Eyes Open!

IT'S A GIRL!

OKAY- The answers to all the questions:

Joesphine (Jo, Joey, Jo-Jo) was born at 4:13 PM, Sunday, Jan 18, 2009. I had my first mild contraction at 5:30 AM, which means 11 hours of labor. I was able to have the natural labor and delivery I had planned for at the Miami Maternity Center. I labored in and out of the tub, but delivered in the tub, experiencing the water birth I had wanted.

They broke my water when I reached 8 cm, and then I only had 3 more contractions before I started pushing. 2 pushes and she was out! No tears, and no episiotomy! Mark joined me in the tub when it came close to the time to start pushing. After the shoulders turned the midwife told me to reach down and deliver my baby, so I did. I pulled her out and onto my belly. That was the most precious experience of life.

The whole crowd was present for her birth. Friends and family mostly hung out outside and popped into the room throughout the day. But when it came time to push, everyone came hurrying in. Besides mom and dad, the following were present for Joey's intro:

Michelle's dad, mom, brother and friends-- Jim, Peggy, Chris, Maria & Andy.

Mark's dad, mom, brother and sister-in-law-- Rick, Kathy, Matt & Mandy.

Mark's best friend Doyle & his wife Nikki, driving from Jacksonville, missed the main event by only a couple of hours. Mark's brother Mike missed it too.

I have pictures and video of the birth, but thought it would be to graphic for most to publish here. Chris did a great job filming the birth and caught all the special moments between family directly after. Really moving.

Normally, new mothers only stay 4 hours after birth and then are released from the maternity center. However, I had lost too much blood and they had to take steps to correct that. That meant that Mark and I had to stay the night for monitoring. I feel great now and am already helping with the house work again (A little). Breastfeeding is rougher than I expected, but I am hanging in there!

We are glad to be home, and are enjoying all the sweet little things about our new bundle of joy. She has her father's bad gas.

She has her mother's lungs.

She is already spoiled.

We have lots of help, and have had plenty of visitors. She loves to be held and is none too particular who is doing the holding.

RIDE FOR KIDS

Jimmy @ 12 years old

Craven/Meyers Family at 2008 Ride For Kids

The Craven family is now starting to raise money in memory of Jimmy for this coming year’s Ride For Kids Event.

The Ride For Kids event raises money for the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation, a nonprofit organization that funds the research that will someday cure our children of brain cancer.

Our goal this year is $5,000!
If you would like to make your donation by credit card on a secure site, you may do so online at:
http://www.firstgiving.com/jimmycraven

This year’s South Florida event will be held Sunday, February 8, 2009 at the Pompano Beach Goodyear Blimp Base (1500 NE 5th Avenue, Pompano Beach, FL 33060).

Also, if you or someone you know, is interested in riding at this year’s event or volunteering, let me know.

For more information about the event or the foundation just click on the underlined links from this page.

Thank you for your support, your donation, and above all, for caring about kids like Jimmy.

Christmas with the family

Chris, Dad, Aunt Vanesa, Uncle Tom, Mom, Michelle & Mark.

Christmas morning.

Do you like my new haircut?

Weekend before Christmas in Disney. Look! Mommy has Mickey ears!

No matter where you find a Craven, he or she is eating ice cream!

Poor Mickey :(

Dad, Mom, Michelle, Mark & Chris in front of Epcot.