Zane's Birth Story

I've had many friends ask for Zane's birth story.  Guess what, he's a year old and I just wrote it at 3am after he woke to nurse.  Eek! It's etched in my mind forever though.

Dec. 1st (his due date) had come and gone.  Chris and I went into my midwife appt at noon on Dec. 2nd. She stripped my membranes (sorry guys) to "speed things along"and accidentally BROKE my water.  There was water all over. She's handing Chris paper towels and telling him to help clean up. LOL His look was priceless!  It made me laugh in the moment.  This meant...it was BABY day! :)

We drove home and within an hour contractions were starting...strong and 2 minutes apart. We grabbed our hospital bag, kissed Eli goodbye and left him at home with Bumpa and Umma (so grateful they were there).

I had a plan.  A plan to savor each moment of this delivery. A plan to have a natural (present) birth. I had labored 7 hrs straight with Eli before I asked for an epidural. I had fought each contraction with Eli, not breathed through them.  Determined not to do that with Zane, here we go!

My labor kit included doterra lavender essential oil (MUST), my favorite herbal heat pack (I've had back labor with each baby), our playlists with my driving force (worship music), chap stick, hair ties, cough drops, breathing techniques, etc. 

We had a birthing room with a whirlpool tub, Oiyyy! I was so excited. After the contractions really strengthened and got closer together, they approved me getting in. It helped relax me in between, but once the contractions started to peak, I soon realized the pain I was in. It was all okay though because I was surrendering through them.  I was letting go and letting God.  It was beautiful. We had our Jesus Culture playing loud, bathroom light dimmed, room smelled of lavender and the love of my life was holding my hand. After an hour I started vomiting from the pain. It was time to get out and get ready. 

This labor was different.  I felt like each contraction was a prayer.  I was so (in the spirit) and (in the moment).  See, I knew that I had to be strong for my lil baby because he was so strong for me.  We had two scares in the womb.  The first at 16 weeks pregnant.  The night before we were to start our drive across Country to Virginia.  I started hemorrhaging, had two tears in my uterus and we left the ER with a 50/50 chance of a miscarriage. Thanks to all our prayer warriors for your love and prayers. God delivered.  He protected our baby in the womb.  Then at 32 weeks, he tried to arrive early.  After 2 IV's and medicine to stop the labor, we got to go home. 

The internal knowing of Zane's strength, my worship music, lavender oil, my husband and knowing the blessing God was gifting us...allowed me to stay strong mentally through this labor.  I had vomited so much towards the end from pain, that I asked for an epidural, but it was so late.  Correction, I screamed for an epidural.  After an hour of pushing, our sweet sweet baby boy arrived. His labor was 8 hours from start to finish. He had such a sweet gentle presence immediately. He barely made a coo.  He didn't cry. He's still that way.  Oh my.  Now I'm crying. Ahh, God is good all the time, and all the time God is good!!

Happy ONE year Birthday baby Zane!! Love, Mom

Our best kept Lil secret. Training Eli and Gracie:

We decided to expand our family 3 weeks ago. :) There had been a void since we had to find Chico a new home. He was a chihuahua and too territorial after Eli was born. He bit Eli twice in the face. We knew we wanted to stay clear of small dogs this time. When Chris left for training last month he planted the seed that we were ready for a dog. I wasn't too sure myself but after he left I was a bit scared in this new house without him.  I realized now may actually be a good time to help Eli stay distracted while Dada is away. We also have 3 months to get the puppy trained before BB#2 arrives if we do it now. Our boys could have a dog to grow up with! The hunt was on. We knew the costs involved with a new puppy; shots, supplies, spade/neutering, etc. which meant we couldn't pay $800+ for a pure breed dog too. Chris found several online in our area and we were checking humane societies. Then he found an Australian Shepherd/Black Lab for a $50 rehoming fee! Eli and I drove 30 mins to Chesapeake and met her previous owner. She was a hair dresser and realized after a short time that it wasn't fair to leave Gracie home alone while she worked. She cried when she told her goodbye but knew she needed a new home. She's possibly the only girl I'll ever have. :) She is such a sweetheart, herds and plays with Eli and sits on command.  Meet Gracie:

It has been a learning experience for me and a trying 3 weeks training both of them, but SO worth it.  Daddy said today "I think she's potty trained" and that made my day! She still has her occasional accidents but is doing much better. Believe me on Day #2, this Momma was ready to give her back to her previous owner (who was on standby just in case) but we stuck it out and we're so happy we did.  All the hard work is truly worth it for the joy she brings our family....especially Eli!  

We brought Gracie home the day after Daddy left for training in Connecticut so he hadn't met her yet. Here they are meeting for the first time last night!

