Chismville

At around 1:30 this afternoon, Aria was finally able to be released from the ICU. I was downstairs holding her and just waiting for the doctor in the ICU room to sign her release up to Joli’s room. The doctor came up, handed the paperwork to the nurse and said, “Everything is ready except my note of release…but I’m really busy…so I’ll have to finish her up LATER!!!!” The nurse looked at me and said, “I’m sorry, David. It may be a few more hours.” Maybe it was my sad face when the doctor walked by again that made him feel guilty, because after about 15 more minutes he walked up and said, “Ok…she is ready to go. Congratulations on your little girl!” It was awesome.

So, the staff at UCSD have been fantastic. Aria is back in Joli’s room until Wednesday and doing great. She is nursing very well and happy to be in Mommy’s arms. She did have an infection, and the doctors are still researching where he infection started. So Aria will be on antibiotics until Tuesday, and if all goes well, she’ll be released on Wednesday morning. Joli has been released but will be staying at the hospital with her. Thank you for your prayers everyone.

We just received word from the hospital ICU staff that they want to put Aria on a 7 day antibiotic and carefully monitor her. It is a bummer for us parents to have to wait when we want to cuddle and be with her right NOW. However, the Lord has blessed our world with caring doctors, nurses and the proper medicine, so I need to rest assured that He will take care of our little Aria!

Aria’s white blood cell count was high yesterday and went up even more today, so that is not a good sign. She looks great and is the cutest thing ever (besides Joel and Chalice of course). I just pray for wisdom for the medical staff at UCSD that they would treat her with the proper medicine and that Aria would not have any problems. So far, they have not found any problems, but they are still running test. So…we’ll keep everyone updated as we have computer access. I’m at work ready to head back to the hospital. Those of you who are local can swing by and visit up til 6:30pm daily. We are at UCSD Hillcrest Room 431.

We were blessed with a beautiful baby girl this morning:

Aria Noelle Chism
8 lb 4 oz / 10:57am
21 inches long

Joli did great! Little Aria is extremely cute too and looks fantastic! The problem, like Chalice, is she had fluid in her lungs, so they now want her in ICU. So we could be here for another 2 days! That is the bummer, but we are glad the doctors are not real alarmed.

Praise God for another child we have the privilege of raising for His glory! Thank you all for your prayers.

Pictures will come shortly.

At 1:41 am, I got that nice little whisper once again that said, “David, I think we need to get our stuff together and get ready to go to the hospital!”

We arrived at UCSD at 2:45 and have been in waiting mode for the past 6 1/2 hours, but the contractions and pain continue! So, we are not leaving and expect the good news of Baby C #3 anytime! We’ll keep you all posted!

This is my first post on the blog using my Blackberry and my nifty thumbs!

I was powerfully convicted as I stood to offer my meager praise offering during the Sunday morning worship service this morning. Although I went to bed very late last night I was awakened at 5:30 this morning with no going back to sleep. I had time for catching up on my Bible reading, fixing breakfast for the kids and family and taking a prayer walk–just me and God–something I so rarely do these days. The peacefulness of this Sunday morning ministered to my restless heart. I had the chance to let scripture percolate through my mind in random samplings of edifying sweetness. I thought of how my crazed desire to get on with the next stage and the consuming desire to have this baby is a distorted purpose for me to have. I want to seek first His kingdom and righteousness and God will take care of “all these things.” The recurring theme of my learning to trust God rested upon my heart as I also thought of the preceding verses about each day having enough trouble of its own and how God tenderly cares for the sparrows and beautifully arrays the flowers. I have never felt this pregnant before. This baby has exhausted his or her leg room and loves to stretch a foot or two out for periods of time. It was funny to feel bump of that foot go back and forth with the movement of my body as I walked.  I enjoyed motherly musings–anticipation of meeting this little one and discovering whether it’s a boy or a girl then all the little personality details that become apparent over the days and months and years which will come. So a few hours later as I stood in worship beside my husband I thought of how though pregnancy can seem like a permanent dilapidation or a terminal illness, it is in reality a great blessing. Though at this moment I feel like I never want to endure another pregnancy, I was struck by the gift that I have been given that I will soon grow to cherish. So many of the songs we sang were about the cross and what Christ did for us. They were about the selfless love that bore Jesus Christ up to the cross and through which He endured the gut-wrenching anguish of separation from the Father. Through my impatience I make pregnancy a trial when it is a gift and a chance for the Father to show me His tender mercies at my most vulnerable state.  As I was singing a thought from Prince Caspian flashed through my mind. I thought of how Peter told his little sister that he thought they’d spent enough time waiting for Aslan to come. Lucy so touchingly displays that childlike trust we are all supposed to emulate. She looked for Aslan and found him. I realized that although I managed to be all caught up on my reading through the Bible at regular increments of time, I have not truly been seeking for God in my study of His word. I’ve barely even been studying it–just reading it. I felt shame for my apathy about the things which matter most! It was so clear to me that God wanted me to be there for the service this morning. All week long I have been dreading going to church pregnant another Sunday. I grow weary from bracing myself for all the comments about popping and timing and stomachs. Yet God in His goodness planned for me to be at church another Sunday and mercifully reminded me before I set foot in the church building that I need to quit thinking about myself and store up the Heavenly treasures He had in store for me this morning.

