May 2020

.

• Activities during the month of May: We begin potty training Raphael, who does well until Morgan is born; continue a Bible study with our Filipino neighbors; have two more prenatal appointments; my parents visit to finish some final things to do getting the house settled before baby comes; take a meal to a woman who had COVID-19; I got to attend a virtual baby shower; Morgan debuted (a quick labor and delivery at home) on our anniversary 13th wedding anniversary, which happens to also be my dad’s birthday and my brother’s anniversary!; lots of postpartum appointments; meet with a lactation consultant to overcome reduced prolactin levels caused by the RLS drug I take; my mom arrived shortly after Morgan comes and stays for about two weeks; and, we have our first cookout at our Filipino neighbors’ house.

• School verses: Aolani and Micaiah -- Proverbs 18:9, Proverbs 16:24, Psalm 121:1-4
• Verses I memorized: I reviewed Psalm 103 for Morgan. 

Morgan’s Birth Story

In the days leading up to the labor and delivery, I had been having light contractions and lost several mucus plugs.

The night before the big event, the contractions were longer and harder than before,  and there were other signals for upcoming labor. So, I alerted the midwives, doulas and my mom. Then, I tried to go to bed early and get a little sleep in case it was "the night".

Sure enough, I woke us a little after midnight from strong contractions. I tried to go back to sleep, but the contractions would not let me. About an hour later at 1:30 a.m., I tried to wake Ricky up because the contractions weren’t going away, and I knew active labor had now begun.

He was able to get me up out of bed at 2 a.m. We went into the bathroom, got me ready and put me in the wheelchair. Then, Ricky got back in bed.  I began timing my contractions: 3-5 minutes apart, 1 minute long. So, I called everyone on my birth team. A half an hour later, Ricky got back up to feed me and give me electrolytes. This time he wouldn’t be going back to bed!

Soon after, both midwives and one doula trickled in. The contractions were picking up fast — in strength and length.

Around 4 o’clock that morning, I had to use the restroom. When Ricky tried to put me back in the wheelchair, my body would not have it, and I screamed. That scream woke Aolani. Transition had hit. I got Ricky to carry me straight to the bed. He laid me on my right side and then went to help the midwives set up the birthing pool while the doula sat beside me.

Aolani tried to stay in the bedroom, but she quickly lost interest and went into the living room. I had a few really hard contractions before feeling the urge to push.

I began yelling for Ricky to lift my leg. He appeared in the bathroom doorway holding a wrench and looking perplexed. Next thing you know, I was pushing Morgan out! After one or two pushes, I looked down, and he had slid out on my bed at 4:26 a.m.

One of the midwives rushed over and scooped him up and gave him to me. Aolani came in when she heard Morgan cry, and she even got to cut the umbilical cord about 10 minutes later. Once Morgan had a good latch and my placenta was delivered, then everything else went like clockwork.

We got to spend a good hour alone with the baby before the midwife examined him. During that time, the midwives cleaned up, and my mom arrived along with my second doula.

Morgan was wonderfully perfect with an Apgar score of 9 and weighing exactly 7 lbs and measuring 19.5 inches long. Morgan arrived on mine and Ricky‘s 13th wedding anniversary -- May 20th, 2020, which was 12 days before the due date, but the exact day for which we had been praying!

We were also blessed with a short labor, as I was only in active labor for three hours! And our other two sons slept through the whole thing! Haha! They woke up to find us with a little baby boy in our arms, as the midwives and doulas had already left. What a wonderful surprise :)

April 2020

• Activities during the month of April: Quarantine continues so we did a virtual home meeting on Facebook, have a lot of Zoom calls and meetings, and Aolani begins online tutoring :) We, also, took a five day trip to Dayspring to celebrate Ricky’s birthday with my parents.

• School verses: Aolani and Micaiah -- Psalm 16:3, Romans 6:23, 2 Chronicles 16:9, Isaiah 40:31
• Verses I memorized: I am reviewing Psalm 103 for this baby.

Called to be Cinderellas

(I mentally wrote this little post years ago — haha!)

I so loved the live action Cinderella. Growing up, Cinderella was (and is) my favorite Disney movie. She responded to the degradation, abuse and familial mistreatment with optimism, hope, grace, perseverance, love and kindness. She never lied or ran away or retaliated. She was perfect. (I think that’s why many don’t like her, preferring Belle and her humanity. Just like the Superman/Batman controversy.)

In the recent version, she’s discovered and released and tries on the slipper and all is well for the prince found her, but... there is still this feeling like the climax hasn’t happened yet. Weird. And then...

