God's Miracle!

Hey everyone, this is Hal. First I would like to thank Sarah L. for being our communication guru last night. We really appreciate it. Mom and Drew are doing very well. As was said earlier, he came to us at 8lbs and 21 inches long. We are both extremely excited, but I must admit, we are a little tired also. Lindsay will give you the full story later, but here is the "Hal" version of last nights events. Lindsay was being a trooper from 2:30 to 10:30. She had her epidural but for some reason she was having some pretty strong pain on her left side. As the night went on, it would not go away. They topped off the epidural 3 times and gave her some more pain medication through the IV, but with no luck. Come to find out that Drew's head was turned and logged in her pelvis instead of being head down and chin to the chest. Come to find out that this was the reason that her left side was in such pain. Dr. Schroder said that the best thing was to take him by C section, so that is what we did. Again, Lindsay will give you the better details that I have. Again, we can't thank you guys enough for all the prayers over the last 24 hours. They were felt and we know that the Lord was here with us. We can't wait to see how the Lord uses this little one for His Will and Glory in the coming years. Here is the first of many pictures that we will be sharing with you guys!

Hal

Drew is Here!

Andrew Edward Ramsey
November 19, 2008
8 lbs.
21 inches


Both Drew and Lindsay are doing well.

Pictures to come...

Baby News

Hal called about 10:15 to say that Lindsay was headed for a C-section delivery. Please continue to keep mom, baby & dad in your prayers!

He's almost here...

Latest update:

Lindsay is at 9cm and 15 minutes away from pushing!

Baby Drew Newsflash #2

Hello again -
Lindsay is dilated at 5cm and just got her epidural! She's feeling much better now :)

Check back soon...
Sarah L.

Baby Drew Newsflash #1

Hello all,
Lindsay's water broke this morning and she has been admitted to labor & delivery!

More updates to come...
Sarah Lindsay

Monday is Baby Day!

We had another doctor's appointment this morning. I am continuing to progress and Drew keeps getting lower. We are scheduled to be induced on Monday November 24th.....unless he decides to come sooner! This is a week before my due date but there are a couple of reasons we are going to go ahead and be induced. Unlike some practices where you rotate doctors, I have only see one doctor and I really want him to deliver Drew! He has delivered several of my friends babies here and I feel really comfortable with him. He will not be in town Thanksgiving weekend. The doctor is also concerned that the risk for c-section will be greater if we go to my due date or past because of Drew's size.

We are really excited to meet this little guy! We go in at 7:00 on Monday morning. My friend Sarah Lindsay will be updating my blog for me on Monday, so you can check in here to see how things are going and know when he is here. Once he is here, we will let you know room contact info and of course we will have our cell phones.

Thanks in advance for keeping us in your prayers on Monday! :)

Tackling that To Do List

I am feeling pretty efficient today! After going to the doctor last week it hit both us that baby day is rapidly approaching and there are several things that I really need to get done! I have had a to do list for a while...I had just chosen not to do anything on it! :) Today has been a productive day.

I finally....
1) Mailed two packages that I have been intending to mail for a few days
2) Got my Florida drivers license- this has been quite a task. The problem was that I hadn't ever trekked to the Social Security office to change my name w/ them. In Texas, it wasn't a problem, I just showed our marriage license and wala...I had a license. Not the case in Florida. I had to go to the SS office, change my name, and then wait for my new card to arrive. Then of course it came, but I put off getting my license off until today. Puffy face and all....but I have a new license.
3) Got the Florida car tags for my car- our Texas tags expire this month. I decided I better get our tags. There have been hiccups with this, but I won't bore you with the details again. At least I have the FL tag now....moving to a new state and learning their rules is smelly.
4) I took lunch to Hal as I do most Fridays and we did our annual insurance enrollment.
5) Pack my hospital bag- I also started packing my hospital bag!! Drew's is ready, but I needed to get my stuff together.
6) Schedule a time to get car serviced- I scheduled this for early next week just in case. :)

I love being able to cross things off my To Do List. I feel so accomplished. Thanks for reading my boring post.

