Georgia's here

Georgia Sól Rudolph was born 6/22/08 at 11:38 PM.

She was 7 lbs 15 oz.

20 1/4" long.

We'll all be at the hospital till tomorrow, 6/24/08. And I'm sure Susan will tell you more about this birth experience in a future post. I'll quit typing now 'cause I figure you just want to see pictures anyway.

Dustin

39 + 1/7 Weeks

39 +1/7 weeks...That's how long I have been pregnant with this baby girl who we plan on naming Georgia (middle name announcement soon).

There are many unknowns amidst the almost-certain knowns ahead of us: For example, unless I die suddenly or have an extremely precipitous delivery (or some other unknown occurs), sooner or later Dustin and I will head to the Childbirth Center at St. Joseph Hospital to meet Georgia face-to-face. But we don't know the exact date (although if there is anyone actually reading this, I will let you in on some news: I have a date scheduled for a labor induction sometime in the next week). We certainly do not know the exact time Georgia will take her first breath. I don't know if this labor will feel more painful than the last two. We don't know if it will all go smoothly, or if there will be complications. Being a labor and delivery nurse myself, I suppose I have tried to prepare myself for any and all possibilities that could remotely happen (thus driving myself nuts as I consider all the complications that could occur).

I am excited and nervous for Georgia to arrive. And you know what makes me more nervous than the delivery? I have admitted to myself that I am nervous, anxious about having THREE kids at home. How will this go? The answer: I DON'T KNOW!!!! Of course I hope that everyone transitions smoothly. But the reality is that I think it will be difficult--joy-filled, but difficult. I am learning what an attitude influence I have on the attitudes of my family members. When I am tired and crabby, others pick up the crabbies and whinies. I have the power to lead my children into sinful patterns of not being joyful and grumbling and complaining! Okay, this is an obvious concept. But it is also a rather profound one, I think. So, as I try to meditate on Philippians 4:6-7 "Do not be anxious about anything.......," I am going to trust that Jesus is enough for me, he WILL provide enough for me to have joy in glorifying him-- even when I will be exhausted and sleep deprived and feeling like all I do is change diapers, answer redundant "why questions" and have ZERO motivation to clean our home because it will be cluttered again in a matter of minutes. I'm being honest here: Being a mom is one of my greatest joys, but it is also THE most difficult role I have EVER played in my life!

And so now, I need to go to bed and get some sleep. One of my goals this summer is to be more disciplined about my bed-time. I would rather read up on all the latest research, news, emails, etc. Have some ME time--right? But this is not serving my family well. So I will go to bed now and hopefully wake up a little more refreshed than I did this morning.

Jesus is the Treasure

In a recent John Piper sermon, I was reminded that Jesus IS the treasure in the true Christian life. The treasure is not my life--my wonderful husband, my kids, my house. It is not my life, liberty, or my pursuit of happiness. These things easily become idols. THE treasure is Jesus, no matter how short, long, easy or difficult this life is for me. I find this freeing. When I'm frustrated with how much gas costs, how cold this June has been, how whiny my kids are, and how I can't control everything/everybody around me, this brings me to a deeper level: I search my heart and ask God to search it...IS Jesus my goal? Will he be my treasure in my greatest suffering? Will Jesus be my treasure in death? In pain? In suffering? I am novice at suffering for the cause of Christ and the Gospel. Will I avoid this suffering? Am I avoiding it? Jesus is the treasure, the goal in life. And I don't want to miss that.

Our Micro-farm is growing.........

Okay, so maybe it is not technically a micro-farm, but Milk Mud and Honey Farms is developing.

We decreased our number of ducks from six to two females. Four of the original heard were drakes (boys). Three are living happily with a new family with a pond and five acres. Ping, the fourth drake became an attempted dinner dish for our family. However, neither Dustin nor I could stomach the idea of actually eating poor Ping. I won't go into the butchering, cleaning, and dressing details. However, I will say that it really wasn't that bad or gruesome and Ping died very quickly, though in vain. I actually cooked the bird up, but it smelled kind of funny and he was so skinny. After the experience, we thought a lot about how most people, including us, are so disconnected from how our meats are grown, killed, and prepared for the table, yet it doesn't bother us one bit to savor each bite of medium rare T-bone or a juicy chicken breast. Perhaps in the future we will try to grow our own birds again, but for now, we await the gals, Pogo and Lola, to start laying eggs.

In addition to ducks, we now have three "pullet" (female) Rhode Island Red chicks. We got them when they were just a couple of days old. Sadly, one had an accident involving being squished by a small boy's hand. It was a little traumatic and Elias used the money he has earned doing chores around our home to buy another chick. He can tell you all the details about the incident and watch out, he may volunteer the information to you without prompting.

We also have our goats now! Tobias and Lillian joined us last week. Tobias is a "wether", a neutered male, and Lillian is a "doe" - a female. Toby, as I like to call him is half pygmy, half angora and his fur is SO soft. He loves to be scratched and petted by all of us, including the kids. The day after we got him, I peaked outside into the goat yard (we have fenced in a portion of our backyard/woods for the goats) and there were Tobias and Elias laying in the grass together, Elias with his arm around Toby's neck just looking at each other. It was too cute. I think that it is going to be good for the kiddos to have a pet that they can actually pet. Lillian is a bit skittish, but is starting to let us pet her when she is eating grain in the "barn" (our old garden tool storage shed). Hopefully by the time she is ready to have babies and start milking, she will be just as friendly as Toby.