This morning I read from Matthew 5 and 6. The Sermon on the Mount always brings back fond memories of homeschooling and college. As a family we memorized Matthew 5-7, and then in college I had to do it again for a few courses! My hope is that I never grow tired of it but always find something I did not see before.

Today I was reminded by the section on loving our enemies: particularly going the second mile. I remember listening to a sermon illustration about the second mile that is just fascinating to me. Here is the summary that I remember:

A Roman law (as I understand it) during Jesus’ time was for Jewish boys to carry a Roman soldier’s sack one mile if requested by the soldier. A boy was not required to go any further. There was once a young Jewish boy who had sat and listened to Jesus speak about the principle of going the second mile and decided to put it into practice. The next time he was asked to carry the soldier’s pack, he gladly picked up the sack and walked the long mile with the man. When he reached the first mile mark, the soldier told him he was free to go. The young boy smiled and said he would gladly go with the soldier another mile. The man reminded the boy that it was not required but the boy still was ready to walk the second mile. After the second mile, the soldier turned to the little boy and said, “Why did you walk with me this second mile when you and everyone else are required just one mile. At that moment, the boy was able to share about what he had heard from Jesus.

I can only speculate but I believe that Roman soldier or officer listened very intently to the testimony of that young boy that day because of how the boy showed love and kindness to him. The first mile in life is always a duty: we do it because we are required. The second mile, if done with a cheerful and loving heart, will always bring glory to God! It is the second mile where people marvel at the grace of God and where we have the freedom to boldly proclaim the Gospel.

I am amazed at how God blessed the whole unpacking ordeal. I think I was expecting it to drag on for months, but in reality it’s virtually completed now, after just over a week. I definitely put my nesting instincts to work for me! Wednesday evening my spirits were high. The plague of illness that had afflicted David most severely as well as Chalice and me had finally subsided and the house was looking like a home. I was excited to actually feel like the baby could come. Then boredom, impatience, and HOTNESS struck and this pregnant chick was ready to put nesting aside and think about the baby for real. The only problem is that baby limbo can last for not days but weeks. I find myself speculating and second guessing all the possibilities of when and why and how much false labor must occur before baby C #3 will come. The most sophisticated doctors cannot predict when a baby will actually decide to make an appearance. I grew weary of phone calls only from solicitors and mail consisting only of bills and an inbox comprised merely of updates as to who at church needed a replacement. Checking the inside thermostat was an interesting hobby as I watched it rise from 80 to 85 over the course of the afternoon. By the time David had arrived home my grumpiness had reached full bloom and I felt like I was unfit company for anyone. A sympathetic husband, chocolate chip cookies and friends perked up the evening until it was at last bedtime. Otherwise, I’m nearly certain that the refrain from a favorite childhood story would be true for me….”Could this go on all day and night? It could you know and it just might.”

This morning commenced with the happy clatter of painters sanding away at the messy exterior of our house. I abridged my devotions again due to the increasingly agitated noises of my children pleading to be released from their room. Then even breakfast proved unsuccessful. I couldn’t get my children to wear bibs and decided without bibs they would not eat. We have a lovely neighborhood for walking, but one can hardly roam the streets for hours on end without some decent destination or purpose. I called up a friend and received an ambiguous answer about arranging a rendezvous.

I decided not to let plans with other people stand in the way of rescuing my day. I piled my children in the car and headed due west, with miniature dump trucks, bananas, and sunscreen in tow. We arrived at the beach and I piled my children into our snazzy lime-green stroller. I enjoyed a leisurely phone conversation with a friend back east while I pushed the kids along the boardwalk. Eventually we found a pleasant patch of sand from which we could watch the waves dance and I could build small sand castles for the express purpose of being smashed by happy children. I thoroughly enjoyed watching my kids take such delight in the simple treasures of creation. Observing the vast ocean and bountiful beach, my stomach was almost dainty by comparison. Plus I had adorable blue toenails–professionally adorned as a Mother’s Day treat. Imagine the demise of a perfectly good respite, wrecked by messy chipping nails! As it was, our morning was glorious. It was only when my squashed bladder complained bitterly that I reluctantly loaded my two little sandcrabs back into the trendy and useful stroller to return home for a late lunch and naps.

