. . . in response to the delightfully frequent "What do you need?" question: Although there are several baby items we still need to borrow/buy/receive (see my last post), obviously medical bills are by far the largest single need (especially as the new insurance year starts) and are not provided for in our monthly support quota. If you feel led to help with the babies' and my doctors' and hospital bills please designate gifts "Gavin and Carrie Jones: Excess Medical" either in the comment box online (see link, right hand side of this page) or on a separate attached note if using snail mail. Otherwise, undesignated medical bill gifts will be recorded as basic living expense gifts and will decrease our eligibility for and amount of supplementary support when the babies come along.
This is a NO PRESSURE P.S. to my last posting. It's only meant for those of you who have asked us specifically what our needs are or are planning and wanting to contribute towards medical bills.
We deeply appreciate everyone's prayer support, encouragement, practical help, and gifts of all kinds! We are tremendously humbled and know that God is the green tree from whom all our blessings and fruit come. (Hosea 14:8b) Thanks for being His vessels.
Love in Christ,
Carrie (for Gavin, too)
Saturday, June 30, 2012
I am sooooo tired . . .
(Writing from my dad's computer.)
I keep thinking of our first furlough, when 3 1/2 year-old Isaac woke up sick the day we left Ukarumpa and we had to give him Phernergan to enable him to make it through the flight without tossing his cookies. I could sure tell when the drug began to act as he lay limply in my arms and said, "Mommy, I am sooooo tired." He slept through friends' goodbyes at our airstrip. Oh well.
Now I feel like saying that all the time and lying around limply (which I am supposed to do anyway). How much is the anemia? How much is the fact that my body is heavily taxed by 5 babies? I sleep for 10 hours and wake up feeling like all I want to do is go back to sleep, even when I get out of bed and force myself to make it to the living room where there's usually some activity and a parent to serve me (Gavin is in CA visiting our church, friends and family there - he took Isaac, and both are having a great time. If you think to pray for him this weekend, I'd appreciate it, please, as he's hiking into the back country of Yosemite with his cousin/best friend.).
I even have trouble typing. Weird stuff comes out instead of the word or letter I was intending. I read your emails. I love your comments. I am so encouraged by your prayers. My response is to lie limply but gratefully in the recliner or on the couch or in my bed. Sorry. You'll notice Gavin has been doing almost all the blogging, which is why the last picture said 22 weeks instead of the correct 21 weeks - I'll be 22 weeks tomorrow, hooray! (I celebrate each week at this point. At a certain point I'll celebrate each day.)
I did want to thank those of you who have been praying for my back pain. It's gotten a ton better, though still acts up in the same place (high right) from time to time. Thanks also to those who have been praying for my appetite as I'm still 10 pounds behind where I'm "supposed" to be as established in my twins, triplets, and quad pregnancy book,(although I look as rotund in every area as a Butterball turkey) and now one of the baby girls has borderline intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). I drink Boost and Ovaltine and ice cream malts to try and fatten her up. Not sure if that helps at all, but it makes me feel like I'm doing SOMETHING. Since the boys are all a bit "ahead" and the other little girl is right on target, I really doubt it's malnutrition that's causing the tiny one to lag behind, especially with all the supplements I'm on. The doctor says her placenta probably just didn't find as good a place to implant as the other babies' did.
Speaking of appetite, we've received two delicious meals this week from women in our Texas home church. That sure helps. My mom is still working full-time many days, so it's a huge relief to her. When we first arrived she'd work all day, come home and cook, and be in the kitchen until 11:00 p.m. cleaning up.
In the evening, when I tend to have more energy after my nap (but I can't nap too long or I will have really restless sleep at night!), I have been slowly sorting through baby clothes. We have received TONS of adorable sleepers, outfits, blankets, etc. for the first year of their lives! Almost all are used but in great condition. I love looking through Isaac's old outfits and imagining the three boys in them come Dec. or so.
I will register soon at Target.com and Babysrus.com (whenever my sooooooo tiredness subsides enough to enable me to concentrate) as many have been asking "what do you need?" And please be assured, used is just fine with us! Borrowing would definitely be a blessing.
I'm rambling. It's because I am soooooo tired. (Ha, ha - what's my excuse normally?)
Love you all - please consider this my personal email response to your lovely cards and messages.
Carrie
I keep thinking of our first furlough, when 3 1/2 year-old Isaac woke up sick the day we left Ukarumpa and we had to give him Phernergan to enable him to make it through the flight without tossing his cookies. I could sure tell when the drug began to act as he lay limply in my arms and said, "Mommy, I am sooooo tired." He slept through friends' goodbyes at our airstrip. Oh well.
