How Time Flies!

Many people have told me to "savor each moment" because time flies. I thought I understood this until the birth of our precious Elizabeth. I can't believe it was already 3 weeks ago today that she was born. I can remember, so vividly, the details of that day (although Daniel may tell you otherwise).

November 17, 2008

We arrived at Baptist Hospital at 5:00 am for the c-section which was scheduled at 7:00am. We we checked in and waited in the waiting area until someone came and got us. The nurse escorted us to the prep room where they hooked me up to an IV and got me prepped for the c-section.

Daniel was excited to put on his scrubs. I don't think I had ever been so nervous and scared in my life.

After what seemed to be an eternity of waiting, they finally wheeled me into the operating room. Daniel had to wait outside while they did the spinal. He was so overwhelmed, he spent this time praying. He was able to come in the operating room at 7:15. We were having a conversation about Thanksgiving and my doctor said, "Get the camera ready, you're about to have a baby!" I didn't even know that they had started the procedure and here they were telling me that it was almost over! Since 28 weeks, we had two ultrasounds a week, so already knew she had all of her fingers and toes. We also knew that she had hair. The big question was what color would it would be. So, once I heard her first cry, my doctor said, "Erin, she's beautiful!" And I asked, "What color is her hair?" I wonder if she had ever had this question before?

Elizabeth Joy Jones

November 17, 2008

7:28 am

5 lbs 12oz

18 1/2 inches long

Once they weighed her, I got to hold her for a minute until they decided that she needed to go to NICU because she was having difficulty breathing. She stayed in NICU until about 3:30 that day. It was the longest day waiting to be with my daughter.
At about 1:30, I was tired of waiting, so Daniel wheeled me down to NICU. Once we were there, I could not seem to keep my eyes open or head up! I don't really remember a whole lot about the visit to NICU.
We had lots of visitors while we were at Baptist. Of course the grandparents were the first ones there.

I neglected to take a picture of everyone who came to visit (I'll blame it on the drugs), but here are a few....
Our experience at Baptist was great, but by the fifth day we were really ready to go home.

All bundled up in her carseat and ready to see her new home.

A Prayer for Elizabeth

A prayer of Daniel...for his daughter Elizabeth

Oh Holy God in Heaven,
You are so good to me. I am overwhelmed by your kindness towards me in allowing me the opportunity to have a child. What a blessing Elizabeth is to me. Your loving kindness is too great to fathom. What a wonderful and mighty God you are. I praise your name for you are good! I praise your name for you are mighty! This child is a gift. Oh my Lord may you give me the strength and patience to be the father I need to be for Elizabeth. Help me to teach her your ways. Give me the strength to guide her in your commands and desires. Fill me with your wisdom so that Elizabeth might be filled with the wonder of You and your greatness! The only way that I can be a good father is for you to teach me how to father. Teach me in love, teach me in discipline, teach me in mercy. I long for my daughter to love you and honor you. May I do whatever I can to ensure that as she grows she will accept your grace, your commandments, and your salvation. I want nothing more than for Elizabeth to join her mother and me in heaven, around your throne, lifting praises to your name. All this I ask in the name of your son, Christ. AMEN

One Week Down

Most of you know by now that I am on bedrest for the rest of this pregnancy. Yesterday marked one week since we got the news of this. This may not sound like a big deal, but that is one more week that Elizabeth is able to stay put! I wish I could say that I have been productive, but I've had a hard time staying focused on any one particular thing. While I should be catching up on my Bible study, I've found myself wasting the majority of the days online. I am not even a good internet surfer! When I came across several blogs of people I know, I thought, "This is the perfect time to start a blog." So here it goes....

I'll use this as another way to allow you all to "Keep Up With the Joneses." Basically, I hope to keep you up to date on what is going on in our lives. I hope that sometimes you will be encouraged and maybe even inspired!