CNY 2016: Fun at the Park

We just had a week-long vacation for Chinese New Year and the weather was unseasonably warm.  We spent a lot of time hanging out in different parks around our neighborhood.  You never know what you're going to see in a Taipei park...

Jude, 22 months

Keira, 3 years 4 months

Good friends :)

Happy Year of the Monkey!

Love Multiplied

"Here comes one who will augment our loves." --Dante

Since baby James joined our family, one of my favorite things is watching Kalan and the kids love on him.

You'd think that with each new baby our love would be stretched thin. After all, children do put a strain on our time, energy, and money.  But I've discovered love is different--it miraculously multiplies.

Each new family member allows me to know and appreciate the others in new ways, ways I didn't before.

It reminds me of something C.S. Lewis wrote about friendship.  This has been on my mind recently, and I think it applies to families too:

"In each of my friends there is something that only some other friend can fully bring out...Two friends delight to be joined by a third, and three by a fourth...For in this love 'to divide is not to take away.'" 

He goes on to say that this is how friends (and I would add earthly families) resemble the family of God.

Someday we will praise God together in heaven, 

"where the very multitude of the blessed (which no man can number) increases the fruition which each has of God.  For every soul, seeing Him in her own way, doubtless communicates that unique vision to all the rest... 

...The more we thus share the Heavenly Bread between us, the more we shall all have.”

(Quotes are from The Four Loves by C.S. Lewis) 

And Then There Were Five

Introducing...

James August Spencer

Born December 19, 2015 

8 lbs 5 oz, 22 inches

The Story

It felt like we had been waiting forever to meet this sweet little boy!  After I went on bedrest at 34 weeks for preterm labor, we all expected James to make an early appearance.  But my due date passed, and still no baby.  Every week my doctor said, "I just can't believe you're still pregnant!"  Furthermore, I had frequent, strong contractions daily in the weeks leading up to his birth...more than once I was convinced labor was starting only to have it subside hours later.

On December 18th, my midwife came to check on me and see how things were progressing.  "Sorry," she said, "but it looks like you'll have to wait until next week for this baby.  He'll be a Christmas gift!"  I told Kalan when he got home, then added, "But the good news is, we can go see Star Wars this weekend!"  We booked movie tickets and a babysitter for the following night.

The next morning was clear and sunny.  Kalan got up with the kids and let me sleep in.  Around 8 AM I started having contractions every 5-10 minutes, but I didn't think much of it.  After all, it was similar to what I'd been experiencing for weeks!  Kalan went to the market for groceries while the kids and I read stories and built a train track.

Morning of December 19th

Around 10 we set off together for Daan Park (our church has a monthly kids outreach there).  After just 15 minutes of walking, I told Kalan that I wasn't feeling so well and needed to go home to rest.  He and the kids continued on without me.  On the way home, I had to stop and lean against a road sign during a particularly strong contraction.  Hmmm...could this be it?

At 10:30 I called Mai-Li (our midwife) and told her that "I think I might be in labor."  (Ha!)  She said she'd come right over.  Then I called Kalan.

"Should I come home?"

"Nah...you and the kids should stay and play.  I'm okay.  We can wait and see how things go."

"How about I leave the kids here with our friends and come home?"

"Well, okay.  That sounds good."

Twenty minutes later, I was so relieved to see Kalan walk through the door.  The contractions were coming quickly and strongly now--this was it, and I needed his support.  He held my hand and helped me breathe.  In between contractions he got things ready and kept me laughing so I wouldn't get too stressed out:  "Of course he finally decides to show up on the day I'm going to see Star Wars!"

I also remember focusing on different Christmas ornaments and listening to this song as I labored.

At 11:30, I said (a bit panicked), "Kalan, I want to push!"

"Okay," he said, appearing completely calm, "I'll go wash my hands."

He called Mai-Li, who was looking for a parking space.  She parked as soon as she could and ran over to our apartment, arriving around 11:45. 

They helped me into the bathtub and James came into the world shortly after at 12:10 PM.  

Our friends brought Keira and Jude home an hour later and they got to meet their new brother for the first time.  Then we all took an afternoon nap.  ;) 

Over the past few days, we've been so blessed by all our friends who have come to help and visit.

 Some of our neighbors have been bringing me traditional postnatal recovery foods nearly every day.  Yum!

Keira: "Mom, can I have the chicken foot?!  Pleeeeeeease?!  It's my favorite!!!"

Our midwife makes regular postpartum visits.  Here she's checking James' weight.
She's the best.  :)

James is eating and sleeping and growing like a champ.

