Aubri’s Birth Story

Today, our little girl turns 3 years old and all day I have been reliving that wonderful day that she came into the world.

I love hearing birth stories. I am simply fascinated by the miracle of it all. This is a somewhat detailed account of how Aubri entered the world, so I am warning you now that there may be details that you just might not want to hear. You are forewarned.

Aubri was due on March 24, 2008. I didn’t think I would make it to the 24th, or at least I was hoping I wouldn’t make it until then. I guessed she would come on the 20th. So, when I woke up on Friday, March 14th at 2 a.m. in the morning feeling “different,” labor was not even on my radar. I was feeling a little extra crampy in my back and thought that I might have lost my mucus plug (told you it would be detailed, so you might want to bail now if you can’t handle the details of child birth ) I called the OB department just to see if this was normal. I didn’t get an answer though, so I went back to bed. When I woke up to get ready for my last final day of student teaching I was pretty certain I had lost my mucus plug and was still crampy in my lower back. I tried OB again just to make sure this was normal. They answered this time and said yes, everything was normal and labor could happen in a day or two weeks… I went about my day and didn’t really think to much about it again. Yea, I still had discomfort in my back, but at this stage in my pregnancy I was getting use to that.

So, I arrived in my first grade class that morning on Friday, March 14th ready to finish my student teaching. I was to come back the next week for 2 days, but this was my last official day. I went home and planned for a nice uneventful evening relaxing inside. We ate dinner and then I fell asleep on the couch for a couple hours. I woke up and again felt “different” although this time it was a little more intense pain in my back. It was about 9pm and we decided to start a movie. As we were watching the movie I continued to have pains in my lower back. Finally I started to see if I could try to count how far apart they were to see if they were consistent. It wasn’t too painful, but I felt like there was a pattern to these aches I was experiencing.

About 11pm I went to get in the hot bath to see if I relaxed if I could get them to stop. It didn’t work. At this point Christopher was counting how far apart they were too. We were at about 4 minutes apart but again, not too bad so I wasn’t worried. I decided to go to bed. But at 12am, at the insistence of Christopher, I called the OB department to see what they said. They suggested I lay on my left side and drink lots of water, like a gallon of it, over a 45 minute period to see if that made the contractions stop. So, I did what they said but only got twenty minutes into this experiment before Christopher had taken enough. The contractions were two minutes apart. I called once again to let the nurse know and she agreed that I should come in to check and see what was going on. It was 1:30 a.m. when we arrived to the hospital.  I wouldn’t let Christopher take our bags in with us because I didn’t think I was in labor.

I was put in a room and they checked me. I was 2cm dilated and contractions were a consistent 2 minutes apart. The nurse assured me that I was in labor and that Christopher should bring our bags inside. We called our parents to confirm that I was in labor and that they could head our way. It was a 7 hour drive for them and they were quite anxious to make it before she was born.

I had to have an IV put in because I was GBS positive so I needed to have antibiotics before delivery. Once I had my IV in place, Christopher and I began to walk the halls. We walked and we walked. They would make me come in every so often to monitor me, but then we would walk again. If I walked, I could manage the pain and contractions, but as soon as I sat still, it was much harder to have control over the pain.

Here I am walking…

At about 5:30 the pain began to get really intense. I was beginning to doubt myself and whether or not I could deliver without an epidural. I was extremely hot and in so much pain. The nurse suggested that I get in a hot shower and have Christopher take the shower head off and let the hot water massage my lower back, where I was experience the majority of my contractions. Getting in a hot shower was the last thing I wanted to do at that point, but I agreed.

It was about 5:40 when I got in the shower. While in the hot shower I was able to relax and calm down.  When a contraction came, I held onto the bar and bent with the contraction and breathed allowing it to work through my body instead of tensing up and fighting it. I got out of the shower a little after 6:00 a.m.  and as soon as I got out my pain intensified so quickly that I could hardly walk.

