Day Off

Time is passing so quickly that I just know I'm going to wake up one day, and the days of life with little ones will be gone. It's all so very cliche, but I have a strong sense in my heart that these days are sweet, though they are full of what I perceive as chaos and much dying to self. They are worthy of pausing to write down little things like the time we took our day off to head to the zoo on a perfectly sunny, North African day in February.

Dan assured me that it's not the look on his face that's important but the feelings he has on the inside ;) ...

Our little blondie insisted on being held or strolled most of the time, but she couldn't  resist the opportunity to get as close to Aslan as possible. I guess it's a good thing she dressed up for the occasion by stealing her sister's new bows from Auntie Nita and Uncle Adrian...

Other highlights for Felicity were seeing the evil Shere Khan behind bars and feeding the reindeer parsley she got from a friendly zoo-going family. 

Moriah was a perfectly content little kangaroo and loved jibber jabbering with the piglets. My favorite was seeing the pretty pink flamingos up close with their incredibly long necks. 

We marveled at what in the world this creature could be and waited for quite some time for the kids who were running around in it's enclosure to get out of the way so we could take a picture. I'm pretty sure Dan will make fun of me for saying enclosure instead of cage just as he couldn't accept my bleeding heart for the lack of space for some of the animals to run around...it's the American in me, what can I say?

We had to have some serious conversations with Felicity about how jumping fences at a zoo and throwing baguette at every animal is really not a good idea even though it seems everyone is doing it. And it was no surprise that we were asked if Moriah could be in pictures with strangers as they kissed her a million times and declared God's protection over her. 

Felicity was happy to have her sister take the attention away from her so she could eat her 25 cent cotton candy in peace. She surprised us all by choosing blue instead of pink. 

On most days, we are still very much working out our lives as an expat family living in North Africa, but every once in awhile, we have a day that feels kind of "normal". Our Sunday afternoon at the zoo was quite lovely and just what we needed in this wonderful season of crazy. 

Welcome Little Wonder: The Doula

To be frank, we could not have done it without her:

Cheryl, we are forever grateful for everything you did for us throughout pregnancy, the delivery and the aftermath of Moriah's birth. There are not enough words to convey thanks for the gift that you have been and continue to be to our family.

For all of these things and everything we don't mention or that we didn't see, Thank You.

Ladies and Gentlemen, we give you A Portrait of an African Doula:

From the very beginning, Cheryl walked this journey with us giving us the courage to take each step forward. Her language ability, medical experience and motherly touch carried us.

She endured waiting with me at the doctor's office for 2-4 hours at a time. We experienced surprises at each and every appointment including but not limited to: our initial surprise that Dan would be in the men's waiting room and we would be in the women's, a yelling fight between the receptionists and a patient, shock upon hearing that "no man has ever been in the delivery room", the look on the doctor's face as we explained the concept of a gender reveal party and why we only wanted Cheryl to know the sex, waiting for 4.5 hours when we actually made an appointment, and showing up another time without an appointment, being written in as number five on the list, and getting in almost immediately...
Always just a phone call away, she answered so many questions I had and eased my fears with her knowledge and care. She brought along her tools whenever we were going to be together and checked my blood pressure (only done once at the dr.) and the baby's heartbeat which I would not have been able to hear otherwise.
She waited with us. For at least three weeks she went to bed with her phone beside her ready for our call. She delayed going to the capital to be here with us.
On the day of Moriah's birth, Cheryl did all of the things I expected and more. She helped dress me for the hospital and let me lean into her for contractions in-between. She told me it was time to go and encouraged me that I could do it when I was sure it was impossible.
When we got to the hospital they said I should go in alone. I was terrified, but she insisted that she would not be leaving me at all. They let her in. The doctor was insisting I get an epidural. She made sure I did not. He insisted I get a shot to completely knock me out for the afterbirth and stitching. She did not let it happen. When everyone was told to leave the room, and I fainted two times, she came running in when I was finally able to call out her name. She also took a few bites of my hospital post-birth meal of fish. I do not generally care for fish so I particularly didn't want it after giving birth. No shame on me, Cheryl came through!

We drove home with Moriah the same day she was born. Cheryl rode right along with us and stayed the night in Moriah's room so I could get some rest in-between feedings.
More than just the medical side, she added so much celebration, fun and good food to our last year. She made a delicious gender reveal cake and kept the secret long enough for us to be surprised. She cooked for our gatherings, letting me rest for the last few weeks of pregnancy, and after being with us all through the birth, she was at our house that night cooking us dinner. We were truly spoiled and so loved by this woman.

