Various thoughts...

It might be awhile before I can post a blog entry...today is my last day of work - we're still waiting for Baby R to come and if he/she doesn't come by next week, there's no point in me trying to come into work. We're getting a new LAN line and hopefully the internet at our home next week. We'll see what the next few days have in store for us!

On Being 9+ Months Pregnant
It's been a long haul indeed. I never imagined all the false labor contractions, the waiting, not going early like my mom, more than likely going to my due date, possibly longer...but, things have gone very smoothly up to this point and I have so much to be thankful for. My body is hanging in there, though it is weary and tired from carrying all this extra weight! It will be well worth it in the end.

On Becoming a Mom
I never imagined how excited I would be to start my new role as mom! All the anticipation and excitement just keeps building up and how thankful I am to God for allowing me to go through this pregnancy process and to have the privilege and honor of becoming a mother. I am counting the days, hours, minutes until I can hold this little bundle in my arms and finally be MOM!

On Faithwalkers
All of my family and a number of our close friends (around 100 Rockers to be exact) are all down at Tan-Tar-A Resort right now for Faithwalkers. It is bittersweet for us to not be there. We absolutely love this conference - it's the highlight of the year for us, but we are at home awaiting the arrival of our little baby which is so very sweet. We have been praying for the conference and all the people there every day and we can't wait to hear all about it. We're so thankful to be involved with GCA. What a wonderful group of men leading us and so many awesome saints involved with the churches. We are so blessed.

So yea, those are the thoughts rolling around in my head today. As we head into the long weekend for New Year's and as I gear up for being at home next week, with or without my babe in arms, I am so thankful for all that God has given me and blessed my life with. I am truly rich indeed.

God bless and Happy New Year!!

Hurry up and...WAIT!

We had our 39 week check-up this morning and so far, nothing has changed from last week. I am still around 50% effaced and not dilated. This was pretty discouraging (for me especially) seeing as how we had another eventful weekend full of contractions, etc. My doctor is pretty certain I will go to my due date, possibly longer. However, she will not let me go more than a week overdue. Let's pray for baby to come before induction takes place!

So, we are still waiting and I am finding it's not getting any easier. My emotions are all over the place. John has been wonderful - so encouraging and supportive. And we only have 5 MORE DAYS to go to get to our due date - 12/31. That is an encouraging thought! I am trying to stay positive, but the strain on me physically is a lot to bear right now.

These are some good verses for me to remember right now:

Psalm 27:14, "Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord."


Isaiah 64:4, "For since the world began, no ear has heard, and no eye has seen a God like you, who works for those who wait for him!"

Habakkuk 2:3, "If it seems slow in coming, wait patiently, for it will surely take place. It will not be delayed."

Romans 8:25, "But if we look forward to something we don’t yet have, we must wait patiently and confidently."

So thankful that I can rest in those thoughts today.

Hope you all had a Merry Christmas!!

Update

Well folks, I'm sure inquiring minds want to know if Baby Rundquist has arrived...not yet!! We're still waiting, but we have enjoyed being able to spend some good time together the last few days.

Right now we're enjoying a nice Christmas Eve with my family and tomorrow will be a relaxing Christmas day at home together. This could be an eventful week and we look forward to posting news of the arrival soon!!

We wish you all a very Merry Christmas!!

Celeste & John (in wait mode)

Four years of wedded bliss...

Today, December 20, 2006, John and I are celebrating our 4 year anniversary! It's hard to believe how fast time has gone by nor how many memories we have together. I can still remember our wedding day like it was yesterday! I am truly blessed to be married to John...he's been God's greatest blessing in my life and I can't imagine life without him. He's my best friend!

Honee, I love you and I look forward to tonight as we celebrate 4 years of God's gracious favor in our lives! I love you!

More pics...

Just a few more that wouldn't fit the first time...

Last Night Out????