Now I feel like saying that all the time and lying around limply (which I am supposed to do anyway). How much is the anemia? How much is the fact that my body is heavily taxed by 5 babies? I sleep for 10 hours and wake up feeling like all I want to do is go back to sleep, even when I get out of bed and force myself to make it to the living room where there's usually some activity and a parent to serve me (Gavin is in CA visiting our church, friends and family there - he took Isaac, and both are having a great time. If you think to pray for him this weekend, I'd appreciate it, please, as he's hiking into the back country of Yosemite with his cousin/best friend.).
I even have trouble typing. Weird stuff comes out instead of the word or letter I was intending. I read your emails. I love your comments. I am so encouraged by your prayers. My response is to lie limply but gratefully in the recliner or on the couch or in my bed. Sorry. You'll notice Gavin has been doing almost all the blogging, which is why the last picture said 22 weeks instead of the correct 21 weeks - I'll be 22 weeks tomorrow, hooray! (I celebrate each week at this point. At a certain point I'll celebrate each day.)
I did want to thank those of you who have been praying for my back pain. It's gotten a ton better, though still acts up in the same place (high right) from time to time. Thanks also to those who have been praying for my appetite as I'm still 10 pounds behind where I'm "supposed" to be as established in my twins, triplets, and quad pregnancy book,(although I look as rotund in every area as a Butterball turkey) and now one of the baby girls has borderline intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). I drink Boost and Ovaltine and ice cream malts to try and fatten her up. Not sure if that helps at all, but it makes me feel like I'm doing SOMETHING. Since the boys are all a bit "ahead" and the other little girl is right on target, I really doubt it's malnutrition that's causing the tiny one to lag behind, especially with all the supplements I'm on. The doctor says her placenta probably just didn't find as good a place to implant as the other babies' did.
Speaking of appetite, we've received two delicious meals this week from women in our Texas home church. That sure helps. My mom is still working full-time many days, so it's a huge relief to her. When we first arrived she'd work all day, come home and cook, and be in the kitchen until 11:00 p.m. cleaning up.
In the evening, when I tend to have more energy after my nap (but I can't nap too long or I will have really restless sleep at night!), I have been slowly sorting through baby clothes. We have received TONS of adorable sleepers, outfits, blankets, etc. for the first year of their lives! Almost all are used but in great condition. I love looking through Isaac's old outfits and imagining the three boys in them come Dec. or so.
I will register soon at Target.com and Babysrus.com (whenever my sooooooo tiredness subsides enough to enable me to concentrate) as many have been asking "what do you need?" And please be assured, used is just fine with us! Borrowing would definitely be a blessing.
I'm rambling. It's because I am soooooo tired. (Ha, ha - what's my excuse normally?)
Love you all - please consider this my personal email response to your lovely cards and messages.
Carrie
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Dead computer!
On Monday our computer decided to go to a better place. It was a good one for the past 4 1/2 years, but I guess it's time to let it go. It's totally dead, but fortunately completely backed up, so the loss is only the hardware. We are thankful for family who are allowing us to use their machines until we have a replacement!
That said, we might be a bit more delayed in responding to emails than before since we're not as directly connected as we were. It's pretty amazing how much we rely on computers and the files on them these days, isn't it?
That said, we might be a bit more delayed in responding to emails than before since we're not as directly connected as we were. It's pretty amazing how much we rely on computers and the files on them these days, isn't it?
Correction: Carrie at 21 weeks
Gavin was a bit off on his weeks. I was just 21 weeks in this photo. :)
This picture was taken before our latest Dr. Appointment. Isaac's expressions are kind of representative of how we've been feeling sometimes when we think about different aspects of our future. For the most part, I think our "expressions" are a bit more relaxed and at peace, but every once in a while . . . .
The other girl, though, is significantly smaller than her siblings, but there was no evidence of her being in distress or having other problems. From what we've read online, low iron levels can hinder growth of the babies some as well as cause some other symptoms that Carrie is experiencing.
We are thankful, though, that Carrie is getting an iron infusion this morning, which will allow her body's stores to be replenished quickly, since the other forms of iron she has been taking have had no effect. We pray that will help with Carrie's energy level and appetite as well as the babies' growth and health.
Sunday, June 24, 2012
Home: On official bedrest
After a largely sleepless night for Carrie, we are home again. The contractions slowed down and were never strong enough to cause much concern. After seeing her this morning, though, the doctor is putting her officially on bed-rest. We are home now and grateful to be here.
