24 Hours...Living the Dream

Calvin is now 24 hours old...it's so hard to believe. It's all like a dream now, everything happened so fast. At 11:00 on Sunday morning Mom's water broke, but not much happened until Mama and Daddy returned from a walk around 3:30. Over the next couple of hours contractions began to come on quickly. Around 5:00 Daddy called the midwife who arrived about 6:15, and by 7:30 Mom was pushing, and at 7:58pm Calvin James Shiflet made his first public appearance met by wild cheers and applause. :) Be sure and stay tuned for Mom's version of events in a future post!

Calvin is sleeping well, and both he and Mama are getting some good rest. Mama is taking it easy but is able to be up and about throughout the day. It has been such a blessing to be able to have Calvin born right here at home.

I simply can't get over how adorable Calvin is, I can't take my eyes (or hands) off of him! It all seems so wonderful that sometimes I think it must be a dream. But if it is, I hope I never wake up. It is difficult to express what it is like to hold a little babe in my arms and to know it's not just anybody's baby, but my own baby brother, it seems as though it is too good to be true and that I soon must wake up from this dream that has overtaken me!

I Praise the Lord for the blessing of children, of life, of little Calvin, and his precious little soul that God has entrusted to our care!!!! Praise God from whom all blessings flow!

Well here's some more pictures from last night and this morning. Daddy took most of these, I've found holding Calvin is even more fun than taking pictures! So for once, I've gladly resigned my post...for now. :)

I had the wonderful privilege of being the first to dress little Calvin. His hands are so tiny, but his feet certainly are not! They are the biggest baby feet I think I have ever seen!!! (I'll have to post some feet pictures soon. :)

Ahh...J.Michael beat me to it, he was the first of the kids to get to hold him. :)

Well, seconds are not bad...:D

The Next Morning...Kathlena's first time to hold Calvin.

And Andrews...

Calvin at 2 & 1/2 Hours Old

Mama is doing well, and the baby is as healthy as could be. All of us kids enjoyed getting to see "baby Calvin", touching his soft fuzzy hair and examining his (not-so) tiny features. :) He's as chunky as can be and keeps trying to suck his thumb but never finds it. Calvin seems to like his blue blanket...which I finished minutes before his birth...:) He managed to catch us all by surprise. :D

Well, we're all off to get some much needed rest, more tomorrow.

I am pleased to announce...

It's a boy!

Calvin James Shiflet

9 Pounds, 13 Ounces
21 & 1/2 Inches

Born at 7:58PM

Baby Updates..

The baby is here!!!! Born at 7:58PM!!!!!

Baby Update

I think I may have heard a baby crying....

40 Weeks Tomorrow...The Time is Drawing Near

Long story short -Mom's in labor!!!! Could be anytime now, she's getting ready to push!!!!

39 Weeks-passing the time

Well it is now 39 weeks and not much has changed. I head to the midwife on Wed. hoping for some progress. Emily and I have been working hard to get freezer meals, bread and broth prepared. I can't help but think with all of these preparations made that the wait may still be a while-well better to be ready!! I am just praying that this little one is not too far over due as that will cause problems for us having a home birth. I believe I can't go over 42 weeks and still deliver at home.

At this point I can't imagine going that long as this baby would be so huge. We are trusting in the Lord for this little one to arrive safely on his/her sovereignly chosen day and place. What day will that be? We are all guessing right now. For fun we took out the calendar and went around the table giving everyone a chance to pick days they thought the baby would be born on. We filled all of Oct. It is fun to see them check the calendar each day to see whose "day" is today.

I feel like I am in a good place right now-at peace with all of the natural birth, not at the hospital stuff and if-we-need to go to the hospital for any reason I will trust the Lord to provide the right people for that too. I truly believe this is a walk of faith that is drawing David and I closer to each other and closer to the Lord to trust Him all the more. From the incredible gift of this child that medically is a miracle that we conceived to the opportunity to have a healthy pregnancy that allows me to be at home for birth.

I find myself thinking often of our time of waiting to go get A and K and all the unknowns we faced then. Trusting foreign officials, not knowing when we would leave, praying for health for all of us, which is not unlike our time now of waiting (no foreign officials to be concerned about though!). It is all a leap of faith...I believe this is the essence of being a parent. With every child no matter how they come to us there will be unknowns that cause us to walk closer with the One who knows them best...their creator, Almighty God who formed them in their mother's womb (Isaiah 44:24) who teaches us to raise them for His glory.

38 weeks-Getting Ready

38 weeks is finally here. We could be in the "anytime" zone now. We have the birth pool ready and Daddy and the boys have worked out a convenient system for filling and emptying the pool for me. The above video demonstrates their good ole' Aggie engineering. Everyone is getting excited about the baby arriving soon. Kathlena likes to swim in "baby Shiflet's pool" and so does Mommy. The birth pool is so comfy and wonderful to get into at this stage of the pregnancy. I think I would recommend one for every pregnant Mom to have at the end even if you do not intend to have a home or water birth.

I am still feeling pretty good. Just harder to move around and my hips and joints feel so loose! I am very thankful for my compression hose though...they have been a great source of comfort and energy. They are called a second heart helping with circulation to your legs. I definitely would have these on my list as a must have if you have any circulatory issues such as varicose veins. I am still sleeping well which is a huge blessing as I am sure sleep will be in short supply here before too long.

