Thursday, June 18, 2009

::three years ago::

Was the beginning of something GREAT when my now husband asked me to start a courtship with him! That picture was taken the day after we'd started courting... I feel like we look so young together :) Don't ask me why but Jim and I seem to get more excited about the 18th of every month more than we do about our engagement date or even our wedding anniversary as you can see here ;)

And if your super sappy like me, here's the story of how it all went down three years ago (taken from our wedding website)...

This is the story where Jim and Tessa's romance all began. Jim is the Single's Ministry Director at Covenant Life and as such he has led ECHO (campus ministry of CLC) which involves various colleges, including Montgomery College. Jim and Tessa met at an ECHO cookout in the summer of 2005. Tessa would see him at ECHO meetings in her first semester, but didn't really get to know Jim as a good friend until the following spring semester when she became ECHO administrator at MC.

Through serving together there, Tessa got to observe in Jim's character humility, joy, a love for the Savior, a passion for and deep knowledge of God's Word, a heart for evangelism and godly leadership that made her respect him deeply.

At the beginning of 2006, Tessa joined an E-team (evangelism-missions team) from Covenant Life Church that was planning on going to Wales that summer, which Jim happened to lead as well. Through these interactions, Tessa also was able to care for Jim and learn more how to support his leadership in ministry.

Deep respect quickly grew to affection and attraction, especially in April and May of that year. During this time, Tessa was trusting God for their developing relationship and praying for Jim. Little did she know that he was praying about her and considering pursuing her in a courtship (asking her to be his girlfriend). For almost two months, Jim had been praying about pursuing Tessa and getting counsel from the pastors in our church, and other good friends.

So after much prayer and consideration that Tessa was unaware of, Jim called her dad, Paul, on Monday, June 12th leaving a message for him on the voice mail to call him. Paul however, didn't check his voice mail and Jim sat wondering what was going on for the next three days, until he finally decided to call again. So on Thursday, Jim called Paul again and asked him for permission to court Tessa. He told Jim that he would talk and pray with her mom, Mary, and get back to him assuring him that 'Things seemed very favorable on Tessa's end'.

Completely unaware of any of these conversations, that week was especially a struggle for Tessa to keep Jim as just a friend, having many long talks with her mom, and good friends to help her. Tessa knew that she liked Jim and thought that he liked her, but she just needed to trust that Jim would pursue her in God's timing and consider him as a friend until he did.

Saturday afternoon, June 17 2006, Paul called Jim to give him the 'OK'. The next day Jim invited Tessa to come to a going away party for one of their friends that evening. Eager to hang out with Jim, Tessa told him that she would love to go, but being Father's Day she might come later. Jim called her and asked if he could pick her up and drive together to the party. Tessa was suspicious since her house was not exactly on the way to the party, but agreed to ride together.

On Sunday evening, June 18th Jim arrived and as they got to the car he went to open her door, like he usually did, but before Tessa could get in, he asked if he could give her something. Handing her a card, Jim asked if they could go for a walk together. Now Tessa knew something was up. Jim was definitely nervous and taking walks alone was not something they'd done. As they went for a little walk in Tessa's neighborhood, she read the card in which Jim shared what he respected about her. It also explained how through many times together, in which Jim had gotten to know her, his eyes had been opened in a 'special way'. He continued to write that this compelled him 'to pray, get input from others and finally talk to her dad regarding one important question.....' And there on the other fold of the card was the question 'will you enter a courtship with me?' followed by three boxes with three options of yes, no, or maybe. So cute and elementary style. Quickly, Tessa answered 'Yes!' as Jim then handed her a pen to fill it out. As they walked back to the Fosters house, they were able to just laugh at all the awkward moments of that past week and openly share how much they liked each other. And that's how it all begin.
Well, Baby you know this already cause I've told you a bazillion times - I LOVE YOU and to this day I'm amazed, humbled, honored and so very grateful that YOU (the most gentle, humble, compassionate, loyal, handsome, dorky - like me, healthy, godly, now incredible father to our son... I could go on... I know!) would ask me to be his girl! So amazing!

Three years later I'm so so so deeply in love with you! All that excitement and anticipation that sparked at the outset of our relationship is still there as we consider all that Lord has yet in store for our marriage and young family. Our God has been good!

Saturday, June 13, 2009

::announcing::

Hard to believe that just two weeks ago this little man came into our world... it really feels like he's been apart of our life forever in so many ways, yet we're still learning how to function as a brand new family of three.

