The need for Kieran to come now

It hit us both simultaneously last night, after I asked Seth when the Steelers were playing this week, that their game is on Monday night. They'll take the field 14 hours after I'm scheduled to be induced. Maybe I should have chosen yesterday for the induction date (apparently Halloween is considered a holiday and they don't do inductions on holidays). . . .

(Also, for those of you who get TLC and watch "17 Kids and Counting," the Duggars' trip to the Creation Museum will be featured this Monday night at 10 pm.)

Gifts of Chickens

One man may give his wife jewelry in celebration of the delivery of their child. Another man may gift his wife a Gameboy. When I mentioned to Seth that, according to one pregnancy book I was reading, it was customary for a man to get his wife something after the delivery, he asked, "In what culture is that a custom?" And then he assured me that I wasn't reading a real pregnancy book, anyway.

Jewelry and Gameboys aside, I found the present I'd really like to receive while looking through an issue of my Organic Gardening magazine: chickens. Specifically, this chicken house that comes with two chickens, which are ready to provide me with free-range eggs in four weeks.

Our neighbor two doors down has chickens (and a pig and some horses that get loose every once in a while and end up leaving deposits on our front porch). And we buy eggs from them periodically. And they taste really good. Much different, believe it or not, from those store-bought eggs. And the guy from whom we purchased our house kept chickens in a chicken coop, which still resides behind our house, albeit in a state of moderate disrepair. (Seth has turned part of the chicken coop into a carport.) So, I've been wanting to raise my own chickens for awhile. Seth has not been wanting to raise chickens.

My main concern with chicken-raising is the whole letting-them-free-range thing. What happens when a coyote or fox rambles by our yard and decides to snack on one of them? This new discovery of mine seems to be the answer, as the website assures me that the movable chicken house is predator-proof.

The other concern with free-ranging the chickens is the whole finding-where-they-dropped-their-eggs thing. Seth would not be amused if he had to step in raw chicken eggs while mowing the lawn. And, once again, the website assures me that the eggs are neatly contained in the little house and that collecting them is a breeze.

These chickens will provide us with lovely eggs to eat, take care of the chiggers, and give me some nice manure to add to my compost pile. Really, what more could a wife ask for in a delivery-gift from her husband? As I mentioned to Seth when I informed him that I would accept this gift from him after I bear him a son, "it's the gift that keeps on giving."

D-Day

Kieran's original due date has come and gone with nary an indication from him that he's ready to experience the outside world (other than lots of kicks and some digging into my bladder). So that I don't follow in my mother's footsteps and deliver a baby four weeks past the due date, I'll be induced next Monday.

For the political activists in the crowd, I voted yesterday (and I plan on voting again today and tomorrow--just to be sure Indiana goes the "right" way).

I was hoping that I wouldn't need to be induced--the idea of laboring at home for most of the process appealed to me. (And, after watching a Discovery channel program on "freebirthing," I've been telling Seth that I was just going to sit in the tub when the time came and let him deliver the baby. He wasn't amused.) Now, however, I feel like a prisoner on death row who has just been handed his death sentence date. (Of course, I realize that a death sentence and a labor induction are at completely opposite ends of the life spectrum.) Rather than being smacked around with the first contractions out of the blue, I now get to sit and contemplate the pain that I'll be enduring as the Pitocin takes affect.

Actually, I'm relieved to know that there is a definite end to this pregnancy. Both of us are looking forward to meeting our son. And Seth wants to know how soon he'll be able to play football with him.

Wait -- was that a contraction I just felt . . . ?

The End Is Near

At least, I hope the end is near. I hope that the end doesn't drag on for four weeks after it's supposed to end, as it did with Mom when she was pregnant with me (three weeks with my sister). Thankfully, my OB assures me she won't let me go a week past the due date, which is next Tuesday (October 28). Sadly, there are no indications that the end may be near -- no contractions, no nothing.

Kieran seems content to stay in the fetal position until the opportune moment (whenever that may be). I keep telling him that there's so much more room to move around in the outside world, but he's not interested--or not listening. Maybe he sees the writing on the wall concerning the next president of the U.S. and is keeping his head in the sand -- or the womb, as the case may be -- refusing to acknowledge the socialism that is coming (and has already come) to a country near you.

At least we've finished his room (or mostly finished it). I'm just waiting for Seth to get a few minutes to put up some pictures and stain the bookshelf that coworker Roger made for us. (Before you email me decrying my ability as a mother, I know that stuffed animals don't belong in the crib--the frog is merely residing there until the baby arrives. And I also know that the quilt rack will need to be secured to the wall somehow so that it doesn't tip over--I'm just waiting for my dad to visit at Thanksgiving so he can do something about that.)