For real, her love lives on even though she is now on the other side of the ocean. We will hold it forever!
We love you Cheryl!

Welcome Little Wonder: The Details

This picture was taken just 24 hours before it all began...we had no idea what incredible grace and help we would be receiving from Him in the hours to come...

This is my attempt at a succinct, not containing many emotions or thoughts along the way, account of Moriah's birth story.

March 2, 2015

12:30 a.m.: I woke up after an hour of sleep with contractions that were 5-6 minutes apart and one minute long. I went downstairs to take Moriah's birthday cake out of the freezer. Thinking we might have a long road before us, I decided to stay in bed and let Dan sleep for as long as I could stand it. I used an app. to time contractions until 3:30 a.m.

3:30 a.m.: Felicity came in our room...a pattern that began about a month ago much to our dismay on the heels of a newborn arriving soon! Dan took her to her room, and I decided to tell him I was in labor. I continued to track contractions and Dan rubbed my back between them.

5:50 a.m. : No longer able to comfortably stay in bed, I got up and walked our room during contractions and sat on the exercise ball in-between. They were getting closer together and a bit shorter. Dan called our doula-sister-friend, Cheryl, and told her we were in labor. I continued to focus by walking through contractions but added a low moaning sound with each exhale. Dan showered, made me orange Gatorade (thank you friends who sent the powder over a year ago...it is still blessing us) and threw some things together for the hospital.

6:30 a.m.: Cheryl arrived and heard me upstairs. Dan later told me she said, "Oh no. It's too early for her to be moaning and crying." I was thinking the same thing and began to be afraid this would be a repeat of Felicity's birth...going to the hospital with a whole day of labor ahead. I got in the shower to rinse off and told Dan with much fear, "I don't think I can do it. I'm going to need the medicine." Felicity woke up and Dan sent her downstairs to Cheryl. Dan helped me out of the shower. I said, "Go get Cheryl." Dan went downstairs to feed Felicity breakfast, and Cheryl came up to help me dress and let me lean into her through contractions. I began to feel a new pressure which I hadn't had before. I took one step at the beginning of each contraction and felt the pressure move through me until it went through my foot and into the floor. I was crying. Cheryl said, "We need to go." She called the doctor to let him know to expect us soon.

7:15 Dan, Felicity, Cheryl and I piled into the car. I'm crying and saying "I'm so sorry.",  "Thank you", "Lord help me.", "Jesus, Help." as the car gets on the bumpy sand road. When I feel a contraction coming, I say, "Stop the car." At some point Felicity throws out a "Good job, Mommy."

Halfway there the doctor calls Cheryl's cell phone, "Where are you? The whole hospital is waiting for you!" (in Arabic of course). We get on a smoother road. I tell Dan just go as fast as you can. Don't stop when they come. During a contraction Felicity yells, "Stop the car, Daddy!" We keep going.

7:30 a.m.: We arrive at the clinic at 7:30. Three nurses are waiting for us. Cheryl and I follow them to the delivery room stopping for 2 or 3 contractions along the way. Dan parks, does paperwork, and is finally sent to room 102, our recovery room.

The midwife tells me to lie on the delivery table. I am terrified at how long I might be there since walking seems to be the best way to handle contractions. She checks me during a contraction (worst.pain.ever) and tells us I am at a 5 and fully effaced. My heart sinks. Fear creeps in, five is not too far, but Cheryl is insisting that the look on the midwife's face was very optimistic. 2-3 contractions later, the midwife breaks my water during a contraction (oh wait, maybe this is the worst.pain.ever.).
The doctor comes in and starts dressing as if this baby is coming soon. Cheryl calls Darryll and tells him to get to the hospital. She also calls Dan and says get in here as soon as Darryll arrives.

The nurses turn the light on at the little baby table. The doctor checks me and says I'm at a nine. Strangely, my left hand stiffens, closes shut, and I'm unable to open it. They put oxygen up to my nose and give me a shot of calcium. My hand opens. It's time to push...no more than 10 pushes later and...

8:30 a.m. Moriah Ann is born! 7.2 lbs., brown hair, blue eyes, and very few cries.

 Dan sneaks in just after she is born and actually gets to hold her and see her up close more than I do initially.

The doctor brings Felicity in to meet her baby sister after Darrell tells him Felicity wants to know what color the baby's hair is.

9:30 a.m.: We are taken to our recovery room. Sometime before that Moriah ate like a pro. This is how they bundled me up to go upstairs. 

