A Grell Tale

We are so glad you have taken time to check in on our lives. First and foremost, God is the author of this story. Every thing we do, say, and have is His.
Jared and I have been together since 1998, and married since 2003. After four long years of trusting God, he blessed us on August 1, 2009. Balen James is the most "perfect-for-us" little man in the world! We LOVE being parents and just can't get enough of him.
I love to spend time sharing our story with you, and I truly enjoy getting to hear your comments as well! We hope you enjoy watching our family grow. Thanks for stopping by.



Friday, July 31, 2009

Live from Room 304

Good evening Mommy Bloggers, this is Jared and I will be your captain this evening. I don't know that I have enough estrogen to blog appropriately, but I'll give it a shot. Here is what we've been up to today...Contractions woke Annie up at 5 this morning. I went in to work early so I could get some things done before we had to come to the hospital. She stuck it out at home most of the day and we came in late afternoon. She was dilated a 3 and having strong contractions. They went ahead and broke her water around 5:30. They gave her an epidural around 7, although she really wasn't in much pain yet. She is progressing slowly, dilated to a 4 about an hour ago.

It's been somewhat uneventful so far. Annie had a popsicle for supper, Justin set a new record on his iPhone Bubble Wrap game, and I've got my hour of Seinfeld in for the day. I think everyone is set for awhile. Stay tuned...we'll keep you advised.

Thursday, July 30, 2009

It's the final countdown!!!

I had a doctor's appointment late yesterday. He said two or three times that he doesn't think I will make it to the end of next week. My contractions are still 2 minutes apart and getting a little stronger. It woke me up last night at 1:15 and was very painful. I laid there getting all excited and then after about 30 minutes they just disappeared! Today isn't quite that painful but a little stronger. If little Balen doesn't come on his own in the next week he is scheduled to arrive next Friday. It will be one week early but my doctor is going to be gone the whole week of my due date and said everything should be fine at 39 weeks. "MY" plan is to have him in the next few days(as if I have any control), but..if that won't work out we will go in Friday morning at 5:30 and go from there!! I am so pumped up and Jared is very excited. We know life is going to drastically change but that's what we have been begging for for four years!!

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Ohh..I was so close!

Welp- we got to spend a few hours in the hospital this morning. BUT..unfortunately I am now home sitting in my living room. Blah! We thought I might be leaking amniotic fluid last night so I called first thing this morning thinking they would either say its not a big deal or come into the office today. Instead she said pack up and head to labor and delivery so they can find out for sure. They hooked me up for at least an hour and did a test on the fluid. Turns out probably not amniotic fluid?? But I am having contractions 1 to 2 minutes apart. The only problem is that they are not too painful yet. There for a while I thought they might keep me but the nurse decided to go ahead and send me home to keep an eye on myself. I told Jared I WASN'T leaving and that I was just going to hang on to the bed so they can't get rid of me. She did say I am getting very close and my body is really getting ready!! Can't wait!!!

Friday, July 24, 2009

Balen's Nursery

The nursery is almost finished! The only thing left is the windows and window treatments. We are still waiting on that part.


This is what it looks like when you walk in the door. These pictures don't really show but the bottom of the room is dark brown bead board.



The crib and dresser were daddy's when he was a baby. The bedding is hard to see but it is red cowboy print and green, red, gold stripes. The inside of the bumper looks like stamped leather.
Granny had this made to hang above his crib!
Here I am chugging along at 37 weeks! Can't wait!

Monday, July 20, 2009

Passing Time

Does anyone know how to get a baby out?? I'm getting tired of waiting. Still making slow progress. Contractions are still very inconsistent, but they are there none the less. I'm trying to pass some time on the internet so here are a few fun little baby sayings.

People who say they sleep like a baby usually don't have one. ~ Leo J. Burke
A baby changes your dinner party conversation from politics to poops.~ Maurice Johnston
There is only one pretty child in the world, and every mother has it. ~ Chinese Proverb
When my kids become wild and unruly, I use a nice, safe playpen. When they're finished, I climb out. ~ Erma Bombeck
The quickest way for a parent to get a child's attention is to sit down and look comfortable. ~ Lane Olinghouse
Always end the name of your child with a vowel, so that when you yell, the name will carry. ~ Bill Cosby
The trouble with being a parent is that by the time you are experienced, you are unemployed. ~ Anonymous
When that kid looks into your eyes and you know it�s yours, you know what it means to be alive. ~ Anonymous
A baby will make love stronger, days shorter, nights longer, bankroll smaller, home happier, clothes shabbier, the past forgotten, and the future worth living for.-- Anonymous
Families with babies and families without are so sorry for each other.-- Ed Howe
Making the decision to have a child is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body.-- Elizabeth Stone


