Joshua Matthew's Birthday

Joshua Matthew Ekelund

Born 7:55pm March 25, 2012

7lbs. 4ozs. - 20.5in. long

Again, I want to write down Joshua's birth story before I forget. When I was 37 weeks pregnant, I felt HUGE. I was sure this baby was going to be either 10 pounds or 30 inches long. I started getting horizontal stretch marks! I saw the doctor on Tuesday the 20th and when he checked me for dilation, I was at a "0." The day that was chosen to be the birthday was Friday, March 30th.

Hannah was excited for the baby to have the birthday the day before hers. Little does she know that means joint birthday parties for the rest of their lives.

The day after my doctor's appointment, I just kept having a sharp, knife-like pain on the left side "down there." It hurt to walk. It hurt to sit. It hurt to get on the floor and change Sarah's diapers. It hurt to get up. All I could do for the weekend was lay on my right side in my bed. Because the pain was relieved when laying down, I figured the baby was laying on a nerve or something.

On Friday night, we had Hannah's 6th birthday party at the YMCA. As long as I sat down a lot and walked slowly, I could make it through. YMCA swimming parties are the way to go. For a fee, they set up, play games, organize gift giving, serve cake & juice, fill goodie bags, and clean up while guests are swimming. Perfect for a very pregnant mama.

Sunday came, and I just laid in bed. Adam went to teach confirmation during the Sunday school hour, and then came to relieve me. The pain was much worse. It was now on both sides and laying down didn't help. Around 5pm I finally gave in and called the OB floor at the hospital to ask if the pain was normal pregnancy pain. The nurse said that it could be a bladder infection and to come right in so they could prescribe antibiotics to take away the pain if necessary. I told Adam I was going in to check out the pain and drove to the hospital. By the way, driving the car with standard transmission hurt immensely every time I shifted. Thank goodness the hospital is only a few blocks away.

I had to stop at the ER before going up to OB, as that is policy, but the ER nurses said that a trauma had just come in, and there was no one available to take me up to OB in a wheelchair. OB said that it was ok with them, if it was ok for me to walk up there. I did...just reeeaaallly slowly.

I got there and Nurse Pat took me to a room, told me to put the gown on, and hooked me up to the baby/contraction monitor. She said that the lab was backed up and it might take a while to get the test results. I just switched on the TV and waited while listening to the sweet sound of my baby's heartbeat. I wasn't feeling any contractions, but curiously looked at the monitor, and saw that there were a few here and there.

At about 7pm, I felt a little pressure release "down there." I prayed, "Oh no, Lord. Please not now. Please don't let my water break. It isn't Friday yet. Charlayne won't be here to help until Saturday." I called Adam on my cell phone, and amidst my tears of fear, I said, "I haven't told the nurses yet, but I think my water just broke." As I said the words, I felt the gushing of the fluid. I confirmed to Adam that my water definitely broke, and he should find a babysitter ASAP. Then, I pressed the call button for the nurse.

I told Pat that my water had broken. She looked at me in amazement, but helped me transfer to the drier bed next to me. I profusely apologized for "wetting the bed" even though I obviously couldn't help myself. Dr. P was on-call, and I asked if there was any way they could keep me from going into full blown labor so that Dr. N could deliver the baby. She said that she didn't know, and we could ask.

After that things started to move really fast. The Anesthetist Pat (A. Pat)came in, and I asked him if we could wait, and he said, "No. Once your water breaks, we must do an emergency c-section because the pain can go from manageable to unmanageable really quickly." He assured me that Dr. P was a good doctor as his wife and daughter go to him. You have to understand. It isn't that I don't think he is a capable doctor, as many of my friends have him deliver their babies. It is just that Dr. N has delivered my four kiddos, as well as performed surgery for my ectopic pregnancy. I just trust him.

(Side note on A. Pat: He was my anesthetist when I was in labor with Caleb. I just remember the epidural I had didn't relieve ALL the pain. I can remember saying, "WHERE'S PAT?? GET PAT!!" over and over in the wee hours of that January morning.)