At that point, I told Christopher that if I had to go through this for 5 more hours, then I didn’t think I was going to be able to do it. I still didn’t want the epidural but thought it might be a good idea to just let the nurse know what we were thinking. She said she needed to check how far dilated I was because I had to be at least 4-6cm and they could also go ahead and give me fluids in case I decided to have the epidural. At this point, I was hanging on to the side of the bed and could barely even think straight. When she checked me I couldn’t believe what she said. She said it was no wonder I could barely take it because I was fully dilated and effaced and ready to push! I could not believe it. And it was right at that second that I felt an extreme amount of pressure in my bottom and the urge to push. It was crazy. She was already coming! My parents were still 2 hours away and Jeannette even farther.

The doctor had just gotten there so I had to wait to start pushing. At 6:15 the doctor walked in and  I started pushing. I pushed 3 times and every time I pushed, Aubri’s heart rate dropped extremely low. She was right there, but they couldn’t let her heart rate keep dropping so, in a seconds notice, the doctor did an episiotomy to get her out quickly. Aubri Lillian Nicole entered the world at 6:34 a.m.

It was the weirdest feeling to finally see my daughter that I had been carrying for 9 months. I had always imagined such a glorified moment in my mind when I first saw her. It was really quite a strange feeling that I experienced instead. I was so relieved that the pain was finally over. That was mixed with the awe of “that’s my baby” and then the after effects of child birth. I remember them laying Aubri directly on my chest and it was just weird. Everything was in slow motion. I didn’t even feel like I could touch her because I couldn’t believe that she was here, that this was our Aubri, I couldn’t believe it was real. Christopher and I both cried and kissed her in amazement and awe.

Holding her for the first, true time after we were both cared for

I’m a Mommy!

Proud Parents

It was such a thrill to give birth naturally and it gave me such a feeling of empowerment and strength. I did it. I was on a high and it was exhilarating.

I think no matter how a child enters this world, it is a complete and utter miracle. The whole process from day one is so amazing. For me, it reminds me that God created each one of us and that He is a God of details, plans and purpose.

Aubri Lillian Nicole VanBuskirk

March 15, 2008

6:34 a.m.

7lbs. 3 oz, 18 inches

This post was originally posted on March 17, 2010.

Where Dreams Come True

Today we are headed to Disney World! My awesome mom-in-law planned the trip as our Christmas gift this year so the four of us along with Jeannette and my sis-in-law, Christy will be flying to Orlando this afternoon! The kids are beyond themselves excited! The last time we were at Disney, Aubri was just 10 months old and that trip was a gift from my parents! Man, we are truly blessed with AMAZING parents!

We are so excited to make MAGICAL MEMORIES this week!

Here are some highlights from our last trip to Disney, Aubri was SO little & Owen was in my belly!

I love pie!

It was brought to my attention that Monday was National Pie Day. I shall confess that I did not bake a pie on National Pie Day, even more, I did not know that there was such a day. Never fear though, pie baking is in my very near future. Promise. I love baking pies. The art of making homemade pies is so intriguing to me and something I want to master in my lifetime. Here is one of my favorites that  I have been making and tweaking lately. I’m just a beginner in the pie baking world so if I can pull it off, you can too!

Here it is, thanks to The Pioneer Woman!

Ingredients

• 1 whole Pie Crust (recipe below)
• 6 cups (to 7 Cups) Peeled And Sliced Granny Smith Apples
• ½ whole (juice Of) Lemon
• ½ cups Sugar
• 4 Tablespoons Flour
• ¼ teaspoons Salt
• ½ cups Flour
• 1-½ stick Butter
• 1 cup Brown Sugar
• ½ cups Quick Oats
• ¼ teaspoons Salt
• ½ cups Pecans, Chopped
• ½ jars (or More) Caramel Topping

Preparation Instructions

In a bowl mix peeled apples, lemon juice, sugar, flour and ¼ teaspoon salt. Set aside. For crumb topping, cut the butter into the flour with a pastry cutter, then add in brown sugar, oats, and ¼ teaspoon salt.

Add apples to prepared pie shell and top with crumb topping. Cover crust edges with aluminum foil and bake in a 375 degree oven for 25 minutes. Remove foil from crust and place back into the oven for another 30 minutes. Chop pecans, and when five minutes remain, sprinkle them over the pie. Finish baking. Quiver with anticipation.

