New Pix for you, GeGe

Here are some more pictures for you, GeGe! I'll try to take more of Miss Georgia soon- but she's sleeping now so they all look the same. :) I love you!

Everyone else, enjoy the pix!

Meet Georgia Anne!

Short version for the guys: Last Friday, we welcomed a new little one into our family. All in all, I was in "active labor" for 44 minutes as Chris recalls. I was in "labor land" where time stands still. :)

Georgia Anne Olsen was born at 5:28 pm. She weighed 9 pounds 6 ounces, is 21 1/2" long, she has lots of hair though we're undecided on the color (dark brown or auburn? give it a day or two!). She has blue eyes and is a precious part of the Olsen fam already!

For all the girls, here's the longer version, though the full thing (with emotions and all) will have to wait for another time, when life slows down (ha!): My labor started with my water breaking at 1:30 in the afternoon. Chris rubbed my back and shoulders while I sat on the birth ball. They weren't too sore- but labor is one of the few times I get as much back rubbing as I'd like, so I wasn't turning down a backrub! :) I was 5 cm dilated. The rest of the birth team arrived, Katie and Kristin, and got set up- we were ready to have a baby!

Well, they were ready but my little one wasn't quite ready yet! (That's a good order, by the way. Birth team ready and waiting for the little one, not vice versa!) The wonderful thing about a homebirth is the relaxed atmosphere while we all wait for my body to do what it was created to do. So we talked, I walked around the house, sat on the birth ball some more, my sweet sister rubbed my back and then Sharon checked me again- I was 8+ cm and though the contractions were still around 3 min apart, they were getting much more intense.

I decided to get into the tub to help ease the intensity of the contractions. Andrew came in to check on me. He loves taking baths and really wanted to join me in the tub! But I had to turn my little buddy down because they were really getting strong and it was almost time. Granny took him out to play with Ben, Lauren and Timbo upstairs and the birth team came in.

This is where the relationship with my midwife is such a blessing. Sharon is so steady, soothing and encouraging. I know I can trust her and that she isn't only relying on her own strength, but on that of the Lord. When I started to push, she helped me get in a position that both felt good to me and was productive in pushing out our baby! Katie, a student midwife, was a huge blessing there as well- she was encouraging and super helpful. (Thanks, Katie!) I pushed for about 10 min (according to Chris, time was standing still to me). I couldn't feel this baby move down the birth canal as obviously as I did with Andrew, but when I looked in Sharon's eyes, I knew things were going just as they should. Perseverence!

Chris offered to sit behind me so I could brace myself on him, but I decided no since I was almost done. Sharon told me to reach down and feel my baby's head- that is so encouraging! Another push and her head was out. (That felt much better!) Then she told me to reach down and get my baby. Sweet relief! I reached down and lifted my little one up and onto my chest. My baby!

Smiles and thanks to the Lord abounded- my new baby was here. The children came in and Lauren was the one to nervously look and then gleefully announce, "It's a sister!" GeGe, Daddy & Lauren were right! She is named after my GeGe, her great-grandmother. Georgia Anne Olsen. Timbo cut his new sister's umbilical cord. What a big boy!

There is so much more that I love about birth- the excitement of sharing birth with my hubby, Mom and sister (who is due in February with her first!)... A nice warm shower and then snuggling down into clean sheets on my own comfy bed afterwards... The children being the ones to do the newborn exam with Mrs. Sharon- what a privilege! The Lord was kind to us and birth was, once again, a sweet time of waiting, trusting, working and welcoming new life into our family.

No greater love...

Sunday, I was really tired. My body was so tired, I couldn't even stand for worship! Baby felt BIG and heavy and low... in hindsight, I see it was the culmination of several nights without sleep, the children and I travelling and Chris being out of town- I was just worn out!

When Seth lead us in the song, "We put our hope in You" (I guess that's the title), I was reminded of God's goodness in a new way. I lean on him in a different way when I don't have any other choice... perhaps my life will grow in such a way that I will be that dependant on Him regardless of my circumstances. (Let it be so, Lord.)

