Merry Christmas!

Completion of Nursing School

After Rebekah was born, I had 3 days of clinical left. Fortunately, my instructor was kind of enough to work around things. I went to clinical that Thursday, and then next Tuesday. My instructor had me make up the clinical days......which then I could complete nursing school this semester. Thank you, Mrs. Black!
Another key part to the story is Benjamin's mom. She came and stayed with us for 10 days. She also helped me complete nursing school. Barb watched Rebekah while I was in clinical, taking exams, and getting some sleep. Thank the Lord for Grandma's!
Our church brought over meals for a week. That was a HUGE blessing.....we didn't have to think about what's for dinner or the bother of preparing it. Thank you, Homewood Church!
I couldn't have gotten through the last 2 weeks without my family and these key people. I am glad that school is behind me. I can actually enjoy my family.....Benjamin AND Rebekah!

Debut

On December 1, 2008....Rebekah Marie Rasmussen made her appearance! It was a cold snowy night when I went into labor. The first snow of the season, actually. How ironic. :-) The maternity unit was busy that night, too. I think the drop in barometric pressure might have something to do with it.

I labored for 3.5 hours total. It started at 10pm with my water breaking in the rocking chair. (I was actually on Facebook when my water broke.) They say sometimes you hear a pop. Well, in my case....I did hear a pop. I looked at Benjamin with wide eyes and said "I better go check it out....it feels like there is a relief of pressure." When I got to ER I was 8 cm and throwing up. Benjamin is a trooper, I must say. I was at the hospital for 1.5 hours before our new baby arrived. They were worried that the midwife wouldn't show up in time because of the bad snowy roads and because I was progressing so quickly. I was proud that I delivered without any pain meds. That was my first choice. I told Benjamin while in the car going to the hospital, that I was going to ask for some pain medication. Well, I was too far along and the med would affect Baby in a negative way.
Rebekah was born at 1:33 AM and weighed 7.5 pounds, 19 inches long. She is a pro at the sucking/swallowing coordination.


I felt good afterwards. That first shower after birth, is refreshing! I couldn't sleep that same night. I was overjoyed and looking forward to a Grandma visit before she had to go to work. The hospital provided us with a celebration dinner. That was delightful! Benjamin had steak. I had a glass of sparkling grapejuice with my meal. :-) We are so blessed with our new bundle of joy. Rebekah is a good baby. Eats well, sleeps for 2 hours at a time, and enjoys looking at the Christmas tree lights. I'll say she is the BEST Christmas present I have ever received!

Mixed Feelings

Well, I went for a baby check-up today.....today is my estimated due date. I have approximately 4 hours until the due date is past. I am 70% effaced and 1 cm dilated. The progress from last week's check up?? 0.5cm more dilated. Not too much progress. I really really want to meet baby and have the joy of holding the tiny bundle. But, at the same time, it would be nice to finish up the semester still being pregnant. I have 3 clinical days left.....next Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Then I am home free!!!
So how long will they let me go without inducing me? Well, they don't really start talking about induction until 10-12 days after the estimated due date. However, I have to go in for more frequent baby check ups. Instead of weekly, it's like every 5 days. They did a non-stress test today and plan to do one during the next appointment. Today's was negative....a good thing. Baby is happy in my belly.
Benjamin's mom is flying out here and staying for 10 days. She comes next week. It will be nice to see family. I just wish the whole Rasmussen family could join her.
We will let you know if any more progress with signs of baby coming into the world.
Happy Thanksgiving!

Yummy Recipe!

About 2 weeks ago, I was searching through a Taste of Home cookbook, hoping to find something interesting and yummy to make. The trick is that I look for something with ingredients that we have already in the house. It wasn't too long that I stumbled across meatballs in a cream sauce. I had everything but 1 ingredient (chicken broth). It was a lot of fun to make and better yet, the dish was approved by my husband!
So tonight, I've decided to indulge in meatballs and cream sauce, again. If I have the time to make it, I don't mind spending the energy to create the meatballs from scratch. I am eager to have my taste buds smiling. :-)
This morning, I had a baby checkup. 3 more weeks!! No signs of impending labor. We are excited to meet baby. Benjamin's mom is flying in and staying for a week in December. It will be a joy to see her and spend some family time.
Nursing school........almost done! 4 more weeks. I'm in my last class....precepting. It is such a relief to be done with the heavy duty material. I hope to learn a lot in clinicals and then apply it to when I take the state exam. I can't believe this is reality. :-)
Benjamin grew a beard. I wonder how the baby will take to it. :-) He is getting ready to start up school in the spring. Meanwhile, he is working full time with lots of overtime hours putting up temporary fences. I pray for his safety, often.

November Is Here!

November is here.....which means.....Baby is near! My official due date is November 26th. (The day before Thanksgiving) We really don't have Thanksgiving plans. We're thinkin' that we might request 2 plates on standby. We'll see. I am anxious for the BIG day! I have more week of class and then an exit nursing test. Yeah, kinda stressing about that test. It's amazing how everything is coming to be. You dream and plan for such a long time, then when it comes to reality....excitement builds all over again. I promise we will have baby pictures up as soon as the bundle of joy makes an appearance!

Missing

It is 7:30pm and Benjamin is not home from work. He started at 5 0'clock this morning. What a long day! He has been putting in a lot of hours. It's the missing him part that I don't like. I've been trying to call his cell phone over the past hour....no answer. I am a little nervous. Hopefully, nothing major has gone wrong. I know I should rest easy because everything is in the Lord's hands. I need to remind myself of this often, right now.

Fall Season

A week ago, Benjamin and I bought a pumpkin with the intention of carving a face. Yesterday, Benjamin cleaned the pumpkin out and I carved the face! It was a lot of fun. We baked the pumpkin seeds, too.

Well, the end of my 2nd class is coming to a close. Just 2 more weeks of the class and clinical. It is a reminder to me how near baby is entering into this world. This past weekend, Benjamin and I attended the final session of childbirth class. We learned a lot. I hope it works when I go into labor. The class did decrease my fear about labor and the whole birthing process.

Benjamin is starting the process to enroll in spring semester classes at Purdue-Calumet. He has taken a year and a half off, so it will take some effort to get back into the swing of school. He is excited to start up again.

An Extra Day

Last night, I was preparing for clinical this morning. While doing so, I received a phone call from one of my classmates, saying that clinical has been canceled and to check the school website. Sure enough, our instructor is sick and canceled today's clinical. In a way, it is a blessing. I didn't have to be out of the house by 6am. And I have all day to catch up on homework and housework!
Lately, Benjamin has been starting work at 5am. He gets home around 2:30pm, which is sooooo nice. Its like we still have a day together. I like hanging out with him! (This pic is an older one from when we were dating)

Benjamin to Texas

A few weeks ago, Benjamin went down to Galveston, Texas with work. They put up a lot of temporary fences around sites that will be rebuilt. I thought I would post some
pictures for your viewing pleasure.
Meanwhile, at the ol' homestead in Hammond, life has gotten quite busy. I am 33 weeks into my first pregnancy (7 more wks to go!).....and I am feeling it. Whew. At my last appointment, I was found to be slightly anemic. I was a 10....normal is 12. So, I am taking some iron supplements and feeling much more energetic! School has me going crazy. I am taking one class, but I feel like it is a full time job. Demanding! I am almost done with nursing school, so the pressure is on to know the material and complete assignments without fault. Basically, if I am not at work, I am doing school stuff. And some how baby appointments get thrown into the mix. Thank the Lord for a wonderful husband who takes care of me!