Thank you

Thank you Nic for keeping my blog updated.

We are ALLLLLL home now safe and sound. (for about an hour) And exhausted. I will post a big update tomorrow if at all possible. Thank you ALL for the prayers.


MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Baby Mark needs your prayers!

I just talked to Kate. Apparently, when Mark was born, both Kate & Mark had a fever. So they took cultures on them and said that final results wouldn't be available for 48 hours. But the preliminary results came back on Mark today and they were positive. We don't know what they are positive FOR, at this time, but regardless the doctors are jumping all over this. The little guy is having an IV port put in right now & will be getting IV antibiotics every 12 hours until we know more & probably beyond.

Kate is really upset. She's going to be discharged tomorrow and now it looks like Mark won't get to go home with them for Christmas. And she's scared, because she doesn't know what this might mean. I am praying it was either a false positive or a low-grade infection of some kind, because Mark has been doing awesome since he got here -- eating well, resting well, etc....

Anyway, any & all prayers & good thoughts will be much appreciated!

Manna is here!!!!!!!

Mark Edward arrived just before 4am this morning. He was 8 lbs 3 oz & 19.5 inches long. He is absolutely adorable, I must say. Both Mom and baby are doing just fine. It was a successful VBAC, so I'm guessing they'll be home in time to spend Christmas as a new family of 4!!!!

Labor Update

The update is, there is not much of an update. Kate is still working hard to get the baby out. It has been a long day, but she's a trooper and doing as well as can be expected. Hopefully Manna will decide to make his or her grand debut soon!!!! I'll be posting here when there is news to post.

Baby Manna is on the way!!!!!!

Kate went into the hospital this morning and things looked favorable, so they broke her water at 8:54 am EST. When I talked to her about 40 minutes later, she was having some pretty good, steady contractions!!!!!

Please say some prayers for a smooth, uneventful labor and delivery --- I know Kate will appreciate them and I'll update here later!

Okay, Okay.

After a couple emails and some sad friends... I've changed my mind!!!

Nic CAN post the baby's gender after all. I know everyone's been anxious to know that! And I know she'll be bursting with excitement to tell anyhow, so there you go.

(and ha about that last post being the "last pg post" huh?)

It's before 6am on Saturday morning. I have seen nearly every half hour, definitely every hour... oy. Can you tell I'm a bit antsy?

Things I've been thinking about:

-hafta clean the toilets (why is this first on my list?)
-hafta finish the laundry
-hafta sweep the playroom (that requires picking UP the playroom)
-hafta iron Jamie's pants ... maybe some shirts before I'm laid up
-the car is packed... did I forget anything? (running over the packed list again and again)
-I still wanted to make another batch of fudge... do I have time for this? LOL
-ALL the Christmas gifts are wrapped, in my pregnant stupor, did I forget anyone?!
-vag or C, vag or C... what will I end up with? I think at this point I'm okay with either. I really am. ... I know I've put a lot of emphasis in desiring to try labor and attempt a "normal" birth but I really DO know that in the end it matters not HOW but THAT the baby comes out. I do know that deep down. In case anyone wasn't sure... *wink*
-Kris-- my sister-- and how she's coming to meet whomever is baby sooner than she could with Matthew!
-how hard it is living far away from family and friends in special times like this.
-how hard it will be for Nic to want to jump a plane but can't this time.
-how hard it was for me not to come swiftly when she had her son.
-how much I'm so grateful for her and her support and love
-how much I am so extremely glad my mom will be here this time--God willing!
-how much I wanted her last time.
-how wonderful my husband is...
-how much my son's life is about to change.

I'm sure there's more but that's just the things that come to mind first...

update

This very well could be the last pg update...

My MW tried to encourage some happenings today (I'll leave the TMI out of this... haha) so we're hoping that I go into labor naturally over the weekend. If not I'll either be checked and/or induced first thing Monday morning.

As things progress, I'm sure there will be updates.

If you're a regular reader-- Nic (my best friend) will be posting on here in my stead while I'm at the hospital updating. I've asked her to NOT reveal the sex. I'll try to get back on as soon as possible to give the big reveal!

Cheers!

Cake balls final chapter

Hot dog! Those things are good. Jamie and I each had one after dinner. He's going to take some with him to work tomorrow so that I don't eat the rest on my own!!! SUCCESS!

Cake Balls continued...

Allow me to complete my experience with the final steps...

7. Roll in/dip in/dunk in melted chocolate and cool on wax paper and let harden and then refreeze.
*this was a bit of an issue. I felt like I was wasting chocolate...I ended up trying to dunk them, and with two spoons trying to remove access choc but for the most part under each ball is like a glob of pooled choc. Now, if this also hardens then maybe it's fine, but I'm not sure yet. The reaction from others who've done it is that this is normal.
*Also, I will say that 12 oz of choc chips melted down (I did a min in the microwave, stir, and another min in the microwave to make the melted choc) wasn't enough. I've heard diff reports of 16 oz needed or 24 oz needed. So make sure you have at least 16 oz if you're using choc chips.

8. Store in either fridge or freezer. Enjoy.
*Well currently they are still "hardening" on the parchment paper (I was out of wax) but the next step will be to freeze. :)

And that's my baking creations for today.
Thankfully my son is taking a nice long nap!

Cake Balls

On a message board I frequent, there has been a phenomenon of late. The Cake Balls. Every day for the past few, someone is bringing it up. There are questions after questions about this way or that way or can I do it like this or how do you do this part... and I will admit, I asked many a question myself about them. I was very intrigued. Well last night I did the first major part in making my own Cake Balls. I will say that unfinished as they are, they are SOOO GOOOOOD! Oh my word! So, I thought I'd share on here all that I know about the

Cake Balls...

Basic instructions are this:
Bake cake.
Cool.
Crumble cake, add frosting, mix well.
Make balls.
Freeze.
Dip.
Freeze again.

Allow me to break it down for you...

1. Bake a cake (any cake--as directed on box)
*easy enough

2. Let cake cool about 30 minutes
*torture while it smells so good and you want a piece

3. Take a fork and rake it through the cooled cake
*Jamie and I each had a fork and cake was a little bit flying... this was fun!

4. Mix a (small) can of frosting into your cake crumbles
*We transferred crumbles to a large bowl and added in frosting... at this point Jamie says "just so you know there is ZERO chance of me sticking my hands in there" He ended up mixing it well with a metal spoon

5. Scoop into "tablespoon size" (bite size) balls.
*Messy. Very Messy. I don't have a melon baller or a cookie scooper so I just used a normal table spoon and my hands to form the balls. Messy. Fun, but messy.

Supposed to end up with 50-60 balls. I had 46, so not bad.

6. Then cover and freeze. (let freeze at least 4 hours)
*done.

This is where I am currently, (we did that much last night)...
but the next steps are:

7. Roll in/dip in/dunk in melted chocolate and cool on wax paper and let harden and then refreeze.

8. Store in either fridge or freezer. Enjoy.

I'll have to let you know how the dipping part goes. I will say it's the part I'm most nervous about. But I will also say... undipped, they are very very good. Dangerously good. *wink wink*