nights to remember

If there is anything I will not forget about the births of my babies, it is my time in the hospital. After an uncomplicated birth the postpartum time spent in the hospital is very precious. Call me crazy, but I love hospital food, hospital showers, and hospital beds. I understand that I probably enjoy these things due to the extremely short term basis that I have to experience them. At about the mid-point of my pregnancy I began to get really excited for my hospital admission.

Nurses took care of me and the baby, food that I choose from a menu--delivered to my bedside. Visitors come to welcome our little one. Cable television and internet access. Solace from whining, cleaning, and meal prep, if only for two days.

Call me crazy, but the best part of all , for me, about staying in the hospital is the middle of the night. Completely exhausted, the pain of labor and delivery still fresh, I lay there wide awake at 3am just recalling the days events. Thanking and praising God for this new life and at the same time feeling so undeserving of such a gift.

I tell myself to "goto sleep, the baby is in the nursery, you need to rest."

I watch the clock tick away and dream about what life will be like with the newborn at home. Again, I praise and pray to God as if my heart just might burst with gratitude for this little life. The hospital room is so dark and quiet, and I am feeling so comfortable sleeping without a giant belly.

"Hurry up and goto sleep" I tell myself again.

Just as I drift off to sleep I hear the sound of my baby crying. I find it amazing that after only knowing my newborn for not even a full day I recognize that cry as my child's. The cry gets louder and closer and soon the nurse wheels in that plastic cart containing my precious one and I can't get a hold on him/her fast enough. It almost felt like time stood still, and I never want to forget those precious moments. Life certainly does not stop and once you leave the hospital walls, it hauls along quicker than most would like.

just a few thoughts to share before too much time passes.

check out this food, Dan took this photo:

first visit from the big kids

Daddy and his little girl enjoying the last few minutes before leaving for home.

News Flash: Hot Moms Leave the House!

A couple weeks backs I had a great night of fun with some wonderful Moms who are great friends as well. It is not an easy task getting all of us out of the house on a Friday night. We have 20 kids altogether!

Thank you to our husbands, moms, sitters, who took care of those 20 kiddos so we could enjoy a night out!

Some memorable moments:

"It don't matta!"

Jamie's Umbrella

Hot Dog Cart

Stacey writing my phone number on the table cloth at SanChez!

Where we almost went that night...where the waitress told us to go.

Cara's cash!
add to the list girls...

and Baby makes 6!

In an effort to document my thoughts and feelings for future reading, I am going back in time a few months to recall some major family happenings. Read on if you'd like, OR get back to whatever you should be doing. :)

Juliet was born on a Tuesday morning in April. Tax day and Drew's 6th birthday to be exact.
After a full 40 week pregnancy I was ready to birth this little girl. When I went to bed the evening before and I had no idea I would arise at 2:30am to the familiar yet deniable pain that labor was beginning.

With that first contraction I got out of bed, popped open my trusty MacBook and began keeping track of the minutes between labor pains. 10 minutes approximately was the distance. At around 3:30am I woke Dan and told him I thought labor may be starting.

His response as he shot up in bed, "Should I go get the doughnuts right now?"
No, I didn't require Krispy Kremes as part of my birth plan, today was Drew's 6th birthday and we had planned to bring in doughnuts (his favorite) for his treat to share.
After I calmed Dan down and assured him that the Krispys could wait, we called my mom.

Now if you know my mother, she had very likely been laying with her head next to the phone and sleeping with one eye open for the last few weeks of my pregnancy just in case she was needed in a middle of the night rush to the hospital. Rushing wasn't needed as my contractions were not coming closer together and seemed tolerable. We decided to mozy on to the hospital, arriving at 7am. Shift change. I remember praying on the way to the hospital that I would just have one contraction, so I would feel justified in going there. Can you imagine my embarrassment this being my 4th pregnancy and being turned away if I was in false labor?

Will I stay or will I go? Sitting in triage is always a nerve wrenching experience. You are waiting for someone to tell you to pass go, collect $200 (or in this case pay $3000) and have that baby! I felt like I needed permission. Permission I was given. After being examined, I was dilated to 8cm! "When did this happen?" I thought. For some unknown reason when my body goes into labor, my mind goes into denial. Suddenly the room was a flurry of nurses, tubes, fluids, and most importantly--a wheelchair! Yes! I had gained access to the delivery room at last!