There was just one more interesting event for the day. My oh so nice husband told me I could call a cleaning lady to do a good deep clean before little man arrives. Although I have been able to stay on top of keeping the house clean, my floors and bathrooms could use a little extra attention. I called a lady I had used to help me clean when we first moved in. She came yesterday. I was so excited to have her help me out! Last night we noticed we had a little trouble getting the toilets to flush. We didn't think much of it and Hal thought he had fixed the problem. This morning I had the same problem....and I knew something was up. I called the cleaning lady to ask if she might have flushed anything???? She said, "well I did flush the toilet bowl cleaning discs." Ah!!!! I use the Clorox toilet bowl wand to clean with. It has a disposable cleaning pad w/ a plastic disc in the center that you are supposed to throw away. The box clearly says DO NOT FLUSH. She had flushed one down EACH toilet. So.....thankfully our home warranty company was able to get a plumber here pretty quickly this morning to retrieve the plastic discs....problem solved. Geez....it is not good for a prego lady to have limited access to the bathroom.

Okay. Enough of my day! I think I am going to take a nap now. :) Have a good weekend.

37 Weeks

We had our 37 Week appointment yesterday....and everything is looking great! I am starting to dilate and Drew has dropped. We will see when he is ready to make his appearance! I am retaining fluid, so I am trying to drink LOTS of water and keep my feet up.

Wonderful Weekend

We thoroughly enjoyed our Hal-Lindsay weekend! :) It was probably a little different than what some people would plan, but it was perfect for us! People kept suggesting for us to go away somewhere, but we have been SO busy this fall we really just wanted to be at home.

Friday night we had dinner here at home and then went to a new market that opened last week. It was fun to browse around at all the different foods...we are nerds and like that. Then my buddy got me a Pumpkin Spice Latte. Yum! :)

Saturday we slept late and then went to downtown Sarasota for the Farmer's Market. We have been wanting to go since we moved but just never actually went. It was so fun! They have it all year long. There were a lot of people and a lot of booths. They have produce, baked goods, plants, jewelry and all sorts of things. We had a great time walking around and browsing. It is funny to see people's faces when they see my belly from the side. I get a kick out of it. When you look at me straight on of course I look pregnant but not that big, but when I turn to the side, as one man put it "it looks like you stole a pumpkin." After the farmer's market, we went to an old drive in we had been wanting to try....Hob Nob Drive In. It has been in the same spot in Sarasota for many years. It made me feel like we were stepping back in time. The burger was yummy but the chocolate shake was REALLY yummy. We then had a few more stops and headed home so I could rest. We caught up on the football we had missed and watched the Alabama/LSU game. We had dinner reservations at 8 at Hyde Park Grill in downtown Sarasota. Dinner was wonderful! We both had steak and shared sides of creamed spinach and hashbrown potatoes with caramelized onions. We also had yummy chocolate dessert....are you noticing a trend???

Sunday we headed to church and then to lunch at our favorite place....The Broken Egg. We rested yesterday afternoon and then Hal put the carseat in the car. We are ready just in case. We really had a great weekend and are looking forward to getting to spend tomorrow together as well! We have a doctor's appointment in the morning.



Here is Dad installing Drew's car seat. :)

Fun Things

I wanted to share a few of the fun things we have received for Drew over the last few weeks as well as a few things Hal and I have found for him! I have almost everything washed and ready to go for the little guy.

Elizabeth sent us this diaper bag! It was so exciting to open it up and see his name on it! I have always loved these bags. :)

Amanda and Kenny sent us these PRECIOUS burp cloths! Of course we love the Hog! All the Gator fans around here will have to get use to seeing some Razorback stuff.

My sister in law spoils me...or I guess I should say she is already spoiling Drew. :) You should have seen the box of goodies she sent. This piggy bank goes perfect in his room.

He will be a Polo boy like his daddy. We have found several cute little Polo outfits. I have kept a watch on the clearance racks at Dillards and Macy's!

We found this bulldog at Ikea and had to have it. For now, he is hanging out beside his Hog blanket.

We are looking forward to the weekend! This weekend has been designated as Hal-Lindsay weekend. I actually marked it on my calendar! Between classes at the hospital, traveling, and Hal working, we have had a crazy Fall. We don't have any big plans. We are just going to do a few things that we have been wanting to do since we moved down here and he is taking me out for a fun dinner on Saturday night. I have been wanting steak for awhile...I am pretty sure that is what we will be doing on Saturday night! I am also excited because the plant is closed on Tuesday for Veteran's Day, so I get a free day with Hal in the middle of the week!

Have a good weekend!

