A Princess is Born!

With Daddy…doesn't he look young without the beard!

Princess, Princess…How we love thee!

Before she was born, Christian and I decided to do everything possible to give us a chance of a natural delivery. After much discussion, we decided on a "Hypnobirthing" class. I was concerned about the "spiritual" implications of such an "new age" concept, but Christian assured me, that for pain relief hypnosis was something that had been used for a long time in the medical community and in this form had nothing to do with other spirituality.

It was the Hypnobirthing or the "Calm Birth" class that we did with Peter Jackson (remembered his name because of the famous one who made the Lord Of The Rings films) that changed everything in this birth.

Three generations of women.

Labour started as I was sitting at the computer one evening. I was on the phone to Mum and noticing the back ache that I just couldn't get comfortable with. Eventually I realised that it was coming in "waves" that coincided with my tummy getting tight, and mentioned it to Mum. She told me to call hubby who was on call at the hospital that night and had not yet come home. I made the call. We waited half an hour to be sure, and then Christian called in the other doctor from our practice who was to back him up (my obstetrician…didn't think about him needing a good sleep!). Christian was rather stoked to get off call. Mum got in the car and made her way across the Snowy Mountains from Wagga to Cooma.

Getting to meet Tiger.

When she arrived she was surprised to find us up, happy and very calm. She sent us to the hospital, telling us she would look after Tiger. We went, but I wasn't in "proper" labour yet. Our doctor would time our labour from when I hit 4cm.

So Christian and I were put in a room in the maternity unit and left to ourselves. He slept in the chair, I slept on the bed, and together we worked as one through contractions. When we did hit 4cm we worked a bit more actively (moving about and other such things), but our doctor was keen to watch us. He was well aware that my pain level should be the same as it had been with Tiger. Princess was presenting posterior (as was Tiger), but apart from being uncomfortable in my back, there was little to no pain.

Christian and I worked together. The doctor, our dear friend and colleague, was in awe. Looking back it was indeed a beautiful time. Christian read to me passages from the Bible, gave me soft touch, I breathed, and went in and out of "hypnosis". It was a special bonding time for both of us.

But time ran out.

Dr Learoyd gives us our first look of Princess.

We were in a country hospital and had been given a 12hour period to labour, since I was trying for a Vaginal Birth After Caesarean. Time to intervene had arrived. At the time they put in the epidural I was 8cm, but at next look I was 10cm. We were all very hopeful that we could deliver.

But for an hour doctor pulled (ventouse or vacuum) and I pushed. Our little girl was high, very high. Still floating the doctor said, and she would not come down. I kept trying until I was in theatre, but no, she was just too high!

Abigail Grace arrived at 10:30am on Sunday morning, hearing first her Daddy's voice give her name and then the doctors as they sang Happy Birthday to her.

Still in theatre being stitched up

The doctor they had called in to do the anaesthetic was enjoying taking photos (he was from the other practice in town). We got our best photos of this birth…but in his excitement he failed to notice that the anaesthetic was wearing off, and I decided not to tell. I used my calm birth skills to work through the stitches of the last two or three layers that I could feel. When they pushed me out to recovery they were exceedingly surprised to discover that I could already move my toes, and moved me straight on to the ward.

Our Princess was the most wonderful placid, happy baby. My recovery was also amazing. The next day was Christian's birthday, and we left baby in the hospital under the care of nurses whilst we went to a Chinese restaurant in town with Mum and Tiger. We left hospital two days later.

Still asked if these two are twins. Have ever
since she was about 8months old. Perhaps
it's because they are such good friends.

Princess continued to be an amazing little baby. No feeding problems! To this day no antibiotics! To this day no medical concerns! We are so grateful for this young lady.









P.S. I do not regret this second caesarean. I know our doctor gave us the best medical care that he possibly could give us at the time. I am so grateful that medical intervention exists to help our mama's like me. A missionary friend just told me that 1 in 7 women die in childbirth in PNG. Intervention in Australia may be high, but too often my "home birthing" friends belittle those of us who need to use it.

Christian's news

Merry Christmas!

Our big news for this year is the expected arrival of a child in May next year!

This year I have continued in pastoral ministry at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Toowoomba with occasional visits to Stanthorpe and Glenarbon.  In April I was elected onto the LCA's Commission on Social and Bioethical Questions at the General Synod, and have continued as President of Lutherans for Life.  On issues moral in the western world and in Australia I survey the future with trepidation and some despair.  Yes, it is an opportunity to speak to the world about God's gift of life to the world, but I have little confidence in the world's ability or willingness to hear God's Word.  But that's OK, nations rise and fall, but God's Word will stand for ever.

