Since I wasn't able to get an afternoon prenatal appointment, Jordan was able to get off of work to help me get to Dr. Schwartz in Waukon. Our drive is 20 to 30 minutes shorter now that we live in Nashua. We saw it as a family day and tried to make the day as kid friendly as possible.
On our way to the appointment, Magdalene voiced her name for the baby. "John, I like the name John. Tobias, do you like the name John?" Magdalene has her heart set on that name, because he was the beloved apostle of Jesus. My heart is torn, because she loves that name so much. We then went through other possible names in the van and took a vote. Magdalene was trying to get the others on her side. Philomena wanted another Theodore. I guess one Theodore in this family isn't enough. Tobias mentioned the name Laffy. Seriously....his name for Theodore is Skunna Hunna and now he wants to name the new boy Laffy! Oh my! Theodore seems to enjoy our little statue of a little boy version of St. Francis of Assisi. He likes to kiss it when we say our prayers. I think that may be his way of showing his preference for a name.
Right now we have four names being thrown around for possibilities, but you never know! Theodore as a name for our last baby just kind of came up near the end of the pregnancy, and we went with it as a name in the end. I have a name in my mind I have been using for the baby, but I think we will give it until early December and hopefully make a decision.
Baby boy Jacobs is doing great! Tobias listened attentively to the heartbeat, and I was instructed by Magdalene to not laugh while the doctor was using the doppler. I couldn't stop laughing during one of my appointments, and the doppler made it sound like such a strange sound. I kept my composure this time. The doctor liked how my levels (bloodwork) were improving and assured me that the baby was getting all he needed. It was comforting to hear those words. We chatted for a bit with the doctor, and Tobias filled him in on the flooding in our basements. He was quite chatty and did a great job keeping up the conversation with the doctor. I thought back to when Tobias shared at Story time at the library last week, and it was his turn to share something. He said, "Our guardian angels fought back the tornadoes!" I just smiled and couldn't wait to share that with Jordan.
We checked out a fun park and had a nice picnic. It was nice to not have to think about rushing back to do something. Saturdays can seem so busy with projects to do that we struggle with simple family fun time. Sundays can be tiring from the travels to Mass and the exhaustion of maintaining order with the children.
I thank God tremendously for a day like today. A break from the norm. A chance to see Jordan playing a mean dragon chasing after the little ones. By the way, his dragon and dinosaur sounds can be downright scary! I pretended to rescue them, but I wanted to see him catch him. Jordan and I just looked at each other and laughed at their reactions.
We headed home after stopping at a coffee shop in Decorah. Mocha for me please with some bakery treats for all. Everyone had exercise, full bellies, and a Holy Heroes story playing in the background.
Since today is the feast of St. Francis of Assisi, I thought I would share one of my favorite prayers from him. We had to recite this prayer every morning when I attended St. Francis of Assisi school, and the words are more powerful now to me.....more than ever.
Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy.
O, Divine Master,
O, Divine Master,
grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love;
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
it is in dying that we are born again to eternal life.
Amen.