We have set record high "low" temperatures this week. I have to laugh as it seems with each of my pregnancies there have been record unseasonable warm temps. I am looking forward to the cool weather coming and hoping the change in temp will spur on this little ones arrival.

I have been asked if I am having twins to which I reply "No, just one really big one" I am hoping that I do not go over 10lbs. Emily was 8.1 and JMichael was 9.0lbs so hopefully the trend does not continue up so rapidly! The baby is still moving around quite a bit just doesn't have as much room to do his/her acrobatics he/she was doing last month. I am frequently asked if it is a boy or girl. All along it has really been a mystery to me. I am not sure if it is that I have been told so many times that it is a boy that is making me lean that direction, but of late I have started to think it will be a boy. Although, I am not giving up on the idea of a girl for Kathlena. We will have so much fun either way and soon the mystery will be solved.

36 weeks-1 month to go!

We have one month to go and Momma is ready! Baby is growing fast and getting big. It is so fun to see Mommy's belly move and the movements are much bigger. Baby is in a great position so we are thankful that all is looking good for our home delivery. I have had some minor blood pressure issues and swelling, but otherwise it has been a good 3rd trimester. We greatly appreciate your prayers as we look forward to the safe arrival of Baby Shiflet #5. I must admit I am more frequently asked the question about boy or girl and honestly I have no clue. It seems strange as I had a good idea and was right with Emily and J.Michael, but this one is remaining a mystery to me. Many of the indicators of boy or girl point to boy, but I am not convinced. It will be a wonderful surprise when he or she arrives. I am excited about this too. It has been hard to plan for this one as I am a pink or blue person, but having to wait has helped me to be more focused on necessities which is good. I am sure there will be a pink or blue explosion as soon as the baby is here and what fun that will be too.

As for names we have some names we are going back and forth on, but decided we would wait to announce the name when we see his or her little face...just to be sure it fits. :) David and I have enjoyed the blessing of being pregnant and talking through names.

Walking along with the kids through all these pregnancy stages and seeing them so excited to have another sibling...a baby around the house. Kathlena and Andrew have been practicing with their dolls and it has been so sweet to see them care for and learn to nurture through play what will soon be their real brother or sister that they can help with. I am sure there will be some difficult days of adjustment, but those will be teachable moments too as we learn and grow together what it is like to be an expanding family. Trusting the Lord to grow us all as we trust Him with the size of our family.

33 week check up

I went today for my 33 week check up with my midwife. It went very well. All of my blood work came back great and my blood pressure was normal (yeah!). The baby is in a good position (head down, spine forward) My swelling is much better which I think is a result of the break in the heat...Yess!! I have been having some of the braxton hicks contractions when I go on my walks or try to hurry up in Sam's :) Paula, my midwife said that was good warm up not to worry. So, I will keep on walking and doing my water aerobics in the pool.

After checking on the baby's heart beat...still staying around the "boy" range of 140-145 she said the baby was likely around 6lbs already! Wow...early Oct. is looking better all the time. I do not want to break my Mom's record with my brother who was an 11 1/2lb baby. I am pretty sure I can rule out the little 7lb'er I was hoping for...Oh well I will take healthy and big any day. I start my birth prep herbs next week of Gentle Birth and Alfalfa. I have a dear friend who brought us a huge tote of birth kit materials and a birthing pool. We are so thankful for the many families who have been so encouraging and helpful as we prepare for our first home water birth. I am starting to get excited!! We will soon have this baby in our arms. I have to admit I really have enjoyed this pregnancy. It has not been nearly as hard as I had thought in my "advanced" maternal age. In some ways I think it has been easier than when I had my first two kids at 22yrs and 25yrs. I am very blessed though with a husband who is so helpful and a 4 great kids who are a blessing to their mother.

30 Weeks

I am feeling well, having some minor swelling issues, but then again it is August in Houston and I am in the final stretch...literally! Baby Shiflet is still on the move quite a bit, but not quite as much as last month. I suppose he/she has less room to do his/her back flips. Although, now when baby moves my entire belly moves which the kids absolutely love to watch. My favorite thing is a Route 44 cup of Sonic ICE! Yes, that is right I am crunching on ice. Some have said this is a sign of iron deficiency, but I am not feeling the effects of that by being overly tired or anything. I think it is just another way for me to get more water in me that is different than just drinking it.

First pictures of Baby Shiflet #5

Face shot of Baby Shiflet

Our 4D pictures of Baby Shiflet. He/she
as we decided to wait to find out if it is a
boy or girl was so active that it was difficult to
get a clear pictures of him/her. This was a pretty
good picture though.

From the side of the face such a sweet profile.

Anxiously awaiting the sonogram to begin.



Kathlena wanted to see those pictures right away. She
was so cute right up next to my side during the whole sonogram.
She was very excited to see baby shiflet, only I think she thought
we were going to "get him out" today. We had to tell her that
baby brother or sister needs a little more time before she'll be ready
to be born.

After our ultrasound we took the kids to a nearby park in downtown Houston to have our picnic lunch. It was a little warm so we decided it would be a great afternoon to go and see a movie. We decided to see the new movie UP, (click here to see the trailer) and they even had a showing in 3D which was a first for Andrew and Kathlena and it had been a very long time for Emily and J.Michael. Here are a few pictures at the theatre before the show.


We liked the movie, but Mom needed a box of tissues! It is
a sweet movie about a widower and a little boys adventure together.