36 Week Appointment

We had an early morning appointment today. Hal was able to go with me which was a nice treat. He hasn't been since our ultrasound in July. I hated to ask him to go when I see the doctor for a total of 2 minutes! Everything is still looking great. My weight and blood pressure are good and Drew's heartbeat and growth both looked great as well. We are down to our weekly appointments and he let me know that he will check me next week to see if I have started to dilate yet.

Short of getting the car seat installed....I think we have about everything in place! We still have a few things we need to pick up and I need to pack a bag for me, but other than that we are ready for this little guy. I am looking forward to being able to rest over the next few weeks!

After our appointment we went and voted. The line looked very LONG when we pulled up, but it moved pretty fast. We were back in our car 45 minutes or so after arriving. After we had stood in line about 30 minutes and were almost to the front of the line they told me I could move to the front, but at that point I decided I would just tough it out. :) The wait wasn't near as bad as we had anticipated!

A Prayer

14 "if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land."

2 Chronicles 7:14

Almost 35 Weeks and Jehovah Kadesh

I am not quite sure what is up with the face in this picture....Hal must have said something funny. :) I had been pretty good about taking pictures before church on Sunday, but this is the first one in a few weeks.

We had a great weekend! It was nice to get to resume our normal Saturday routine and watch football all day. We did get out and go to Target and Best Buy so I could do a little bit of walking. We are trying to debate on whether to buy a new camera or a new video camera. And of course Hal needs no excuse to go to Best Buy anyway.

Hal and I were blessed with a wonderful experience on Sunday. I had met an Asian woman who had come to our Sunday School class a couple of times. Our pastor has been doing a series on the names of God. Yesterday was Jehovah Kadesh- God is Holy. He used Isaiah 6:1-8 to talk about God's holiness and the reaction we should have in the presence of His holiness. We see the seraphs covering their faces and their feet in the presence of God's holiness. He also talked about how we are too sinful to approach God on our own and this was the reason for Jesus' sacrifice. When we acknowledge our need, His blood covers our sin and makes us acceptable in God's eyes. During the invitation at the end of the service, I noticed this woman I had met come to the front and get on her knees in front of the altar. She stayed there with her head bowed and the pastor went to her and called his wife over to be with them as well. As he ended the service, he let us know that she had accepted Christ as her Savior. She had come to church after reading about a music event and had kept coming. I was so struck by her reaction. She came face to face with the holiness of God, realized her need for a Savior and her inadequacy, and her response was to humble herself and get on her knees and bury her face in her hands. It was amazing to see the scripture of Isaiah 6:1-8 lived out in someone's life. Altar calls and invitations are so commonplace in our churches today....I often find myself going through the motions each Sunday. This woman's response challenged and humbled me. Yes, I have accepted Jesus as my savior, but I need to have that same humility and reverence every day!

Isaiah 6:1-8

1 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple. 2 Above him were seraphs, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. 3 And they were calling to one another:
"Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty;the whole earth is full of his glory."
4 At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke.
5 "Woe to me!" I cried. "I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty."
6 Then one of the seraphs flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. 7 With it he touched my mouth and said, "See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for."
8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I. Send me!"

Fireproof Date Night

We have been wanting to see Fireproof since it came out and we finally made it last night! The movie started at 7. Hal got home around 6ish and this prego couldn't wait until after the movie for dinner, so we smuggled in our dinner in my purse. :) Subway is my friend right now. I usually have at least 2 veggie subs a week. It was quite nice to watch previews that were tasteful and know you weren't going to have to worry about language or in anything else in the movie you were getting ready to watch!

The movie was great! We loved Facing the Giants (made by the same folks) even though the acting might have been a little lacking. Fireproof was a step up for sure, but that wasn't the reason we loved it. It strongly portrays two powerful messages: the Gospel of Salvation and the covenant of marriage. I think it is kind of like going to a 2 hour mini marriage conference. It is a good reminder about the role God plays in your marriage and little things that you can do for your spouse. If you haven't seen it yet, go see it.

After the movie, we went to Chili's for molten chocolate cake. I let Hal have a few bites. :)

Doctor's Appointment-34 Weeks

I am not sure how you can call it a doctor's appointment when you see the doctor for less than 5 minutes! :) I guess it is a good thing that the appointment was in and out! Drew's heartbeat sounded great and my growth was good. We are still measuring right on schedule. I did have more weight gain this time than we would have liked, but he felt that most of it was water weight. My ankles, feet, and hands are puffier than normal! He said...keep doing what you are doing and see you in 2 weeks.

