Shining through the Sorrow

My sweet Grace, You are now one month old and your little life has already blessed me so much.  Having the opportunity to hold, cuddle, and love another precious baby has brought me so much joy.  God certainly knew what He was doing when he gave you to me.   Before my memory of your birth completely fades, I thought I'd write it all down - just as I have with all your brothers and sisters. Leading up to Your Birth After passing your due date of February 14th, my anxiety surrounding your arrival continued to grow.  I already had a midwife appointment scheduled for Wednesday the 17th, but I ended up calling into the office on Tuesday the 16th.  I was tearful and worried about all the little things that I now know can go wrong.  What if something happens with her cord?  What if it's wrapped around her neck?  What if the placenta starts to detach?  What if she's too big?  What if she passes meconium while inside? The nurse wrote dow...

Hello dear reader.  Realized I haven't blogged much about this precious baby currently inside, and for my own memory I need to take a moment and write out some details. I'm currently 38.5 weeks along, at that beautiful point in gestation where I feel like I will be pregnant forever.  I wrote a very similar blog during my last pregnancy, appropriately titled Waiting on Ruby .  As I re-read all my babies' birth stories this afternoon I realized two things about that particular blog post - First, I wrote a LOT of TMI details about everything I was doing to get her OUT.  My apologies.  And second, none of it made any difference.  She came when she was ready.  Unfortunately for me, that happened to be eight days past her due date.  NEVER before had I seen my due date, as my first three babes were all early. The shirt says it all. This morning I had a rather discouraging appointment with one of my favorite midwives, where I realized the only th...

If you've been following along, you know that as soon as we found out baby #5 was a girl, we already had her name chosen.  We announced the name Lily Marie about six weeks ago, but have since changed our minds. Let me start by saying, it's not easy to pick a Dingle baby name.  We decided years ago that we'd only want biblical names, followed by a family middle name.  So first came the boys, Joel and Gabriel.  And then our girls, Zoe and Ruby.  To answer what everyone asks - Yes they are both biblical, even if they aren't names specifically.  Zoe is the Greek word for "life," and is found all over the New Testament.  Ruby, a precious gemstone, is described in both Exodus and Proverbs. I'll also add that there are so many more biblical boy names than girls.  Which makes this more difficult.  So had baby #5 been a boy, we were set on Isaac Joseph.  Isaac meaning "laughter" which was so fitting considering how we found out we were expect...

Finding out we were expecting baby number five was quite the surprise.  If you haven't heard already, my hubby had the little Snip Snap Procedure done LAST October, because we were very sure our family was complete.  Then God laughed from the Heavens at our attempts to control things once again.  Kyle never did any follow-up appointments, assuming if we waited long enough that we'd be safe.  Insert nervous laughter here. Over the summer I distinctly remember trying to keep up with my workouts, yet my stomach was growing by the day.  One evening in particular, on June 19th, I put on a tight running tank and went for a jog.  With each step I took, my eyes were drawn downwards at my belly that clearly looked "with child."  When I was done I came inside and announced to Kyle that I was SURE I was pregnant and that he needed to go get a test immediately.  He laughed at the absurdity of such an idea but agreed, knowing that seeing a negative test woul...

**UPDATE:  After running into every little girl named Lily in the Tri-State area, we've decided to find something less popular.  Stay tuned for baby girl's new name!** Hello, friends!  Kyle and I are pleased to announce that God has blessed us with another GIRL!  Her name will follow our family tradition, a biblical first name and a family middle name.  Lily is a symbol of purity and resurrection, and Marie is my Mother-in-Law's middle name. Lily Marie

My precious baby girl is a week old today!  I figured I should write her birth story before I forget all the exciting details!  Here's the last photo taken of me pregnant with Ruby, three days overdue.  I'm on the left, posing with my sweet friend Branda, at her baby shower. Some Background Two Saturdays ago, I wrote about waiting on Ruby and described all the things I had been doing to get her to come out.  That following Monday I called the midwives' office and asked to come in to check on her, as I was growing more and more anxious.  I was hooked up to a monitor and it was determined that all was well.  I went back to a midwife appt on Wednesday for my official non-stress test and ultrasound - to basically do the same thing - determine that all was well.  I was checked and found to still be 3cm.  I left the appointment feeling very discouraged.  It certainly seems crazy now, but at the time I just felt like she was never going to c...