My mother visited from Germany this year, a blessing to her and us.  Mondays I enjoy keeping my hand in general practice at the Toowoomba Medical Centre with a great group of receptionists, nurses and doctors.

This year I have enjoyed watching our children grow, and I especially love seeing Enoch and Abigail devouring books!

Sarah Joy and I wish you a blessed Christmas and God's richest blessings for the new year.

… Pleased as man with man to dwell 
Jesus our Immanuel
Hark! the herald angels sing
Glory to the newborn king.

For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell (Colossians 1:19)

The Son of God, the spiritual being who enjoyed becoming a human.  If it was good enough for God, it's good enough for us!

Tank Adventures for 2013

Photo by Kirsty Humphrey

I made this computer.

We got to have my birthday cake
and it tasted delicious!

I like races because my bike is strong.

I do schoolwork and I am good at drawing pictures

I am the knight. I like knight and cowboy dress ups. I look
after my queen. I protect the queen's baby.

I like my Opa, I want to see him again.

This tree fell down when it rained. There was big lightning.
We climbed it. The council came and cut it up.

I like my Dadda. I cuddle him all day.

I like my Mama on the trampoline. We can jump!

I like swimming at my swimming lessons.

Captions by Tank

The Man's Adventures in 2013

Photo by Kirsty Humphrey

Climbing trees at Opa's place.

This year we went to Uncle Simon and Aunty Kim's wedding in Sydney. We liked the kids party because we played games with our cousins. After the kids the party we went to the adults party and had a little play there. We then went back to our hotel, and went to the cousins room to have dessert.

The next day we went to Sydney Harbour with the cousins.

I got to see my godfather at General Synod in Adelaide.
I was really excited.

We drove to MacIntyre Caves and had a little explore in the caves. We saw another cave opening up high but there was a kangaroo in front of it. We had lunch there and then we went for a walk to the plunge pool and had a swim there. We couldn't go too far from the edge because it was slippery. After that we drove home.

I enjoy doing my Maths in school. We went to an awards night for school. We got to say our poems. When we got our awards we got gem stones with them.

Written by The Man

The Best News...

Our best news is our little baby who we expect to meet in May 2014.

This little one is growing happily and steadily.

The children are all super excited, particularly The Man, as he has been told that this baby will be his buddy. This means that he will be responsible for helping Mama with the baby (getting nappies and clothes and the like as needed).

Mama's News

Photo by Kirsty Humphrey

This year, as a family, we have been to Inverell (NSW), Adelaide, Church Family camp, 1770, Brisbane, Sunshine Coast and finally Inverell, then Sydney. Christian has also travelled to Adelaide by himself twice! It's been a year full of travelling!!

We started the year with our friend Anna still working with our family, but she has since moved to Cambodia to care for missionary kids there. After a long time by ourselves we decided to employ another carer a few days a week, and the kids have all enjoyed the company of Rachel.

Three Beautiful girls together...
Photo by Kirsty Humphrey

Our little school has grown a bit this year, with Thomas beginning to do school work. We have all thoroughly enjoyed The Story Of The World: Middle Ages. History really comes alive in our house, with plays, toys retelling the story, food and working out where we fit in the story. We bought a microscope to encourage us in scientific endeavours, and there has been no end to the things the kids want to look at (and be grossed out by). We love working through the books in the Sonlight Curriculum, which as usual has caused the buying of more books. As we read through "Little House In The Big Wood" the kids were so enthralled they insisted we get the rest of the "Little House" series, which are full of old time stories and ways of doing things.

This year, since the wonderful gift of a sewing machine from Christian, I have been sewing regularly.

Photo by Kirsty Humphrey

I continue to enjoy my garden. Currently I am watching my pomegranate tree as it is producing it's first fruits. Our veggie patch continues to produce well, and we look to be kept with fresh beans, lettuce, spring onions, beetroot and tomatoes over the summer period. We are also hopeful of a harvest of zucchini and cucumber after a bad year last year that saw only two zucchini produced!

I've really been encouraged spiritually by listening to Mark Driscoll sermons. I love his down to earth way of putting things. We've listened to his sermons on Marriage, Ephesians, Acts and also the Ten Commandments. Together, Christian and I have been reading Beautiful Outlaw by John Eldridge. We have both found him to be very encouraging.

We have enjoyed watching the house that Mum and Dad are building called Geebung Flat, down near Inverell. During our last visit the kitchen benches went in and we can't wait to have electricity throughout the house. We are also looking forward to my folks moving from Wagga Wagga to Inverell, where hopefully we will see them more often in the New Year.

We would like to add our thanks to our wonderful photographer Kirsty. For three years she has taken our family photos, she even came to Joybug's baptisms and took photos unannounced. We love her work. She may not yet be a professional, but her ability to get some great shots of our kids is our delight! Thank you SO much!