 
We're not just biased, she is just plain smart.  (Although Chris say's she has smart owner's) haha. She sits the minute we grab her leash and sits again when we come back inside for us to take it off (without telling her to).  She sits on command and listens.  Chris came home and taught her how to drop while playing fetch and "down" in the first day.  I'm convinced he's the "Gracie whisperer".

I fell in love with her on Day #3 and after 3 weeks, she is definitely part of our family. We can't wait for all our visitors this Fall/Winter to meet her!  Love you all, The Bruce's

Okay one last pic.  This was her sitting in the passenger seat on the way back from her 2nd set of shots this week.  Too cute:

Reenlistment for the Bruce's

Hello loved one's.  We're trying to write you our updates here rather than FB (eventually).  We can make this page private and just share it with you.

We hope you've signed on to Blogger here to follow our Blog so we can keep you updated!

As those closest to us know, we thought we may be getting out of the Navy next July. Our hope was to land a Government job in a small town in Colorado.  The thought of Chris leaving for 3 to 6 months at a time and being away from us for that long seemed daunting. I've said it before "I'd rather live in a box then have my husband gone and missing some of Eli's milestones, etc."

Chris worked hard on his resume, I couldn't believe all the qualifications, skills, certifications and experience he racked up over the past 7+ years in the Navy.  He also topped it off with an AA degree which he just received this year.  Proud wife here!  I told him that I couldn't see any reason why he wouldn't get that job in Colorado.  His resume was really impressive.

We've been praying about this decision for a year now.  Nothing else came onto our path and God made it clear that we were to stay on our current path and see where He leads.

We both had a few nervous jitters yesterday morning before reenlistment.  I went into prayer and asked for God to confirm that we were making the right decision and if not to please make that clear.  Chris called and I shared my prayer with him.  He said well I have your confirmation.  We'd been waiting for a response from the Government job in Colorado for months.  Chris said "I just received an email from Colorado saying I was not selected for the position."  Of ALL days, we receive that on the day we are at a major crossroad and about to reenlist.  God's timing is impeccable at times.  His love for us is so intimate and sweet!

We decided to reenlist. By the time Chris is done with this 6 years, he'll be in for 14 and says he's then retiring with the Navy.  So we have chosen a career and a long term path.  Unless God makes a clear new path, this is where we plan to remain.  That being said, we just found out there aren't currently any opening for Chris here in WA.  We know everything happens for a reason and we must be meant to move on.  We're waiting to see what our options are.  There is a possibility in San Diego and "possibly" Connecticut.  We shall see.  We both feel we're ready for a change now.  We've been in WA for 7 years and as Chris says "If we're staying in, we may as well get the benefits of living in different locations and traveling."  I agree. The one major anchor is Kaia F.I.T. now.  I've spoke to our Coaches and we're looking to hire one more Coach and now have a couple of our own Kaia ladies who are interested!  We'll most likely then try to hire a manager to take over and keep it alive here.  These ladies love it too much, I couldn't take it away.  Once again, we aren't in control with this either.  We shall see what happens.

Thanks to all our loved one's for your prayers over the last year (Sharon, Becca, Nikki, Trace, Mom, Jamie Cuz, Mama, Pops, Dad, Dan...and many more of you). Thanks so much for taking the time to read my long emails and prayer requests.....which were ever changing.  It just shows we can try to plan according to "Our Will" but I don't believe those prayers are answered unless we're praying for "His Will." I'm SO proud of Chris for making this decision.  It wasn't easy and I know he did it for us.  He is committed to his family and to service, as are many of the men in his family.  He is a true man of God and I couldn't love him more!  If we get San Diego, he'll be gone for 6 months at a time (Fast Attack). :(  We'll have an extra room and hope to have some of you come visit during that time!! Jalen I know you'd love it if we got Southern Cali. :)) Love you all.

Cheers to the next 6 years...and beyond!

Love,

The Bruce's

This isn't just goodbye.......

I've prepared myself for this day for the past week....cried myself to sleep for a few nights....and tried to block it out of my mind at other times.  Eli and I are home from taking Jalen (my first baby) to the airport.  Daddy's at worship practice now. This is Jalen's Senior year, such an important year.  My desire is that this year is all he hopes it will be in Nevada.  I hope he has the BEST Senior year he could possibly have! As hard as it is to see him go, part of me feels that Lowry High is the best school for him to be at this year.  He can play Baseball (unlike Washington) because they have a funky zoning rule that doesn't allow him to play if he wasn't at the same school the year prior.  He said "Mom, I have many childhood friends in Nevada.  It's hard to choose my close friends here in WA over my childhood friends in NV."  He also told me last week, "I want to graduate from the same school you and my dad did." Awe.  