I asked A. Pat how long it would be before I was in surgery. He said probably within 30 minutes. Yikes! I had told Adam to take his time. I called him quickly and said, "I don't want to stress you out or rush you, but you have to get here as soon as you can. They said surgery within 30 minutes." A. Pat assured me they would wait for him. It seemed like Adam showed up 2 minutes later, but it was probably the three people asking me all sorts of questions simultaneously that made me lose track of time.

I started crying because I was nervous. I had been calm before this, but seeing Adam, and realizing I was going into surgery again (and having that HUGE needle put in my back again) just made me scared. After all the people left to go up to the OR, God did something amazing. Adam prayed with me about the excitement of meeting our new little one, the fear we felt about the surgery, clarity for the surgeon, and all the other things that I needed to hear right at that moment. I can't describe the relief, calm, and peace that came over me during and after talking to our Savior.

Adam and A. Pat wheeled me down to the OR in a wheelchair. Adam went to put on his outfit (he loves when I call it that). I went in to get prepped for my 5th c-section. A. Pat was very comforting. The spinal anesthesia went a whole lot better (no moaning like an idiot) this time. Adam came in to hold my hand and snap more pictures than he has ever taken during the surgery.

I didn't feel a thing this time. I am laying there wondering if it was going to be a boy or a girl knowing we didn't have any boy's names we agreed on, thus solidifying my presumption that it was going to be a boy.

Then, I hear Adam say, "We have a baby boy! I can't believe it." Next, I hear a sound that I love...my baby's first cry.

Adam left with Nurse Pat and Baby Boy Ekelund to go back to the OB floor for tests and baby's first bath (I look forward to smelling that baby lotion smell when we are reunited). Dr. P sewed me up. The only bad thing that happened was I was really nauseous and gagging as he was putting my uterus back inside where it belonged. Apparently, it didn't want to go back in. Later, I laughed to myself because I liken it to assembling something for a long time only to be left with one lone screw. Hmmm...where was that supposed to go. But I digress...

I stayed in recovery for what seemed like FOREVER. It was about 30 minutes. I couldn't rejoin my husband and newest family member until I could wiggle my toes. I tried so hard, but there is just no rushing it.

Finally, A. Pat wheels me back down to the OB floor. I see Adam with the baby in the room behind the glass. Adam came out and said, "When I laid my hand on his chest, the first name that came to me was Joshua Matthew."

"Perfect," I thought.

The name Joshua means, "God is my salvation." Praise be to God our Savior for this precious blessing!

Joshua's verses (and song) are from Isaiah 40:28&29

Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.
He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.

1977 Year End Report

This is why I blog for my kids. I do wish I was a little more detailed, but c'est la vie. Thanks Mom!

Christmas Letter 2011

Time for another Ekelund Family Christmas Letter. I actually like writing these because as I look through this past year’s pictures, I get to remember the blessings God has given us.

After a year and a half and lots of prayer, Adam decided to step down at the end of September as Associate Pastor at Hope Lutheran Brethren Church in Barnesville. We loved the friends and fellowship at the church, but ultimately, our house in Fergus didn’t sell. It was very important to us to live in the community where Adam served a church and it wasn’t God’s timing. We said “goodbye” at the annual Fall Picnic and Hayride. After he said goodbye, he was approached by Bethel Lutheran Church in Fergus to help teach confirmation class. Adam continues to work part-time at UPS driving and in the warehouse and also helps our neighbor book loads for his trucking company.

I (Rebekah) had a rough year physically as I struggled with eczema on my hands which was accompanied by some depression, but after a great visit with a dermatologist, healing came quickly. Then, more joy came with the discovery that I was pregnant. I continue to be a homemaker, breakfast getter, book reader, kid snuggler, diaper changer, etc. while fitting in teaching online chemistry at M State. As far as ministry goes, I continue to seek the Lord how best to be a godly wife and mother as I desire to encourage my husband and children in their relationships with Christ. I read a great article of confirmation as my role as a missionary to my family. It was entitled Motherhood as a Mission Field. You should check it out!

Caleb started 2^nd grade at Adams Elementary in Renee Larsen’s class. One of her passions is monarch butterflies. So, Caleb got to see monarchs emerge from their chrysalises, identify the sex, tag them, and set them free to migrate to Mexico. He is doing very well in school, and when asked, his favorite subject is still “recess.”…And finally, he lost his first tooth.