Remove the pie from the oven and pour ½ jar (or more, if you’re feeling dangerous and naughty) of caramel topping over the top. Allow to cool slightly before serving, or don’t if you can’t wait. Eat. Enjoy. Smile. Cry. Then smile again.

The Perfect Pie Crust

Ingredients

• 1-½ cup Crisco (vegetable Shortening)
• 3 cups All-purpose Flour
• 1 whole Egg
• 5 Tablespoons Cold Water
• 1 Tablespoon White Vinegar
• 1 teaspoon Salt

Preparation Instructions

In a large bowl, with a pastry cutter, gradually work the Crisco into the flour for about 3 or 4 minutes until it resembles a coarse meal. In a small bowl, beat an egg with a fork and then pour it into the flour/shortening mixture. Add 5 tablespoons of cold water, 1 tablespoon of white vinegar and 1 teaspoon of salt. Stir together gently until all of the ingredients are incorporated.

Separate the dough into thirds. Form 3 evenly sized balls of dough and place each dough into a large Ziploc bag. Using a rolling pin, slightly flatten each ball of dough (about ½ inch thick) to make rolling easier later. Seal the bags and place them in the freezer until you need them. (If you will be using it immediately it’s still a good idea to put in the freezer for about 15 to 20 minutes to chill.)

When you are ready to use the dough to make a crust, remove from the freezer and allow to thaw for 15 minutes. On a floured surface roll the dough, starting at the center and working your way out. (Sprinkle some flour over top of the dough if it’s a bit too moist.) If the dough is sticking to the countertop use a metal spatula and carefully scrape it up and flip it over and continue rolling until it’s about ½ inch larger in diameter than your pie pan.

With a spatula, lift the dough carefully from the surface of the counter into the pie pan. Gently press the dough against the corner of the pan. Go around the pie pan pinching and tucking the dough to make a clean edge.

The Story of Us

Yesterday, we celebrated Christopher’s Birthday and today we celebrate 9 years together as a couple! Last year, I wrote several posts about how Christopher and I came together to be Mr. & Mrs so today, I thought I would compile all those together so you can see the full version.

The Story of Us…

Christopher and I met each other through our youth groups. We went to different churches in different towns but several youth groups would always get together for events and summer camps. We were introduced one year at youth camp and a mutual friend swapped our emails and the rest is history…

On January 18, 2002, underneath the basketball rim in the driveway of his parents house Christopher asked me if I would be his girlfriend and here is a picture of us from that very night.

January 18, 2003, our 1st year dating anniversary. Christopher took me to a nice restaurant and we had our first date with just the two of us. We did a lot of group dates and double dates our first year together. We wrote each other letters and communicated through email and phone calls more than we saw each other because we lived 47 miles apart from one another.

We celebrated Christopher’s 18th Birthday and our 2 years of dating in January 2004, also our senior year of High School. We were both making college plans, I was going to Berea College in Berea, KY and Christopher would be going to Greenville College in Greenville, IL. We knew that it was going to be tough, and it was, but we were committed to making it work.

After our first semester of college we were more committed than ever before. Distance makes the heart grow fonder, right? Well, it did and I decided that I would transfer to Greenville College. Christopher wasn’t the only reason for my transfer, but he obviously was a big part of it.

That very Spring of 2005 on March 7th Christopher asked me to marry him and of course I said yes!

On August 6, 2005, we became Mr. & Mrs. VanBuskirk!

My Dad walking me down the aisle.

Giving me away… we had the privilege of having Eric perform our ceremony, such a beautiful blessing.

The Rolfe Family

The VanBuskirk Family

After our wedding and honeymoon in Jamaica, we moved into an apartment in Greenville, IL and continued going to college at Greenville College.

Here we are on January 18, 2006 in our apartment in Greenville, IL celebrating the day that our journey began. We had been married for 5 months and together for 4 years.

In January 2007 we celebrated Christopher’s 21st birthday and 5 years of being together. We were in our last semester of our Junior year of college. Christopher  majored in Media Promotions and I majored in Elementary Education.