By some work of God ( and I mean that) I was able to receive an epidural block. I was hoping for this pain relief this time around after experiencing births the old fashioned and extremely excruciating way. So there we sat. Waiting on those last 2cm.
At one point Dan, looking bored, said to the Dr. "what exactly are we waiting for?"
The Dr. replied, " I am just waiting for Michelle to indicate that she is ready."
"Oh, I thought. I was just waiting for you to tell me when to push."
We were just a bunch of idiots sitting there staring at each other for 45 minutes.

I was ready. After pushing through 2 contractions at 9:13am our Baby Girl was delivered into our arms.

I don't know for certain, but Dan may have still been worried about those Krispy Kremes.

Next Post: Bringing home baby and the first 6 weeks.

First hospital photo:

"you better write that down..."

My Mother always tells me to write down things that my kids say or do, so I'll remember. Her mother told her the same.

I guess one of the biggest reasons that I blog is to have a record of our day to day lives. To someday look back on this chapter of our family life and see photos, read my thoughts, or maybe laugh about something I may have forgotten.

I am annoyed with myself for letting the past 3 months get away from me with not a lot of blogging. There have been so many things to note following Juliet's birth. I want to do a little bit of back tracking with my next few blog posts, looking back and sharing some thoughts. It may be boring for most of you, but it will help me do what my mom so lovingly suggests:

"You better write that down."

After all, mother knows best.

Next post: Juliet Joins the Family.

redneck ice cream truck

We live in a rather rural area, one that does not see the likes of a musical ice cream truck on a hot summer's day.

this is what we have:





Thanks Grandpa & Grandma for a special treat!

virtually me.

I found this radical website that gives you a virtual hair makeover.
Try not to be afraid of these floating heads.
Any favorites?

Father's Day (observed)

Today I decided to observe Father's Day on my blog.
I was inspired by the action of my husband on Sunday evening, the actual Father's Day.

After a long day and night of celebration our boys were rather strung out.
Our goal upon arriving home was to get them in bed ASAP. Their goal was to read books and stay up. An honorable goal really, reading books as a stalling technique. Dan would have nothing to do with it. He told them in a not so nice way that it was TIME TO GOTO BED!!!

Crying, sobbing, and thrashing ensued.

The next thing I saw was my tired, annoyed, and frustrated husband laboring up the steps.
"Happy Father's Day", I thought.

A few moments passed and with his head resting on his hand, Dan realized he was too harsh (unkind) toward the boys and he didn't want them to go to sleep with all this anger on both sides.

He went back down to their room to talk with them calmly and settle things down.
"That is what makes him a good dad." I thought
"That is what make make you a good dad." I told him.

Both Dan & I had fathers that were not dictators. They were the head of the home and to be obeyed, but they also knew they were not perfect and at times needed to offer an apology or mend a broken fence. I am so thankful for the example of strength and humility that my children see in their father. It is the same example I saw in my Dad growing up.

What is it they say about girls marrying someone just like their Daddy? May that be true.

My Dad & I in 1977

My hard working and very tired husband with his little girl last week.
(i hope I don't get in trouble for posting this one) :)

summer vacation week one.

we may have run out of things to do already.

today we have resorted to taking photos of ourselves with the self timer.

we also returned pop cans to Meijer so we could buy lunch. I was thinking Steak-n-shake, the kids preferred Lunchables---ewwww!

Please, shout out some ideas to keep us occupied on week two. What do your summer activities look like?

the iGeneration.

"We can go to Pizza.com." says my 4 year old daughter while riding along in the minivan and perusing a mailed advertisement for some pizza chain.

"What will you do at Pizza.com?" I asked her.

"We can play like games." she replied.

Oh my.

What a difference just one generation makes. I am not really that old, not even middle aged, but I did not grow up with the internet and home computers. According to some information I have read, the Internet Generation started with those born around 1993. So really, Joy is at the tail end of this generation.