I jotted these notes down as I worshipped this great God who speaks to me, personally. "When I'm exhausted, sick and physically worn out, I would do well to remember Christ's death. He laid down His life for me and now He holds my days in the palm of His hand. These days aren't a surprise for Him! And His example for me is not simply endurance- it is joyful submission!! It is putting my hope not in how I feel physically, but in Christ and His loving death for me.

Thank You, Lord, for songs full of Your Word, Your Truths, sound doctrine... thank You for encouraging me Sunday and for sustaining me every day.

Broken AC

Our AC isn't working. This is not an ideal combination for an 8 1/2 month pregnant Mamma! BUT "the boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places." Today is overcast (compliments of Hurricane/Tropical Storm/Hurricane/Tropical Depression/Hurricane/WHATEVER! Fay) and so I am choosing to be thankful instead of complaining.

Psalm 16 was the passage I read this morning, and I'm so thankful for The Lord's timing. "I say to the Lord, 'You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you.' (that's v.2) The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot. The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance. (v 5-6) I bless the Lord who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me. I have set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand I whall not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells seure. For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption. You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore."

I wasn't originally going to write out the whole passage... but WOW! The Lord is so faithful to have me read such a beautiful Psalm the very morning that I may be tempted to complain! Hey, David didn't have AC when he wrote this! :) I want to model for the children a godly attitude. I have NO GOOD apart from the Lord! The lines have truly fallen for us in pleasant places- my family is healthy and together, we are able to enjoy this weather while learning a new lesson... and God's mercies are new today.

A Special Day for Dad

Ben is out of town this weekend. He's enjoying a vacation with his Mima (Chris' Mom) touring the forts along the GA coast, counting Sea Turtles and other cool things. I'm so glad he's having fun... but I do miss him!!

The rest of us Olsens had a Daddy Day today. We surprised Chris with breakfast at Waffle House. Chris used to go a lot when he was a kiddo & in college, so I thought it'd be fun to head there for breakfast. This was the children's first time there- Lauren had pecan waffles, Timothy had a scrambled egg wrap and Andrew had some of everyone else's food. :)

Then, we headed to World Golf Village for some playground time and then putt putt golfing... World Golf Style. Mostly it was great family time, but Chris did get a teeny bit of putting practice on the greens while there! You can see that the kiddos had fun- a picture really is worth a thousand words! I think the Olsens are better at fishing than golfing. *grin*

Not too long ago...

I was thinking about babies and what a miracle they are. I've been reading some childbirth books in preparation for the labor I'll go through in a few weeks. It's so interesting that I can learn new things about birth even though I've already been through it 4 times- I'm sure this labor will be different from the others and so I want to be as prepared as possible so it will be an exciting time, not one I'm fearful of.

I've also looked through photos of our previous births and marvelled at how sweet the children are and how you can see a bit of their personalities even at birth! Andrew was happy, calm, and snuggly from the get-go. One photo taken immediately after his birth is of him resting in my arms with one hand in his mouth and the other on his head. He did that a lot in the womb as well and it was fascinating to see him doing what I had felt him doing while he was still inside!

I'll post a different picture, though, (for decency!) of him being sweet and smiley when he was getting his first checkup a few hours after birth. I am so blessed to have experienced the miracle of birth and am excited to welcome a new little one into our family soon(ish). As you think of us, please pray for the new Olsen to be born healthily, without complications, and quickly but not too quickly. *grin* And for Chris & me to always recognize him as a gift from the Lord.

10 Years Ago...

I thought it'd be fun to post some photos from our wedding album. :) Mom had the album, so I'm a few days late posting these (July 31 is the official date).


Yes, we look young. We were! Chris and I were both 18, which means we'll be able to enjoy our 50th when we're only 68... with lots of grown-up kiddos & grandkids to celebrate with, I hope!