While I was still pregnant with Joshua I would play around with baby announcement designs. I loved the idea of doing postcard announcements simply for the price tag. I found a great printing company with a wide selection of formats and easy design program (123print.com). After getting some inspiration from some professional designs, creating several different cards, we finally chose one and placed our order. Thankfully they arrived right before we left for vacation so we were able to drop them off in the mail for all of our extended family. I was so pleased with how they turned out.

Here is the final product...

front
back"Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well."
amen.

Friday, June 12, 2009

::vacation expections::

In just a couple of hours now, Jim, Josh and I will be on our way to Nantucket for a week of vacation with his family. Thankfully the Lord has given me both a speedy recovery from labor and a healthy easy going baby that will make this 8 hour car ride possible. But in preparation for this time I'm setting only one specific expectation - EXPECT TO SERVE SACRIFICIALLY. As beautiful as the scenery will be and wonderful as the company will be, I've prepared my heart now that I may not be able to enjoy them. But what I will be able to enjoy is the Lord's grace and favor in caring for our little boy! While there are tons of things to pack, I'm storing up on some serious truth for this trip. Here's some scripture I've been mediating on this morning has been helpful:

The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup;
you hold my lot.
6 The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance....
11You make known to me the path of life;
in your presence there is fullness of joy;
at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
{Psalm 16:5-6,11}

3Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.
{Philippians 2:3-7}

2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
{James 1:2-4}

26Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. 27And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. 28And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
{Roman 8:26-28}

14For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; 15and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.
{2 Corinthians 5:14-15}

26 It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, 27and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, 28even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."{Matthew 20:26-28}

Some wise counsel a friend encouraged me with recently was to let go of any expectations that I might have or pictures in my head about what I think this vacation will or should look like. And to be watchful for any temptations to self pity because it won't really be a "vacation" for me. She told me to try not to focus on myself or compare with other people. While I might be tempted to think that Jim is having more fun than me since he is doing less work with the baby, I know that I have an opportunity for more JOY than he does. Fullness of joy actually, in the laying down of my desires in service and obedience to the Lord.

So if you think of us in this week please pray for me... that I would remember these truths and actually live them out. I have full expectations that the Lord will be working change in my heart this trip and that is a very very good thing! :)

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

::one week::

"Here is a sweet, fragrant mouth to kiss; here are two more feet to make musicwith their pattering about my nursery. Here is a soul to train for God;and the body in which it dwells is worthy all it will cost, since it is the abode of a kingly tenant. I may see less of friends, but I have gained one dearer than them all, to whom, while I minister in God's name, I will make a willing sacrificeof what little leisure for my own recreation my other darlings had left me. Yes, my heart, welcome to her time, her strength,
her health,
her tenderest cares,
her life-long prayers!
Oh, how rich I am,how truly,
how wondrously blest!"By Elizabeth Prentissone week together (going on two) and I can't imagine loving him any more...
thank you Lord for entrusting me with this precious gift!

::31 years ago::

These two love birds tied the knot! You are the best parents that I could have asked for and make the call to honor my parents an easy task. Thank you for allowing your marriage to sign brightly to a watching world and point back to our God who has held you together all these years! Grace is beautiful to behold in your marriage - Happy Anniversary you two! :)

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

::visitors & coming home::

Proud dad and most handsome hubby in the world! :)
Meeting Dr. Niu, our pediatrician, for the first time. He had to come examine Josh before he could be circumcised by Dr. Apgar. Can I just say how much we adore Dr. Niu? Seriously, he is so knowledgeable, and kind, and personable, and I could go on... but I won't. We just really really like him :) Funny story... as Dr. Niu was examining his little man parts, Joshua decides he's really comfortable and gives our doctor a nice treat. But the best part was Dr. Niu's sweet reaction to this stream of tar-like poo... "Oh! Meconium! Lots of meconium!" You know I'll be telling the "you-poo-pooed-on-your- dr" story for the rest of his life ;)Later that afternoon all our visitor =s began to come starting with me parents, Josh's Grammi and Grandpap. I LOVE this picture of my mom and Josh! Sweet kisses :)Proud grandparents.
Right when mom & dad were leaving we got the best surprise visit from Aunt Shelaigh and one of my best friends, Benita. I was SO happy to introduce Josh to them!Snuugling with his Aunt Benita :) She couldn't get enough baby lovin'Then Kevin, our caregroup leader, came straight from North Carolina to visit us and pray with us! Jami was still in NC with their kiddos so she had to wait till our meeting on Thursday to gt to see Joshua.Joshua meeting his Uncle Seth and Aunt Janet. Can't wait to meet your Little Meeper this Thanksgiving :)Then we got to see the Watkins!Cuddles with Miss Ana. After I had a chance to rest and feed Josh we had our last visitor of the day - Miss Erin!The next morning was time to pack it up and head home! Look how small he is all strapped into his carseat!We made it safely! Home sweet home :) Special delivery...
Momma & babyDaddy & baby Grandma Schantz & baby boy wearing his special onesie... "what happens at Grandma's stays at Grandma's"