That summer we went to Cincinnati, OH and Christopher had two different internships and I nannied for a wonderful family. At the end of the summer of 2007, on July 23rd we found out that I was pregnant. We were completely shocked. We didn’t know how anything was going to work, but God did.

In January 2008 I was 7 months pregnant with our daughter, Aubri. We celebrated our journey together in Hawaii this year thanks to a family Christmas trip with my  family. We had been together for 6 years and married for almost 2 1/2 years. 2008 was a hard year and an exciting year for us. We lost Christopher’s father in February and then welcomed our beautiful daughter just three weeks later.

I finished my student teaching on March 14th and Aubri arrived on the 15th- perfect timing!  Also, during this year God gave us the vision for Centerpoint, our church plant, so we were also planning to move to Chillicothe, OH to begin the process of starting Centerpoint.

Aubri was born on March 15, 2008 and on November 11, 2008 we found out that I was pregnant with our second child. We were beyond shocked. Aubri was 8 months old when we found out, we would have two children 16 months apart. Wow.

So, in January 2009 I was pregnant again with our son, Owen Eric Timothy. This time we are at Disney World, again another Christmas family vacation with my family. We had been together for 7 years and married for 3 1/2 years. On March 15th we celebrated Aubri’s 1st birthday and on July 9, 2009 we welcomed our son.

r

Two months after Owen was born in September 2009, we officially launched our church, Centerpoint.

January 2010 and finally I wasn’t pregnant! We celebrated 8 years together and our fifth wedding anniversary this year! Along with pastoring Centerpoint, Christopher became an Associate Agent at Joel Gerber Nationwide Insurance Agency, Centerpoint celebrated its one year anniversary, Aubri turned 2 and Owen turned 1!

2011 looks to be filled with even more changes and exciting happenings (but no pregnancies!)

We have now been together for 9 years, almost a decade, which is completely crazy to me. We’ve been truly blessed to have found each other at such a young age. I am so thankful to Christopher for asking me to be his girlfriend 9 years ago today underneath the basketball rim…

Here’s what I want to know, when did you meet us? Did you know us before we were together or after? When did you become part of our journey?

 

 

When I Am Weary

This scripture passage has been my mantra this week. I am holding onto to His promises that  He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. I have been praying this scripture and have found comfort and encouragement knowing; those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. We will soar high on wings like eagles. We will run and not grow weary. We will walk and not faint.

Thank you, Jesus for being my strength when I am weary.

Have you never heard?
Have you never understood?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of all the earth.

He never grows weak or weary.
No one can measure the depths of his understanding.
He gives power to the weak
and strength to the powerless.
Even youths will become weak and tired,
and young men will fall in exhaustion.

But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength.
They will soar high on wings like eagles.
They will run and not grow weary.
They will walk and not faint.

Isaiah 40:28-31

What scriptures & promises are you holding on to?

Banana Bread

Never throw out rotten bananas again.

NEVER.

This recipe is absolutely wonderful! It is so buttery that you don’t even need to put butter on top of  it, although you probably will, because you can never have enough butter, but you don’t have to. It’s perfect all on its own. Warm or cold, with or without walnuts, it’s absolutely delicious!

Banana Bread has become a favorite in our house. Christopher & Owen love bananas so I always try to have a loaf or two of this wonderful banana bread in the freezer so I have it for them anytime they want it. Just yesterday, we caught Owen in the refrigerator with the banana bread open and digging in with his bare hands!

Go buy bananas today and get them to rot as quickly as you can and NEVER throw out rotten bananas again!

Ingredients
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 cup butter or margarine
2 cups white sugar
2 cups mashed overripe bananas
4 eggs, beaten
1 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

Steps
Preheat the oven to 350. Grease and flour two 9×5 inch loaf pans. Sift the flour, salt and baking soda into a large bowl. In a separate bowl, mix together the butter or margarine and sugar until smooth. Stir in the bananas, eggs, and walnuts until well blended. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry mixture, and stir just until blended. Divide the batter evenly between the two loaf pans.
Bake for 45-60 minutes in the preheated oven, until a knife inserted into the crown of the loaf comes out clean. Let the loaves cool in the pans for at least 5 minutes, then turn out onto a cooling rack, and cool completely. Wrap in aluminum foil to keep in the moisture. Ideally, refrigerate the loaves for 2 hours or more before serving.