Now I just need to get our bags packed and the carseat installed . . . .

Excuse me, your bias is showing

It made me laugh (or, at least, smile wryly) when, months ago, the Democratic presidential candidates refused to participate in a debate sponsored by FoxNews on the grounds that Fox is "biased" (read: leans toward the right and doesn't always print stuff that agrees with the Dem's agenda). As if the other networks don't have any hint of bias themselves (read: lean to the left and toe the Democratic line). Seriously? Can the Dems really believe that the other networks are completely unbiased in everything they report on?

The love affair the non-Fox networks are having with Obama is almost unbelievable. Daily, there's a Palin-bashing article, along with a "guess who supports Obama today?" proclamation. So quick to point out any semblance of a gaffe on McCain/Palin's part, did any of them (besides Fox) pounce on the glaring mistake by Biden a few weeks ago?


And are any of them (besides Fox) reporting on Obama's glowing endorsement of a book by former domestic terrorist William Ayers?

Yeah, there's some bias going on all right, but I don't think FoxNews needs to shoulder the moniker by itself. There's plenty of bias to go around for those who don't want to stick their heads in the sand and pretend it doesn't exist. As has been pointed out so many times before, everyone has a bias -- news media included. It just depends on which bias is the best bias to have.

Baby Shower

A few weeks ago, my good friend Frost hosted a baby shower for me. It was a lovely time of food, fellowship, and presents.

Georgia made the cake!













The food was delicious -- lasagna in various incarnations, with salad and rolls. Yum!










And lots of lovely and cute baby gifts--baby clothes are so adorable!

Thanks, Frosty, for helping us welcome Kieran into the world!

I've Done It!

You may or may not know that Seth does not, by his own admission, read blogs--mine included. I'm not sure when or where his aversion to blogs began, but it now sits firmly entrenched in his mind. However, this evening, as I was browsing Blogger's "Blogs of Note," I stumbled upon Cake Wrecks, and within minutes had him hooked and laughing at the terrible cakes along with me. I didn't dare mention that he was reading a blog, as it might have spoiled the moment(s). Hopefully you'll enjoy the site as much as we (Seth included) did.

Chocolate Par-tay

I've managed to wrangle several parties out of my impending departure (I'll cease working full-time at AiG once our baby arrives and will instead do work for them on a contract basis). The first was in August, when my division held an Asian-themed party. After that one, someone wrote a lovely good-bye note with magnets on the side of the refrigerator in our break room.

The most recent party was a "Chocolate Par-tay," which we held earlier this month. With this one, we also celebrated Ingrid's departure due to her upcoming nuptials in December.





Ingrid is from South Africa and is an adventurous sort--she took scuba lessons with me a few years ago. We went to Florida for our check-out dives, and she ended up with a black eye (due to an accident getting back on the boat), while I ended up with a bruised arm (due to an accident getting into the water).

At any rate, the Chocolate Par-tay was really just an excuse for me to pig out on chocolate and break out my chocolate fountain, both of which were accomplished at said party.

Everyone was supposed to bring something chocolaty or something to dip in the fountain. We had brownies, choclate cheesecake, chocolate s'mores pie, fruit, pretzles, Oreos, and, for some reason, ramen noodles. And most of that ended up being dipped in the chocolate fountain--including the brownies, Oreos, and, for some reason, the ramen noodles.

Depending on when Kieran decides to make his appearance, I may be able to squeeze one more party in before I leave. I'm thinking a nice Harvest Party might be in order--apple pies, pumkin custards, hearty stew. My mouth is watering just thinking about it. I'll see what I can finagle this week for one last good-bye party.

Dreams

In the 80s, Scott Wesley Brown came out with a song about mission work, with the following chorus:

Please don't send me to Africa
I don't think I've got what it takes
I'm just a man,I'm not a Tarzan
Don't like lions, gorillas or snakes
I'll serve you here in suburbia
In my comfortable middle class life
But please don't send me out into the bush
Where the natives are restless at night

I, in my shallowness, agreed with the sentiment of the song -- after all, I probably couldn't take a shower every day if I went to Africa. My sister, on the hand, offered herself up to go wherever the Lord wanted her to go--even to Africa. Since that time, she's always wanted to serve somehow in that far-off continent. The church she's attended the past few years has recently given her the opportunity to see her childhood dream fulfilled--they're sending another team to continue their church-plant work in a village in Mali, Africa. Kenda leaves this Saturday for a 10-day trip during which time she'll be ministering to the Bambara tribe.