Not only does my 4 year old know what a dotcom is, she can click her way around a WebKinz World like nobody's business. I'm not even sure that her daddy could do as well as she.
Sorry, Danno.
I am amazed how the internet has changed the way I do day to day things. I don't posess a phone book, I just search online for a particular phone number. Don't know where my destination is when I hop in the minivan? Just print out Mapquest driving directions.
Banking and Bills? Online. News and weather? Online, no time to sit and watch the news on TV. Shopping? Once again, the ol' internet comes through for me with free shipping offers. How can I not mention blogging and Facebook? This can be a lifeline for friends and family that live far away.

I used to think I was born in the wrong generation. I foolishly thought that life was easier and simpler for those who were born a generation or two before me. I may have been wrong. I don't think that the Baby Boomers could order Pizza, pay for it, and have it delivered with only a few clicks of a mouse. No phone, cash, or car required. How ever did they survive??

painful.

My father-in-law found this unfortunate 10 spot last Saturday while doing the weekly yardwork. He found only this portion. Dan brought it home to show me and of course I said, it was probably mine or his. Both of us have a strong tendency to misplace items, forget things wherever we go, and if something is lost we have to tear the house apart to find it. It may be our only similarity. I just can't throw it away. I know it is useless now, but imagine what we could have done with it. If it was only a dollar I could deal with it, but 10 dollars?!

What can you buy for 10 dollars today?

176 days down, 4 to go.

Last August, I posted this

I was not loving the fact that my kids were in school, (meaning I had to stop watching TV late into the night and had to get up at 6:30am) I was newly pregnant and sick. Basically, I was counting down to the end of a school year that was only 4 days in.

So you can imagine how excited I must be that we made it through the year. Soon we will enjoy carefree, schedule free days. Doesn't it just sound ripe with bliss and possibility?

NOT! (so sorry I had to use that hideous 1990s catch phrase)

I have this sinking feeling I will wake up next Monday morning earlier than usual. Little Juliet like to arise at 5am-ish. What will follow will be my kids waking at school time because their little bodies are not yet used to sleeping in. From 7am on I will hear one bickering session after the other on who plays with what, what to watch on TV, and who is in charge---oh, is that me?

Here's the thing. I don't care about any of that. I am such a summer lover that they could fight their heads off and I will still have a silly grin on my face for the beautiful weather and the chance to spend real time with my kids during the stressless times of the day. (don't even ask me how much I loathe the hours between 4-7pm during the school year)

Completing the school year feels like a huge accomplishment for a mini-van mom like me. I hope you all find a moment or two this summer to enjoy your kids being home for in no time you will see that first Back to School sale at Target.

here are a few photos of our latest activities:

what is the shelf life on this thing?

Last week Dan and I observed 11 years of marriage. I say observed, because we are yet to really celebrate the event. Maybe this is what happens when you have a newborn in the house not to mention sharing a room with you. Last year was the big one, this year is markedly different, but in a wonderfully, precious way.
As I was putting laundry away I noticed a few things. Many of the items we received as wedding gifts may be nearing the end of their life expectancy. Towels are tattered, thin and stained. Our mattress has a dip in the middle that I find myself rolling into.
Best of all, I still have some of the same socks and underwear!!!!

I remember hearing at many of my Bridal showers that women should be given a shower every 10 years or so to update all the things that need to be replaced. I continued to think about the cost involved in replacing what needs to be fresh and new again. How long do you hold on to towels, pillows, dish rags, vacuums, sheets, etc.? I hate to be wasteful, I really hate throwing away things like clothes, toys, random socks, broken kitchenware. Right now I have a pile 8 tall of jeans/pants that my kids have burned knee holes in. They just sit there because I can't just toss 'em.

Where is this post going anyway?
I am trying to draw a parallel between the shelf life of our wedding gifts and the shelf life of our marriage. I just can't seem to pull it together though. It seems like a great idea for a blog post, but I lack the creative energy to type anything but the obvious.

