Officially Introducing Irene Abigail Sarine (and the meaning of her name)

Irene Abigail Sarine

Your name means peace and a father's joy. We desire that peace would reign in your life. And you are a joy to us and we pray that you will carry a joy inside you that burns bright. You have a great heritage in your earthly family and from your heavenly father. May you know that you are loved and so very special.

The scripture we have chosen for you is:

For there shall be a sowing of peace. The vine shall give its fruit, and the ground shall give its produce, and the heavens shall give their dew. And I will cause the remnant of this people to possess all these things. - Zechariah 8:12

We chose this verse because it represents the blessing of God and His promise to bring the people of Israel peace. The meaning to you, Irene, is that you, as a grafted-in member of the people, can claim these things as yours before God. We believe that as you grow in God, you will receive this blessing of peace, bear much fruit in your life, produce great things from your labors and be like the dew that cools and nourishes everything it touches. 

Your namesake and heritage:

My great-grandmother's (known to me as Granny) name was Jesse Irene Baldwin Birch. However, Irene is the name my Granny went by. (She didn't like Jesse very much from what I understand.) She was an incredible lady. There was always a smile on her face. Even when she was not trying to smile, it was like she was about to. I remember visiting her home in Burlington each year between my dad's parents home (known to me as G-ma and G-dad) and then my mom's mom. I can still see her house in my mind's eye and can even pick it out when we drive through Burlington today. I remember pulling into the driveway around the back of her home. It just smelled wonderful to me. I don't really know how to describe this smell except that when we bought our home in Lindley Park it had the same smell and brought back all kinds of memories. Something about an older brick home. I remember for many years that she always had a huge spread of food laid out to greet us. We would stay for several hours. I used to climb into her lap. It is funny because Olivia does that very same thing now with my dad and her Nana. I see her lanky little body on their laps and know that she is pretty much too big to be in their laps now. But that was surely me when I was a kid and I loved to sit in my Granny's lap. And she was so gracious to let me sit with her.

Okay, so let me tell you about my Granny. She worked in the Burlington Mills. She and my great-grandfather ran off to be married when she was 14. They went to Caswell County and she had to lie about her age to be married. Then they continued to work in the mill. She was a hard worker. My great-grandfather died in his late 40s. They were close friends with a couple, his name was Sonny. Sonny's wife died early also. For a while Sonny and my Granny dated. The story goes that he was courting two women. He was a bit of a ladies' man. He would eat dinner with my Granny on a certain night of the week and this other lady on another night. So one night Granny changed their night to be the other lady's night. Sonny came to dinner. They then married. Granny also outlived Sonny. My memory does not include my great-grandfather or Sonny. I only remember Granny. She was very active in service in the community and in her church. She was well-loved by her neighbors and friends. She went to Israel. I remember her showing me pictures and telling me about this trip. It was then that I knew that I wanted to go to Israel someday. I still have that desire. She walked where Jesus walked. And not only that, but I know that the Bible was so very real to her. She lived it. She had a peace and a smile and an amazing graciousness about her. I always felt loved and welcome. When she had to leave her house and move to the nursing home, she took it gracefully. She stayed active and involved as much as she could.

She died a short time after I found out that I was pregnant with Olivia. I did not get to tell her. I planned a trip home (we were living in Colorado at the time) but she passed away the weekend before I came home. She died pretty peacefully without much medical intervention. I know that must have meant that she was at peace with dying and going to heaven. I can't wait for her to see my children someday and see the heritage that has come from her life. My Aunt Kelly passed on her bible to Olivia. I have it wrapped up to pass on to her one day. It is well loved and written in. It was amazingly real and precious to her. I can feel that when I hold it. It was the most amazing gift to be left with.

She had two sons. The younger one is my grandfather. He is also an amazing man. He serves so wholeheartedly. He is very generous. He smiles just like his mom. He makes life fun. He is young at heart. From him comes my father (his second of four children) who is all of these things. My dad is my inspiration in so many things. It is because of him that I know so much about the Lord and can live this life well. He has the same look and smile that my Granny had. At times I see in him my Granny, just in the way he holds himself and so much in his peace and joy of life. And the heritage continues. He serves so very faithfully. He is a mentor to many just as my grandfather is and my Granny was.

I am so thankful for this heritage. I pray that I am faithful to live it out and to pass it on to my children. As a gesture of love and respect for this family that God has given me, I chose to name my 5th child Irene. 

New Baby Pics

Here are some pics for everyone to "ooh" and "aah" over. :)

A couple of months ago, Olivia expressed that she would like to be there for the delivery. After some thought and discussion, we decided that it would be ok. She was a trooper. We got her up at 3:45am to come with us and she waited patiently for her new sister to arrive. She asked questions of the midwife, nurses and, of course, Rebecca and I. She wanted to know about the contractions, the monitors, the pool and just about everything else. She thought it took a long time for Irene to come. I had to explain that 2 hours in the hospital is nothing compared to most people.
 

Olivia making the call to tell the boys that they lost the bet. the prize was a set of bunk beds. :)

 

Irene is our smallest baby, but she's probably the loudest. :)



It's a Girl!

So contractions started yesterday morning when we got up but didn't really get regular. All the same, we started getting ready for Baby #5. We really wanted the baby to hold of until after Olivia's piano recital (post later on that. :) and he/she did! As with the last two, I'll try to keep a running log of what is going on, so check back often.


3:15am - Rebecca woke me up. contractions are about 10 minutes apart, so we need to start getting ready to go in.

3:30 - called the OB to let them know we were in labor. Packing the car.

