Devotions began like any other night...

We sang a few hymns, then got into our cathechism questions...

Haddon, who made you?

God.

Gideon, what else did God make?

God made all things.

Nolan, why did God make you and all things?

For His own glory.

How many Gods are there?

Nolan piped up...ONE!

And how many persons are there in that one God?

Nolan answered again...THREE!

And who are they?

Nolan again...The Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost!

Before John could ask another question...Nolan added...

And I LOVE those guys!!

And the golfing begins....

It didn't take long to begin playing with Gideon's birthday gift from Gramma and Grampa!







Of course, I had to add one of Paysie...she was in a milk daze...

Gideon's Birthday Package!

The first bath, the first dress

Okay, so it was only a sponge bath. I had been waiting as long as I could to give her a bath. My girl never spits up and it's never good to give a new baby too many baths. I don't want her to dry out! This was a few days ago. And let me say...Gideon is so in love with his sister, and he was such a helper! I can already tell that there is going to be a very special bond between Paysie and her big brother :)

Her cord still has yet to fall off...I don't think her brother's ever took this long. She came into this world being stubborn...why would this be any different?

Here she is before:

during:

and after:

Paysie also wanted to share with you all how cute she looks today in her little patchwork capris. I don't think I will ever get tired of pink!


And the dress...I wanted to see how it would fit on her. She wasn't really in the mood for a fashion show, but being a girl is never painless, right? I held off putting her in a dress because they were just too big. I don't have that much for her at her current size...but I just couldn't resist. I'm thinking she'll be wearing this on Sunday to church :)

Not long now...

Welcome to the World, Trig Paxson Van Palin

by Al Mohler
Posted: Tuesday, May 06, 2008

A little boy with an extra chromosome was born on April 18. His name is Trig Paxson Van Palin and his new home is the Alaska Governor's Mansion in Juneau. His mom is Governor Sarah Palin, who along with her husband Todd, has welcomed Trig as their second son and fifth child.

Governor Palin has already made a mark on the political scene. A high school basketball star and beauty queen, she was elected Alaska's governor in 2006. She is often mentioned as a potential running mate for Sen. John McCain. The Palins' other children include Track, their oldest son, who now serves in the U.S. Army. They also have three daughters, Bristol, Willow, and Piper.

Trig made news long before he was born, as Alaska's citizens learned that their governor was pregnant. Then, for the Palins, the story got more complicated.

This past December, Sarah Palin was told that her baby was likely to have Down syndrome -- just one extra chromosome.

As the Associated Press reports:

The doctor's announcement in December, when Palin was four months pregnant, presented her with a possible life- and career-changing development.

"I've never had problems with my other pregnancies, so I was shocked," said Palin.

"It took a while to open up the book that the doctor gave me about children with Down syndrome, and a while to log on to the Web site and start reading facts about the situation."

When he was told, Todd Palin quickly said, "We shouldn't be asking, 'Why us?' We should be saying, 'Well, why not us?'"

The Palins never considered aborting the baby. That means that Trig Palin is now is a very rare group of very special children, because it is now believed that the vast majority of babies diagnosed with Down syndrome before birth are being aborted.

Modern diagnostic tests are driving a "search and destroy mission" to eliminate babies judged to be inferior, disabled, or deformed. Some experts now believe that up to 90 percent of all pregnancies diagnosed as having a likelihood of Down syndrome end in abortion.

Back in 2005, ethicist George Neumayr commented: "Each year in America fewer and fewer disabled infants are born. The reason is eugenic abortion. Doctors and their patients use prenatal technology to screen unborn children for disabilities, then they use that information to abort a high percentage of them. Without much scrutiny or debate, a eugenics designed to weed out the disabled has become commonplace."

The Palins would not even consider aborting their baby. "We've both been very vocal about being pro-life," Governor Palin said. "We understand that every innocent life has wonderful potential."

She loves her baby boy and is proud of him. "I'm looking at him right now, and I see perfection," Palin told the Associated Press. "Yeah, he has an extra chromosome. I keep thinking, in our world, what is normal and what is perfect?"

Some ethicists now go so far as to argue for a "duty" to abort a baby with a Down diagnosis. This is an assault upon the dignity of every human being. The fact that so few Down syndrome babies now make it to birth is a sign that America is making its own pact with the Culture of Death.

Trig Paxson Van Palin has an extra chromosome, two proud and loving parents, four very happy siblings, and he will bring his own joy to untold numbers of lives.

He will face some unique challenges, but he has a loving family who will face those with him. They will learn together the wonder and beauty of a Down syndrome child and will learn to see the glory of God in his trusting face.

Mothers Day 2008 is certain to be a special day in the Alaska Governor's Mansion. What an unspeakable tragedy that so many other homes will have aborted that joy.

Welcome to the world, Trig Paxson Van Palin. Your very existence defies the Culture of Death and gives us all hope.

I guess I'm not a cool, young evangelical either....

I came upon this blog post the other day that had me nodding my head. Take a look...it really puts into words the way I feel about the whole Obama craze....especially among the young evangelical audience.

