Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Monday, October 6, 2008
Fast and Furious
How was the birth? Fast and furious! If you are curious about the story--don't worry, no gory details--read on!
Sunday, September 28th came and still no baby. He was already 12 days past due and we had a scheduled date at the hospital for induction. We were to show up at 7:30pm and start the ripening gel in preparation for the induction the next morning. So, we dropped Owen off with Jon's parents...and went out to dinner! After full bellies, we showed up at the "baby hotel" (aka. hospital) and checked in. Because I was having such consistent contractions, they couldn't do the gel. We settled in for the night and enjoyed watching our last Sunday Night Football as parents of one child.
The next morning, my wonderful midwife decided not to induce me. Instead, at 7:15am she broke my water...and everything started. We walked one loop around the nurses station and had to go back to my room because of the intensity of the contractions. After laboring in my bath tub a while, we moved to the waterbirthing suite to finish and birth in the waterbirth tub. At 11:38, Evan Lyning Flaa made his way into the world after 3 minutes of pushing. My midwife almost missed the birth because it happened so fast!
Just over 4 hours of labor, but boy was it intense! I had a shot of nubain early on but no epidurals are allowed for a water birth. Jon says I had some good primal screams during the labor and I kept hitting the wall to the point they were conderned I would hurt my hand. Apparently I gave everyone some good laughs through it all. (I tend to get a little sarcastic when I am in pain.) At one point, I remember asking for a stick to bite on and some vodka claiming that birthing women always got that in the "olden days."
My nurse, my midwife, and the midwife apprentice that were with me were wonderful. They all said it was one of the most fun births they had ever been a part of. My sister was also there and a great support, but my husband was the best of them all! He even endured the multiple nail marks I left in his hands--oopsie!
We are so thankful for our newest little family member! Owen is fascinated with his little brother and loves to help. He enjoys hearing the baby burp and is very concerned when Evan cries. "Sad," he says over and over until Evan stops crying. Overall, we are adjusting quite well. We could all use some more sleep, but that'll come, right?!
PS. Waterbirth is actually giving birth in a big water tub. Babies don't breathe until they hit air. The warm water is great for easing back labor and decreasing your chances of tearing. I would highly recommend it!
Sunday, September 28th came and still no baby. He was already 12 days past due and we had a scheduled date at the hospital for induction. We were to show up at 7:30pm and start the ripening gel in preparation for the induction the next morning. So, we dropped Owen off with Jon's parents...and went out to dinner! After full bellies, we showed up at the "baby hotel" (aka. hospital) and checked in. Because I was having such consistent contractions, they couldn't do the gel. We settled in for the night and enjoyed watching our last Sunday Night Football as parents of one child.
The next morning, my wonderful midwife decided not to induce me. Instead, at 7:15am she broke my water...and everything started. We walked one loop around the nurses station and had to go back to my room because of the intensity of the contractions. After laboring in my bath tub a while, we moved to the waterbirthing suite to finish and birth in the waterbirth tub. At 11:38, Evan Lyning Flaa made his way into the world after 3 minutes of pushing. My midwife almost missed the birth because it happened so fast!
Just over 4 hours of labor, but boy was it intense! I had a shot of nubain early on but no epidurals are allowed for a water birth. Jon says I had some good primal screams during the labor and I kept hitting the wall to the point they were conderned I would hurt my hand. Apparently I gave everyone some good laughs through it all. (I tend to get a little sarcastic when I am in pain.) At one point, I remember asking for a stick to bite on and some vodka claiming that birthing women always got that in the "olden days."
My nurse, my midwife, and the midwife apprentice that were with me were wonderful. They all said it was one of the most fun births they had ever been a part of. My sister was also there and a great support, but my husband was the best of them all! He even endured the multiple nail marks I left in his hands--oopsie!
We are so thankful for our newest little family member! Owen is fascinated with his little brother and loves to help. He enjoys hearing the baby burp and is very concerned when Evan cries. "Sad," he says over and over until Evan stops crying. Overall, we are adjusting quite well. We could all use some more sleep, but that'll come, right?!
PS. Waterbirth is actually giving birth in a big water tub. Babies don't breathe until they hit air. The warm water is great for easing back labor and decreasing your chances of tearing. I would highly recommend it!
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
It's a Boy!
Evan Lyning Flaa was born on September 29th at 11:38 am. He weighed 8 pounds 9 ounces and was 22 inches long. We are finally a family of four on the outside!
More pictures and stories will follow...
