In Haiti!

From today's email to our parents:

We landed then got on a SMALL plane and were flown over by a missions pilot. We landed right beside the water by small huts on a dirt strip. Wow...it's rural. When we got here the team had a late lunch with us.

We were so exhausted we fell asleep for two hours and just woke up. It's so hot here in the day. Very different from freezing in ATL. Tomorrow morning we go to an early, early church service (think 7 a.m.) then they have a Christmas party for the team tomorrow night and we are going to walk to the market with Matt.

We're safe and excited to be here!

The Latest, Latest Post

We were driving to see The Blind Side with a friend late last night when one of us made the confession. No Friday update. So...many days belated, here it is.

Marathon. Probably doesn't need to be stated but running a full distance marathon is no joke! Four months of intensive, time consuming training (with this specific race in mind) and years of more recreational jogging (no specific race in mind) all culminated with me standing at a start line in 39 degree weather underneath the Olympic circles in downtown Atlanta.

As the 1000 runners gathered, I felt encouraged. For months I'd been training and hadn't found more than a handful of people who had run or were training for a marathon. More often than not, people's reaction were something to the effect of, "You're running how far?! Why???" But then, on Thanksgiving morning 2009, I was surrounded by a huge crowd that understood the hard work I'd put in and what drives a man or woman to run a race that legen says the original runner DIED doing!

So at 7:30am the gun sounded and we were off. My friend Steven and I wanted to take the first few miles fairly slow. But when I crossed the 1st mile marker and looked at my watch, it said 9:17. I thought, "Oh no sir! You trained way too hard to run this pace." So I took off...and ran the next 20 miles at around a 7:20/mile pace! Tactically, I ran a great race passing hundreds of runners over the course of the race. At mile 21, my 7:20/mile pace quickly faded to more of a 9:30-9:45/mile pace:(

Physically I've never been in the place where my legs were depleted. With four years of college cross country under the belt and four more of recreational running since then, I'm well aware that running is far more mental than physical. So it's always been about the mental toughness and battle. And miles 21-26 were definitely mental. But physically, I've never felt what I felt during those miles.

Short of two "Johnny-on-the-spot" stops and four 8-10 second walks through the water stations (practically, how do you drink a cup of water while running???), I completed the entire marathon without stopping or walking! The final result was more than I'd hoped:

- 100th overall out of over 1,000 who started the race
- 19th overall out of over 100 in my age division
- Beat by only 11 women :)
- Official net time was 3:28:30, which breaks down to a 7:58/mile pace

Plans for a half marathon in Clemson, SC are already set for early 2010. And yes, I'll definitely do the full marathon again. Probably sooner rather than later!

23 Weeks. Things seem to be accelerating this week: Jason saw him kicking and just this morning Baby Tegen had the hiccups; we registered; I'm looking more rounded; we are scheduled for childbirth classes. All in about a week! We got good reports at the doctor and clearance to fly {gulp}. And next Wednesday will be viability day. He could survive with intensive medical care!

*This picture was taken at week 22 on the Friday after Thanksgiving. Thanks Alicia! I'm poking more than this for any of you comparing prego bellies out there. But what have we learned about that?!!

All is well. Curtains are picked out with some other nursery decor planning underway. More on that around Christmas.


Haiti. We've not given any updates on Jason's brother in Haiti. The word on the street is that he's doing well. We say that because between sparse emails we hear through others of his adventures. The latest has been intense language in the capitol. Not the most enjoyable, we understand. But next week we'll hear in person because next Saturday at the crack-of-dawn we'll be on a plane down. So excited to be going. To see Matt and what he's doing. To see kids at the local orphanage! Not so excited about the plane ride. So if you are awakened from sleep next Saturday morning around dawn or after, pretty sure God is wanting you to pray for us on that plane. One will be a six seater. Nail biting will ensue. We thank you in advance for prayer and look forward to sharing lots of pictures when we get back the following week!

Stay Tuned...

We've absolutely had no intention of being absent so long from the
blog or leaving you hanging about the marathon. We wanted Jason to
have a chance to give a full report but life and Thanksgiving and
an out-of-commission computer have postponed it all.

So Friday. That's what we're promising. Friday there will be lots
of pics as well as many updates. Until then!

A Girl Named Katie

Today we were at an adoption fair.  It’s no secret deep down in both our hearts is a growing longing to love a kid who has no one.  It’s getting stronger even with a baby kicking in my belly.  And today in one of my many blog reading sessions (I should be doing dishes or mingling outside my door, I know…) I ran across a picture that compelled me to read all about it.

Just wanted to share it with you.  You can read it here.  The story comes from the blog of this 21-year-old girl in Uganda. 

I am in awe.

Thoughts at the Half

1.  Pregnancy brings out the good neighbor in women.  So much sharing of clothes, accessories and advice is heartwarming and a definite blessing on the wallet!

2.  Under no circumstances should pregnancy bellies ever be compared.  It leads to moments of tears for being too big and worry for being too small.  Just be and let baby do the same.

3.  Boy names are harder to decide on than girls.  That’s probably just a matter of opinion, but tomorrow we’ll begin our third book of baby names nevertheless!

4.  Even if a food craving or cranky spell isn’t related to pregnancy, it’s fun to have that to fall back on.  

5.  Despite neigh-sayers, we’ll attempt cloth diapering.  That means grandparents will attempt cloth diapering once again too! ;)  Right now gDiapers with cloth inserts are the front runners.

6.  If you’re feeling kicks because the baby is squished into your jeans, throw out the rubber bands and embrace the beauty of big-as-a-barn maternity banded pants.  I may wear these the rest of my life!

7.  Just what is the purpose of shoes for newborns?

8.  Round ligament pain mentioned once in my maternity book deserves a much bigger spot.  “Discomfort in the abdomen” doesn’t adequately describe it.

9.    Dear fruit,   To tell you plainly, I’m in love with you.  If somehow all of the pineapples, strawberries and oranges and cranberries of this world could meet at my door every morning the world would be a happier place for Jason and all freshmen residents in this building. 

10.  The baby bump has a mind of it’s own.  One day it’s noticeable, the next it’s vanished.  These were taken four days apart at 19 1/2 then 20 weeks.

 

No longer an IT…

He’ll be a frisbee throwin’, bacon cheeseburger eatin’, camping, hiking, wrestlin’, football playin’, Jesus lovin’, marathon running manly man!

Our predictions were right…and today the ultrasound confirmed that we have a coke-can sized little boy!  We’re told he’s right in the 50th percentile for his size/development and all vitals are looking great!  We have no idea how the doctor saw kidneys, lungs, etc…but she said they’re all there and in good working order :)

Below is a picture that’s a stretch to see even with labeled parts, but we’re taking their word for it.

Praise God for His good gifts!

Tomorrow

In less than twenty-four hours

by this time tomorrow

the questions can hopefully stop

and have answers.

Pink or blue?

Here’s how you voted:

Boy	31%
Girl	47%
Not Sure	5%
Twins	15%

Looks like we’ll all be surprised.  As much kicking as it’s been doing we should get some kind of glimpse.

See you here tomorrow with news!