Our recent sermon at Island Church was about parental paradoxes.  Jalen also said "Mom, I feel like I have more paradoxes to overcome there."  What 17 year old says that?  He has always been a deep spiritual child.  He decided to face this head on instead of avoiding it.  He's an inspiration and helps me look at life more courageous.  

This feeling a mother has when one of her babies is gone is a void, a void that isn't filled until they return.  My heart goes out to my Mom and my dear friend Hayat and anyone else who's lost a child.  I guess that void would never ever be filled.  I couldn't imagine.  I miss my JMan more now than ever.  This isn't just a good bye for me....it’s remembering being a teenager and not listening to everyone around me when they said to abort my baby...including my Doctor.  I was begged to abort Jalen.  It's hard to even type those words.  I could NEVER imagine taking his life before he even had a chance.  

This isn't just a goodbye for me.  This is remembering those sweet moments in Jalen's first three months of life, when it was just he and I.  I lived at my Mom’s and had a bassinet next to my bed, but I kept Jalen on my chest at night.  That’s where he slept the first three months of his life.  I had been gifted a cd (Sweet Sounds In Jesus) by my best friend Amanda’s Mom.  I would fall asleep with tears in my eyes because Jalen’s Dad wasn’t in the picture at that time.  This isn’t just a goodbye for me. 

This is my little baseball player with the red cleets who blew all his coaches away in little league.  This is all of the little league games that I spent cheering for him, alone.  We didn't have any family in Reno and I was a single Mom for 9 years.  I'll never forget the time Jalen hit his first (in the park) home run!  It bounced just before the outfield fence.  He ran to 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and as all of us in the stands cheered, he rounded 3rd and made it home!  I was SO excited I actually jumped over Mom's heads on the two bleachers below me while cheering!  I cried and called my Dad in Washington, just to have someone to share that special moment with, even if it was on the phone.  This isn't just goodbye, this is my baby who contracted two diseases from the negligence of the Suquamish Tribe five years ago and has fought and prayed his way back to health.  This isn't just goodbye, this is the sweet teenager who had one person in the world to choose who to gift his first drum he ever made to....he chose Mom.  This isn't just goodbye, it's Jalen's Senior year.....Senior year!  I just can't believe it....already.  The time FLEW by.  

I've been battling emotions and thoughts running through my head lately.  I keep thinking "I lost a year" "I'm missing his Senior year"  "I'm not done being his Mommy yet" and "this is the last year he'd be a child in school....in my home....and he's leaving early."  This isn't just goodbye, this is realizing that it's not about me.  It's about what's best for Jalen.  He is the one who's had to have Mom and Dad under two different roofs since he was five years old.  He is the one who always has to choose.  His heart is in Washington and his heart is in Nevada.  All I can do is continue to pray that God comforts our hearts and protects my JMan while he's away from me.  No one knows me like Jalen and no one knows Jalen like I do.  We have always been close because I had him so young. I was up until 1:30 this morning and finally fell asleep after a hot shower and a prayer.  A Mother's Prayer of protection from head to toe for my Jalen.  Once I completely put him back in God's hands, let Go and let God.....I could sleep.  I'm grateful that God has allowed me to see how fast our children grow with Jalen.  I savor every minute with Eli because I know before we know it, it'll be his Senior year too.  I have a good feeling Jalen will have an amazing Senior  year.  I'll keep praying for him to find a good church and youth group there.  It's SO important for him to have that positive support group and a place he can grow in his walk. Thank you to our prayer warriors and family for lifting our family up in prayer this week.  It means so much to have your support!  It's healing to write, thanks for listening.  Lots of love. Goodnight.

Psalm 127:3 Children are a gift from the LORD

25 Weeks!

I am now 25 weeks! (24 weeks in this photo)....

Baby Bruce is now the size of an eggplant!  We went to our doctor on Tuesday and baby was measuring exactly 24 weeks.  His heartbeat was going fast and strong.  

He has been a busy little bee lately!  Sometimes he's quiet and still (most likely asleep) and others he's doing somersaults and kickboxing. =) He's most active at night after dinner and early in the morning. Chris and I were on base yesterday and we could look down and see my stomach move under my shirt...he was really kicking!  Chris poked on my belly and he poked back...again...and again.  It was precious to interact with him!!  I just can't wait to meet him.  

We are counting our blessing and know what an amazing gift we've been given by God. :)  I took a quick tour of the birthing center at Harrison yesterday.  The rooms had a full window with natural lighting and a bathtub with jacuzzi jets in it. That made this Mama happy! I didn't think my nesting feeling could get much stronger, but I'm about to organize and clean again today! I'll be signing us up for birthing classes this afternoon that will start soon.  The fact that we are getting closer to meeting our Baby Bruce is becoming even more real!