Laurel Grace Burts Birth Story

Thursday October 6th 8:45am

I had decided the night before that I would keep Matthew home from school. I really did not have a good reason other than he had stayed up a little late and really I just did not feel like waking up early and taking him. I had believed I was leaking fluid about two days so when I woke up this morning and stood up out of bed I felt a small gush. I called the midwife to see if I could come by and she could check if it was indeed amniotic fluid. I got ready and hopped in the car and left the kids with Samantha.

9:30am
Driving into Mississippi to my midwifes I felt a couple contractions they felt just like the ones I had been having on and off for the last two days so I barely took note of them. I was greeted warmly upon arriving at the Midwifes home office. She checked the fluid but there was not enough to get a proper reaction on the stick, she asked to check me and I was at a 4 and 90% effaced and my cervix was low. She asked me to stick around for a half hour and we would test the stick again. (give the amniotic fluid a chance to pool so there would be enough for the test) So as we where chatting I would pause here and there for a contraction I was not paying much attention otherwise to them because again I was having them on and off for days. My Midwife was timing them silently while we where chatting. After a half hour she tells me they are pretty close together and she thinks I might be in early labor she had me wait there another 20 min and asked to check me again and I was at a 6!

11:00-11:30am

She promptly sent me home and was following behind me shortly. I pulled out of her drive way and called my husband to let him know. I than called my mom and my good friend Toni after which I was not able to talk because the contractions where becoming too intense and I still had a 20 min drive home. I of course got stuck behind the slowest RV on the road most of the way home but I finally made it. Steven got home shortly after me. Samantha had cleaned the whole house while I was gone and she did not even know I was in labor! I hopped in the shower while Steven ran back out for a Pizza, I had not eaten all day so far.

12pm

Both of the Midwives had arrived and Steven with the pizzas. They where setting up in my room and I was in the dinning room eating a slice in between contractions. I noticed myself getting really shaky after I had finished. I thought to my self "this is transition" but brushed it off thining it was too soon. These contractions where more bothersome than with my last labor. (I had pulled a muscle during our move which probably made it much worse) So I decided to get into the bath to ease the discomfort. The water was helpful Matthew had fallen asleep on the couch and Audrey wanted to keep mommy company by pouring water on my belly. She was so sweet.

1:45-2:27pm
Steven stayed attentive the whole time but within a short period of time I felt things pick up and felt the urge to push. I thought to my self "there is no way!" it had only been a few hours, so I ignored it for a couple more contractions until I could not ignore it anymore! I called for my Midwife and they finished getting the room set up I got out of the tub and sure enough I was at 10cm. Audrey fell asleep at this point too which was great because my sister and husband did not have to tend to them while I was pushing. After trying several posistions during pushing I could not get comfortable. The Midwife had me flip to hands and knees the baby rotated and oh my she started coming! I reached down felt her head and sat up reached down with my other hand and after the Midwife untagled her cord I pushed and lifted her to my chest all on my own it was so amazing! I got to catch my own beautiful girl! I was wonderful!

My labor was short but very intense compared to my last. The Midwives stayed for 4+ hours ran us a warm herbal bath, made sure I ate and Laurel was latching well. They cleaned everything all the towels and the tub there was nothing for me to worry about it was great. I snuggled up in my bed with my little girl ate some fruit and popped in a movie. my hubby sister and the kids came in and out for visits, and we all got to enjoy our little Laurel in the comfort of our own home.

Laurel Grace Burt

Oct 6th, 2011 2:27pm

7lbs 4oz

20 1/4 inches

Little Miss Laurel Grace

I cant believe tomorrow will already been 3 weeks! Laurel has been such a joy already. She has a very pleasent personality which is a blessing because I do have 2 other toddlers to take care of! We have finally adjusted to similar sleeping patterns. Co-sleeping and nursing is great without it I would surely be a zombie.

The first week was rough Laurel was sleeping great but I was not able to fall asleep or stay asleep, after three days I thought I was loosing it. That sunday morning Steven Samantha and the kids went to church and Laurel and I slept all morning. One of my midwives came over for a visit that day, there postpartum care is amazing by the way! They came over several times the first week they would run an herbal bath for mommy and baby each time there visits where never less than an hour, and one visit they brought us dinner and my midwife cleaned my whole kitchen and rotated my laundry changed the sheets and everything! These things made a huge difference in the first week, it took several days after getting sleep on sunday for me to feel somewhat normal. I am so thankful that Laurel is "easy". Steven was back to work within just a couple days. This time around has been more difficult to adjust too in some ways and easier in other ways.