On Friday night, John and I had the opportunity to attend my company's annual Holiday party. It is always a lavish bash and this year was no exception. It was held at the prestigious Interlachan Country Club in Edina - our CEO happens to be a member. The view was amazing, the surroundings were beautiful and the food was to die for. We had a wonderful evening together. It will probably be our last night to dress up and be out for awhile so we really enjoyed ourselves. We asked a co-worked to take a few photos of us since we were looking so good all dressed up! I am so glad we took some of these shots...they turned out great. Here are a few of our favorites:

Waiting is the name of the game...

As this week slowly trudges by (this word is related to how I actually am walking now!), nothing new has happened since our excitement of the weekend. It has been hard to settle back and just wait - I am not always good at waiting. But, I know what the end result will be and honestly, that is worth waiting for!

I have been encouraged by a couple of verses this week that are helping me to maintain my perspective as we wait for Baby R to join us and as I endure the uncomfortable days ahead of me:

Psalm 119:68, "You are good and what you do is good..."

Joshua 1:9, "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."

Also, I would like to extend my congrats the Karl and Maren Quickert on the arrival of their little bundle of joy Jemima Era! What a beauty she is - John and I are thrilled for you! Maren, we will have much to share and talk about in the coming few weeks! I can't wait!!!

False Labor...not all it's cracked up to be!

Our weekend was an eventful one...almost too eventful! :) This little one is keeping things exciting for us indeed.

On Thursday afternoon, I started having pretty regular, but mild contractions lasting through the entire evening (about 20 minutes apart). They continued into Friday, but I had a busy day at work trying to clear off my desk so I wasn't always paying attention. By Friday night they continued on making us wonder what the weekend would have in store for us!

Saturday morning we got up and headed out for our first of three walks that day to keep things moving along! At one point I was having contractions every 5 minutes for over and hour and a half. We were moments away from calling the hospital when things started to slow down again. We went on another walk and then another. By then (about 2 in the afternoon), they had slowed way down. We decided to call the hospital anyway just to let them know what was going on and see if they had any advice. Bascially we were told we were either in the early stages of labor and things would continue to progress (and intensify!) or we were just having false labor and pretty soon everything would just stop. By Saturday night the contractions did just that - they stopped.

Sunday got eventful again in the early afternoon when my bowels got completely turned around for about 2 hours followed by 4 hours of much more intense contractions that were about 10 minutes apart. However, at 8:30pm, once again, everything just stopped.

Needless to say, I was not excited about coming to work today! I would much rather be in the hospital having a baby! :) But, God knows when the best time if for this little one to make it's arrival and we just have to be patient, even though it's uncomfortable and at times painful.

We have a doctor's appt this afternoon so I am hoping that some progress has been made!

December 1, 2006

It's hard to believe that December finally has arrived...this means that sometime this month (unless our little one refuses to be on time or come early) we will be having a baby in 2006!

As I approach 36 weeks (this Sunday), I find myself getting more and more anxious, excited, nervous, overjoyed, etc. at the thought of this baby finally making his/her way into our world. Our bags are packed, our house is in order, the baby's room is all set...now we just wait! As fast as this pregnancy has gone by, I believe these next few weeks will be the longest stretch as we anticipate this birth.

Thanks to Maren for posting these encouraging verses which did my heart good this morning...

"If it seems slow in coming, wait patiently, for it will surely take place. It will not be delayed." Habakkuk 2:3

“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts." Isaiah 55:8-9

I praise the Lord that He has been in control of this pregnancy since day 1 and as we wait out these final weeks, He is still holding this little life in His hands. He is so worthy of my trust and I am confident that in His perfect timing, this little one will arrive healthy and strong into our family whether it be 4 weeks early or a week late! :)

I am also so thankful for the loving husband I have in John. He has been such a trooper with all the many changes that have been taking place over the last number of months. As I have started to slow down, there are tasks that are simply too much for me...even the task of tying my own shoes! I have a gracious husband who was tying them daily until he suggested he buy me a new pair of slip on shoes! I am now wearing some of the more comfortable shoes I have ever owned! Thank you my Love for helping to make my life just a little bit easier! I cannot wait to experience all of this with you, my best friend!

Wow, what a way to end our 2006!