This is the blog for Gavin and Carrie Jones and family. We live in Papua New Guinea and are working to see lives transformed by the living Word of God through Bible translation. Gavin is a helicopter pilot. Carrie, who has her degree in Public Health, works in the lab at our busy rural clinic. Our son, Isaac, was born in 2004 and our quintuplets, Will, David, Marcie, Seth, and Grace, were born in 2012.

Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. The you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man. Trust in the Lord with all you heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight. -Proverbs 3:3-6

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Four realities I am not thrilled about

(Or, to be most grammatically correct: "Four realities about which I am not thrilled")

One, I am supposed to gain 80 pounds minimum. The more the mom gains, the more the babies gain, and the more the babies gain, the longer they tend to stay put (counterintuitive, I know) and the healthier they tend to be. I used to think it would be fun to get one of those movie roles where you had to gain weight (except for the part about losing it again), but I am already sick of eating and am only at 12 weeks! Thank God, the nausea is MUCH abated, so that makes it easier, but in my first pregnancy I ate like a pig and lost 2 pounds by 5 months, so clearly my body isn't great at packing on the pounds until later in the pregnancy, and in this pregnancy I won't have as much of a "later" as I did with my full-term one. So, you could pray, if you are so led, that I will be able and even wanting to eat nearly constantly. That would be a blessing. :) Those of you who know me can hardly believe that eating TOO MUCH is a burden for me - I love food!

Two, when the babies come home from the hospital they are going to need to eat every 2 hours around the clock. As they say in Melanesian Pidgin, "Aiyo!" We have been praying for God to raise up an army of volunteers and are already seeing that prayer being answered, but we could definitely use more help if you feel a burning desire to rock and feed preemies at 2:00 a.m. or any other time of the night or day. :)

[As an aside, many people have been asking my parents and us how they can help, and although we always mention the need for holding and feeding babies, we could also use help with meals, laundry (don't worry, we're using disposables), "diaper drives" at your workplace, church or Bible study, and maybe cleaning, if my sister's full-time job at that point unkindly interferes with her being able to offer her services. ;) I am supposed to nurse and bond with the babies as much as possible, plus of course will be recovering from major abdominal surgery. Which brings me to realities three and four . . . ]

Three, I have been warned by my multiples book and by a mom of quintuplets and another mom of triplets that bonding is VERY difficult and delayed when you have multiples. This is a huge disappointment to me, as my postpartum depression "robbed" me of the joy and mushy feelings of the first six months of Isaac's life, and he was a PRECIOUS, relatively easy, happy, full-term baby! I was really hoping with this baby (when I thought it was just one) to be able to enjoy the early months so much more, in a healthy environment, somewhat experienced, surrounded by friends and family, and on medication to ward off chemical craziness. But with multiples, according to all three of my knowledgeable, experienced sources, it's just a really hard job, and it's all you can do to survive and help the babies thrive. Which is why we have been praying for helpers! I would love to "defy" the authorities and experts and actually be crazy in love with my babies. But if it's going to be survival mode only, at least I'll be forewarned and realize I am normal and that eventually I WILL be crazy in love with each of them. It just may take a year or so. :)

And finally, four (Warning men! You can sign off at this point!): I will have feet and feet of stretch-marked extra skin that will never go back into anything resembling a normal abdomen. So I am already praying for God's provision of a tummy tuck, one way or another. I wish they could just do it on the C-section operating table - I've heard the recovery from a multiples C-section is already brutally painful! :} Obviously, it's not life or death or even important in the grand scheme of things, but I sure would love to have my tummy back eventually. I think Gavin would agree. ;)

A few days ago I was thinking of realities 2 and 3 and feeling sorry for myself, but then a friend who was just diagnosed with cancer called to say she understood my struggle with anxiety and would be praying for me. After that, I read my cousin's blog of letters to her precious little boy who is in Heaven now, the tears flowing down my face the whole time. And the next day I met a man dying of ALS who kept saying in his garbled voice that he would pray for us. WOW. What humbling experiences.

And I said to myself: "So, shut up with your self-pity that your plans didn't work out, Carrie! What ever made you think you were in control in any way in the first place? And this gift of five babies after five-plus years of praying for another baby is just that: a GIFT."

Children are always a blessing from the Lord, and as my cousin's blog reminds me, DON'T TAKE A SINGLE ONE FOR GRANTED. Each one is PRECIOUS and UNIQUE, even if I am getting more than I "wanted" originally. God's plans are WAY better than mine! Which is probably why the first thing that went through my mind on the ultrasound table when we discovered we were having multiple multiples was the verse, "Now unto Him who is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think . . . "*

In His Grip,
Carrie

* Eph. 3:20 - Can you tell I was raised in AWANA with the old King James version? ;)

20 comments:

  1. We are so excited to be part of your 'army'!

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  2. Well, I cannot tuck tummies or promise to hold babies (tho I'm praying to fly down for a stint) or relieve anxiety, BUT I will fatten you up to the absolute best of my abilities, and I will be your Aaron, and hold your arms up, or whatever I have to do to encourage you. We love you, girl!