Disclaimer:  I'm writing this so I can remember all these details.  And the details are way TMI.  So, you've been warned.  If you're of the male species, especially a family member, you should probably head on over to Buzzfeed now... How I spent hours this week - Bouncing So, today I'm 40 weeks 3 days along.  Never in a million years did I think I'd still be pregnant.  I didn't think I'd ever see my due date, not to mention pass it.  Being way pregnant is so not fun.  I didn't have to experience the last month (plus) of pregnancy agony with my boys, and I'd highly recommend that to anyone.  This stuff isn't for the weak - not sleeping, having Braxton Hicks contractions night and day, swelling hands and feet, and earning your sausage fingers.  Not to mention how difficult it is on you emotionally - thinking everyday is the day, thinking your water could break at any second every time your head hits the pillow at night, having false...

Dearest Ruby Mae, I love you.  I really do.  In fact, I love you so much, that I'd actually like to see your face, and hold you in my arms.  It's time.  Time to come out.  Time to exit.  Head on down, love. Yes, I'm technically 39 weeks and you could decide to continue baking for seven to 14 days.  Believe me, people keep reminding me of that.  But, sweet Ruby, I beg of you - do not attempt that.  It won't be fun for anyone involved.  You're getting bigger, and what's worse - I'm getting bigger... and possibly more emotional.  Maybe.  You see, your big brothers both entered the world at 36 weeks, so even though it's completely crazy and irrational (see, I admit it!) - I tend to feel "overdue" by the time I'm in my 37th week.  So, everyday since then, I think "Today might be the day!"  And I go to bed weary, and wake up even more upset that nothing happened in the night. I was the same way with your big sister, a...

I'm almost 37 weeks now and am feeling so exhausted.  I'm grateful my hubby is home today and has given me a break with the kiddos.  I can't quite pinpoint why I'm feeling so tired, but I can assume it has to do with my emotionally draining day yesterday... Ruby was quiet all day long, from the time I woke up, all through church, and into the afternoon as I tried all the tricks - like drinking something cold and laying on my left side.  This is very unlike her.  She's one of those babies who's so active people can see her moving from across the room.  One of those babies who moves so often, I never have to think "Oh, I haven't felt her in awhile."  So, finally by about 3pm I had packed my bags and was almost in Crazy Town.  Decided to call the on-call midwife, who asked me to come into the hospital to be monitored - that way we both would have a peace of mind about it all.  After being there about an hour, it was determined that Ruby is just fin...

I really wasn't going to do another one of these, but I can't help myself!  With this being baby number four, it's just too tempting to look through my old photos and start comparing.  Plus, I actually had a 35 week picture for each kid! I'm getting more and more uncomfortable and even had a contraction so painful last night that it woke me up from my sleep!  I'm in that lovely stage now that everything makes me exhausted.  Field trip with Joel this morning, check.  Carrying laundry downstairs, check.  Opening the fridge, haha - it all makes me tired.   I will officially be checked for any progress during next appointment, which will be later next week.  Although I'm trying not to get my hopes up, I can't help but remember that both Joel and Gabriel came during my 36th week...  It's possible I could be holding this little one VERY soon. Wow.  Let's discuss, shall we?  Joel's pregnancy - giant and swollen.  Eve...