I like early morning doctor's appointments...they get me up and going. I have already been to the grocery store this morning after the appointment. The rest of the day will be filled with laundry, Bible Study, writing, and probably a nap. Tonight we are having Taco Soup...yum! I can't wait.

A List of Things

1. I finally put out my fall pumpkins last week. It was hard for me to put them out when I could look out my back door and see palm trees in my yard. The fall season is still one of the things I miss the most about Northwest Arkansas. I have also been craving a big pot of Taco Soup. I told Hal we could turn the air way down and pretend it was chilly outside. :)

2. I have been on a Drew clothing fast for a few weeks now. I had to make myself stop! The kid seriously has a closet full of clothes. I kept finding good sales. How can you pass up cargo shorts and polo shirts for $1.99? I bought them in several sizes!

3. I love pumpkin flavored anything.....and it makes me very happy that Starbucks has their Pumpkin Spice Latte's back. It is a mouthful to say, "I would like a Grande, non-fat, decaf, Pumpkin Spice Latte with whipped cream please." :)

4. Hal is going on his annual guys weekend tomorrow. They are going to the Kentucky/Arkansas game. Saturday night I am hosting a Girls Night Out for our Sunday School class.

5. When people ask me how I am feeling, I have decided I am just going to say "big and pregnant." :) I feel great...but of course my back is hurting and I am tired, so I think "big and pregnant" will cover those.

6. I am loving studying the life of Moses this year. Hal and I were challenged by how much Moses' parents were able to teach him about God at such a young age. One of the gifts I received at my shower from a mentor of mine was a book of 365 Devotionals/Bible Stories for parents to read with their kids. On the inside cover she encouraged us to start early with the tradition of sharing these with Drew each night. We are looking forward to it!

7. We had our first class at the hospital last weekend. It was a nursing class...very informative. Our next class is our all day Birthing class the first weekend of November.

Doctor's Appointment- 32 Weeks

I guess it is time for a pregnancy update....I went to the doctor this morning. He said everything is looking great! I am measuring right at 32 weeks. My weight looks good. Drew's heartbeat was "perfect." I go back October 21st and November 4th. After that, I will be going every week! I can't believe that I am almost to my weekly appointments.

I am still feeling great. Of course as I continue to get bigger, I am starting to have back aches and feel more tired, but that just goes with the territory. The only trouble I have had with swelling is if I am on my feet a lot or if I get too hot. I really can't complain!

Hal is getting even more excited. I hear him say just about every day that he is ready for little man to be here! Of course, I agree, but I am sure he will be here before we know it.

Shower for Drew

The ladies in our Community Group did a brunch shower for us on Saturday. My friend Christi hosted it at her home. I really had a great time and we feel so blessed to have such a wonderful church family! We settled into a church much faster with this move and it has been a big help in the transition.

We had this yummy, precious cake!

I love this little onesie!

This was a super cute gift! It was clothesline full of cute outfits. There was a tag with a blue rope on top of the mini laundry basket that said "pull slowly." As I pulled the cord out, they were all on the clothesline.

A nursing coverup I had been wanting...we had to test it out!

Marcie and Christi. Marcie is expecting her first baby in January. The shower was at Christi's. She has been such a blessing to me! Christi and her husband have two girls that are precious. Maybe we can make a match for Drew. :)

Me with my super sweet friend Rachel. She and her husband Marcus are our community group care group leaders. We have enjoyed getting to know them and their two kids.

What's up for the weekend?

Every week seems to fly by! I can't believe it is already the weekend again, but I am not complaining. Weekend=more Hal time. Tonight we are going to rent Leatherheads and have dinner here at home. Tomorrow Hal will be working during the day, and I have a shower. My friend Christi is hosting a shower at her home. Several ladies from our church community group will be there. I am pretty sure tomorrow night will involve watching football! I mean...what else would Hal and Lindsay do on a Saturday night in the fall? Sunday we will be off to church and then probably to eat at our favorite place, The Broken Egg, for lunch. If you have been to visit us here in Florida, then I am sure we have taken you there!

We do want to see Fireproof as well. Have any of you seen it? If so, what did you think? If we go, I will give you my review?

Have a great weekend!