Man, I wish I could be cool. I try hard. I've done all the "cool" and "hip" stuff, that you're "supposed" to do to be "in", like playing the slide-whistle, collecting stamp mint sets, going for the "slam" a lot during ping-pong -- all that stuff.

But I'm not cool. Like, ever.

Further evidence: As much as I want to be one of these hip evangelicals I keep reading about, I won't be voting for Barack Obama.

Believe me, I'd like to. A) He's a black guy -- did you know that?, and B) He's from Illinois, like I am, and C) I don't like anyone else running, and then there's D) If the evangelical culture tells me to zig, well, I'd rather zag, thanks.

I won't be zagging here. You see, Obama's arguments on abortion are patently illogical, anti-science, morally reprehensible, and there you have it.

The cool thing to do here is say, "Well, that's simplistic. There are so many other issues!" -- as though the acknowledgment of a hierarchy of issues is simplism.

He denies human rights to millions of vulnerable children -- wups, let's use the Latin for child here to maintain the veneer -- fetuses, and so I won't press the Obama button.

(Wish I were Warren: "Yes, we can know when life begins, Mr. Obama. That argument's ended quite awhile ago. And yes, even if you're still unsure -- Is that a human in the bushes, or an animal? I'll shoot first! -- we still might summon the will to protect those born alive. Too bad you didn't, and you remain one of the very, very few, even among pro-choicers, who won't.")

No offense, Obama-supporters. I know the compelling arguments (But...Iraq, But...Bush sucks, But...presidents don't really matter on this issue, But...Sojourners says what about global warming, But...it's just so complicated, etc.) and I might agree with you on many things. But this is a non-starter.

I lose cool points...again. I know, I know: Me and Pat Robertson, in lock-step, and so on, and it's time we matured past this issue, and so forth, and me and James Dobson, and religious right doesn't speak for eveyrone, and what about social justice and etc. I know. I hear you. Again. Loud and clear.

And you're right -- it's not the only issue, not even close.

It's just the most basic one.

Letters from Kamp Krusty

Death By Love by Mark Driscoll

You can get a free chapter from Mark Driscoll's new book, "Death By Love" by clicking here

"I just don't know how you do it"

I hear this a lot.

To which I usually reply...You just DO it.

It's not as though I've got some hidden secret powers that I can pull out when I most need them....as nice as that would be!

It all comes down to God's grace.

If there is one thing that having 5 children has taught me, it's that my needs are secondary...at least most of the time. If I have a crying baby or a fussy toddler, blow drying my hair somehow doesn't seem quite so important anymore.

I have found that it is nearly impossible to be lazy and procrastinate if I am to run my household well. When there is opportunity to throw in a load of laundry or put the dishes away, I need to take full advantage of those brief moments when all is calm. As any mom of a newborn knows...that calmness can quickly turn into quite a storm in a matter of seconds!

It is still tempting to just want to sit and relax and not do the things that need to be done. As a human with many faults, I often feel like I am entitled to be selfish, that I somehow deserve more than I really do. That it's perfectly fine to ignore the tasks at hand and blame it on how tired I might be or that the kids just wouldn't allow me to get even the smallest thing done. This is sometimes the case, but more often than not, it's because I have not managed my time well. Whether you have children or not, I think we all have issues with procrastination and time management!

I feel like I have truly been blessed to have such a full house. There are days when I feel as though I am barely surviving and that a good day means all the kids are dressed, fed, and happy. When someone says to me "I just don't know how you do it!", I feel like it is a great compliment. What they don't see is the daily struggle and full reliance on God that enables me to run my household well.

From the outside, it may look like we've got it all together. Thankfully, it isn't me holding it all together.

There but by the grace of God go I.
-John Bradford

"My Wonderful Cross" and another rendition of "Holy Holy Holy"

Some crying, some legs, some sleeping...overall cuteness

Beaming

Have you ever seen a happier big brother?

or a more content little girl?

Paysie's Hospital Pictures

Here are a few of my favorites...you can check them all out on my flickr!

Where did you get the name Payson?

I get asked this question quite often, now that Paysie has arrived. If you are wondering, check out this post for an explanation. I wrote it before we knew if it was a boy or a girl.

I enjoy telling people where her name comes from. It opens the door a bit to a discussion that might not have been opened otherwise!

Although John has an idea....

The next ime someone asks him where her name comes from, this will be his reply:

"Well, we're big Tennessee Volunteer and Indianapolis Colts fans...so we named her after Payson Manning." (fyi: we aren't Colts fans)

Do you think he'll get corrected?

Party at Paysie's 2:30am

My girl enjoys her sleep.

She has her moments of awake time and is very alert....but a girl needs her beauty sleep!

I wake her every 2-3 hours during the day to eat and get a diaper change, unless she wakes up before that.

We go to bed at the same time and wake at the same time, or rather, she wakes me.

The nursing begins, another diaper change, switch sides...fill up. Sleep.

Then the clock says 2:30am.

