Our gift of Joy arrives

Rebekah Joy

Our little Rebekah Joy arrived Tuesday June 15th at 5:26pm weighing in it at 7 lbs 7oz with a little bit of dark hair and dark blue eyes.

The day before is when everything started to begin. Monday morning I started having contractions. Which I thought were surely just Braxton Hicks because they were not painful at all just annoying. But they were consisitant. After lunch I noticed I was still having them so Dan and I started timing them. They were consistantly 20 minutes apart. We were still going about our daily activities. Dan's grandparents had just got into to town and were staying at the Casino Hotel in town which had an indoor pool. We ended up sticking around at the pool and watching Dan and Halle swim all aftrernoon. The contractions were still there. They actually started gradually growing closer together like 12-13 minutes apart but still not painful at all. I still felt that this was surely not it. BUt my hopes were high. After a LONG afternoon of swimming in that HOT...HOT room we all headed to dinner at the Olive Garden. I felt that the contractions were a little bit stronger now but still not close to painful. We started timing them on Dan's cool and very useful iphone app. Turns out the contractions had grown to 7 to 8 minutes apart. Yeah!!! We all got kind of excited now and a bit anxious hoping this was it. I went a head before calling the doctor and ate as much as I could of that yummy pasta!!! We got on the phone with the doctor and they said to take a warm bath and 1000 mg of tylenol. So I headed to the jacuzzi tub in Grandma's hotel room. After an hour in the tub, the contractions were still there and still consistent. I held off going in until they picked up in pain or grew closer together. I actually got a great night's sleep and then woke up at 5 am to some more painful cramping but still 7 minutes apart. These I actually had to breath through some but nothing that wasn't bearable. Dan and I decided to head in. We found out I was dilated to a good 5 and completely soft and contractions were coming on consistently. They admitted me at 8 am and moved me into a really comfy room. Dan and I did some walking and played alot of scrabble on his ipad for the next few hours. They gave me the epidermal around lunch time and shortly after that broke my water. We started the pushing around 5:10pm. I only had to push 3 times and our beautiful baby girl Rebekah Joy arrived at 5:26pm that Tuesday evening. We were blessed to have such a smooth pregnancy. It went sooo great! The hospital was amazing. The doctor and nurses were wonderful. We conversated with the doctor and nurses the whole time. They were so kind and so helpful with everything. They brought me cheesecake at every meal and warm cookies for snacks. YUM!

Rebekah was a great baby from the first moments. She latched right away and has been an incredible eater. She nurses so well and so fast. She slept through the first night for one four hour stretch and has not had her nights and days mixed up at all. She has done so well at night. She hardly ever cries and she likes to sit in her bouncy most of the day and watch me chase around her big sis Halle. She sleeps very well in her crib. Rebekah Joy has had such a sweet personality and countenance from day 1. She loves to look at you and somewhat smile quite often, with the occasional coo. I was not sure how I would be able to love another as much as I love Halle, but I totally can and do. My love for her is growing more and more everyday.

At Rebekah Joy's first doctor's visit (at 2 weeks old) she had gained two pounds! I was concerned because she was only eating for about 10 minutes total (both sides) and I could not get her to eat anymore. I was afraid she wasn't getting any of that hind milk. If I tried to get her to keep going, she would spit it all up...projectile! But evidently she is just a fast and effective eater. Because her doctor seemed happy and astounded at the weight gain. It is a real blessing with having to take care of Halle also. Halle would eat for 40 to 45 minutes when she was this age.

Grandma Ruby and Bob (Dan's mom, Karen's mom and step dad) were able to visit and be here when Rebekah Joy arrived.
We were so blessed to have Karen and Doug there to help take care of Halle when we were in the hospital. This is Halle meeting her baby sister for the first time.
Uncle Mike was able to be here too.
Here is Grandpa Bob with our little Joy.

This was Rebekah Joy's first bath.

We had to cancel PROXY that Wednesday night but all the leaders came to visit! It was special to have all the visitors and kind gifts in the hospital. We are blessed to be surrounded by some incredible people. We love you guys.
So all together Halle seriously probably got more gifts than Rebekah did during the months and days leading up to Rebekah coming and even the days after. She got sooooo much stuff! It was so sweet of everyone to think of Halle and how she would be feeling with a new little sister in the house. Thank you so much. Dan and I also brought some bags full of goodies home for Halle from the hospital.
Here is sweet Aunt Beverly from Kansas City. Her and Grandma Doris were able to come and visit. This is Dan's dad, Doug's Aunt and step mother. They of course came with bags full of goodies for the girls. They are soooooooo sweet. And I was so happy they were able to come and see Rebekah Joy.
Here is baby Joy with Grandma Doris. Thank you guys for coming to see us and celebrate with us.
Rebekah Joy with her Grandpa Friesen.
Baby Joy with Grandma Friesen.

Thank you Jesus for another gift that we are so undeserving of. She is a beauty. Grant us the love, strength, patience, wisdom and knowledge to parent Little Rebekah Joy. Her life is in your hands. May we not do this on our own but look to you for guidance and instruction. Give us the grace to teach her about you and love her with your love. May her life be full of your blessings and may it be full of your Joy. We love you. Thank you Jesus for your grace. You are all that is good!