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Waiting
Still waiting!! We are now 5 days overdue and counting as we wait for baby #2. We are encouraged that Owen is really working hard at developing the necessary skills needed to be a good big brother. He has become particularly good at sharing. In fact, just this week he decided to share a cold with his pregnant mother : ) They are both having a wonderful time bonding together over snotty tissues as they both breath out of their mouths together.....
I'd write more, but Owen is in need of some fatherly attention. We'll try to update this site with pictures of the best looking family of 4 you've ever seen as soon as baby #2 decides to make an appearance...
I'd write more, but Owen is in need of some fatherly attention. We'll try to update this site with pictures of the best looking family of 4 you've ever seen as soon as baby #2 decides to make an appearance...
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
preggy pictures...
Praise the Lord! The end is near! No, I am not talking about the end of the world...I am full term now and baby could come anytime in the next 3 weeks! Yahoo!
I am slower than molassess in January and ready to burst at the seams with this baby! The easiest place I have found to take Owen is to tennis courts. He's contained and can run all he wants!
Here are some pictures my photographer friend took of our family. She needed a preggy model with a big belly. I DEFINITELY QUALIFIED! (And I just like to be able to tell people I am a model when they ask what I do.) "You know, full-time mom, part-time model..."
Enjoy!
KJ for the Flaas
I am slower than molassess in January and ready to burst at the seams with this baby! The easiest place I have found to take Owen is to tennis courts. He's contained and can run all he wants!
Here are some pictures my photographer friend took of our family. She needed a preggy model with a big belly. I DEFINITELY QUALIFIED! (And I just like to be able to tell people I am a model when they ask what I do.) "You know, full-time mom, part-time model..."
Enjoy!
KJ for the Flaas
Monday, August 18, 2008
The Back-Up Baby...
The due date is September 16th and is cruising towards us more quickly than we realize! The other night as Jon and I were "finalizing" our baby name choices, we found that the ones we liked were still our "back-up" names for Owen. (This is when I opened my big mouth.) "How appropriate," I said. "Our back-up name for our back-up baby!" Well, that got Jon howling and me apologizing to baby. That is NOT how I meant it to come out! Can I blame this one on pregnancy-brain?
4 weeks left until baby and I am big as a house! Are we ready? I think so...but you never can tell. We dug out the infant carseat, little onsies and burp rags, and even started our packing for the hospital bag. Owen can outrun me, outlast me, but not quite outeat me...yet! (I am sure that day is coming.) We have enjoyed days at the beach and playing with his little girlfriend who lives downstairs, although watching the garbage truck in the mornings is maybe his favorite thing to do. Does he understand he is going to be a big brother? Probably not. But he does come kiss my stomache often and says, "Hhhhhi baby!" Soooo cute!
We'll keep you updated about baby news!
4 weeks left until baby and I am big as a house! Are we ready? I think so...but you never can tell. We dug out the infant carseat, little onsies and burp rags, and even started our packing for the hospital bag. Owen can outrun me, outlast me, but not quite outeat me...yet! (I am sure that day is coming.) We have enjoyed days at the beach and playing with his little girlfriend who lives downstairs, although watching the garbage truck in the mornings is maybe his favorite thing to do. Does he understand he is going to be a big brother? Probably not. But he does come kiss my stomache often and says, "Hhhhhi baby!" Soooo cute!
We'll keep you updated about baby news!
Saturday, June 7, 2008
Friday, June 6, 2008
A full pantry...
I love having people over for dinner. Not that I am a great cook--Jon, no comments--but I can provide a decent meal and enjoy providing a place for fellowship to happen around the dinner table. Lately, our dinner guests have been a little scarce. Why? Well, our cupboard has been a bit more bare than usual, and so our meals have been more...eclectic. Thankfully, I don't have a picky husband or son, and we have always had enough to eat--just not the meals I would have chosen.
Owen and I have been befriending a middle-aged man who lives in our apartment building. He appears to live alone and quite frankly, seems very lonely. We would always say hello and smile, but never get a response back. I began praying for him. Soon, we started getting a slight nod with minimal eye contact. Improvement! And one day, when he couldn't avoid us on the stairs, Owen pointed at the man, grunted, and gave his biggest, most friendly smile! The man saw it and chuckled. We talked briefly and went on our way. Every time Owen sees the man he waves or points and smiles. Now, the man even smiles back!
A while back, Jon and I opened our apartment up and invited all our neighbors over for snacks and a chance to "meet and greet" the people who live around us. We have been praying for opportunities to build relationships and hoped this would be a start. Two and a half hours later, no had come. Just 20 minutes before we were going to close our door, the twelve-year-old boy who lives downstairs stopped up for a visit. He apologized for being so late--he had been out shopping with his mom and had just gotten back. We enjoyed over an hour with our new adolescent friend, and learned a lot about him and his mom and family. We often stop to talk in the hallways or ask how his baseball game went--we even have run into his mom a lot, too.