Our first night back from the hospital my family came over to grill out and love on the little man. Here's Josh with his Aunt Brie :) Snuggling up with Aunt Anna... she couldn't put him down! :)

Earlier that day my parents decided to make some special Grandparents T-shirts. My mom's says something like "Wow! I'm a Grandma" And my dad's says "Grandpap". Here's a funny sequence of my dad being my dad ;) First pic "discovering the title" like a kick me sign, second is the "shock & excitement", third "proud acceptance" :)
And this is Josh's Grandpap being silly Grandpap... I love my Dad ;) Our little Winn Family :) The Maka's were on vacation for the first week that Josh was born, so they got to meet him offically just the other day...
Here's Aboo with Joshua - she LOVES babies!Matt & Caleb with baby JoshCaleb & Josh... He can't wait to teach Joshua all the sports when he's big enough :) Looking at all these pictures I'm just amazed at how blessd we are to have so so much loving family and friends in Joshua's life! We are wealthy beyond measure!

Well, its taking me literally days to complete this post as I'm working on it when I nurse Josh early in the morning (hence any grammar/spelling errors :)). I say this cause I have another pictures post of all Joshua that is in the works... good things come to those who wait. I am working as quick as possible to get them up ;) Thanks for your patience...

Friday, June 5, 2009

::marathon labor::

For all you people interested in the battle stories of a new mom's labor here's my labor story in short - began with happy natural labor, followed by EXTREMELY difficult labor on Pitocin, finishing with lovely labor with Epidural. Shall I expound? Here is the full story from start to finish in time line format mostly so that I have documentation of the very long and hard marathon labor that I'll hold Joshua to for the rest of his life :)