9:30 a.m.-6:15p.m.: Recovery. The midwife placed a 20 pound bag of rocks on my stomach and pumped pitosin into an IV to shrink the uterus and get any remaining blood out. The doctor ordered another direct shot of pitosin just to be sure everything was clear. This process lasted an hour or so with me crying and begging them to stop.

Sometime after the bag-o-rocks I felt I needed the bathroom. I tried sitting up with one nurse and felt extremely dizzy. They called two others in and kicked out Dan, Cheryl, Felicity and Darrell. Once we were in the bathroom, I was crying and trying to communicate that I was dizzy. I put my head between my knees (standard practice for dizziness as far as I'm concerned). They are all giggling at me and go out of the bathroom. The next thing I know I'm waking up to the smell of rubbing alcohol with the same three nurses around me. At this point I can't communicate that I'm still dizzy, and I faint again. The second time I wake up, I stop trying to communicate with them and just moan, "Cheryl, Cheryl, Cheryl" as loud as I can muster until she comes through the door to my great relief. They take me back to bed, and I try to sleep. They put fluids and glucose in an IV for me and bring me some meat in the form of a fish to bring back my strength.

                                     

6:00 p.m.: Dan goes down to pay our bill: $400 or so, and we are given the okay to go home: 

We all pile into the car yet again marveling at the road we traveled since the wee hours of the morning until now.
The evening felt like spring: brilliant sunlight kissing the olive groves, blue skies with wisps of white, and ear to ear smiles and wide-eyed wonder at the Giver of new life...

Welcome little Wonder

 As I held our little Moriah in the very same room I walked with the consuming pain that brought her forth just over one week ago, I was ushered back to the sense of wonder and a sense of being held by Him and His people, that has been our song throughout her story. 
Her story is already full, full of grace, full of Yahweh's handwoven detailed touches, full of much more than we ever asked or imagined. 
We are grateful.We are in awe. We stand in wonder of our God and how he has carried us amidst the unknowns. 
We look upon our little wonder, Moriah Ann, and cannot help but look up to her Maker and give Him glory.
For each piece of her story we give thanks...
The Details: just the bare bones birth story
The Divine: how God met us 
The Doula: a HUGE thank you to our doula-sister-friend, Cheryl 

Thanksgiving 2014

This one definitely goes down in the books for being unforgettable...

With the help of a neighbor, Dan and Jimmy helped catch and pluck our birds:

TWENTY of our FAVORITE people came from the North to join us for the weekend...

 After hours of being barefoot and pregnant in the kitchen...no shame, only joy:

...we pulled off a legit Thanksgiving meal in the middle of nowhere North Africa: 

My friend Anna is so pretty you can't tell she was in the kitchen for hours too :)

... And this meal would not have been possible without our fearless kitchen leader, CHERYL, her sidekick, Kali, and our friends from America who brought us things like cranberry, crunchy onions, sweet potatoes, decorations etc., etc.,...Thank you!!! Yum, Yum! We love you!

We may have even started a new tradition: Passing the turkey leg around the table so everyone can have a bite?...

Dan and friends led us in giving thanks to God for all of his good and perfect gifts: 

...And to top it off a desert excursion opportunity was included...

...as well as a surprise diaper shower...really so surprised...thank you, friends!...

 ...and the birthday celebration of one sweet little girl: 

 As always the Baileys left Thanksgiving stuffed to the brim...full of yummy food and the love of good friends and family and grateful to God for it all.

Friends from Afar

Over the past few months, we've had the privilege of having many faraway friends to our little edge of the earth in North Africa. It seems that every time someone from the motherland shows up we are blessed beyond measure, even if we are meeting them for the first time.

Our family is grateful for each one of you and the unique gifts, personalities, passions and American treats you have shared with us and our friends and community here. Please know you are always welcome in our little seaside town.

Until we meet again, here are just a few of our favorite moments from our time with you:

Sharing life and good meals together:

Watching you love our kids so well:

Thank you for sharing your time, energy, creativity and talents to grow the work here: 

Thank you for the hours of painting you did so this pregnant lady didn't have to endure the fumes!

Celebrating together:

Your Birthdays: 

Our baby's gender reveal...It's a girl! 

Building relationships with local friends and neighbors:

Getting spoiled by you...

Dressing you up:

Enjoying your kids:

Taking you on our shopping experience and feeling like someone in the world understands a bit of the craziness of life here!

Risking your lives to ride with North Africa's newest driver...

And its most easily distracted one:

Thank you to you and your family's who let you go for a time to enrich our lives and work in North Africa! You are thought of often and missed greatly.