Just when you think there is a clearing during a traffic jam and you think you can go the maximum speed limit, the car in front of you slams on his breaks hard forcing you to come to a screeching stop! The last 5 months of business has felt like stop and go traffic.  December is typically a terrible month, so I was not that concerned with December’s financial numbers, but when January was just as bad or worse, I felt that 2008 was going to be rough going for San Diego contractors. Every time I turn around and talk to someone in the trades I get the same answer, “It’s tough out there! We are feeling it!”

As a salesman, I’m feeling it too! My sales are up and down this year too, but we are still able to keep most of our good people busy. We only had to lay off 2 newcomers this years and no old timers yet! It has been a challenging time for me personally because I have had to be more conservative in my marketing efforts and at the same time train two estimators. It does not sound like a good time to train new salesman going into a recession. The problem is, I did not have a lot of work anyways…so I had to think of ways to keep work coming in. Therefore, last November, I pulled one of my key foreman from the field to teach him how to estimate and sell. He was an excellent estimator and people person but had a hard time closing the jobs out in a timely manner, and he was on a full time salary. So I had to make another change. We asked him to go back in the field for the time being until we can evaluate what else he could do for us. I then brought in another foreman who was more qualified for sales and scored higher on the sales test I had him take. This guy has been a very quick learner and has taken less of my time training. My current estimator is willing to work on a small salary and commission, so we can afford the risk. The past two weeks since I made this change, my first estimator has started to close out a ton of work from old estimates. He was never good at the computer or a sales process, but in his time…he sold work. Dad and I are wondering if we should bring him back and pay him his salary again out of our marketing budget!

The difficult thing for me is training employees how to sell when I too have to get out and sell. I’ve got to keep our guys busy, so it is hard to meet potential clients, connect with them and have a trainee watching ever move you make! It’s a little weird. The other difficult thing is training my new estimator who is a self-proclaiming Atheist. His moral standards and integrity seem to be moderate and not too high. I have watched him on a few sales calls tell a little white lie to clients about the scheduling board. He means well, but I had to confront him on it and tell him just to be honest with everyone…and you’ll see results. It is hard talking to someone who says, “I don’t believe in God…period!” However, he tells me he has integrity and wants to do the right thing! What is the right thing to someone who says there is no God? Anyways, I’ve been praying for this man and hope God will open his heart to the Gospel. He is a very needy guy who is just enjoying the pleasures of this world. After a few short conversations about religion, it is my opinion that the main reason who calls himself an Atheist is so he can do he wants and that is the only reason. He does not want to submit to his Creator and acknowledge he needs salvation.

Finally, with everything that is going on: a slowing economy, a baby due any day, training estimators, a big move and the pressures of sales, I know the Lord smiles upon me and says, “Rest in Me today, my child!” He wants us to be content in ever situation and trust Him for everything we need. I have so many blessings in my life: my family, church, a job, a home, vehicles, my faith and precious children. I have also had some amazing friends volunteer their time to help me move and do a few fix it items at no charge! One of the contractors who stopped by to help with patch some large drywall areas ended up not charging me! God is so good. Yesterday, when I was tired and worn out…troubled about work, one of our foreman (a believer) text my Dad and me and said something about: “Do you see the schedule board full? I do! God provides so be encouraged!” That day we closed almost $30,000 in one day! Trust in the Lord with all of our hearts. Lean not on your own understanding, but in all your ways acknowledge Him…”

Yesterday marked the big move from our condo on Fanita Rancho to our new home. The previous evening David had invited a number of friends for his one hour manly move in which a number of helpful and strong dudes loaded up their vehicles with much of our boxed items. My sister-in-law, Emily, generously helped me unpack the kitchen on Monday and me got most of it done! Yesterday a crew moved the remainder of our belongings and we spent our first night at our new home on Verlane Drive. The morning was tedious as we scrounged for breakfast in our empty kitchen and tried to get the remaining miscellaneous items into a movable state in a short amount of time. Chalice seemed a little extra clingy and tired by the middle of the day. Joel loved all the excitement, but fell asleep in the few minutes between my tucking him in and David coming to pray with him too. Today when I ran a few errands, Joel curled up with his head on my purse in the grocery cart and was fast asleep in no time! I sort of wish I could be the one asleep in that grocery cart right now! My baby is bumping around in his or her tight space–rather curious to investigate what all the commotion is about these days. Things are starting to take shape. I got a lot of unpacking done yesterday and David got some things set up. We have a Chism Brother’s man, Dave Olson, touching up walls and doors. A number of boxes still decorate our living room, but as soon as the bookshelves are stationary, I can get many of those boxes unloaded and broken down.  Hopefully y’all can come see our new home soon!