Thursday, July 16, 2009

36 Weeks

I went to the doctor yesterday and will continue weekly from now on. For the past two weeks I have known I just feel "different." I was sure things were beginning to happen in me but it is so hard to know when you have nothing to compare it to. I have been having back pains off and on, sleep has totally changed which is okay, I HAVE to get used to it. I have been having contractions off and on but nothing too painful or regular. Occasionally when I start to feel the cramping I get a little nauseous. On top of that I have been taking about one million trips to the potty! I thought what I was feeling was just all part of a normal pregnancy but it turns out I have a urinary tract infection and didn't even know it!! :) I have started taking medicine for a week and am anxious to see how much better that gets. I am also amazed at how fast a pregnant woman can go through toilet paper! It is all still enjoyable. I have had one or two bad days where hormones set in and I lose it a little. The good news is that when the doctor checked me yesterday he said I am dilated to 2 cm. He assured me that I am not imagining things and I am getting closer. I know I could be here a while but it is so amazing to think just a few weeks and I get to hold my sweet little boy. He should weigh at least 6 pounds now so none of us are too worried if he decides to come see us early.

Monday, July 13, 2009

6th Anniversary

Yesterday Jared and I celebrated our sixth wedding anniversary. I really don't even remember what it was like without him since we have been together for eleven years! I wouldn't trade it for anything. It was fun to think back at how excited I was six years ago. Very similar to the feelings I am having now counting down the days until little Balen gets here. I am so blessed to be in love with a loving, hardworking, funny, ambitious, respectful, Christian man like him. He continues to grow and change all the time, as does my respect for him. Many of you don't get the opportunity to be around him enough for him to feel comfortable and open up but trust me, he's a keeper! I still get excited every day to see him when he walks through the door and hope that feeling never goes away!

For our anniversary we made it to Sunday School and then stayed through the singing at church because Jared plays bass. Then..du..du..du.. I braved the 105 degree weather! We took off to the city with baby gifts that needed returned and tickets to go watch the Redhawks play baseball. Every few years Jared's bank plans an outing like this for the employees and their families. Praise the Lord that this year they decided to go with suites! Air Conditioning!! (Which is also the reason I did not watch a second of the game. To see, you had to leave the air conditioning and the food!)

Our trip was nice and I held up well (except for about 10 minutes when I was so hot waiting for Jared to park I thought I was going to cry). We are both so ready to add to our family! We try to imagine what it will be like and can't wait to find out. Life isn't always blissful and easy but it is definitely worth it to endure and see what God has waiting at the other end. He has been good to us and I pray that we keep putting him putting him first for many more years to come! It makes things a whole lot easier!! :)

Thursday, July 9, 2009

Dad

Dad is home, again! They couldn't figure anything out, again!?? Who knows?

Wednesday, July 8, 2009

Dad is back in the hospital

This was my mom's update on facebook.  I just copied it instead of trying to remember it myself.

Gary went to ER with chest pains of 7 or 8 on a 1-10 scale. He has had 6 nitros, nitro patch, tylenol, 2 shots, morphine and valium. It is now at a 4. Heart enzymes taken twice and they look good. Sooooo why does he have chest pain up his neck under his left shoulder and down his arm?? So confusing? They will keep him in the hospital overnight to check enzymes to make sure there are no blood clots. Pray/wisdom

Monday, July 6, 2009

Cute Thank You

Here is a second thank you for everyone just because I thought it was so cute when I read it.

Thank you for the gift

that I will soon see.

Mom says it's really great,

and you picked it just for me.

Mom is sending this card of thanks

because I have yet to arrive.

And even when I do,

I won't write good 'til I'm five.

Thank you from Me, Mommy & Daddy.

We are Family

Here we are with the two that started it all!! My cute little Grandpa Jim and Grandma Phyllis, a.k.a Papa Jim and Grandma Marky!

On Sunday we got to spend some time with my mom's family. We were still missing nine of my cousins and who knows how many little ones now?? These are the cousins who made it from Oklahoma, New York, Texas, and Wisconsin. Here we are lined up youngest to oldest. From some reason Justin said "right leg up!"




Mike, Annie, Justin, Jenny, Josh, Jason, Jeff, Kim, Spencer
MISSING :(
Tyler, Toby, Tanner, Tucker, Lauren, Luke, Jamie, Matt, Blake

Friday, July 3, 2009

Shower Time




We feel so blessed to be surrounded by so many people who love and support us, both spiritually and financially. We have been overwhelmed by gifts for Balen and they are still coming in! Jared and I have had so much fun organizing everything and putting new toys together! I spent the week putting it all where I want it, now we just need Balen! We have six more weeks left. Time is flying and it is starting to sink in that my life will never be the same!

Thank you EVERYONE who help put on a shower, attended, or just sent a gift. God is amazing and has seen us through every step of the way over the last four years. We give him credit for everything.

These are my friends from High School and OSU. Thanks girls for the great shower. Laura (Wooderson) Sappenfield, Mindy (Johnson) Tripp, Beverly Wooderson, Me, Mikyla Pace, Tara Greer, Lindsay Reese, Brandi Barnes, Krissa Cummins, Tanae (Courtney) Coleman

I also had a church/family shower. It was so nice to see everyone. The hostesses were Terri Childers, Crystal Tucker, Dori Hawkins, Tami Estep, Stacy Husted, and Ashley Howell.

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