Hello dear readers.  Just a little PSA for ya.  At almost nine months pregnant, I may be having a problem covering up the growing belly.  So this is a just a friendly, apologetic message for the public - specifically those of you who happen to see more of me than you'd like over the next few weeks.  That's what happens when you borrow maternity clothes for your first three kids, and end up with almost none for baby number four.  New pics for you! 33 weeks 34 weeks Same day 33 weeks shot - notice the appropriate coverage in one of my few maternity tops.  34 weeks shot - Whoa baby, but at least my nails look good...  And in the final shot, note the use of the cardigan sweater to hide the exposed underbelly.  LOL.  Are you taking notes?  You should be!  ;)

31 Weeks with Joel 29 Weeks with Gabriel 29 Weeks with Zoe 30 Weeks with Ruby You can read about why Gabriel's bump looks so small and compact here .  You can see Comparison Shots II here , and the first round here .  Happy Wednesday, readers!  Hope the rest of your week flies by!  :)

Good morning!  Thought I'd rest my brain this week and just write a blog updating you all on this baby.  I'll turn 29 weeks tomorrow, which makes me already in my 29th week, which is always confusing.  So, let's just say I'm seven months pregnant... Our little one continues to be very active, at all times of day.  I'm at the point where I should be doing "kick counts" to ensure that I'm feeling her move, but I've never had to stop and think "Is she moving?" cause just give it a second, and she'll move.  Truth be told, I actually wouldn't be surprised if she came out Samuel instead of Ruby.  Both times we had an ultrasound, the technicians were not 100%, and she's crazy active, just like big brother Joel was.  Good thing I'm not preparing a pink room for baby to come home to!  We haven't purged any baby/kid items yet, so no matter what - we'll be prepared with the appropriate clothing, sheets, towels, shoes, acces...

Hey friends!  If you're like me, you love all things related to pregnancy - including bump pictures!  I thought I'd do another picture post of my belly from past pregnancies.  All photos were taken at 27 weeks gestation... Pregnancy #1 - Joel Pregnancy #2 - Gabriel Pregnancy #3 - Zoe Pregnancy #4 - Ruby The good, the bad, the ugly...  Baby #1:  Cute haircut (I was channeling my inner P!nk), I had beautiful maternity clothes I was able to wear to work (borrowed and no longer in my possession), but at this point I was starting to swell and was no longer wearing my wedding rings. Baby #2:  Honestly, this picture just makes me sad .  I know I was still trying to capture my growing body, not wanting to forget the journey of this pregnancy.  I was still active at this point (see the sneakers on the elliptical as proof), but I feel like I look big (check out that rump roast) and sad. Baby #3:  This was taken in Zoe's nursery...

I'm 27 weeks along, and most books/websites agree that means I'm in my third trimester now!  Weight gain so far is at five pounds.  This pregnancy really has flown by - I guess that's what happens when you have two little ones at home.  But yet I still fear that these last three months are going to feel like a slow creep. I'm not feeling the best physically.  I've been dealing with a horrible head cold for a week now, and it's so much tougher to endure coughing that leads to peeing (yes, I said it) and congestion that leads to nose bleeds.  Welcome to my honest world of pregnancy.  Last week, a workout left me crampy and sore, which has finally brought me to the understanding that I must stop running.  I am thankful I was able to do it for so long, and I plan on continuing to walk/bike/use the elliptical three times a week to stay active.  The heartburn has started and usually turns into full on indigestion by the evening - with a pleasant swo...

By definition, natural means:  Existing in or caused by nature; not made or caused by humankind. A few weeks ago, I mentioned that my hope is to deliver Miss Ruby Mae completely naturally.  I thought we'd discuss more about that this week.  Let's start with that definition - wow!  Labor and birth are both natural things, seen in nature, an act created by God.  How appropriate! I have many friends who think I'm crazy and remind me often that delivering without pain management does not mean the nurses will bring me a medal or a trophy... Wait.  What?  But I've already cleared a space on my mantle!  Just kidding.  I know I won't be getting any high honors if I'm able to complete this feat, but it's something that is very important to me.  I wanted to explain a little more about that, but I also wanted to open up the comment section for other mommas out there to give me tips, advice, etc. So, why do I want to do this?  Although...