Joybug's Amazing 2013

Photo by Kirsty Humphrey

She's now 2 and a half...and such a talkative delight!

This year Joybug proved to me that some children really do just potty train themselves! What's more, she's even dry right through the night!

She delights us with her cheeky grins, her imaginary play and her "naughty" laugh. Joybug loves to crawl about the house playing doggy with Tiger or any of the others. She loves playing dress ups, and often, when she's really quiet, I find her in the room she shares with Princess playing with Sylvanians and making up incredible stories.

Joybug loves to sing. Whenever there is music on she is singing. She loves the new liturgical setting, and has many other favourite songs. It is such a delight to hear her singing along!

Under the Lutherans For Life table at General Synod in
Adelaide, playing with the life model of babies in the womb.

Dressed up and ready to go!

Princess Adventures for 2013

At our Physie competition.

Piano is my favourite subject in school. I am learning lots of songs and now I'm learning hard pieces that my teacher gives me. She gave me "Silent Night" to learn. I've really improved my piano over the last year.

I really like Physie. It's a dance sport that's a mix of ballet and gymnastics. I can't wait till the Christmas concert. I do it in a team. My team is red and this year we came 5th in the Queensland competition. I'm looking forward to next year doing Physie and I'm going to be in teams again.

The Rundle Mall balls in Adelaide.

This year we've gone on lots of bike rides and I enjoy them. We also have picnics sometimes when we go on bike rides. We once went to a park and played there and there was a long slide that we played on up and down. Another time we rode down to a different park that had a rolling walker and monkey bars and a slide.

We went to Adelaide for General Synod. I really liked going to the beach and seeing my godsisters. We also saw Opa, and went to his place and climbed the big tree in his backyard and had dinner there. We spent time with the Huckels too.

Photo by Kirsty Humphrey

In November we went to the farm (Geebung Flat) and spent a few days there. The boys pulled a dead kangaroo out of the dam, it was gross and stunk terribly. We went to Copeton Dam, which is three times bigger than Sydney Harbour. After that we went to Sydney and on Saturday we went to Uncle Simon and Aunty Kim's wedding. I enjoyed getting to see my cousins. On the day the after the wedding (Sunday), we walked over the Sydney Harbour Bridge, we got lunch and we saw the Opera House, though we didn't go inside it. We went to the Sydney Botanic Gardens, near Lady Macquarie's Chair and had our lunch. After lunch we had a little church service and then said goodbye and went on our way home.

Written by Princess

Tiger's Adventures 0f 2013

Shipwreck on the Sunshine Coast

Every year since I was eight, I've gone on a camp with my Dad, just the two of us. When we go on the camp Daddy talks to me about growing up to be a man and living in the Faith.

The first time we tried this year was in January when it was flooding. We got as far as Gatton, but the flood waters were over the road so we couldn't go any further, and we had to go home.

Carnival of Flowers parade in the Boys Brigade float.

The next time we tried, in June, we went to the Sunshine Coast and stayed in a tent. We had fish and chips for dinner and went to sleep. When we woke up it was midnight and I had started to throw up. We washed everything and by morning Daddy was sick and it was bucketing rain, so we stayed in a cabin all that day. We didn't eat much and we watched movies. We went to the beach the next day and then went home.

In November we went to Geebung Flat and stayed there for three days. While we were there we found three sheep, we also pulled a dead kangaroo from the dam. Then we went on to Sydney where we went to my uncle's wedding. On our way back home we went back to Geebung Flat and found 13 sheep!

Photo by Kirsty Humphrey

I'm doing very well in my school work and now doing grade 5 work. My favourite parts about school has been: history, sport and technology. In history this year we've been doing the medieval times. So far that has been my favourite era in history because I learnt about the English kings and queens and my ancestors on Mummy's side (William the Conquerer, and the guy who got Queen Elizabeth to sign Mary Queen of Scots' death warrant). In sport I enjoy riding my bike and swimming. Technology for me is all about building and computers. The main thing I build with is Lego and I'm part of the Lego club. On the computer I like to go onto Splash Education, which is an ABC website.

Written by Tiger

Lego Christmas (Northern Hemisphere)

We made a Lego model of Christmas in the Northern Hemisphere. The scene is set at a frozen lake. There's a fire going in the background to warm them when they get cold. A girl is ice skating on the lake, whilst a man is building a snow man. Two blokes are having a snowball fight.

To make the fire glow, we built the fire out of Lego, and took a few pictures. We edited the main picture colder in temperature (more blues and greens). We then edited and cut down another photo to just the fire. We increased the temperature on the fire photo (more yellows and reds), then we placed the fire in the spot where it was on the main photo. We blurred the outline so that it looked natural.

Created by Tiger and Princess