Here's their itinerary, along with prayer points, in case you're interested in joining her on her trip by bringing her and her group (pictured above) before the Lord.

Saturday, Oct.18 – Our Team leaves Tampa today to begin a long day of travel to Mali. We will be traveling in excess of 18 hours. Pray for a restful and safe flight, that all of our luggage will be within weight limits and we remain healthy from airplane germs. Pray for our families to be kept safe while we are away.

Sunday, Oct. 19 – We will arrive in Bamako late evening local time. Pray that our luggage arrives undamaged, no problems with customs, good attitudes with the crowded and chaotic people at the airport. Pray that we will sleep well and adjust quickly to the time difference.
Monday, Oct. 20 – We will spend the day at the Bamako Missions House. We will have a brief orientation and purchase supplies to take to the village. Pray for a good nights rest in the guest house.

Tuesday, Oct. 21 – Today we go to T Village. Pray for safe travel. Pray the chief and elders will warmly welcome us. Pray we will renew old acquaintances and that news of our presence in the village will spread quickly. Pray for the team to adjust to village living.

Wednesday, Oct. 22 – Today we walk the village meeting and greeting the families. Pray for protection from spiritual warfare as we are in Satan’s stronghold. Pray for many opportunities to share with the people of the village today. Pray that God will make us bold as we trust in His strength and not our own. Pray our gospel message will be clear and understood. Ask that those who hear would give their lives to Christ.

Thursday, Oct. 23 – Pray for a God-filled day as we continue to build relationships in the village. Pray we can spend quality time with believers for discipleship. Pray we are able to model church for the believers. Pray for multiple opportunities to tell our stories and lead people to Christ.

Friday, Oct. 24 – Pray for those who have heard the gospel that they will bring other family members to hear as we continue to tell the story of Creation to Christ. Pray that all those in T Village who hear the teaching led by the volunteers will grow in their knowledge and obedience to the Lord. Pray for quality discipleship time with each believer.

Saturday, Oct. 25 – This will be our last day in the village. Pray that those who have trusted in the Lord will remain strong in their decision. May they support and strengthen each other. Pray that they will be able to bear the persecution they receive from other family members and villagers. Pray for passionate, powerful, and persuasive Bambara believers who would be modern day "Pauls," boldly sharing their faith and discipling new believers.

Sunday, Oct 26 – Today we will be in the mission guesthouse in Bamako. Pray for a time of rest and recovery from village living. Pray that our time of debriefing will be beneficial in preparing the next team. Our flight leaves Bamako at 11:45pm. Pray our travel will be peaceful as we rejoice in what the Lord has done.

Monday, Oct. 27 – Pray for our safe and timely arrival home. Pray for opportunities to share our testimony of how we experienced God at work in such a way as to encourage others to come to Mali in the future.

Name Update

We've been spelling our son's name K-i-e-r-a-n (pronounced Keer-an). However, I've recently begun wondering if it might not be better to spell it K-e-i-r-a-n (pronounced the same way, just a difference in placement between the i and the e).

Of course, when I mentioned this to Seth, he threw a monkeywrench into the whole process and declared that he wanted to spell it C-i-a-r-a-n, the truly Irish way of spelling the name (which means "dark one"). However, I don't even know how to pronouce Ciaran, let alone the rest of America. And it just doesn't seem fitting for a mother to stumble over her son's name everytime she calls him ... "See-ar-an ... Shar-an ... Key-ar-an ..." Yeah, I just don't see that working out for us.

So, it's back to where we were before -- Kieran or Keiran. Keira Knightley (actress) spells it e-i. So is it i before e except after K? I'll keep you posted.

Four Weeks to Go

So, we have four weeks to go until Kieran is scheduled to make his appearance. Cydney, a girl that I work with, is due the same day, and is much farther along than I am in her planning and preparing. She's cleaned, begun packing her bags for the trip to the hospital, prepped the baby's room . . . .

This is what our baby's room currently looks like. Seth is in the middle of finishing the drywall seams, painting the room, and getting the baseboard nails hammered in and covered.



And this is what our living room looks like--I've washed all the things we've gotten, but have no place to put them. So here they sit on our living room floor.

I've thought about packing for the hospital trip, but that's about as far as I've gotten. I have, however, organized and held a Chocolate Par-tay for our division at work, celebrating my leaving (this is the second going-away party we've held). I'll post some pictures of it, which featured my chocolate fountain, later this week. For those of you concerned that I'm overindulging in chocolate, be at peace with the fact (which I just read yesterday in a magazine) that chocolate seems to help prevent pre-eclampsia in pregnant women. All in all, I'd say I'm off to good start as we head into the final month of this pregnancy.