Tate Coleman Eller

Born 4:40pm, 8lbs 9oz. Apgar 9
Healthy, crying, and TT'd on mommy twice already...

PRAISE THE LORD!!!!!!! He Is Good.

I have prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him
I SAM1:27

12:57p

ok, so its not cervadil she got, see what i get for typing something i dont know. it was something that started with a C to help promote contractions. things are moving along. doc is attending to a c-section now and we are fixing to move to room number... ready... 7.
so in the next hour we'll move along some more.

in the meantime, we sit here in the triage room watching the press conference from Washington, and the disaster that has taken place. Just amazing scene to see our own country in such distruction and confusion and need. Where are we in times like this.. people are in need, what will we do?

Tate's birthday... we hope

10:40am TX time - sitting here at hospital waiting for our little man. Jen is moving along, via some assistance with medicine. i'd tell you what it was, but it'd be spelled wrong, so here goes... cervadil. just heard "we can have a baby after 11:30am (hahaha) or maybe 1 or so... the time after the drugs take affect". We'll just wait. in the meantime, you can pray for Jennifer and Tate. and the nurses. Ms. Paula is taking care of us, if you need a name to pray for. She is very nice, and I remember her from when I worked at the hospital here. So thats comforting to know who's taking care of you. but more than that, we are comforted knowing God is taking care of us. more later.... steve

cheese nut

Well, mr. jackson has been granted a new nickname, at least yesterday he was mr. cheese nut. We went to meet the kids teachers at Cornerstone Christian academy at church. And as we were getting ready to leave, little mr.happy was having a good time, and involved in the moment. Ms.Nadia said, give me a hug... so Jackson ran over, hugged her around the neck, and then turned her face and planted one on her cheek. Smiles and all. He was so proud of himself. Well, we had to let Ms.Kathy have a JackKiss too, so he ran over to her (who he just met today) bear hugged her, and planted one on her cheek, smiles all all. I was then quickly taken back to 2nd grade, when I had that same cheese nut behavior. Being "soooo cute" that the teachers would let me get away with anything. And that's what I saw there, as his teachers said.... oh he's sooo precious. Well, little cheese nut, you've done it. You've made your dad proud. I don't think we're going to have any problems taking him to school Thursday.

Hopefully, we'll get some pictures of yesterdays memorable day to post. Tomorrow this time, we'll be at the hospital waiting for Mr. Tate's arrival. Our friends had their baby boy last night, Mason Alan Brown. Welcome buddy!!

I have prayed for this child

2 weeks ago, on Wednesday night, I was inspired by something Dr. Hooper said during his talk, something I have always had in the back of my head to do... share scripture with my kids. When they wake up, when we walk around, when we eat, when we lay down. So that night after church, I decided we'd have a verse of the week, and tape it on the kids mirror. A real short, simple verse, that means something. Our first verse is "Love is patient. Love is kind." ICor.13:4
Easy right? Funny how these things you "think" you do for others to learn is something you yourself need.
So this last Wednesday, I looked in the concordance for something to relate to Tate's arrival. Here's what we found:

"I have prayed for this child,
and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him."
I Sam. 1:27

It can't be any more simple than that. Wednesday morning, 5:30am we are supposed to check into the hospital. And I pray for this child. Not because I'm special, but because of a parable we talked about yesterday in class. Luke 18, where the despised man of the world, humbled himself before God, not able to look up saying 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.' I don't deserve this, because of my sins. But as the song says, "not because of what I've done, but because of who You are" to put me before God, not only a sinner, but a sinner saved by grace and Jesus lifting up this child, knowing that God will grant me what I asked of him.

Legend of King Jack

Yesterday I sat down to write my first childrens book. Yeah, its a little silly, but it seems silly that I keep reading all these other books written by other people to my kids. somehow, published or not, i'll find an illustrator to scribble some pictures, and i'll read them some stories at night. First book is called, King Jack. And the ones to follow, will make up the Legend of King Jack series. i think it'll be fun, but more than that, the kids can keep these books to pass on to their kids.
now, i just need to figure out how to draw a horse. ha.

Jen went to the doctor today, and there was no change. He said he was going out of town, so try to remain calm this weekend. Wednesday morning we go in at 5:30am. That's the "plan"... now Tate may think otherwise. However, little man, we have lots going on this weekend. I am helping out at church in a play for our "Family Power Hour" for the elementary school kids. An hour of kids worship and fun and songs, with a life lesson they can remember. It'll be fun, besides, it invites the small kids to be a part of "worship" time at their level, to know that our church family is a place where we come to be with each other and lift up Jesus as our Savior.

I've been amazed at the response of the Ira wristbands. we have 80 bands ordered, and a total of over $2035 raised. Yes, that's 2 thousand. We love that man, Ira Hays, and dearly bow before God to heal and comfort his body, to restore him to a place at his home in Brooklyn. His big sister sure wants him home. Lift them up right now, I give you permission to stop, and pray ......

Last night we were playing some songs for Tate, before bedtime on the piano and guitar. And then I played a song for Noah. I'm sure you're all going to be disgusted by who its by (like you don't know) but its Willie Nelson's "Angel Flying too close to the ground". There's something about that song now, that is a song for Noah. Blakely looked at me and said, can he hear that? I said yes, he can hear it. But more importantly, I can hear it.

Any day now...

Jen went to doctor, and she's at 2cm, and he said she's ready to go. Will be a "quick push" and may not wait until August31st. Which would be just fine with us, especially Jen. Seeing how the days are filled with 156 degree temperatures.

So there it is. Stay tuned for a picture of little Tate.

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I'd like to link you over to an effort we started to help Joe and Laura. We're selling silicon wristbands for $5 minimum dontation. See more here at Ira Lester Hays blog

Tate Date - Aug31st

Yes, I know its cheesy, but Jen will be induced August 31st, Wednesday for Tate's birthday. Today, I went to the doctor with Jen, and while we were leaving Blakely said, is today when the doctor will take Tate out? Ha.
Of course that doesn't top "the QUESTION" she asked a week or so ago... ready....
"mommy, how do the doctors get Tate out?"
Listen to HeartBeat

SO leave your comments if you'd like with what you would say. But I felt it necessary to not mislead her or give her fantasy land stork stories. We told her as little as we could, but I think she gets the idea, because she has not said anything else. The doctor will do, God will help, mommy will push... just didn't satisfy the question but HOW. Oh we have so much to look forward to.

Monday night Jackson and I went and bought a new PS2 system and some cheap used games. It's amazing how he'll just sit there and pretend to play on a fake gamepad. His expressions, his excitement, well you can see by the picture.



We're all ready for Tate's arrival. And yes, we are somewhat anxious, but I am trying to give those uncontrollable emotions and feelings over to God, so that He can keep me free to do his good works, that he has planned in advance for us to do