Saturday, June 23, 2012
A trip to the hospital . . .
Carrie has been having more and longer contractions this afternoon. A call to our doctor has sent us to the emergency room just to check up and monitor things. No one was in the waiting room so she was zipped right up. The doctor on call and the nurses have been great and things look fine at this point. They are calling them Braxton-Hicks contractions and she's on an IV to get some more fluids in her. I suspect she'll be here for the night, but we don't know for sure, of course. We appreciate your prayers!
A good week for Isaac.
Isaac has had a great, busy week! Our church here had its Vacation Bible School in the mornings and Isaac had a great time learning about God's greatness and power-- that His understanding is infinite! He spent four of the afternoons this week with a good friend, Peter, playing at his house and going to swimming lessons. He's loving the swimming. We were able to top off the week yesterday afternoon by going to Hawaiian Falls, a waterpark nearby. We got discounted tickets from VBS and our church group had the park to ourselves for 2 hours later on at night. Isaac and I had a great time and he was worn out, getting to bed at around 11 last night. Fortunately, he made up for it by sleeping in until 10:30 this morning.
When we were at the water park, Isaac asked me, "Dad, why do you want to do everything with me?" I have been realizing increasingly more the last few weeks how little time I have left with Isaac as my only child. I am trying to take advantage of these times together and cherish them before the frenzy of the quints hits. I just told him, "Isey, I only have you for a few more months as my only son and I want to spend as much time as I can with you. Does that bother you?" He replied, "No, I was just asking."
I truly hope that Isaac will not feel that our love for him is less when our lives are consumed with caring for five new babies. We've talked through this a bit with him, but when reality hits, I think it's going to be pretty hard for him to be playing sixth fiddle. We will need to make it a priority to spend quality times with him alone after the siblings arrive.
I really think we all don't truly have much of a real picture what we are in for. I would say we are going into it all pretty well prepared -- and more than well cared-for, but there are so many unknowns, that we can only plan so much. At a certain point planning becomes futile and more work, since we don't know the facts of our situation yet.
We've been blessed by having our baby room start to fill up over the last few days with donations from several people. It's sure making things seem real as I see all the baby paraphernalia. How do you know when enough is enough? With one? With FIVE? I remember being continually amazed how much "stuff" Isaac needed (I guess I should say, we needed for Isaac) when he was a baby. That is now increased by 5 in some areas, but fortunately not all. We're going to be going through the stuff and using a spreadsheet our manager/coordinator, Stacey Walter, has made for us to find out what we have and what we are lacking. That's a big help for me, especially. Now, where to put the stuff, since we won't need it all at once . . . .
When we were at the water park, Isaac asked me, "Dad, why do you want to do everything with me?" I have been realizing increasingly more the last few weeks how little time I have left with Isaac as my only child. I am trying to take advantage of these times together and cherish them before the frenzy of the quints hits. I just told him, "Isey, I only have you for a few more months as my only son and I want to spend as much time as I can with you. Does that bother you?" He replied, "No, I was just asking."
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| Add caption |
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| Striking the bathing beauty (or hunk, in this case) pose |
I truly hope that Isaac will not feel that our love for him is less when our lives are consumed with caring for five new babies. We've talked through this a bit with him, but when reality hits, I think it's going to be pretty hard for him to be playing sixth fiddle. We will need to make it a priority to spend quality times with him alone after the siblings arrive.
I really think we all don't truly have much of a real picture what we are in for. I would say we are going into it all pretty well prepared -- and more than well cared-for, but there are so many unknowns, that we can only plan so much. At a certain point planning becomes futile and more work, since we don't know the facts of our situation yet.
We've been blessed by having our baby room start to fill up over the last few days with donations from several people. It's sure making things seem real as I see all the baby paraphernalia. How do you know when enough is enough? With one? With FIVE? I remember being continually amazed how much "stuff" Isaac needed (I guess I should say, we needed for Isaac) when he was a baby. That is now increased by 5 in some areas, but fortunately not all. We're going to be going through the stuff and using a spreadsheet our manager/coordinator, Stacey Walter, has made for us to find out what we have and what we are lacking. That's a big help for me, especially. Now, where to put the stuff, since we won't need it all at once . . . .
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| Isaac's favorite Stateside treat: Pizza at Costco! |
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Gavin, Carrie, Isaac, Will, David, Marcie, Seth, & Grace Jones