As the happy couple leave, the stepmother shows at the top of the staircase. All halt, the cheery music stops, you realize that you are holding your breath and the tension is palpable... and then Cinderella declares, “I forgive you." Wow. Now that was unexpected. Out of everything she could have said... the writers chose the Christlike forgiveness response for her?! And now you have your sense of closure, your climax.

At first, I was shocked that forgiveness was portrayed as strong and beautiful. Now, Cinderella really is the most Christlike princess.

March 2020

• Activities during the month of March besides a lot unpacking fun: My mom returned home to convalescence; Ricky updated at the DMV; went to Morganton one day to run errands, meet people for dinner and church elders; met with our new housecleaner, a sweet Hispanic lady who comes every other week; had a family that we trained with in Florida two years ago over for dinner; Ricky met with a retired judge for lunch; met with the doula for the birth; the big kids got to attend a homeschool P.E. group twice; had two more families over for dinners; my parents came two separate weekends to help with more unpacking projects; the midwives come to our home to meet and have our first prenatal appointment; meet with our backup doula; the social distancing and quarantine begins mid-month; since we gave away our television screen when we moved, our family pizza/movie night has become pizza/game night (which we have all enjoyed; and, Ricky has joined his department’s prayer and staff meetings via Zoom.
• Raphael’s romps: calls poop ‘boop’ and toots are’doodies’ ; is all boy (loves being loud, vehicles, gun sounds, balls, kicking, is rough and tough, bugs, food, outdoors, dirt...); and, is very organized and neat :)

• School verses: Aolani and Micaiah -- Psalm 24:3-10
• Verses I memorized: I am reviewing Psalm 103 for this baby.

February 2020

• Activities during the month of February besides a lot unpacking fun: We had many guy friends help us do some minor remodeling of our new house, packing, moving, unloading, assembling furniture, painting...; two, long IKEA visits; Ricky shared with a group of pastors; Ricky’s dad and brother came for a visit and brought lots of used furniture, etc; celebrated Aolani’s birthday in Morganton at our friends’ house with a spa party and several of her friends; visited three local churches before the quarantine; got to go see Ken Fish; and, we got to attend a FamilyLife marriage retreat for free (as Wycliffe missionaries) one weekend in Myrtle Beach while my mom babysat the kids here at our house!

• School verses for the new school year: Aolani and Micaiah -- 2 Timothy 3:16-17, Psalm 24:1-2
• Verses I memorized: I finished memorizing Psalm 103 for this baby.

January 2020

• Other activities besides the normal during the month of January: We let the kids have two sleepovers and several play dates; went on a coffee and game date; my mom joined us for half the month to help me start packing; Ricky had countless meetings; visited many friends to say our final goodbyes; had two appointments with doctors and found out that this baby is a boy(!); our home church had a commissioning service sending us out as missionaries (see video); had my 20th spiritual birthday; closed on our first house; gave away our tv screen to a family; got to share at a church; enjoyed a final small group (party for us!); drove to our new home to pray over it; and, held a gratitude party to honor, thank and say goodbye to everyone who has helped us do life in Morganton through stories, food and gifts (mini bags of coffee) :)
• For Lent, Ricky is rising at 6:30 every morning and I am trying to guard my speech so as to not speak death but life over myself.

• School verses for the new school year: Aolani and Micaiah -- James 1:5
• Verses I memorized: I am working on memorizing Psalm 103 for this baby.

“And his name shall be called...”

Boy #3:

MORGAN ISRAEL DIMARTINO 

Morgan: We initially thought of Morgan as we wanted to memorialize our time living in Morganton. Morgan is a Welsh name that used to be a boy name but has become unisex (we know two boys named Morgan and two girls named Morgan). It means “sea-chief” or “sea-defender.” We love that because God has really been moving our hearts for the sea peoples, like those in Melanesia, the Sentinel Islands, and elsewhere. Lastly, Micaiah really wanted another name to begin with ‘M’ since there are two ‘A’ names and two ‘R’ names in the family :)

Israel: All of our children’s middle names are from Aidan’s side of the family, to give them honor. Aidan’s brother is named Jacob, and God changed the Jacob-of-the-Bible's name to Israel after Jacob had spent the night wrestling with God (Genesis 32:22-28). Hence, Israel means “perseveres with/triumphant with God." Also, we wanted to keep the theme going by including a Hebrew name in each boy’s name.

DiMartino: "Di" is Italian for "of, from" and "Martino" is allegedly a mountain in Italy from whence the ancestors originate. "Martino" is derived from "Mars," the Roman god of war.

It’s our easiest kid name to pronounce ;)

So, our family consists of AAA for the girls and RMRM for the boys!

