.
Try not to tell people that you're nauseous. They might agree with you.
Thursday, December 04, 2008
More Information
(mostly because I can FINALLY talk about The Baby)
1. The OB and I disagree on how far along I am. This has happened before. This time she thinks I'm about 14 weeks, when I thought I was only about 10. I wouldn't mind being done with my first trimester already. But I'm stubborn when it comes to my gestational calculations. We'll say I'm 12 weeks.
2. Due in early June. (Or late June, depending one which of us is right.) This baby will be a scheduled c-section. As disappointing as it is to have no other option... well, there are perks. I'll know exactly when the baby will come, and the recovery should be easy.
3. Darren had to leave town the morning we went for my first OB visit (this week). I was frantic that we fit it in anyway, because we planned to tell the kids. We cut it close, but Darren brought the kids to my exam room and we were both there to watch the realization dawn in their faces when I said they were hearing "a little heartbeat inside me."
4. The fact that neither Addie nor Stuart picked up on this fact weeks earlier, by listening in to my conversations on the phone, is tribute to their utter obliviousness.
5. Stuart's initial name suggestions: Joseph, Israel, and Sunflower.
6. Names we've considered in the past, and still like, but aren't going to use for various reasons: Avery, Emeth, Meredith, Annaliese, Patience.
7. Ha, ha. Not Patience. I've lobbied for it for three children now, but it never breaches Darren's That Sounds Weird barrier.
8. Serves me right, though. I relegate all his favorite boy names to middle names.
9. This name will be a decider: will we find a middle name that starts with M, to go along with all three other (accidental) M's? Or will we break free of the shackles and choose a name because we like it?
10. Out of the above nine items, five deal with naming. Of course y'all all know that a major reason why I like having babies is because I get to name them.
-- SJ
1. The OB and I disagree on how far along I am. This has happened before. This time she thinks I'm about 14 weeks, when I thought I was only about 10. I wouldn't mind being done with my first trimester already. But I'm stubborn when it comes to my gestational calculations. We'll say I'm 12 weeks.
2. Due in early June. (Or late June, depending one which of us is right.) This baby will be a scheduled c-section. As disappointing as it is to have no other option... well, there are perks. I'll know exactly when the baby will come, and the recovery should be easy.
3. Darren had to leave town the morning we went for my first OB visit (this week). I was frantic that we fit it in anyway, because we planned to tell the kids. We cut it close, but Darren brought the kids to my exam room and we were both there to watch the realization dawn in their faces when I said they were hearing "a little heartbeat inside me."
4. The fact that neither Addie nor Stuart picked up on this fact weeks earlier, by listening in to my conversations on the phone, is tribute to their utter obliviousness.
5. Stuart's initial name suggestions: Joseph, Israel, and Sunflower.
6. Names we've considered in the past, and still like, but aren't going to use for various reasons: Avery, Emeth, Meredith, Annaliese, Patience.
7. Ha, ha. Not Patience. I've lobbied for it for three children now, but it never breaches Darren's That Sounds Weird barrier.
8. Serves me right, though. I relegate all his favorite boy names to middle names.
9. This name will be a decider: will we find a middle name that starts with M, to go along with all three other (accidental) M's? Or will we break free of the shackles and choose a name because we like it?
10. Out of the above nine items, five deal with naming. Of course y'all all know that a major reason why I like having babies is because I get to name them.
-- SJ
Tuesday, December 02, 2008
The Jones Saga
In the spirit of the fantasy and sci-fi genres, the Roberts & Jones Syndicate has announced its plans to expand its current popular trilogy into a saga. The fourth edition is due for release sometime in the summer of 2009.
Says a spokesperson for the Syndicate, "The exisiting trilogy -- Adelaide (2001), Stuart (2002), and Daphne (2006) -- has been received with such enormous welcome that we are confident that the new arrival will be a success."
More bulletins as events warrant.
-- SJ and DJ,
AMJ and SMJ (wildly thrilled),
DMJ (clueless)
Says a spokesperson for the Syndicate, "The exisiting trilogy -- Adelaide (2001), Stuart (2002), and Daphne (2006) -- has been received with such enormous welcome that we are confident that the new arrival will be a success."
More bulletins as events warrant.
-- SJ and DJ,
AMJ and SMJ (wildly thrilled),
DMJ (clueless)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