Thursday, May 28
  • 12:15PM - Went to routine doctor appointment and found that I not only had traces of protein in my urine but was also having elevated blood pressure. These two things made my doctor think I have pre-eclampsia. So they draw blood for testing that would be back the next day, but strongly suggests that I consider inducing that very night at 6pm for risk that I did have pre-eclampsia and not wait until Sunday's scheduled induction.
  • 2:45PM - I then called my mom and friend Jami for council and arrived at the conclusion that it would be wisdom to induce that evening. Considering the risks of pre-eclampsia we didn't want to chance an emergency c-section over the weekend. We told the nurse and she called the hospital ahead for us.
  • 6:30PM- After cleaning our apartment from top to bottom and packing up our last things we headed off to the hospital signing in half an hour late. But didn't matter since we were informed that they were not expecting us after all and had to hold in the waiting room till they could get us back.
  • 7:30PM - We met our evening nurse Laura, got set up in our room with IV and fetal monitor and draw blood for pre-eclampsia testing. After getting our medical history, Laura checked my contraction monitor only to find that I was laboring naturally at about 2cm. She told us that results should be done in an hour.
  • 11:00PM - 2 1/2 hours later... blood work came back showing no pre-eclampsia! Contractions show I'm still laboring naturally, so the Dr. on call gives the nurse the thumbs up to let me labor out of bed. So Anna & Joel kept us company while we walked around the halls, watched the Office and sat in the hot tub (ladies only on the last one ;)).
Friday, May 29
  • 12:00AM - Nurse Laura checks me at 3cm and blood pressure is at normal readings.
  • 1:00AM - Since my natural labor was not progressing on its own at the rate the Dr. on call would have liked, they decided to progress labor with 2 mL/min Pitocin. I was very disappointed that they wouldn't let me labor all naturally and now being on Pitocin I could no longer labor out of bed, but this was only the beginning of releasing my ideal desires for labor to the Lord.
  • 3:00AM - Once the Pitocin started that's when I new the true meaning of the word contraction. So I asked for some Nubian to take the edge off and got some rest from 3-7am. I was 3.5-4cm dilated and entered officially "active labor".
  • 5:30AM - My doctor had called to check in on me and told the nurse that she "wants to deliver today".
  • 7:00AM - My night nurse Laura switches shifts with my day time nurse Becky (ie the sweetest nurse ever!)
  • 8:30AM - Dr. Tran comes into visit me. She determines that I'm really only 3.5 cm. After breaking my water she orders an increase on the Pitocin drip to 4 mL - did I mention how much I like Pitocin? No? Seriously that stuff must be of the Devil or something!
  • 8:30AM-2:30PM - Nurse Becky continues to steadily ramp up Pitocin drip from 4 mL to 6 mL, 6mL to 8mL, 8mL to 10mL and finally backs off from 10 mL to 8 mL. These hours were without a doubt the hardest part of laboring. Not only were the contractions crazy intense - especially at 10 mL - but I hadn't had anything to eat since 2:30PM the day before. Here I must say how grateful I am for my dear husband, my awesome mom and my sister Anna, who stayed with me the entire day just encouraging me, helping me move to and from the bathroom, holding my hand as I rocked on the Thera Ball, feeding me Popsicles... I could go on and on but they were CHAMPS. I was also so grateful that Jim and I had prepared a mix of worship music and scripture verses focusing on weariness and strength in the Lord. These truths really helped me get through each contraction.
  • 2:30PM - Dr. Tran finally came back to see me and measures me at only 5 cm! Here she strongly counseled me to get an Epidural so that I could get some rest for the labor ahead and also allow my body to relaxation enough to let dilation progress the labor. Jim and I agreed that the Epidural would be the best way to progress labor and told her to order it up. Dr. Tran had to leave and was not on call that night so she was not going to deliver our baby. But in the Lord's kindness, our second choice doctor, Dr. Apgar, was on call and would be delivering Josh!
  • 3:00PM - Received the grace of God via EPIDURAL! Note here: Ladies who have labor ahead... if you are induced with Pitocin, do NOT tough it out. There is nothing to prove. Get the Epidural as soon as possible! I learned this truth the very very hard way.
  • 3:30PM-5:30PM - Slept so so soundly! I was exhausted from all that hard Pitocin laboring! At one point the baby's heart rate dipped down over three contractions so Becky stopped the Pitocin all together, put me on the oxygen mask and laid me on my right side to keep the heart rate stable.
  • 5:30PM - Dr Apgar came to visit and measured me at 5cm - still. With the dip in heart rate, he discussed two options with us - one would be c-section - just end labor right then and there, or (not our preference) or he would insert an IUC monitor that would read the strength of contractions and up Pitocin while observing how the baby's heart rate handled the contraction. We opted for door number two and prayed for dilation to progress without stress on the baby to avoid c-section.
  • 7:00PM - Yet another nurse shift change (what a LONG day!) saying hello to new nurse Maria and goodbye to Becky. I did feel so badly that the nicest nurse was suck with me through the most difficult stretch of the labor. She was just awesome. It was then that I got a catheter too (yet another thing I'd be scratching off the Birth Plan list).
  • 7:30PM - Maria checked me and I'd dilated a whole 2cm! Answered prayer at 7cm!
  • 9:00PM- Things only continued to speed up with the relaxation of the Epidural and I was at 9.5cm before I knew it!
  • 9:15PM - Ready to push. Maria tells Dr. Apgar.
  • 9:30PM-10:30PM - PUSHING! With my husband, my mom and Maria as my supporters this was not a difficult task. I just remember thinking how aerobic it was like a work out. Last 15min of pushing Dr. Apgar came in and geared up gently helping our son come out.
  • 10:30PM - Joshua Taylor Winn was born! Because there was micomium, the team quickly whisked him away to check the baby and clean him up.
  • 10:50PM-11:35PM I finally got to hold and nurse our son :) This was by far the sweetest moment... no words really to describe it. Love. Pure love.
  • 11:30PM-12:30PM - While getting cleaned up he met the flood of family who were all waiting in the waiting room for his arrival - Jim's mom Carol and her husband Bill, my parents and then my sisters Brie & Laurin who brought be a pint of B&J's Phish Food ice cream which I DEVOURED - so so hungry! Once I was moved to postpartum room 3A4 Joshua met his uncle Joel and Aunt Anna. Then we recovered...
So there it is. A story of life. What a gift! Here are some pics from the day.

Me at checking waiting to go to our room.
Hours later on Pitocin.
Jim's mom in the waiting area.
The excited Aunts to be :)Thumbs up! Time to push!
Last visit before pushing.
Mom & Dad
My coach & assistant coach... couldn't have done it without them!
Us. :)
11 day's overdue and he's finally here! Big boy!

His doctor evil pose...
meeting dad for the first time.
the new Winn family!
his aunt Laurin
and his new aunt Brie
the bearers of the ice cream goodness - my sisters :)
meeting uncle Joel & aunt Anna
us with my nurse Maria. She was so good in delivery!
my sweet nurseBecky came back to visit the day we left for home.
whose the man? Dr. Apgar is!
us with our great delivering doc the morning after delivery.more pictures to come....

Older Posts