3:45 - called Mary, our doula, to let her know we were heading into the hospital. It's our first time using a doula and we're pretty excited about having her help. Woke Olivia and got her in the car. Headed to the hospital

4:00 - checking in.

4:30 - In our room. Mary and I are setting up the birthing tub. Rebecca's doing great. Turns out she is 8cm. yes, in that picture where she is smiling. Olivia's asking tons of questions, but being very good for us. Mary is so helpful! She's handling the tub so I can focus on getting other stuff set up for Rebecca. Need to get things rolling so we can do this waterbirth.

4:45 - Tub is about ready. Contractions are steady.

5:00 - Rebecca is in the tub. She said that she could tell right away that being in the water is taking pressure off her back.

5:15 - Mary is rubbing Rebecca's lower back and neck, helping her relax. We are using some essential oils and music to keep things very calm.

5:45 - contractions are progressing. some are slow, some are fast. Rebecca commented that each child has been so different it's hard to tell where she's at with it.

6:00 - Going for a walk around the unit. Keeping Rebecca moving. she's doing great. contractions increasing in intensity.

6:15 - Back in the tub. She's having contractions closer together. Feeling pretty hot and nauseous. she is still quiet and so internal.

6:23 - Rebecca asked me if we should have Daniela (our midwife) break her water. I told her we should just let things happen as they come.

6:25 - Water broke. She is pushing.
6:27 - Irene Abigail is here! It only took 3 pushes.

Rebecca is such a champ. No drama, no fuss. Irene came out with the cord wrapped around her neck twice as well as her arm, but being in the tub made it much more manageable. Irene is very alert and awake. She has her eyes open and is not afraid to let her presence be known. :)

 

Official Stats: Irene Abigail. 6:27am, 6lbs, 6oz and 17.5 inches long.

37 Weeks!

Time's getting close!

Guess we should pack our bags soon. It is funny how much relaxed I (Rebecca) feel about that with each additional (but esp this one) baby. But we are trying to take a waterbirth pool and all its accessories with us this time too so it would probably be wise to get prepared soon. I was having warmup/BH type contractions regularily a week and two weeks ago. Then this last week there has only been one or two a day. With my inlaws out of the country enjoying an incredible European vaca, I am rather thankful. I am patient and I can wait a few more weeks for this little one. :)

The best part has been talking to this little one and to play "games" with the baby as he or she moves around my belly still. Baby is definitely still moving around a ton. I think baby started dropping a bit over the weekend but otherwise still is mostly floating high. It is a little like that "wack-a-mole" game chasing this little ones butt and feet and whatever else around the top of my belly. Okay, well, I am not wacking the child per se. :) More like "poke-a-baby". And the baby is certainly active enough at times for Jeremy to get in on the game. This kid has periods where he or she is just all over the place and it is funny to watch and imagine what is going on from the outside.

The hard part is that I am to the point that my sciatic nerves are rather inflammed (pain/numbness down both side all the way to my ankles). I am thankful for yoga, pilates, and other stretching exercies that I have learned. I am also so very thankful for Frankinsence oil. These things have made it all more manageable. The other thing is that my feet really hurt this time around. Maybe because I kept running until a month ago combined with my long shifts as a nurse and having other kiddos to carry around. I was having some swelling issues for a few weeks at the end of April but that seems to have cleared up thankfully. Also, allergies have been rather frustrating. I only really suffer from them when I am pregnant and this has been a rough season. I am thankful for the neti pot, my Breathe essential oil blend, and lots of pillows at night. This week I think the allergies have dropped into my sinuses causing a lot of facial pain. After some extra essential oil treatment in the neti pot and taking Oregano oil to my nose, I think that things are a bit better this morning. Thankfully. Ah, this sweet little parasite in my body certainly does some amazing things to my system. That okay though. really. It is well worth it.

I can not wait to meet this little one and hold him or her in my arms. I am blessed.

32 weeks, baby #5

 

Here we are at 32 weeks! Baby is active, moving around all the time, usually when momma wants to sleep. :) Everything has gone well at the baby checkups. We are considering doing a water-birth this time, since Women's Hospital now offers them if you have a midwife. We are also looking at hiring a dula to help with the logistics of a waterbirth. Olivia has expressed the desire to be at the birth too so we are praying through that.

It's That Time Again...

Time to begin the obligatory belly shots as our newest one begins to encroach on his or her surroundings.

We are just about 25 weeks along and baby is looking as cute as the rest of them. :)

Baby #5, Ultrasound #2

We just got home from our second ultrasound with Baby #5 and things look great. We aren't finding out if it's a boy or girl because we like the surprise and it gives Rebecca something to focus on and look forward to during those hard hours of labor!

Thoroughly Blessed

A little over 4 years ago, we started this blog so that we could keep our families abreast of what was going on in our lives. When we started thinking about a name, we decided on "Thoroughly Blessed" to describe how we felt to have our beautiful Olivia. Little did we know at the time just how much more we would be blessed, first by Gabe, then subsequently by Ezra and then Emma.

The 8 Sarine grandchildren and 2 in progress.

When we started 4 1/2 years ago, we never imagined we would have our 5th child on the way! We truly believe the scripture in the title of our blog: our children are gifts and rewards to us. We believe that God has given each one of them to us. We get stopped sometimes in stores and people ask us if they are all ours and when we say yes they ask if we are done. They are often shocked when we say that we are not. We decided after Gabe that we would let God decide just how many we would have and when. So far, it seems He's planning on blessing us pretty often!

We thank God every day for our children, even on the days when they are at their worst, because our lives would be empty without them. We cannot imagine a day without their laughter and tears and look forward to May 25th when our newest blessing will make him- or herself heard!