Survivor

We survived the first 24 hours - Yay! We got absolutely no sleep for over 24 hours and were so thankful for about 4 hours of rest throughout the night last night. After the delivery things happened quickly; I was transferred to a regular room, the babies received their first shot, got weighed and all that jazz. Family came to visit and before you knew it, it was 5am and we were trying to feed them for the first time. I thought I was superwoman or something and tried to do them both at the same time, which of course proved to be a bad idea. I have learned to love the lactation specialists around here! The babies are feeding well now and by 5am this morning I actually was able to feed them at the same time (with lots of help from my most wonderful husband). Feeding them together will definitely allow me a little more sleep in the future. I am amazed at how quickly you can love something...I LOVE these babies. From the moment they put Berkley on my belly after the delivery, I started crying...they're just so beautiful and they're ours. I was so blessed to have such a wonderful birthing experience. Everything progressed quickly, but not too fast; the epidural was perfect (I could still feel that I was having a contraction and knew when to push), and I only had to push for about 30 minutes combined for the two. God truly answered every specific prayer that I've been asking you all to pray for over these past 37 weeks, right down to the doctor who delivered them. Steven and I are marveling at the beautiful gifts that God has given us and reveling in all of these first time experiences. Oh, we're pooped alright, and I think we'll be pooped for months to come (who am I kidding, we'll be exhausted for life) but we're just so happy to have two healthy babies. Now our prayer requests for you are for good feedings, sleep for the four of us, and rejuvenation at each new day. We think we may be going home late this afternoon, but aren't certain just yet.

They're Here...

At 2:20 am and 2:34 am, Berkley Roger Manning and Meredith Ann Manning were born. Both are healthy and doing great. Candi did an incredible job and both were born vaginally. Berkley was 6 lbs. 1 oz., 19.5 inches long and Meredith was 5 lbs. 2 oz., 19 inches long. Here are some great pics of what I think are the most beautiful babies in the world....but of course I'm a little bias.

Berkley Roger Manning


Meredith Ann Manning
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Update 12:53 am

We're now at about 9 cm dilated and doing great. Candi is feeling good but tired and the epidural is doing it's job nicely. She is starting to feel some more pressure and it may be time to push very soon! We're doing great! Love you all!

Update 9:20 pm

Well, we're on our way. Candi is now a good 4 cm dilated and 75% effaced at last check. Our doctor went ahead and broke Berkley's water. Since then, the contractions have increased in intensity along with the Pitocin. He also placed an intrauterine pressure catheter which measures the intensity of contractions more accurately. We're now in the process of getting the epidural. Everyone is doing great! Continue praying for us!

Labor and Delivery

Well folks, we're in Labor and Delivery but I'm only having very minor contractions...if only it was this easy the whole time. I'm 3-4 cm dilated and 75% effaced. I'll have to get an epidural just in case I end up having to have a c-section with one or both of them. I can't believe that we're going to parents by tomorrow - April 28th is a great day to be born! I'm here with my mom, my in-laws and my sweet hubby, so all is well. Please pray that I'll be able to deliver them both without a c-section and that God will grant me strength to endure the long night ahead.

And so it begins...

Steven and I went to the doctor this morning because I was concerned by Meredith's decrease in fetal movements. They hooked me up to a fetal monitor and thankfully, everything checked out beautifully. They followed that with an ultrasound and discovered that Meredith's amniotic fluid is down to 6 and 5 is the lowest they want it to go; thus...they've decided to induce me. We're heading to the hospital in just a few minutes and the process won't actually start until 5 or 6. We're super excited and can't wait to meet our beautiful little Berkley and Meredith. We'll keep you posted as much as we can from the hospital!

No News Just Yet

Everyone's waiting...including us. No babies yet. I went to the dr on Wednesday and was 2-3 cm dilated; the dr said they could come that day or next week - it's all just a waiting game. The babies should both be well into 5 lbs by now and I think would be totally healthy should they come anytime now. I feel ready, at least physically ready in terms of the nursery, carseats, etc...but I don't know if I'll ever be ready for the unknown of raising children. I'm excited though. What an honor and gift to have these little ones coming into the world, to be image bearers of Christ to them everyday, to pray for them and love them with all that I am. Talk about a humbling experience. It's really made me reflect on my parents, but especially all the sacrifices that my mom made for me over the years. It's amazing how unappreciative I was, not realizing that her goal was to raise me well and keep me safe. Becoming a parent myself has made me even more thankful for the family that I come from.

Steven and I went out on a date night last night to Olive Garden, watched a little Lost and then stayed up late playing Super Mario Bros. 3 on Wii - we then slept until 11am this morning...it was great. I figure, we better enjoy it as this may be our final Saturday to sleep late for the rest of our life (whoa, reality).

Friday was my last day of work for the next 6-8 weeks (depending on when the babies arrive). It was so weird walking out of my office thinking that the next time I come back, I'll be a parent. It's difficult to leave my families for these weeks, but I can only trust God that he'll care for them through others while I'm gone. Time to shift into "my family" mode. Steven is on vacation for the next two weeks, which I'm so excited about! I'm hoping the babies might wait a few more days at least so that we have a little freedom together before they come, but we'll see.