For Hannah's 5th Birthday, she was given dance classes. She loves to dance and still draws every chance she gets. In September, she entered Kathy Bjork’s kindergarten class at McKinley Elementary. She goes half-day, is quickly learning to read, and is thrilled to be in the same class as her best friend Ellie.

Timothy is a big 4 year old! For his birthday cake, he wanted “a dinosaur cake with his face on it" and a bowling party. He makes us smile, and his laugh is infectious. He can climb, jump, and throw just about anything (and everything), and he started Otter Preschool two days a week at McKinley Elementary in Ms. Tara’s class.

Sarah turns 2 this Christmas. She still has her bright eyes and zest for life. She wants to do everything her older siblings do, and her vocabulary is growing daily. Here is Sarah’s “Primer”:

Caka = Caleb

‘Enna = Hannah

Timpy = Timothy

Peebo = Peanut Butter

Bucky = Milk

Duck = I’m stuck!

This Christmas and throughout this past year, God has blessed us immensely. What first comes to mind is the amazing blessing he has given me to carry another child. What a privilege it is to nurture and grow a little one! What comes to mind as we enter the Christmas season is the blessing of God’s son born of a virgin in Bethlehem. This little blessing came to give us the immeasurable blessing of saving us from our sins and eternal punishment (John 3:16&17).

The amazing part? This blessing isn’t just for me, as the angel proclaimed to the shepherds in Luke 2:10&11, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today, in the town of David, a Savior has been born to you; He is the Messiah, the Lord.” This Christmas, I pray that you find great joy in His blessing!

Love,

Rebekah Adam Caleb Hannah Timothy Sarah & Baby

Cute Words

Sarah is starting to say lots more words, but my favorite so far besides "Dada" & "Mama", of course, is "Caba", "Enna", & "Timpy.

August is here already?

Yes. Summer is almost over, but don't despair. We have great news! Another little Ekelund will be arriving in March. We are very happy. Although, I had to laugh at Caleb's reaction. When we decided to tell the family, Adam said, "Kids come put your ears on Mom's belly." Caleb looked at me questioningly, slapped his forehead, shook his head, and said, "There's another baby in your belly, Mom?" That kid cracks me up.

These are Family Stickers that you put on your car window. I know they are a fad, but I love my family.

Thank you Lord for the blessing of family!

5 Years!

Adam's is from January 2009. Mine is officially from last night (unofficially from January 2011).

Time To Take a Trip?

I haven't posted in a while. I know this. It has been for a combination of reasons mainly just plain "not feeling like it." While the beginning of January is exciting because it is Caleb and my birthday, after that I feel the after-Christmas blues that others feel after the hype of the holidays ends. It doesn't help when it is so, so cold. I LOVE snow. I really do. Especially now that we bought a snowblower.

I HATE cold. I HATE heat too. I just like it to be "perfect." Don't we all?

Adam has to choose his vacation weeks in late October for the following year. I never know what to tell him to pick (because he always asks me). I said, "Take off the week that your mom is here (Feb).

Take off the last week of the year (my dad always did that, and it was fun having him home when we were home on break). And for your third week????" I was hoping he would have something he HAD to go to so I didn't have to pick another week. The only thing he knew were a couple things in the summer with the youth group, but unfortunately the guys with higher seniority took those weeks already. Finally, I said, "Take off the third week in March because that is my Spring Break. Even though it isn't winter yet, I am sure we will need a break at that point in the winter." Little did I know...

After making it through January with only Adam having a nasty cough, maybe I got too cocky? We all got sick in just a rotating schedule that went on and on and on and on and on... There was strep, ear infections, tonsilitis, more strep, more ear infections, many fevers, and Sarah tried to cut 1st year molars too! It was miserable. As the third week of March approached, we started to get better, Timothy finished his 3rd round of antibiotics, and I tried to figure out what we were going to do for a VACATION!

