Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Day 416

Rebekah here.

I'll let Laura continue giving the updates through the day, but I wanted to take a time-out to pound out some of what I feel, before the real crazy emotion begins...

We're at the hospital. I AM SO TIRED. Everything is a blur, I can't even remember what day it is.

Everything started to sink in when we said goodbye to our good friends (Dan and Laura) on Monday morning. As I clung to my last piece of familiar, the emotion just poured out of me. I, all the sudden, felt like a child that was walking in shoes three sizes too big. I looked at Laura and said, "I don't know if I'm ready for this." My sweet friend grabbed my tear-streaked face, looked me square in the eyes and said...Yes you are. You were born for this. I held her a little longer and then we waved goodbye to our last piece of home...

From there on out, it was just the two of us.

As Laura reported, an hour from destination (man, were we looking forward to a night on the town!) Rebekah called and said, "I think you better drive through the night..."

We both had a large sense of "Of course...nothing else has gone according to plan, why now??" We never gave it a second thought....we just kept on driving...and driving...and driving...and driving. 18 hours in the car. Ug.

At about hour 13 I had had enough. Every bone in my body ached and I was big time nauseous. We pull over to get dinner, I take one whiff of Ben's fried shrimp and I hurled all over the Cracker Barrel bathroom. This led to a mini meltdown in the ladies restroom and all I wanted was Ben... I gathered myself together...cleaned up my mess...and went back to the table. Ben says, "Honey, you just need to get some rest. Don't think about anything else. I'll get us there." [Enter uncontrollable emotion].

Thankfully, my stomach cleared and I was able to help keep Ben awake for most of the ride. The events did not stop there. Kansas brewed up a big old storm for us, the Wizard of Oz kind, and it was all Ben could do to stay on the road.

After being up 23 hours....driving for 18...seeing the sun set in Kansas and rise in Colorado...hearing Ben ask "Do you think we'll ever leave Kansas?" (or variations) at least 10 times...and singing Steven Curtis Chapman's This is the Great Adventure, at the top of our lungs, we collapsed in bed at 5 o'clock, this morning....Just to be up at 9:30am.

This is crazy.

But you cannot deny God's hand...We walked into Rebekah's hospital room and she burst into tears. We've had a wonderful time getting to know her family and loving Rebekah through these many hours of labor. The highlight of my day, was when Rebekah's mom looked around the room and said, "I can't believe we're all sitting here...like family. This is so cool." I have never felt so honored...Rebekah's family has embraced us warmly.

It's been a long day for sure...Rebekah is only dialated to 4 and there's been some hiccups along the way. But God is moving! I haven't processed that in a few short hours (hopefully) I'll be holding my son for the first time...

We used to take this journey one day at a time. Right now...it's minute by minute.


Thank you for standing with us...

23 comments:

  1. Oh, what an experience you've had! Soak it all in, because you'll be telling baby boy all about it some day. :) Enjoy these moments...they will go by all too quickly. These are your last moments as just a couple...soon you'll be a family and things will never be the same! You'll look back on the days when it was just the two of you and say "remember when we used to...(fill in whatever type of freedom you used to have to do whatever you wanted...lol)
    This is all you need at this moment...just you, Ben, Rebekah and her family...what a wonderful way to welcome Baby Boy into the world. He is so loved already!!!!
    So many of us are thinking of all of you and praying for an easy birth, for health and for happiness. This is it!! You ARE ready for this!! Soak it all in!!! :)

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  2. We're praying for all of you! We love you guys! You can do it! Can't wait to hear the news. Darren and I are sitting here hitting refresh to see the updates! :)

    Love,
    Kara

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  3. OMG...it's finally time! Praying for you all, and so excited to meet baby Pinchback!

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  4. loved reading this rebekah......it brought so much emotion back with the many many feeling and emotions jamie and matt had when it was actually going to happen, and there IS no way for anyone to know what they will feel and the emotion that will pour over them once this little one is in their arms and this journey of waiting is over and a new journey of family has begun.....so happy that you are experiencing this miracle and it is a beautiful story....
    keeping you in our thoughts and prayers......
    kimberly

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  5. I am so beyond excited for you!
    I keep looking for updates all day
    I cannot wait to see the update that Baby Boy is here and all of you are healthy and in Gods grace!

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  6. Praying praying praying.

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  7. We're so very excited for you! Wow -- in just a little while you'll be meeting your son.

    You're going to be such a good mom, Rebekah. There's so much love in you that just comes through with every word that you write. I'm so very happy for you.

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  8. we love you Rebekah! i have not been able to stop thinking/praying for you all day! hang in there, your adrenaline will kick in the instant you see your son for the first time and all your fatigue will be out the window!

    enjoy every minute, you won't want to forget a thing about this!

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  9. Oh honey, I live in Missouri so I know the storms you were talking about. I'm SO GRATEFUL you arrived safely.

    *HUGS*

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  10. I cannot read these without crying... I just can't! I am lifting you and your new family up in prayer as I type! You are going to be great! Best wishes to you all!

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  11. Prayers coming your way! Soon yoru joy will be multiplied immensely with yoru son in yoru arms!

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  12. standing by my computer :) can't wait to see pics of baby boy! :) congrats...look how far you have come! God is good..He is holding you...rest in that peace! :) can't wait to see what the next update brings! :) God bless and prayers to you!

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  13. I am so glad I got caught up today and can't wait to read more and see pics of YOUR SON!

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  14. ALL of you have been in my thoughts and prayers all day. I am checking your blog way too much (according to my hubby) for updates!!! :)

    Hang in there. God is good and will hold you when you think and/or know you are about to lose it.

    HUGS!!!!

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  15. Hi Rebekah, Thanks so much for your post. As a friend of (the other) Rebekah, I'm so glad you & Ben made it to be there with her...for her.

    I've text on & off today with Rebekah. I really hate she has had such a hard time. However, I'm glad you are there with her and her family. Its just awesome that you all feel like a big family.

    Thanks for allowing Laura to update your blog during the day.

    I'm in continuous prayer for the three of you and of course for Baby Boy.

    Please give Rebekah and Baby Boy a special hug from me.

    CeCe in Mississippi

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  16. Wow, tears filled my eyes as I read this. You are in the home stretch, he will be here soon, safe in your arms. I will be praying for supernatural strength for you and our dear husband. These next few days will be a wild ride. I can't wait to see the birth announcement. This is it!!!

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  17. I have been lurking and reading your blog for a while...you give me hope and strength. I can't wait to see a picture of you with your son. I keep refreshing my webpage! WOW! I get the chills. My husband and I are waiting for a match just like you did, for so long. I cherish your candor and your blog.
    Sarah

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  18. This post, along with many others made me cry!!

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  19. Congratulations on the birth of your child... what a joyous occasion!!

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  20. Wow! What a trip getting there. And her mom in the room and the feeling of family there. It's amazing what the Hand of God can do in these kinds of situations.

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  21. Oh man, I remember losing my breakfast the morning before we went to pick up our son from the hospital. I survived on banana smoothies. Such a random memory, but we've all been there, or will be there soon enough.

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  22. I think every mother goes through that moment when you realize "I'm going to be this kids MOM" and think we're not ready. You are, and you will figure things out the way the rest of us do... Good luck and much love :)

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