Here are some pictures of the nursery!

Changes at 35 weeks

Here are two pictures of me at 35 weeks (one to the right and one above) - I think I look bigger on one side versus the other, it probably all really depends on where the babies are situated at the time. We've had an eventful week baby wise. I went to the doctor on Wednesday for an ultrasound. We discovered that the weight discordance between the two has now gone from 20% in the beginning to about 5%, which is great! Meredith is now around 4lbs15oz and Berkley is 5lb4oz. Berkley was situated so low that the sonographer couldn't even get his head in the shot, which prompted the doctor to check, which is how we discovered that I'm already 1 cm dilated and 80% effaced, which means my body is getting ready for these little ones to arrive. The doctor actually asked me to take Thursday off and specifically said I needed to take it easy this weekend. I'll be working half days starting next week. I feel like I'm scrambling to get everything done. I've been sending emails to coworkers with last minute questions and instructions, I've packed my bag for the hospital (or at least packed it as much as I can), I bought some premie sized clothes today and the nursery is pretty much ready. My mind is spiraling...I've still got a list of things to get done, but I'm trying not to overdo it. Please pray that the babies will stay put for at least another week (preferably two) - I'd love to see them make it to April 17th...optimally April 24th, but we'll see. I've been doing a lot of praying that God would prepare me for whatever is ahead and I'm just trusting that he's got a plan for me and these precious babies.

I should probably also add a couple of fun things that we saw in the ultrasound. Although we couldn't get Berkley's full head in the shot, we were able to catch his chin and could see that he was clearly sucking his thumb. If he's anything like his mama, he'll be a thumbsucker b/c I loved sucking my thumb until 1st grade I'm afraid. The doctor also hooked me up to a special monitor while I was there that could register Meredith and Berkley's heart rates at the same time and also check to see if I was having any contractions but didn't know it. Thankfully, no contractions just "irritation" is what the doctor said. However, we were able to see that Meredith is already very competitive with her brother. Every time Berkley's heart rate would rise, Meredith's would start racing to surpass his - it was like clockwork...she just wouldn't let him have the fastest heart rate. It was funny to watch, but I certainly hope that she won't be that competitive in real life.

My brother's big break!

Hi all! In case you're interested, my most wonderful brother has written a show for the Charlotte Symphony. He was featured in our hometown paper today and I wanted to share his moment of fame. I'm so proud of my brother and this show is a big deal! If you're in the Charlotte area maybe you'll want to take your kids, neice or nephews to enjoy the show.


FARM LIFE NATIVE PENS SCRIPT FOR THE CHARLOTTE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

Whatever happened to “Sleeping Beauty” after she married her very own Prince Charming? She went on her honeymoon, of course! At least that’s the premise of "Dances and Dreams", a new children’s play commissioned by the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra, and written by Farm Life native Joe B. “Joey” Griffin, Jr. The production will round out the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra’s 2008 – 2009 Lollipops season.

King Stefan is worried sick. His daughter Aurora (aka “Sleeping Beauty”) has been away on her honeymoon for over a month now, and the King has not heard from her. No phone calls, no emails, no NUTHIN’! Just as the King is about to tear out what’s left of his hair in concern over his daughter’s whereabouts, his trusted friend Lester the Jester shows up with a letter from the Princess.

As King Stefan reads all about Aurora’s adventures throughout the land, her adventures are interpreted through dance by the School of North Carolina Dance Theatre, with musical accompaniment provided by the CSO. Musical excerpts from Mussorgsky’s Night on Bald Mountain, as well as dance excerpts from Swan Lake, Nutcracker and of course Sleeping Beauty will be featured prominently throughout the production.

Does Princess Aurora arrive home safe and sound, destined to live “happily ever after” with her Prince by her side? You’ll have to drive down to Charlotte to find out! "Dances and Dreams" will be performed at 11 a.m. on Saturday April 25th at the Blumenthal Performing Arts Center’s Belk Theater. Ticket prices start at just $10, and can be purchased at www.charlottesymphony.org.

About the playwright:

Joey Griffin is the son of Joe B. and Mary Charles Griffin of Farm Life, NC. He caught the “acting bug” while performing in productions staged by early mentors Loretta Gurkin (Farm Life Elementary School) and the late E. T. Taylor (The Message of Easter – Piney Grove Baptist Church). From 1987 – 1991, Joey was very active with both the Martin Community Players (under the tutelage of Alan W. “Oz” Osborne) and the Williamston High School Drama Department, headed by Mrs. Lisa Davis.

Joey graduated from Williamston High School in 1991, and in 1995 obtained his Bachelor’s Degree in Theater Arts from Lees-McRae College in Banner Elk, NC. After working in the ticketing industry for 13 years – including stints as the Director of Ticketing for both the Charlotte Symphony and the North Carolina Symphony – Joey began his professional writing career in earnest in 2008. He is currently working on two different projects: one a Christmas musical for grown-ups, the other a musical based around a Gospel Quartet. He hopes to have both projects completed by the end of 2009.