Lately, I have sensing the Lord telling me to invite them up--the boy and his mom, and the man who lives alone. But I haven't yet. What kind of meal would I feed them? Freezer-burned leftovers with a side dish of oatmeal and kidney beans? Yummy! Money being tight and all, extra groceries were not in the budget. I was embarassed to invite them up for one of my "creative" meals.
This Tuesday morning, I read Isaiah 55:1-3.
Owen and I have been befriending a middle-aged man who lives in our apartment building. He appears to live alone and quite frankly, seems very lonely. We would always say hello and smile, but never get a response back. I began praying for him. Soon, we started getting a slight nod with minimal eye contact. Improvement! And one day, when he couldn't avoid us on the stairs, Owen pointed at the man, grunted, and gave his biggest, most friendly smile! The man saw it and chuckled. We talked briefly and went on our way. Every time Owen sees the man he waves or points and smiles. Now, the man even smiles back!
A while back, Jon and I opened our apartment up and invited all our neighbors over for snacks and a chance to "meet and greet" the people who live around us. We have been praying for opportunities to build relationships and hoped this would be a start. Two and a half hours later, no had come. Just 20 minutes before we were going to close our door, the twelve-year-old boy who lives downstairs stopped up for a visit. He apologized for being so late--he had been out shopping with his mom and had just gotten back. We enjoyed over an hour with our new adolescent friend, and learned a lot about him and his mom and family. We often stop to talk in the hallways or ask how his baseball game went--we even have run into his mom a lot, too.
Lately, I have sensing the Lord telling me to invite them up--the boy and his mom, and the man who lives alone. But I haven't yet. What kind of meal would I feed them? Freezer-burned leftovers with a side dish of oatmeal and kidney beans? Yummy! Money being tight and all, extra groceries were not in the budget. I was embarassed to invite them up for one of my "creative" meals.
This Tuesday morning, I read Isaiah 55:1-3.
"Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare."
It caught me from the beginning--food and money. Just what had been on my mind. But then, what labor DOES satisfy? Befriending others with the hope of sharing about Jesus Christ. That was the part I was responsible for--to "LISTEN, LISTEN TO ME," he had said. So I did. I told Jon and he agreed we should extend the invitations.
Funny thing is, when my heart became obedient, God did just what this passage started out saying. After being out with friends, I found a $100 gift card to the local grocery store that had been tucked into my purse. Wow! "Come buy...without money and without cost"? But God didn't stop at that--within the next 2 days I had 3 different sources from which I received free groceries. Now, my bare pantry is plum full and I can't find things in my fridge because of all the food! Thank you, Lord! Now I can't wait to start cooking....
Thursday, May 15, 2008
911 and Eagle's Wings
I thank the Lord that I have never had to dial 911 for any reason and I hope to never have to use it. But just in case the need arises, Owen made sure last week that the number actually works!! It was a normal mid-week afternoon in the Flaa household. Kelly Jo was in the bedroom playing with Owen, who was cruising around playing with anything that could capture his short-lived attention span. At some point he happened to find that the telephone had been left in an unusual place, one where he could actually reach it. So naturally Owen picked it up and began to press all the buttons (he loves all the noises they make!). Being the good mother that she is, Kelly Jo decided to use this as a "teachable moment"...She asked Owen to bring the phone to her rather than just taking it away from him. Owen (being the VERY obedient son that he is...must be the parenting!) brought the phone right to Kelly Jo and went on his merry way to the next toy. The phone seemed no worse for the wear, except for one thing - the phone was on and there was no dial tone. Kelly Jo put the phone to her ear and said "hello?" and heard the following reply, "Yes, this is 911." Many apologies (and a visit by a police officer) later, we'll chalk this one up as a "I can't believe our son just did that!" moment.
We also received some encouragement this past week. Life tends to get very busy, as I'm sure many of you can relate to!! We go-go-go from work to home, chasing a little boy while preparing for a newborn..sharing with people and churches about our future ministry in Austria, and doing all of the other little things that can fill up a "normal" day. To be honest, there are times where we are very anxious to get to Austria. We want to be able to tell people that we are "in" Austria instead of telling people we are "going" to Austria. But we keep coming back to the fact that God is in control of our lives. HE gives us the strength and power to handle what comes each day, whether that is here in Minnesota or somewhere down the road in Austria.
"Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." (Isaiah 40:28-31)
Here's praying that we all will continue to put our hope in the Lord (no matter the circumstances of life), and see His power at work in and through us to change lives for eternity!!