Enjoy!

What’s a family favorite in your house?

Go Bucks!

We bleed scarlet and grey! Simple as that, from the time I was an infant I was a Buckeye fan and even as a little tyke I was devoted to watching the beloved Buckeyes. Being the youngest of 3 and the only girl only increased my love for Buckeye sports. Being more of a Buckeye fan that I am was on my check list for the perfect husband and Christopher met that requirement 110%!

Christopher and I have done our duty as Ohioans and have made sure our kiddos are Buckeyes through and through. They both can spot an Ohio State logo a mile away. It makes us so proud! Here’s a look at our Buckeye family through the years!

2008!

Daddy & Aubri

Mommy & Aubri

6 months old

2009!

Daddy & Owen

Mommy & Owen

Aubri, 18 months and Owen, 2 months

2010!

Our 2 crazies!

Aubri, 2 1/2 years and Owen, 14 months

Go Bucks!

P.S. I can’t believe how much the kids have grown!!! I must now wipe my tears…

 

2011.

It’s been awhile. Okay, a long while. But, here I am and it’s now 2011!

I actually started blogging one year ago today! Crazy. To take a look back, here are my top 3 most popular posts from 2010.

First Place rings in with Aubri’s Birth Story

Second Place follows with In Memory of Eric

And Third Place goes to 8 YEARS AGO…

Thank you for supporting me during my first year of blogging and hanging in there with me! The fun shall continue and hopefully a bit more regularly too!

These are just the posts that won the stats game, what I want to know is what was your favorite post?

Here are a few of my personal faves:

Being a Mom is Hard

Aubri’s Second Year

Daddy’s Little Girl

Happy Birthday Owen!

Bow Tie Sausage Pasta

Also, in the coming year, what would you like to read more about? Any ideas or thoughts, throw them out there!

Sabbatical

Sabbatical. God laid this word on my heart about a month ago. I wasn’t really sure what I was suppose to take a sabbatical from, but nonetheless, sabbatical resounded in my spirit. As the days went on and weeks went by I knew exactly what I needed to take a sabbatical from. I needed a sabbatical from myself. I needed a break. From me. I needed to declutter my life. I needed to bring back into view what matters the most.

For the next 21 days I will be on a journey of ridding myself of me.

Basically, I’m going to be doing everything opposite of how I use to do it. This entails several changes, but the 2 that will be the most visible to everyone around me are: I will be partaking in the Daniel Fast and will be taking a break from Twitter and Facebook, so if you need to get ahold of me feel free to call, text or email. I’m still here, just taking a short break.

Thank you for your support and prayers, I know that I will need it!

If you have any prayer requests, I would love to pray for you during this time!

” ‘ “The LORD bless you
and keep you;

the LORD make his face shine upon you
and be gracious to you;

the LORD turn his face toward you
and give you peace.” ‘

Numbers 6:24-27

Our 5 Year Anniversary!

On this day, five years ago today, on August 6, 2005, I married my love, Christopher.

Here is a look back on that wonderful day five years ago…

Christopher surprised me with roses and an engraved bracelet with my new initials

My Dad walking me down the aisle.

Giving me away… we had the privilege of having Eric perform our ceremony, such a beautiful blessing

The Rolfe Family

The VanBuskirk Family

My wonderful bridesmaids and darling flower girl

My maid of honor and dearest friend and cousin!

Our adorable flower girls and ring bearer!

The dudes

So stinkin’ cute!

He ran down the aisle, it was awesome!

The whole gang

Happy Mr. & Mrs.

Happy FIVE YEAR Anniversary to the love of my life! You were my first and only love! Here’s to 100 more years!

I LOVE YOU!

For a look at our 8 years together as a couple, check out this post from earlier this year!