Unfortunately, there were a couple of wrenches in the works. First of all, we have committed ourselves to getting out of debt. Every financial seminar/talk I have ever gone to says the same thing, "Don't spend what you don't have." So, I guess Disney World is out. Secondly, Caleb really wanted to go to a classmate's birthday party on the Monday evening. This would mean the vacation would have to be short, sweet, and a steal!

I had the brilliant idea of spending the weekend with the Lang Gang in DeWitt, IA, but when I called they were having company during that weekend. Plus, Caleb would have to miss the birthday party. We decided to do it another time.

Then, Sunday evening it came to me. Why don't we visit the Pribbs in St. Louis? We miss them so bad, and guess what? We could stop at the Lang Gang's on the way through during the week. Then, on the way back we could go to DeWitt Lutheran Fellowship to see the Lang Gang and Paul & Betti for church on Sunday. Brilliant idea. Thank you, Lord! Now to make the phone calls...

On Monday, after confirmation from all parties we decided to leave on Tuesday. For any of you who know me, I am far from spontaneous. It is kind of fun sometimes to do different things.

Tuesday brought a whole lot of obstacles including our minivan overheating before we even started the trip. The original plan was to take the van to Minneapolis and rent a car to avoid a huge car expense due to the miles. Was this the "huge car expense?" Do we gamble and not rent a car? I may be spontaneous, but I am NO gambler. We rented a 2010 Dodge Grand Caravan.

The new features were fun to play with, I must admit.

We finally made it down to DeWitt at 2:30am. All the porch lights were on. Thanks Heidi!

We slept. Played outside. Ate breakfast with Pastor Jay. Found out that Paul & Betti were in Israel. Went to a consignment shop. Played at a park. Waited for everyone to come home from school, and left for St. Louis.

We arrived at the Pribbs at about 8pm. You know you are good friends when you can just pick up your conversations where you left off after not seeing each other for what seems like forever. Everyone may be older. Kids may be taller. But it's like we were never apart. Love you Melissa!

Most of the photo highlights are on Facebook. So I won't go into a lot of detail, but we jumped on the trampoline, sweated in 82 degree weather IN MARCH, went to a Jefferson Barracks park, went to the St. Louis Zoo, jumped on the trampoline, got stuck in St. Patrick's Day Parade traffic, played Wii, grilled outside, jumped on the trampoline, shopped at Target, and did I mention jumping on the trampoline?

The kids really had a great time playing together, and the adults really got a chance to be refreshed (except Brad did have school while we were there). I can't thank them enough for letting the Ekelund family circus invade.

We left on Saturday after lunch to go back to DeWitt and found a Godfather's Pizza stand in a Convenience store when we got there. We hung out with the Gang that evening, and after the kids finally went to bed, Pastor Jay and Heidi resumed their marriage counseling with us that they started over 1o years ago. :)

It was so great to go to church in DeWitt. They were such a warm church family and welcomed us throughout the morning. Pastor Jay preached and Heidi taught Sunday School. Too bad we missed Pastor Paul and Betti this time, but there can always be a next time...

We ended up leaving DeWitt quite late in order to get home at a decent hour. I knew that would happen. It is so hard to say goodbye. Thank you so much Lang Gang for making us feel so welcome in your home.

Until next time...

Sarah's 13 Month Primer

I don't do New Year's resolutions. I just don't. I don't need to decide to change a habit on January 1st anymore than I need to on January 30th or July 19th. Why am I telling you this? Because my non-New Year resolution of blogging more is being trumped by my spending more time growing our family with God. So, if you are checking here often only to be greeted by the Christmas Letter 2010, you may want to frequent my Facebook page instead.

I do want to use this blog as a digital memory book in the place of writing down all their cute sayings and statistics in a journal or baby book.

So, I am sharing Sarah's Primer as of today because she shocked me by saying a bunch of almost-words today!

Da-da, Da-da, Da-da etc. - Dada
Mehm-me - Mama
Pee - Please
Eee - Eat
Dehss - All Done (with dinner)
Caah Caah - Scat Cat (made famous in Hannah's section of Christmas Letter 2010)

So to recap: Sarah is the earliest walker (10 months) and talker (13 months) of my kids. The next was my first born.