We outlasted our wedding loot. We beat the statistical odds. We have 4 kids and (so far) are living to tell about it. I don't say these things to boast. It is all about God and His goodness. He has blessed in ways we certainly don't deserve. I need to acknowledge this.
Let there be no expiration date on this union, even when it looks a little moldy. ;)

Happy Anniversary Dan! and also to the many of you celebrating the same this time of year.

get your 80s music fix.

click here for the best 80s mix

you won't be disappointed.

Thanks be to Carl.

days of old

Last week some girlfriends of mine gathered for a little coffee time.

We welcomed more new babies into the group and as the night went on we began to reminisce as we often do, about high school. One of the ladies there is a counselor at a local high school and told us stories about the Prom 2008 that she recently attended as a staff member. Whoa, how things have changed. Since this is a family blog, I won't get into details of what she saw at her prom, but I will post some photos of our "prom" back in 1990s. Our school called it the Junior/Senior Banquet. A title like that lends itself to a much more refined and sophisticated event...or not.

Enjoy the photos dedicated to "the girls"
Notice the bad 90s fashion as well.

In 1992 it was all about bright satin and curls.While in 1993, you had to wear Umbro shorts.
Not a single one of us ever played a lick of soccer.
Also, T-shirt must be tucked in the front, and hanging out in the back.
On to 1994.
Notice the giant Doilys on Dana's gown.
Notice too, my severely unnatural tan.Michelles. At the Mall, sporting oversized Men's shirts.
Now that is a trend I can get on board with again.

Loved (almost) every minute of it.

listen to the music.

if you are hearing music, scroll down this blog to the end of this blog to see phase 1 of My Playlist. Click on a song if you would like to hear it,  or
you can create your own for free at:

PLAYLIST.com

Four Weeks Old!

Is that a Hopkins nose I see?



Pretty in Pink

thank you Geo. Dubya!

Say what you will about him ( and that would be quite a lot I'm sure),
but the much anticipated economic stimulus check has hit our bank account, and I am grateful.

Does paying hospital bills count as economic stimulus?

What I wish I could do with the $$$?
Buy this

What will you do with your $$$ ???

Now go and stimulate!

I made my bed today,

and other major accomplishments from the last two weeks are as follows:
----unpacked the hospital suitcase, finally.
----found an old pair of real, not maternity! jeans to wear
----said good riddance to smelly, holey boots, snowpants, and gloves--either packed or thrown away!
----emptied the dishwasher (instead of my mother having to do it)
----went to Starbucks!

next up--going to church and going to a soccer game. baby steps people, baby steps ;)


We have two weeks under our belts now. It seems like the days and nights are no longer separate but the one endless cycle of infant care. Oh how I forgot that a newborn slows your pace a bit. Juliet has been a content baby thus far, and I am so thankful. The kids have grown more in love with her and slightly less with each other each day. Fighting over who will hold her, smell her, and bring to me my nursing pads! We are adjusting pretty well. The sleep deprivation is starting to become a way of life. It's good to get to that point where my body is used to the middle of the night feedings. I am still working on not secretly growling at Dan as he saws logs right there next to the baby and I at 2:36am. Really, how dare he just sleep like that?

So blogging might be fewer and farther between, but I thought I'd offer a little update on how we are getting along as a family of 6. A few photos as well. Until next time...

Chase and Grandpa H. Turkey Hunting

Soccer season is in full swing

Joy assisting "sissy" with her first bath

what a week it was.

We Welcome With Love..

Juliet Lynne Dieleman

Born April 15   9:13am

8lbs.  12oz.

20"

Prais God From Whom All Blessings Flow!

I am a Lady in Waiting.

Oh bloggers, I am still here. The bun in my oven is cozy and warm and doesn't want to come out today. (or probably tomorrow for that matter) She teases me though. Each and every night I feel her simultaneously bump her head on my bladder, while lodging her foot in my rib, or she tries to make a side exit by punching me with what I can only assume is a fist.

What follows all that activity is a bunch of intermittent, fairly uncomfortable contractions that never really develop into full labor. I drift to sleep with girl names bouncing around in my head and practiced aloud and the next thing I know--it's a new day.
So all in all, spring break has been a nice, relaxed, quiet one. I am glad I had this week to spend with the kids just enjoying a slower pace.