Its nice being up and about again it is quite an adventure trying to take three kids to the store for the first time! Our first big outting as a whole family was a trip to Walmart to pick up a TV my parents bought for us as early birthday gifts, boy that was an adventure!

Things are going good in the Burt household. I will be posting my birth story and more pictures of the family soon!

Happy Birthday Laurel Grace

Laurel Grace Burt

Born October 6th 2011

2:27pm

7lbs 4oz 20 1/4 inches long

Laurel Grace was born on a bright sunny Thursday afternoon after only 5 short hours of labor. She was caught by the hands of her own mother in the comfort of her home attended by her husband, sister and midwives.

Its such a blessing to serve the LORD!

It has been a very full two weeks I cant believe September is already half over! There is so much to tell, 2 Sundays ago my sister Samantha got SAVED!!! It was amazing and one of the most blessed moments of my life. Praise God for doing a work only He can do. Each of us has grown so much since we have arrived. This last Sunday we had a Western Round-up service followed by a cook off and pony rides for the kids. My sister Got baptized after the morning service and we all enjoyed some great southern cookin' afterward.

Last night I caught Matthew counting as he lined up his cars it was so neat watching the kids grow and learn. Audrey is very interested in the potty in fact its all she wants to do. she rips off her diaper and climbs up several times a day, she just does not seem to understand that she needs to sit on the potty BEFORE she goes not right after. LOL!! She is only 18 months.

My sister has applied for enrollment at Pensacola Christian College and is excited about getting things situated. Pray for her as she gets all of her required paperwork done and tries to raise some money for this up-coming semester.

I am 38weeks and 3days along in my pregnancy, we had one false alarm last week, I really am sad about not having my good friend Tammy here to be my Doula like at my last two births. I could not seem to get comfortable during my labor-y episode last week not having my comfort person with me. Its hard to imagine what this time will be like not having my planned birth team avail.

A few things we are looking forward to over the next few weeks\months are our harvest festival in Oct and in the beginning of Nov we have FAMILY CAMP!! I have always wanted to go to a family camp with church, I cant wait!

Please pray for us: as we are looking for a second vehicle that is fuel efficient, as we are financially getting back on our feet and having to adjust our budgeting accordingly, and as we are preparing for the upcoming birth of our #3.

 

Nesting Nicely

After a beautiful housewarming from our new church family we officially moved into our new home. its so wonderful to have a place to call our own. The kids love all the space to play and my sister loves having the guest room to herself! The neighborhood is quite and after our 3 day tropical storm we have been able to enjoy turning the air conditioner off and opening all the windows! Alabama is so pretty, its green and full of such sweet people.

Pastor preached an awesome semon last night out of Psalm 39 on how silence can be golden. how true! we hung around after the service and enjoyed fellowshiping with a few families...Matthew and Audrey are enjoying there new friends, Matthew is communicating so much better since the start of the school year. He is learning his colors and how to color in the lines, Ms. Amy his teacher says he is doing so good!

Today I am 36wks and 3days along in my pregnancy, I felt my first rush of energy this morning and used it to clean the kitchen, bathroom, windows and unpack the last few things to make our home complete. We are getting our washer and dryer tonight and my sister and I will be up late washing away!

I will post pictures soon!

Praise God for all the wonderful things he has done for us!

Showers of Blessings

There shall be showers of blessing:
This is the promise of love;
There shall be seasons refreshing,
Sent from the Savior above.

AMEN and AMEN! After a long "season" in a storm God is giving us a season of refreshing! We have been so blessed, looking back on the past few months I can now see what God was trying to teach us and what he was preparing us for\for us. It makes me wonder why we doubt so often his leading and will, when we have such a wise Father who knows exactly what we need to grow and learn. God has blessed us so much!