We also received some encouragement this past week. Life tends to get very busy, as I'm sure many of you can relate to!! We go-go-go from work to home, chasing a little boy while preparing for a newborn..sharing with people and churches about our future ministry in Austria, and doing all of the other little things that can fill up a "normal" day. To be honest, there are times where we are very anxious to get to Austria. We want to be able to tell people that we are "in" Austria instead of telling people we are "going" to Austria. But we keep coming back to the fact that God is in control of our lives. HE gives us the strength and power to handle what comes each day, whether that is here in Minnesota or somewhere down the road in Austria.
"Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." (Isaiah 40:28-31)
Here's praying that we all will continue to put our hope in the Lord (no matter the circumstances of life), and see His power at work in and through us to change lives for eternity!!
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Out of the mud and into thankfulness
Sometimes I like to wallow in the mud. Figurative mud, that is. I don't feel good...I'm tired...I wish we had more time...I wish we had more money...and so on....
The fact is, I am a blessed woman. I have a beautiful baby growing in my belly, an adorable son who is full of life, and a wonderful husband who after a full days work comes home to care for his family when he deserves to be the one being served. I am blessed.
This post is to share another blessing we had this week. With the start of the year, money is always tight. Insurance deductibles start over, bills seem to increase, and even our car joined in the festivities by needing some not-so-cheap work done. With a few more unforseen costs, we were praying, "Lord, stretch our money"! This weekend, Jon and Owen and I were at a party with some friends. We had a wonderful time--encouraged, as always, by the fellowship. The next morning as I was cleaning out Owen's little lunch box from supper the night before, I discovered a baggie full of money. Now, either Owen has a part-time job we don't know about or he's making good money selling his toys on e-bay! Or, we had just been blessed by a caring group of friends who technically "didn't know our needs". Amazing how the Lord works, isn't it? Matthew 6 has always been a favorite of ours. The Lord knows what we need--why do we need to worry?
Thank you, Lord, for pulling me out of the mud to see the blessings you have given me!
The fact is, I am a blessed woman. I have a beautiful baby growing in my belly, an adorable son who is full of life, and a wonderful husband who after a full days work comes home to care for his family when he deserves to be the one being served. I am blessed.
This post is to share another blessing we had this week. With the start of the year, money is always tight. Insurance deductibles start over, bills seem to increase, and even our car joined in the festivities by needing some not-so-cheap work done. With a few more unforseen costs, we were praying, "Lord, stretch our money"! This weekend, Jon and Owen and I were at a party with some friends. We had a wonderful time--encouraged, as always, by the fellowship. The next morning as I was cleaning out Owen's little lunch box from supper the night before, I discovered a baggie full of money. Now, either Owen has a part-time job we don't know about or he's making good money selling his toys on e-bay! Or, we had just been blessed by a caring group of friends who technically "didn't know our needs". Amazing how the Lord works, isn't it? Matthew 6 has always been a favorite of ours. The Lord knows what we need--why do we need to worry?
Thank you, Lord, for pulling me out of the mud to see the blessings you have given me!
Monday, February 25, 2008
The Flaas are....
Bloggers! This will be the place for you to keep tabs on us if you so choose. We will be keeping this updated as often as necessary. It will include stories about family, ministry, and life in general. Some stories will be funny, some serious, and I'm sure some won't make any sense at all : )
Pregnant! That's right! Owen is coming up on his first birthday on March 10th, and we are expecting baby #2 this year (the due date is September 16th). We will not be finding out if it is a boy or a girl (to the extreme disappointment of my parents). Right now Kelly Jo is going through that amazing pregnancy experience brought on by Eve called "morning sickness". Feel free to pray that it would pass as quickly as possible. Even with the gag reflex in full force, we are both so thankful that both mom and baby are healthy and everything is moving right along. I (Jon) think it is going to be a boy only because Owen is already pounding on Momma's tummy, which makes me think he is already putting his younger brother in his place.
Glad the tomb is empty!
Pregnant! That's right! Owen is coming up on his first birthday on March 10th, and we are expecting baby #2 this year (the due date is September 16th). We will not be finding out if it is a boy or a girl (to the extreme disappointment of my parents). Right now Kelly Jo is going through that amazing pregnancy experience brought on by Eve called "morning sickness". Feel free to pray that it would pass as quickly as possible. Even with the gag reflex in full force, we are both so thankful that both mom and baby are healthy and everything is moving right along. I (Jon) think it is going to be a boy only because Owen is already pounding on Momma's tummy, which makes me think he is already putting his younger brother in his place.
Glad the tomb is empty!
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