Paysie awakens. She doesn't really want to eat. Her diaper is clean. She just wants to be held and loved for about 30 minutes. Then she is more than happy to laid back down, next to mommy's bed.

If anyone else happens to be awake at 2:30am...come and join us!

RSVP's aren't necessary!

The mystery of the doll

I never see how it happens...but someone, somewhere does not want Paysie to be without her doll. It seems to keep reappearing by her side all day long.

I think his name starts with a 'G'...

For Gramma and Grampa in Maine

We are home!

I always feel like I'm somehow taking advantage of the nurses by having them wait on me after I have a child. I'm always anxious to get home! (Plus, the food there really isn't all that great.)

Here's the lowdown on Paysie's birth....

I was nervous about being induced. I was so afraid that it would create a long drawn out labor. I had already made the decision (like I have three times before) to not get any pain medication...the unknown was worrying me. Little did I know, I had nothing to worry about!

We arrived at the hospital at 10pm. The nurses came in around 11:30 to fill out paperwork and get me prepped. I changed into my beautiful hospital gown, and around midnight, I got my IV.

They started me on a really low pitocin drip. Nothing really started happening, and I slept most of the early morning hours away.

Around 5:30am, one of the nurses came in and checked me to see if anything had changed. NOPE! Still at 2cm. She doubled the pitocin.

At 6am, I started having some contractions, but I was still able to sleep through them, so they weren't regular or strong yet.

At 6:30am, she doubled it again. At this point, they picked up and were getting fairly regular, even though the intensity wasn't there yet. Slowly but surely, the intensity began to grow.

My Dr stuck his head in the room at 8:00am to see I was doing...I don't think he realized how quickly he would have to make his return.

By 9am I had to concentrate. The contractions were coming about every minute and a half and my breathing was noticeably deeper each time a new one started. John was great at holding my hand and talking me through the contractions.

At this point, they still hadn't checked me since 5:30am. I could tell they started to really do something, and I was getting a little worried that I had no idea how far along I was!

9:35am...the contractions drastically CHANGED! I started to feel pressure and had John call a nurse. I laid there, unable to push the nurses call button on my own. I had no energy to tell John where it was. Instead, I just kept repeating myself...GET A NURSE! GET A NURSE!

He ran into the hallway and the nurse quickly put on gloves and checked me.

I was at 4cm and the baby was moving down...fast!

John reminded her that when I hit 5cms, things just seem to happen QUICKLY! She began to get things ready.

I wasn't panicking, but in the midst of my constant contractions, I was getting worried. There was no bassinet in the room. I hadn't seen my Dr in a few hours. It was still just John and I, alone in the room...and I could feel that with each long, intense contraction....I was getting closer and closer to delivery.

I was getting so hot, I asked John to get me a cold face cloth for my forehead. He ran across the room to find one, as I laid there mumbling that if he couldn't find one to just get a nurse...but that I needed that facecloth!

At 9:45, I felt a POP! My water broke! I told John...GET A NURSE NOW!!! MY WATER BROKE! He ran down the hall...nurses came running. They checked me, and I was at 8cm. I knew that on the next contraction, I would NEED to push!

It's amazing how quickly nurses can get a room ready for delivery. I've seen this scurrying before...the LAST time I gave birth. You would think they would believe me by now, when I say I have fast labors!

I laid there moaning, repeating my mantra...I need to push now, I need to push now.

But the Dr wasn't there yet! They kept telling me to breathe...all while they are pulling the bed apart, still getting the necessary equipment in there for delivery!

In comes my Dr...out of breath. He had to literally run across the parking lot directly to my room. He suited up as I began pushing. He had his intern with him...and I allowed 2 Dr's who are on an OB rotation to sit in on the birth too.

I pushed once....felt the baby coming...and they told me to slow down.

One more push...the head is out....they told me to stop pushing and to control the urge to get her out.

That seemed like forever...one more slow, controlled push and out came the shoulders and the rest of my little girl.

She was already pink and crying. The pain relief was so immediate and satisfying...the time was 10:07am.

As soon as they did a quick once over and made sure she was okay...they swaddled her up and gave her to me to nurse. She latched on immediately, and she hasn't stopped since!

My recovery is going great...I had no tearing or delivery problems, so I feel better than I have in months!

Paysie weighed in at 8lbs3oz and 20 inches long. When they weighed her this morning, she had only lost 2 ounces...which is great! She loves to nurse and loves to poop...the best of both worlds!

I want to thank you all for your prayers...they were definitely felt :)

My boys came to meet her yesterday and were just beside themselves. They kept saying how cute she is and how they can't wait to have her at home.

Here I sit, mother of five...and can scarcely believe it! My house is filled with children, and I can't imagine my life any other way...my cup is definitely overflowing!

More Pictures & Stats

8lbs. 3 oz.....20 inches. I seriously thought she was longer. So did the nurse. She seems to have long legs.

Payson Deborah Jordan

Payson was born at 10:07 a.m. It was a pretty intense 30-45 minutes. More details to come.