December 2019

• Other activities besides the normal during the month of December: We did some house hunting in Waxhaw; had friends over the evening of St. Nicholas Day; had my first OB appointment and ultrasound; celebrated Micaiah’s eighth birthday by rock climbing with a few friends and enjoying a little party at home with my parents here; had a sleepover with our close friends; went to our church’s first wedding; had a lady friend and her daughter over to celebrate Christmas together and stay overnight; went to the local Hmong church for a New Year’s Eve dinner party; the kids were sick much of the month; and, we watched all six extended editions of the LOTR and The Hobbit together as a family (Micaiah has been waiting for this for years!) over a couple weeks :)
• Raphael’s romps: He makes a really good machine gun noise; calls every dessert cookie; my favorite word that he says is milk; and, loves nerf guns/bullets/shooting/wars!

• School verses for the new school year: Aolani and Micaiah -- Revelation 3:20, Joshua 24:15, Matthew 6:9-13
• Verses I memorized: I am working on memorizing Psalm 103 for this baby.

Resolution for 2020

The intro is from my post six years ago on resolutions (just because it still accurately expresses my thoughts!):

"Let me start by saying that just hearing the phrase New Year's resolutions rubs me wrong. I think that one reason is because weight loss is the first thing to come to mind because it is so common. Also, no one actually keeps them or remembers them after a few months. So they seem pointless and not very profitable.

But... it is hard for me to let such an opportunity to pass me by. I relish times of purpose to be still and reflect. [I sound like a Mary -- haha, but I really am a Martha-doer struggling to find (designate) time to be still and reflect.

If God does not forbid it, and it strengthens your love-relationship with Christ, then I want to take advantage! Not that I cannot make "resolutions" other times of the year, but I have to be somewhat forced to sit back and reflect or it just does not happen because life is constantly demanding! Since this new year's time is already designated for making resolutions, then I'm going to let it "force" me :)

I find that I frequently need to evaluate my life in all areas to keep it going in the direction I want it to (towards glorifying God, of course). I hate regret and don't want to be on my death-bed, looking back on my life, and thinking, "If only I had done something with that part of my life back when I had the chance before it spiraled out of control."

The best way to change anything is to alter my spiritual life and let God have more access to my heart so He can bring true and lasting change to myself..."

2020 is going to be quite the crazy, hectic year with a new house, new job and new baby! It appears daunting, but I know it is full of good gifts. So, I want to make sure that I focus rightly on Jesus, go slow and enjoy the moments, and maintain constant joy and gratitude. I am going to keep my resolution super simple and intentional:

Just read one chapter of the Bible a day, preferably in the morning. Not only is the Word of God my life, but if my kids don’t see that, then I’m wasting these days with them. I don’t want it to be for naught. What’s the point if I’m not getting to know God better?

Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You alone have the words of eternal life."   John 6:68

Man does not live on bread alone but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.   Matthew 4:4

Merry CHRISTmas!

2019

I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it to the full.
John 10:10 (NLT)
 

So thankful for Jesus, Abundant Life!

Ricky, Aidan, Aolani (almost 10), Micaiah (8) & Raphael (2)

• I am just not going to be able to get to write my annual Advent post this year. 

• I am now over 17 weeks pregnant with our fourth child, and I feel great! Just felt the baby move for the first time yesterday :) First trimester was rough — nausea, vomiting, sinus infection, unable to ride in a car, craved cold stuff like popsicles, couldn’t handle the smell of coffee... Due date: 6/1/20! 

• Buying our first house and getting a loan is way more work than I anticipated! My mom will help me pack during January, and we move in February only two hours south of here, near our work at JAARS :)

Grateful to be Thankful

• Other activities besides the normal during the month of November: We had some neighbor girls over for a little Bible study; Ricky’s dad and brother visited, and they all went mountain biking; a friend visited overnight; the big kids had some play dates with friends; and, we went to Dayspring for five days and celebrated Thanksgiving with my family :)
• Aolani told us that she was playing the persecution on her electric piano (percussion) :)
• Raphael’s romps: He began to put two words together or say long, unintelligible sentences to ask me for permission to do something;) ; completely weaned this month; got his first haircut from a friend; began to brush his teeth and pretends to spit; he loves to come into our bed in the morning and get me up with a kiss; and, freaked out one night because there was a hair spider in his bed that he thought was a bug!

• School verses for the new school year: Aolani and Micaiah -- Revelation 3:20, Joshua 24:15, Matthew 6:9-13
• Verses I memorized: I am working on memorizing Psalm 103 for this baby.