I have been away from Xanga for almost an entire year, merely reading my e-mailed subscriptions.  Shortly after Donovan was born I decided to check out Facebook and have been trapped there ever since.  It is so much easier to write a one-sentence "status" than to think about writing an entire blog, but I decided it was time to come back to this outlet.  I need to let my mind breathe in deeply and release the thoughts that are held there with no other means of escape.  I have decided to begin a gratitude journal here as a spiritual discipline in which I will list the things I am thankful for.  I'm aiming for 1000, but maybe I'll keep going after that.  :)

1. the laughter of two beautiful children

2. a job that I enjoy

3. the scent of fall

4. Plano Reaper football

5. friends who will not only listen to me, but pray for me

6. a husband who seeks God completely

7. the smell of a bonfire

8. birthday cake

9. a quiet dog lying on the floor near my feet

10. the promise of a new day

After my first entry yesterday I wasn't able to get back on to update you.  Probably something with the hospital wireless connection security or something.  So anyway I am currently typing with one hand at our home computer.  (Two now thanks to Daddy...)  So, I'll tell you the whole story right now while it's fresh in my mind.  On Wednesday, I had my weekly doctor's visit.  I was looking and feeling pretty tired and ready to go.  The doctor could totally tell.  She did my exam and told me that I was dialated to 4 cm and had a "bulging bag of waters" which could burst at any time.  She asked if I would like to be induced sometime Thurs., Fri., or Mon. if I didn't go myself because of the Group B strep and the fact that I was already so far advanced.  Well, I thought about it for about a second (partly because I knew that Shawn actually wanted me to ask to be induced) and then I said "Tomorrow works for me."  So she called the hospital and set the whole thing up for us to check in at 6:30.  I spend Wed. night briefing Beth to take over my class and helping her grade papers.  Shawn & I double checked our bags and loaded up the van, and Grandma Vicki arrived to spend the night (in case anything happened before the morning and so she would already be here when we had to leave so early in the morning).

After a night of hardly any sleep, thanks to the excitement of impending delivery and many, many trips to the bathroom, we checked into the hospital.  A little after 6:30 we checked in, got changed into my gown, and settled into the world's most uncomfortable bed.  At 8:20, the doctor came in and broke my water, started the pitocin and left me to "progress".  It was a good start.  My contractions got steadily stronger and at about eleven I said I would like to take the epidural.  It was lovely.  Things continued to move along without the dreaded slowing of the contractions that sometimes happens when you take the epidural.  Soon I was feeling telltale pressure, so they called my doctor.  Pressure rapidly increased to the desire to push, but the doctor wasn't there yet, so the nurse told me to do my best to breathe through it.  I did, for what seemed like a long time, and then the doctor came in.  We were set up and ready to go in what seemed like record speed.  After pushing through 4 contractions, we were all done.  It was just about the easiest thing in the world...looking back.  Of course it hurt and the pushing wasn't easy, but it was over pretty quickly, and I feel pretty good now.  We came home @ 5 this afternoon/evening.  And I should probably tell you that the baby is a boy who was 21 1/2 inches, 8 lbs. 11 oz., born at 2:59pm.  His name is Donovan Michael and big sister Savannah is very happy and proud.

He's perfect, of course.  I've got to go rest now, but will try to come back soon with more details and pics.  Good night to all.