PHANEROO \fan-er-o-oo\Greek: to manifest in word or deed.


Thursday, April 30, 2009

One Week Old Today!

Griffin James Withrow
Born Thursday, April 23, 2009 at 11:06 a.m.
6 lbs 14 oz, 18.5 inches

BJ came into the living room this morning a few minutes after 11:00 a.m. and reminded me that Griffin was born just one week ago today. Amazing! Time sure does fly by. Griffin is doing great. He is a sweet precious baby boy. He sleeps well and eats like a champ. Today was his first pediatrician appointment. He is healthy and growing like a weed. He's already 7 lbs 3 oz. Dr. F was impressed by his growth rate in his first week - he attributed it to my "super-powered breast milk" (sorry if that's TMI but I'm quite proud). Griffin will need to have a follow-up ultrasound in 2-3 weeks to look at his kidneys one last time to make sure that the fluid issue is completely resolved. I fully expect it to be, and Dr. F said there was no swelling or indication of a problem but he wanted to be 100% sure - that's why I love that man as my children's pediatrician! I just feel so blessed by the birth of our newest son. I'm smitten and totally head over heels for him. Lily and Schaeffer are doing great with him. Lily loves him to pieces and Schaeffer likes to look at him and say "Baby!" We are truly blessed!

Monday, April 13, 2009

False Alarm...Again!

This pregnancy is proving to be the craziest thing ever. It's almost like I've never done this before. This morning at 7 a.m. I woke up with really strong contractions every 5 minutes. This went on for an hour when I decided to call Dr. B. I was advised to go to the Women's Pavilion. I was convinced today was the day! The contractions were not stopping. When I arrived at the Women's Pavilion and was monitored for an hour, the nurse confirmed that indeed I was having contractions every 5-6 minutes consistently. But alas, these contractions did not amount to any progress. When I arrived I was 3.5 to 4 cm and 50% effaced like I was on Thursday at my 37 week appt. After a couple of hours at the Women's Pavilion I was still the same. I chose to go home so I could eat and walk. And sometime around 3 p.m. this afternoon the contractions trailed off and I've only been having a few every hour. I'm convinced that Griffin is getting way to comfy in his little cozy world and will eventually have to be booted out by more extreme measures. Luckily, Dr. B has agreed to induce labor on April 23, one week before my due date, if Griffin does not arrive before then. I'm getting really uncomfortable and irritable with all these contractions that don't amount to much of anything. Maybe I got too good at preventing labor between 28-36 weeks that I forgot how to go into labor when it was safe! I know Griff will come when he is ready. I'm trusting God with this one, but I sure have been praying for relief to come very soon.

Thursday, April 9, 2009

Making a List, Checking it Twice

I'm making my dessert list. These are my top dessert choices for when Griffin is born. It's been 30-some-odd weeks and counting* since I've had more than a bite of some sweet confections thanks to gestational diabetes. And I'm getting quite excited about the idea of eating dessert again very soon.

Not in any particular order...
Chocolate chip cookies from Panera Bread, with an I.C. Mocha to wash it down!
Pretty much any dessert from Litton's, especially a cream cheese brownie (but not cheesecake because it too closely resembles cheese and not dessert)
Chocolate cake from my mama
Baskin Robbins Pralines and Cream ice cream
Starbucks Caramel Macchiato (iced if it's a nice warm day)

*Baby update: Griffin is still doing great. I had my 37 week OB appt today. I'm now dilated 3.5-4 cm, 50% effaced, and having very regular contractions ranging from 7 to 15 minutes apart. We're just waiting for my contractions to be more like 5 minutes apart and more consistent, or for my water to break. If any of those two things happen it will be time to head to the hospital. I'm getting very excited! I can't wait to meet my newest little man and kiss his sweet cheeks.

Sunday, April 5, 2009

Griffin's Nursery - COMPLETE

The nursery is finally done, and just in the knick of time. Griffin is free to be born now that we reached 36 weeks. And I stopped taking my Brethine today. Now we just wait and see what happens!







These are paintings that Lily did for Griffin. She was very excited about painting for him and being able to hang them in his room. I thought she did an excellent job with the color and creativity! It'll be something I will cherish forever, and hopefully Griffin will too.

Saturday, April 4, 2009

Not Without God

It seems lately that I've run into people who are facing challenges in their lives. Of course, who isn't? There are always things going wrong or not the way we'd like. The nightly news is full of bad news, which I guess is to be expected since it's the reality of this world. In addition, people are facing personal struggles and I've heard a variety of them lately: marital problems, struggles with weight and health, issues with children, finances, and questions about the future. And many times the "answers" I've been hearing to these struggles have been quite off base. So I wanted to share a little something I came across today that really hit close to home.

"We have arrogantly exalted ourselves, and we've come to believe we can fix every ailment without God...Jeremiah issued the Lord's stern rebuke: 'My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water. (Jeremiah 2:13)'" By Franklin Graham


So I guess we can continue trying to use our own "broken" methods to fix our problems, which God clearly labels as "sin." Or, we can return to the spring of living water (His name is Jesus!) and never thirst again. No, the problems will not go away, but by seeking His help it forces us to humbly say "I can't do this without you, Lord, even when it seems the world (books, TV, well-meaning friends) offers so many practical solutions." And through this we stop exalting ourselves. We come face-to-face with the Truth, humble ourselves, and give Him all the glory!