We love you so much already, baby James.  Welcome to our family!

Surviving Bedrest: The Week in Review Vol. 21

Thanks to all of you who have been praying for us during this past week.  

(In case you missed it, I was put on bedrest two weeks ago due to preterm labor).

It's been hard, but we have so much to be thankful for...

Role reversal!  First time going out in the wheelchair.

1. Our baby appears healthy and is nearly full-term.  I will be 36 weeks next Tuesday (37 is considered full-term).  According to ultrasound, our baby already weighs nearly 6 lbs, and the doctor seems confident that he will do just fine, even if he's born a little earlier than expected.

2. I get to go outside!  A friend lent us a wheelchair, and the doctor approved for me to take short trips outside each day (if someone is pushing me).  Getting some sunshine and fresh air feels so good!

3. We have amazing friends.  This past week, our church family started bringing us meals, which takes some of the cooking burden off Kalan.  Friends came to visit me almost every day, which was a huge encouragement.  Others have called or texted to check up on us.  And of course, Chelsea continues to bless us with all her help.

Five foreigners--two in a double stroller + one in a wheelchair + two pushing us all along--we're quite the sight for our neighbors!

Have a great weekend!

Kayt

Halloween, Bedrest, and the Best Sister-in-Law Ever

Happy belated Halloween!  We attended a Halloween party at the school where Kalan teaches English.  The kids got to join in the activities, including trick-or-treating at a few stores around the block.  (Halloween isn't celebrated in Taiwan, but English schools here often organize special activities.)

According to Keira, Halloween is the "best day ever" because she got to dress up like a princess and eat candy.

Halloween night took an unexpected turn, however, when I went into preterm labor.  No one saw that coming!  After a bunch of tests, my doctor prescribed medicine/bedrest and sent me home.  I'm 34 weeks along now, and we are hoping baby boy can wait at least three more before making his appearance.

That means I'm pretty limited in my activities for the next few weeks.  Providentially, Chelsea (my brother's fiancee) is here visiting until November 19.  She has been wonderful, jumping in to help watch the kids, wash the dishes, fold laundry, and do whatever else needs to be done.  We are so thankful for her cheerful, serving heart.

Movie night!

Kalan has also been awesome about cooking, cleaning, taking the kids out to play, and generally keeping our household running.  It's hasn't been easy while balancing work, Chinese class, and church commitments, but somehow he does it all.  

And so, even though this past week did not turn out as I expected, I'm incredibly grateful for how God provides, especially for things we don't even know to pray for.

"The Lord has established his throne in the heavens, and his sovereignty rules over all." Psalm 103:19

A 3-Year-Old, a 3-Day Weekend, and 3-Cup Chicken: The Week in Review Vol. 20

Keira is three years old!  Thanks to all our family and friends who sent packages and celebrated with us.  She loves playing pretend, dressing up, singing, dancing, making new friends at the park, dumplings and dou-hua, kittens, bubble gum, making up stories, reading, and the color pink.

Keira's birthday is right before Taiwan's birthday, so we had another 3-day weekend.  

A new friend (a neighbor) came over and taught me how to make 3-Cup Chicken (a Taiwanese dish made with soy sauce, rice wine, and sesame oil).  Yum! 

My brother's fiancee arrived for a visit.  

We're so happy to have her with us!

This little guy has been keeping us laughing recently with all his new words and love for climbing, jumping, and.....diving.  (?!)

Have a great weekend, everyone.

Kayt

Moon Festival and Typhoon Dujuan: The Week in Review Vol. 19

Yay for long weekends!  Thanks to the Moon Festival holiday, we got to spend extra time with friends last week.  

Above: Dahu Park

Below: Finishing our Moon Festival BBQ with giant marshmallows.  It was my first time roasting a marshmallow while holding an umbrella.  :)

I should probably explain this picture a bit.  We went to a barbecue at a friends' home.  They share an entryway with some neighbors, who use that space for their family shrine (the table behind us with the family gods).  This is relatively common in Taiwan.

The next day Typhoon Dujuan roared over northern Taiwan, and our three-day weekend turned into a four-day weekend.  Fortunately, we didn't lose electricity or water at all this time.  Here's what the storm looked like from our balcony:

When the sun did come out later in the week, we were excited to get out and play!

Keira's been practicing on her bike, and I finally feel comfortable letting her ride alone while I push the stroller right behind.  Can you believe our sweet girl will turn three this weekend?!

Have a great week!

Kayt