We found a beautiful house we are leasing to purchase. The price is locked in at $78,900 and is only $750 a month! We are in the process of moving in right now! Its a beautiful 3bed 1bath, there is a fire place in the living room 5 large closets throughout the house, tons of cupboard space in the kitchen a laundry room and a gorgeous dinning room! As silly as it may sound I know God saved this house just for us because when you pull up to the front its a sweet little blue house, with a white picket fence, which is something I always dreamed of! The inside is already painted EXACTLY how I would have painted it, the flooring in the dinning kitchen laundry is all new too!

 our beautiful new home!

Another blessing I wont fail to mention is the kindness and generosity that the people here have shewn us from the moment we arrived. When we knew we where moving to AL we sold everything but the essentials, and hopped on a plane in faith knowing God would take care of us... When we found a house the church members one by one started asking what we needed. We have been blessed with a very pretty dinning room table and chairs, an over sized chair and ottoman with a super comfy sofa, a queen bed, a washer and dryer and a breakfast table! Everything we have received is nicer than what we parted with! GOD IS SO GOOD!

This week at the christian school there was Open Revival. Four preachers came in through the week and each morning the school students and staff heard preaching. Steven was able to see 3 boys get saved! This past Sunday in church 2 adults got saved and 2 children where baptized. Steven was able to go with our pastor to a local prison and preach he said that the inmates response to the preaching was more exciting than a collage chapel service! The men where AMEN-ing and shouting, the singing was loud and exciting and the preaching was followed by 1 assurance of salvation!

God is really doing a wonderful work in this growing ministry and we are so happy to be able serve here!

There shall be showers of blessing,
If we but trust and obey;
There shall be seasons refreshing,
If we let God have His way.

Alabama at Last

So we flew into Pensacola FL last Wednesday and stayed the night, after a yummy breakfast at the Waffle House two of the sweetest ladies from our new church came to pick us up and show us our new home! after about an hour drive and a quick stop at Starbucks we arrived. There are tons of trees and everything is so green its absolutely beautiful here. We settled into the prophet chamber with all of our stuff and not 20 min later Steven started work, I don't think he has stopped since!!!


That evening there was a meet and greet for the Christian school where we where able to meet some families and enroll Matthew in K3. During the meet and greet Pastor Tim Whigham told us that the church is giving us a van!!! It needs the AC fixed but is in GREAT condition otherwise. While we are saving up to get the AC fixed another church family is lending us there Pacifica to use as long as we need! PRAISE GOD! God is so good! Here are a few snap shots of our new van.

The kids instantly made themselves at home. After the stress of packing moving and flying it was a relief to see how fast they adjusted. It was as if they just new that we where "home". Everyone here at Grace Baptist is so friendly, the hospitality is refreshing and the kindness almost overwhelming. They have truly accepted us with open arms and hearts.

Sunday morning was very exciting! Our first service as a family in our new ministry. Steven taught Sunday School, Matthew went to his 3 year old class and Audrey to the nursery. The service was a fireball of a message by Pastor Whigham about salvation. A family was baptized and one 13 year old boy from the bus rout got saved! The building was packed, full of familes all sitting together kids and adults of all ages. It seems to be very family oriented we love it! The even service had two guest preachers, interns from PCC afterward we enjoyed burgers and shakes at Steak and Shake with a church family... Its officially my new favorite place to eat!



Monday morning was Matthews first day of K3. After a late night out he was a bit groggy waking up. he ate his banana got dressed in his uniform and took his packed lunch and backpack to school with him. After a few pictures and tearful bye-byes he enjoyed the day at school! Upon picking him up his teacher Miss Amy told me all about his day! learning numbers and letters, having playtime snack time and nap time. I am excited to have him starting his education right before baby #3 gets here! Daddy teaches 5th and 6th grade in the next building over. School gets out at 2:30 and he has already had his nap so the rest of the day is enjoyed with the family.

My sister traveled along with us and has been such a tremendous help the whole time. The kids love her and they have bonded so much closer since we got to Alabama. They love snuggle time with Auntie, every time Samantha leaves the room Audrey or Matthew says "Where Auntie go?"

We have been blessed in so many ways in the last week. Everyone is settling in nicely, things are calming down and we can finally breathe and enjoy the blessings of God. He has made it so clear to us that being here is His will for our lives. Right now we are praying we find a place of our own before the baby gets here. I am entering my 35th week of pregnancy and meeting our potential midwife for the first time on Thursday. Pray for us as we settle in to our new ministry and home.


1 Thessalonians 5:24 
Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.