Slow and Steady

Well, it's been 4 hours and she's 5 cm, 100% effaced and the baby's moving down into the pelvis - all good signs! They just turned the pitocin up a little bit.  However, her temperature is slightly elevated and the nurses are watching it closely. At one point it was 100.4 and is now down to 99.7 which causes the baby's heart rate to be faster in response. They are monitoring her for any signs of infection. We are figuring that it will probably be somewhere in the 2 am time frame for delivery. Please pray with us for her temperature to return to normal, no infection, and strength and energy to push the baby out when the time comes. Caitlin is resting now and hopefully will be able to nap a little bit!

Moving along!

Caitlin is resting comfortably now. Her in-laws arrived about an hour ago which was great timing as she was relaxed and comfortable. The mid-wife checked her and she is 90% effaced and 4 cm dilated. So, now the baby has to rotate. He's head down but needs to rotate so his head will push on the cervix and help it to dilate with the contractions. She's trying to rest on her side now. We could have another 4-6 more hours to go! 

Epidural Time!

Caitlin is getting prepped for the epidural. The tub helped relax her some but she is getting very tired. Kris is a fantastic coach/support/encourager - just what Caitlin needs!

Ramping up!

Everything is progressing nicely - contractions are more regular and getting more intense as expected. Caitlin is dreading each one but doing very well. She is going to sit in the tub soon. No idea how dilated she is, they don't check b/c the water broke and don't want to risk infection. The baby's heartbeat is very good with each contraction.

We're progressing!

This is Nonnie posting from the labor room! Here's the update: Caitlin's water broke on the kitchen floor this morning before they left for the hospital. The pitocin is running and has been "upped" twice and now the contractions are regular. We started a game of Settlers of Catan per Caitlin's request (one of her favorite games) but didn't get very far. She is focused and still able to stay on top of the contractions. Things have really improved over the past 20+ years! And I thought we were progressive then!

Baby is coming!

Caitlin is officially 41 weeks pregnant.  The baby stuff is all ready, our hospital bags are packed- but still no baby to fill our arms.  Luckily, the end is near- baby has over stayed his welcome inside me and is being evicted tomorrow.  We have an induction scheduled for 8am tomorrow morning- 3/25/2014.  We can not wait to meet our baby tomorrow!  Please join us in praying even now that the Lord will soften his heart to the gospel and show him the truth of salvation through Christ alone by faith alone.  Thanks everyone!  Stay posted on this blog tomorrow for all the labor updates.  

2013 Christmas Letter

Merry Christmas one and all! 

Can you believe it is almost 2014!? 2013 has flown by and given us a big surprise.  Our big news of the year is that WE ARE HAVING A BABY!!!!  Baby Marriage is on the way and due to change our lives forever on March 17, 2014.  We eagerly await the arrival of this little blessing but are also enjoying the months before the family grows.

As we reflect on our past year, we are grateful for all the ways that God has provided and cared for us. We are constantly grateful for the faith to trust in Christ’s work of reconciling us to God. Because God has saved us from our sins, we know that he will not fail us.

The first couple years of our marriage have been anything but normal or mundane. We have been through moving Caitlin from one coast to the other, the final year of Kris’ graduate school, and a move from Southern California to the Northwest. This past year has brought trials but also a degree of normalcy that we haven’t had. One trial has been Kris' job not being as steady as we would have liked.  We are blessed that each day God has provided just what we need though.  Kris works for Mega Pacific (a construction company in Portland, OR) as a carpenter assistant.  He enjoys seeing buildings happen and go up from work that he contributed to, as well as renovations come about through the work of his hands.  Caitlin continues to work as a nurse for the schools but got the assignment she asked for this year.  She now is the school nurse at a high school 3 miles from home and at an elementary school one day a week.  She is now quite busy at work all the time (a big change from last year). She loves that her job once again gives her feelings of accomplishment, and is able to use her mind more. 

We are growing in our marriage as we are getting to know each other better and better each day.  We celebrated our 2nd anniversary in August with a wonderful trip to Seattle. We have gotten to do all sorts of adventures here in the NW this year.  We camped (both on the streets of Portland and in Washington's Olympic Peninsula), hiked, visited Mt Hood, went to see beautiful Multnomah Falls, visited the Oregon and Washington coast (with the Franzkes, Matuokas, then Joyces), gone to Portland Winterhawks hockey games, and spent a weekend at Depoe Bay for Caitlin’s birthday.  We also have been incredibly blessed by so many people who love us enough to travel so many miles to visit us. Our home is small (and getting smaller in March) but would be happy to host any of our family or friends, we love having company!

As you can tell, 2013 has been full of fun and adventure.  We can't wait to see what 2014 brings as our family becomes 3 instead of 2 and the adventures continue.  We pray that each person reading this has had a blessed year. Most importantly we hope you have been blessed by knowing the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
Much love to all our friends and family!

Love, 

The Marriages