I remember in high school thinking about what I would one day name my children. I still have a list that I wrote one day while "working" on school one afternoon. At the top of the "girls'' side it says Mary Kathryn. All I could think of was how pretty of a name it was and how special it would be to name a little girl after two of my dearest friends, Mary & Katie Bell.
I never realized back then that one day the "Mr. Right" I was currently waiting for just MIGHT have an opinion on the matter and his opinion may not match mine. Well, that's exactly what happened. Josh said no double names, which meant no Mary Kathryn. Thankfully Levi was boy and his name was easily chosen. But in March of 2011 our whole world was rocked when we found out that baby #2 was a girl. My first response to the nurse was "Shut Up. Can you re-check that?" I just knew we would be a family with all boys, plus Adrienne. I had convinced myself that another boy would just be so "practical" because he could wear Levi's clothes, no need to change the nursery decor, and the list went on. We also knew that the babies gender was determined by the father and the Rivenbarks have not had a single girl that anyone knows of.
A few days before our 20 week ultrasound it became clear to Josh and I that things were not going well with Adrienne. The bumps in the road we had come to were really more like massive pot-holes and were causing us to wonder what the Lord was doing. She had been with us about 4 1/2 months (October 22, 2010). We loved having her and were so excited to finalize her adoption. She was an unexpected gift from the Lord. You don't usually anticipate adopting a 15 year old at the age of 25. But the Lord had called us to it and He was seeing us through. I remember laying my head back as she finished the ultrasound and thinking, "What a gift! As the Lord was taking away one daughter, He was very sweet to give us another."
Josh and I were leaving town right after our appointment to celebrate our 6th Anniversary in the Georgia mountains. The "goal" of our trip was to find this baby a name. Picking a name for baby #2 was hard because A) we were undecided, and B) with a 15 year old and an 18 month old there were other more pressing things to discuss.
Our trip started with lunch at Chick-fil-A (most of our trips begin there). I remember looking across the table at Josh and saying, "We are having a GIRL!" We were in shock. And then as we were on the road he reach over and took my hand and with a huge grin said, "Wow! I can't believe we are having a girl!"
We always look forward to Cow Appreciation Day in July!
All through the first day of our trip all I wanted to ask was, "Sooo, can we name her Mary Kathryn?!?" But I knew patience would be my best bet. We discussed lots of other options, but in the end Josh said to me, "Mary Kathryn it is. It just fits."
Naming both of our children has been like raising a stone of remembrance that is talked about in scripture. A name that we can look back and say this is what the Lord was doing at the time of your birth and has been faithful to complete in you. Mary means "bitter" and Kathryn means "pure." There was nothing easy about being pregnant with Mary Kathryn. I was sick all of the time. My iron was low, so I had to go on the crazy diet. She didn't gain as much as we would have like towards the end, so I was on another crazy protein diet. And then I ended up with an infection which meant a no sugar or white carbohydrate diet. It didn't help that I am not one who loves being pregnant. I LOVE my babies, just not crazy about the 9 months. We faced several big trials during my pregnancy. We had several ultrasounds because there was reason to believe that Mary Kathryn's digestive system was not forming and working properly. Adrienne decided it was best if she moved back to Mauldin. Josh had ACL reconstruction surgery. And it was the hottest summer I think we have ever had here in SC! I knew and trusted that the Lord was using each of these "bitter" trials to "purify" and sanctify us. What I didn't realize is that the Lord would use EvErYtHiNg about Mary Kathryn to sanctify me. Especially the fact that she still doesn't sleep through the night. I gladly sacrifice many things but sleep is NOT one of them. It has been 6 months of constant repentance on my part.
In June a few girls at church threw a beautiful shower for us! Wow! It was like entering a whole new world receiving all the pink, ruffles, and monograms!
We did have record breaking high temps that summer. I did well to workout in the mornings with several friends, but resorted to mall-walking the last few weeks.
On my due date October 8th we spent the evening with the WHOLE family (Momma, Daddy, Lyssa, Josh, and Levi) eating more Chick-fil-A, mall-walking, and swinging at the park, I went into labor. I remember looking at the clock at 11:46pm and thinking "OK. I think I need to time these guys." Yep, they were starting every 5 minutes and lasting 1 minute. I felt really bad for Josh, he had just worked 3 nights and had only slept about 4 hours that day. But I woke him up after being in bed for 20 minutes and said, "So sorry, but you gotta get up. She's coming!" I had a fast labor with Levi and I did not want to risk Elizabeth (our midwife) not being here.
I was very fearful of being left alone, so Josh stayed with me until Lyssa got here. Labor would have been so scary without her. She was so great at timing my contractions and keeping good notes for Josh and Elizabeth, our midwife. I spent a good portion of my labor in the bed lying on my side...it's crazy how it was quite the opposite with Levi, I walked the whole time I was in labor. About 1:15am I felt a "pop" and my water had broken. My contractions were starting every 2 minutes and lasting about a minute. After a little potty trip (it's not a break because labor doesn't stop). :) I made my way to the living room where the contractions were starting every minute and lasting a minute. I thought I would die! There was no break. And poor Alyssa couldn't keep track of my contractions because all I could do was grunt when they would start.
I do remember during each contraction I would relax and pray. I prayed for you to be a godly woman who fears the Lord and love Jesus. As the contractions got harder and closer together the only thing I could think to pray was, "Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for You are with me. Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me..." As time went on and there was no break in between I couldn't say the whole verse. I just kept saying, "Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
" over and over. Death felt very close. :)
It was about 2:40am when I asked if I could get into the tub. I was insistent that Elizabeth check me before I got in the tub because I was fearful of pushing too soon like I did with Levi. I was at 7cm, and I was devastated. It had only been tough 3 hours and with Levi it took 2 hours to get from 8cm to 10cm. I was exhausted and tempted to get angry with the Lord because I knew I could still have hours to go. I remember praying against my urge to get angry and asking for grace to endure as long as I needed to. It took me a few contractions to actually move and get into the tub. Once I was in I did fell better, but then I had the urge to push. I was frustrated, knowing it wasn't time yet. So I fought the urge with all my might for 2 contractions. I was on my knees leaning against the side of the tub trying to relax and not push. I think I just needed to know that she was not ready to come out yet, so I felt for her head and there it was already coming out! I was freaking out!!! I was so scared. It took 2 hours to push Levi out and here she was coming out with no pushing at all! I yelled out, "I feel her head!!!" Elizabeth came rushing in (7 1/2 months pregnant herself) and with one big push Mary Kathryn was here at 2:57am!
I had gone from 7 cm to having a baby in a matter of minutes. It was insane! Now after having her for 6 months I see that, that is how Mary Kathryn does everything. She waits until she is ready and she just does it, no easing into things with her. She decided to roll over one day and the next she made it across the rug. She did the wobbly sit for a day or two and then at 5 months she was a pro.
2 comments:
Love this!!
~bailey
precious. i loved reading the details!
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