Christmas Letter 2010

Wow! Where did the fall go? I just posted Caleb's First Day of School. Time for me (Rebekah) to scroll through our Kids 2010 picture folder, and share what has happened and what is happening in the Ekelund family. For one thing, we did the near impossible. People called us crazy, but against all odds we travelled over 3000 miles with 3 kids and a nursing baby to New England to visit our families and friends. I chose to post pics on Facebook with captions instead of blogging about the trip, but it was an action-packed-wonderful-whirlwind-vacation.

We also put our cute, affordable, and move-in ready house :) on the market this past March with the plans to move to Barnesville, MN as Adam accepted a call from Hope Lutheran Brethren Church to be the Associate Pastor on April 1, 2010. We were very blessed to be called to a church that we had already had a history with. We were welcomed back by old friends and got to know many new friends as well. Adam's main responsibilities are organizing the youth with a little bit of worship leading mixed in. He also maintains his part-time position at UPS driving and in the warehouse. Hopefully, our house will sell soon, so we don't have to commute during the winter months!

I am perpetually chasing after my four energetic kids. Even though it can be trying at times, I truly love staying home with them and am incredibly blessed to be able to do so. I taught three sections of online chemistry at M State this past spring and fall, as well as trained faculty how to set up their online sites. As far as ministry goes, the Lord has been pressing upon my heart (especially lately) the importance of being a mom and encouraging my children to a mature relationship with Christ.



Caleb will be 7 in January and is in 1st grade at Adams Elementary two blocks away! He is in Peggy Peterson's class with a couple of friends from Kindergarten, as well as some friends from Bethel Lutheran Church. We just got a great report card with the following comment from Mrs. Peterson, "Caleb is an enthusiastic learner and I love having him in my class. His attitude for school is excellent and he approaches assigned tasks in a confident manner. He has a very happy and cooperative attitude."

He also learned how to ride a two-wheeler and attended Inspiration Point Bible Camp this past summer on his first sleepover camp. Way to go, Bugs!



Hannah is 4 ½ and has informed us that when she grows up, she wants to be a princess. Move over Kate Middleton. She is in her 2nd year of preschool at McKinley Elementary and is becoming quite the artist. One of her favorite activities at school is finger painting. She is often found in a princess dress, jewelry, and heels while toting a sleeping (stuffed) cat named Scat Cat.
She is also a great help with her baby sister. Thank you, Goose!



Timothy just turned 3 on October 29th. We call him Timothy the Tornado. He gets into anything and everything as he grows to understand the world. His vocabulary is extensive, however, he needs grammar work. One of his statements when he is frustrated at his older siblings is, "MOM! Caleb and Hannah are keeping funny!" which means, "Caleb and Hannah are making fun of me."

Hang in there, Wu! Pretty soon they won't be able to "keep funny" without consequences.

Sarah Grace made her dramatic entrance on Christmas Day last year. So, we get to celebrate Jesus and Sarah's birthday on the 25th. Sarah is such a sweetie. She is generally very good natured unless she is getting four teeth at one time. Youch! She has wanted to stand since she was four months old, she can do amazing squats, and she started taking steps on Papa's birthday, November 6th.

I don't have a full primer, but I can tell you the words that melt my heart come from a 16lb girl who's eyes can just peek over the Pack N Play sides every morning at 7am, "Mehm Meh Meh." Happy 1st birthday, Sushi!

As the Christmas season comes, we once again focus on our Savior's incarnation. John chapter 1 describes this miracle; that the Almighty God, who has always been and always will be, came to us in the "flesh and made his dwelling among us." (v. 14) It was the end of this verse, that first caught my attention; "...full of grace and truth." As I was holding my baby girl, I was praising God for my (Sarah) Grace, but more importantly, for His (Saving) Grace. I am able to spend eternity with Him because of what Jesus did for me on the cross 2000 years ago. "God made him who had no sin to be a sin offering for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." (2 Corinthians 5:21)

Christ did that for you too. John 1:12&13 says, "Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God." Praise be to God for His all sufficient grace! May this verse be your affirmation this season and coming year:

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. -John 1:14

Love,
Rebekah Adam Caleb Hannah Timothy & Sarah