I have to keep reminding myself (and Dan) that I'm not even due yet. (Close enough!!) I think he is even more impatient at this point than me. In fact he just said to me in the most obvious way,

"I feel like we are just sitting around waiting for her to come"

How profound.

the kindness of a (sort of) stranger.

My self pity party was in full swing yesterday afternoon.

The scene:
Driving in Meijer parking lot looking for a close spot to park and thinking to myself,

"What did you do for Spring Break '08, Chelle?" You took your 9 month pregnant self and your 3 kids to Meijer on a Monday afternoon to return smelly, sticky pop cans.
As a bonus, you get to fight off begging for toys and Mt. Dew."

How quickly I forgot that I had just spent a nice morning with my friends at the park on a beautiful spring day, the ride from the park to Meijer changed my attitude. I was not looking forward to this excursion, no way, no how.

Pop cans returned and impulse buys in cart, we headed to the check out. My mood lightened as I scored a sweet 26.00 dollars off my grocery bill, I tried to pretend that my kids were not actually screwing around with the spin around bagging thing. I even managed to work up a smile and hello for the person in line behind me. Boy, she looked familiar.

As I was getting ready to push away from the check out, that vaguely familiar face behind me in the check out line ever so nicely said,

"Here, take this, and bring your kids out for ice cream or something this spring break."

She handed me some cash. I was just so overwhelmed with that act of kindness I started to tear up right there in the check out lane. As I talked more with this kind lady, she suddenly realized she knew me and my parents and so on.

What an undeserved gift. What a lesson in kindness. What a Spring Break so far! God used that small act to give me some perspective on my attitude, my kids, on HIM.

Now, how to pay it forward...

only in Michigan!

just when I think I have heard it all, this was the top headline at our local news website at noon.

the weird thing is, it almost happened at our house one early one spring!

your guess is as good as mine

Per Nicole's suggestion,   what is your prediction for 

"What Date Do You Think Chelle Will Pop?"

and the always debatable:

"Will she get an epidural?"

winning prize to be determined. 

humor me people.

what not to do.

when you are 9 months pregnant.

• try to move your sofa
• goto Target for some last minute supplies. you will end up buying fish sticks and maxi-pads as if you will NEVER get to the store AGAIN. impulse buying at it finest.
• run to the bathroom. you might not make it there in time. just walk.
• decide to organize 7 years worth of photos into albums. not only is it a project best left for retirement, you will find yourself devastated by how you have aged in only 7 years.
• start anew on coming up with a baby name. If you haven't found one from the book titled 40,001 Great Baby Names by now, you ain't gonna!
• tell your husband you think you might be starting labor, when you really are not. the Boy who cried Wolf, much?
• Drone on and on in the blogosphere about above don'ts. No one needs a list of what not to do. This info is only useful for MVH or MiniMeMom right now. No one else cares.

Any other don'ts to add to the list?
tick, tick, tick.

my first car.

Recently my brother-in-law finished up what seemed to be a pretty grueling Driver's Education program. Numerous sessions, hours of practice that require parental supervision.

Come on, my driver's training was 2 weeks at Sears Driving school. Mr. C, anyone?

Anyway, I realized with my last birthday that I have been driving half of my life, and it's been 16 years since dear old Dad bought me my first car for a sweet $700.

here's a hint



Is it me or do the "first cars" of today's teens seem so much better then what we drove ? Where are the gigantic winter beaters with rear wheel drive and bald tires?

Can I get a shout out for the
Escorts?
Station Wagons?
Buicks?
Tempos?
Chevettes?
LeBarons?
Nova?
Cavaliers?

If we name her, she will come.

I believe that since we have yet to agree or even decide on a name, our daughter does not want to be born.
here is my last attempt to be inspired by a fresh name

I realize I am the worst about this and no one wants to help me anymore, nor do I deserve it. But...if you are up for a challenge,
Here are the rules:

the name should probably start with "J"
no gender neutral names
no names popular from the years of 1985-1995 (these are Dan's favorites)
the name should be her own, not Michelle Jr.
Classic but not blah, not too trendy, not overly used, but not made up.

good luck with that.

stick a fork in me,

I'm done.