Our wheat "field" is growing and our other garden areas are growing too, though it seems quite slowly (due to the cooler weather??).

I am now almost 37 weeks pregnant and ready to meet this baby girl! Now really comes the waiting and wondering "is this contraction the real thing?" part.

Tomorrow we are going to visit Larrabee State Park to experience the lowest tide of the summer at 12:37 pm. We are all very excited, especially since Dustin has the day off and gets to join us! Yay!

all for now,
Susan

More Photos From our Latest Vacation

Journal Entry: Our Latest Vacation

On May 6 we ventured to Seattle bright and early in the morning, where we picked up our friend Becky Jones, the proceeded to SeaTac Airport. She dropped us off at the airport and stored our mini-van at her house for 8 days, bless her heart. We were on our way to Atlanta, GA.

Well, another great gal in a mini-van picked us up approximately 7 hours later--Mrs. Emily P. Rudolph, Dustin's mom, this time in Atlanta. After a sleep at the Hampton Inn, we ventured out the next morning for a day packed full of fun. First on the docket was the Georgia Aquarium-the largest aquarium in the world. Next we visited the Coca-Cola Museum, the highlight of the trip for me. I tasted all of the different soda and juice flavors Coke distributes throughout the world (I would advise those visiting Italy to steer clear of a carbonated drink called "Beverly," have you tried this one yet Erin Coletti? How about you Elijah?). We then toured Centennial Park, luncheoned at the CNN Center, and eventually made our way to Turner Field to watch a winning Braves game w/ Dustin's dad, mom, and brother "Uncle Hank".

After the Braves game, we drove inter-state, to Rutherfordton, NC and bunked at the Rudolph Household. The next day we watched Mollie, Dustin's little sister, graduate from National Honor Society. She performed a magic show with their bunny-rabbit named Kotsay. This involved Kotsay appearing from no-where with a flash of fire....in a roasting pot! There he was, sniffing around! The next thing we knew, he was put into a magic cage with Mollie turning a small handle on the cage, expelling little Kotsay flat-as-a-pancake! Both Elias and Jillian are still processing how this could have occurred, especially since the rabbit was alive and well when we returned home. Hmm.

Family Fish Fry: This came on Saturday at Mamaw and Papaw Painter's house in Lincolnton, NC. If we're in the area, we won't be missin' out on a fish fry, especially at Mamaw's (although Mollie and I almost missed this one due to a flat tire). You haven't lived until you've had a fish fry from Mamaw's kitchen. The day began with the men-folk gathering early at Mamaw and Papaw's to rebuild their deck. I think that all the boy-cousins were there...Dustin, Peter, Jacob, Casey, Zack, Joe, Dave, Hank, and Trey. What a treat for Mamaw to see her brood of grandson's in one day! Together with uncles, a contractor, and a watchful eye from a few ladies, they got (most of) the job done. Then came supper time: Fried fish, hush puppies, coleslaw, fries, and as always an array of dessert. At a fish fry, one's eyes are always bigger than one's stomach.

Saturday evening came much to quickly and it was time to say goodbye to dear family until we meet again. The Rudolph clan (sans Mollie and Liz *sniff*) was off again to Charleston, SC...Folly Beach, to be more precise. At the beach house we were greeted by thunder and lightning and a beating of rain. It looked as though our last days in the south would be drenched. However, while the next morning blustered some, it cleared up in the afternoon, and the following days were even better. One thing I always look forward to when we visit Charleston is a good walk on the beach. I try to go alone, and this particular morning was cool and clear.

Being large and pregnant has its advantages. For example, I wake nearly every hour of the night to change positions in bed (imagine a car doing a five-point-180 degree turn in the middle of the road and this is how I imagine I must look as I am trying to move from laying on one side to the other). This can be advantageous because sometimes when I wake up, I toss and turn so much that I am not tired anymore. Two options: lay in bed, awake for the next two hours, my mind buzzing away...or get up and get something done. Admittedly I often choose the first option, especially in the middle of the night. But, at times I am motivated toward the latter and have accomplished much in the early hours of day.

This particular morn I got up. The sun had not yet risen. I ventured outside toward the sound and smell of the Atlantic. I don't remember the last time I had watched a sunrise, but I made it outside to watch the sun come-up--so simultaneously simple and awesome. My alone time on the beach was precious, a time to pray, reflect, observe, listen, praise, and walk without interruption. Following my walk came a delicious, Emily-style breakfast of biscuits and gravy, and a full day of hot sun, sand, and ocean, all made even sweeter with family to spend it with.

A couple of days later, it was time to head home. We were all sad to go. Each time we leave, we talk about the next time we will see each other, it is only a "goodbye for now". Hopefully our next visit will be sometime in early autumn, this time with 3 bambinos in tow. Until then, we await Emmy and Pop pop to visit us in the Northwest around the time baby Georgia gets here. Boy am I looking forward to that! No more five-point-turns!