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  3. I want to be part of your "army"! :) I won't be able to stay long but maybe I can give the regular caregivers a much needed break. I can clean, I can cook, and I can feed and hold babies! Sign me up! Love you, Carrie!I am praying for you often and continually! Love, Amy Long

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    1. That would be awesome! I will take you for as long as you can spare, and I hear Kathryn is coming along too. Hooray! Thank you so much for your love and prayers! Carrie

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  4. I am most certainly ready and willing to help in any way possible when you are back in tejas!
    Love you guys!
    Becca

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    1. Thank you!!!! Which Becca are you, though? You come up as "Anonymous" :)

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  5. Carrie darling,

    I just want you to know that when I signed at the TOP of your list, or rather, signed up to be one of your "army of volunteers", I signed up for the LONG HAUL. I now know why I haven't gotten a full time job, and why my clinic hours allow me so much flexibility!! And, by the long haul, I mean as long as I am needed day & night shifts :-)
    I have been fascinated with multiples since I was a very young girl, and read about every family of multiples that I heard of.
    The fact that my dear friend is bringing those multiples up close & personal in my life, has been a thrill beyond belief, and I can't wait to get started with holding, feeding, changing, rocking, cleaning, cooking, etc.
    And, I MEAN IT!!
    I am going to be here for YOU, Gavin, Isaac, and those precious wee babes as long as I am needed, and couldn't be happier for this awesome opportunity. I love being needed.
    Hang in there friend. I love ya dearly, and am praying much!
    Sure wish I could give you the 45 pounds I am trying so desperately to lose right now. You could certainly use it, and I sure as heck don't want it anymore :-)
    Love ya!
    Deb

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    1. Wow, Deb, what a huge blessing you are and will be! That will be just beyond wonderful to have you as part of the long haul team. I am SO glad the Lord has protected your time and given you a passion for multiples!! Neat how He did that long before you knew why. :)

      I would take your 45 pounds in a heartbeat. Sorry I can't help you out (and vice versa) in that way!! ;)

      Love and appreciation,,
      Carrie

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  6. Sign me up freshman roomie! I'll pray, do whatever I can! I thinks singles clas would be good to take on this project. There are many single women who would love to care for a baby or cook a meal!

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  7. If the Lord would provide the time and the way I would love to come - having been an NICU nurse.....it would be right down my alley if I could come help for a week or something... :-) (PS - I've never in the NICU seen any babies fed every 2 hours? Always starts at 3 hours?) Prayed last night for you at my small group!! Please pray for friend Meghan, pregnant with only 1, but her 4th, who has a blood clot in the lining of the uterus and she is sort of on bedrest at only 6 weeks...... I'm gonna ask her to pray for you too!!! Hugs!!!

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    1. Hi! Thanks so much for the prayers and offer to help if possible! Can you please tell me who this is, though? I can't quite make it out in the small picture. :} And that's VERY encouraging about the NICU doing 3-hourly feeds! Whew!

      I pray that blood clot resolves so Meghan can keep this baby and look after her other three - I can't imagine!

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  8. If the Lord would provide the time and the way I would love to come - having been an NICU nurse.....it would be right down my alley if I could come help for a week or something... :-) (PS - I've never in the NICU seen any babies fed every 2 hours? Always starts at 3 hours?) Prayed last night for you at my small group!! Please pray for friend Meghan, pregnant with only 1, but her 4th, who has a blood clot in the lining of the uterus and she is sort of on bedrest at only 6 weeks...... I'm gonna ask her to pray for you too!!! Hugs!!!

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  9. After helping Steoh with her preemie twins, I feel a little bitt experienced. I'd be honored to help with your babies. It is a privilege to know how to pray for you.

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    1. You are indeed experienced and I would LOVE to have your help and am HONORED to have your prayer support! (I assume this is S.H.?)

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  10. I was raised in AWANA with the Old KJV, too.. and I love it! God is so good... and he formed this universe with His words... these things are all within His power... and His timing.. and His plan... I only wish I could promise to come hold those babies.. but I will pray for an army for you... caring for you all... Dennis and Kim Tweten

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    1. Your praying up an army is the best thing you could do since you don't get to come join the physically present one. :) Thank you so much for your words of encouragement! Carrie

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  11. Carrie, Just want you to know that I would be honored to be able to help in ANYWAY that I can. Before or after the babies are here. When you get to Dallas, if you need help with Issac please feel free to call. I have a son that would be happy to keep him entertained. Know that we are praying for you and are SO excited for you and what the Lord is doing in your family.
    I also have a 14 year old daughter who would be happy to hold a baby. :-) Makes me think of when I was about that age and held you. You were one of my first babysitting experiences. Ok, that just made me feel old!
    Love to all, Jennifer Waller
    PS. Just thought I would let you know that "Harvestmom" is Laurie 'Gross' from LML.

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  12. My favorite post thus far. Thanks for your honesty Carrie. I'll send you another blog you'll cry at. Praying and loving what God is doing!

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Gavin, Carrie, Isaac, Will, David, Marcie, Seth, & Grace Jones

Gavin, Carrie, Isaac, Will, David, Marcie, Seth, & Grace Jones

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