Noah

Before seeing the movie, I read every review I could find.
The more detailed and controversial ones:
Glenn Beck: http://www.glennbeck.com/2014/03/24/babylonian-chainsaw-massacre-glenn-reviews-noah-after-attending-screening-in-la/

HollywoodReporter: http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movie/noah/review/689450

I checked out the "Ark Experience": http://www.noahmovie.com/theark/

And read reviews and comments from friends on Facebook. Was any of this negative criticism for the movie going to sway me from watching the movie? No. Partly because I wanted to see for myself what the hype was all about and if it really was as bad as they said. And partly because I was extremely interested in the Noah story and love watching movies for entertainment sake and not to be swayed in my beliefs.

Was everything the above critics said turn out to be true? Yes. Noah does attempt to kill his own family. Weird and dark. The rock people-Watchers-angels that fell from heaven and were trapped in mud that hardened to rock...that was strange, but pretty creative take on who the Nephilim were that are mentioned in the Bible.
Noah not having to gather a single animal, bird or insect? Convenient...but I liked the stream that seemed to go throughout the land and call all the animals for him.
Tubal-cain becoming a stow away and conspiring with Ham? A little dark, and by this time I was really through with the whole bad taste of all humanity.  

My favorite part was Methuselah. He was a funny, old grandpa. Caring, a little mysterious and had strange powers that somehow seemed to be lost on Noah...ie: they weren't passed on via blood line.
He really, really wanted the berries. (Though-why didn't Noah try to bring Methuselah on board? Didn't he think his grandpa was pure? Or was he planning on killing everyone by that point and didn't want to have to do it directly to his grandpa? So he did it indirectly....ie: let the flood do it?)

I also liked the cinematography on the flood coming. I had always thought that the flood would have to make it's appearance fast and strong...otherwise all the people that Noah had previously warned about the flood, would start to come banging on the ark. And anyone who had a sailing vessel of any kind, might foolishly think that theirs would be able to survive this storm...however, it would be sunk and overturned with the sudden strength of the rushing waters upon dry land.

Least favorite part: Noah hates all humans, every one of them is bad. The only thing pure on earth are the animals. (However, there is a part in the movie where Ila says that the animals are pure because they still act like they did in the garden. That is false. They didn't eat each other in the garden as they do now. And they will go back to their Eden-like state during the Millenium when all temptation and the devil is 'chained'.)
If this wasn't trying to be a Bible story, and it was just a made up story from someone's imagination, it wouldn't hit me as being so wrong. However, this is a Bible story, and the man Noah was a Prophet of God...who did in fact preach to the people and try to give them a chance to repent and be good. They choose not to listen, and later felt the very real consequence of their actions when they could no longer tread water...
Noah did not think all humans were bad. Prophets are chosen because they are good and serve the people whom they are called to preach to and help.
And God is not silent. He is patient and doesn't always give us a direct, clear answer when we ask him...that would do little to build faith and increase our own patience. We do not give our own children every thing they ask us, when they ask...even if it's a 'good' thing. We are not the resident Santa Claus and neither is God. He knows the past, present and future...and we do not. We are asked to trust in Him and His timing. So, just because God doesn't answer, doesn't mean he is silent. Or uncaring. He is not bent on destruction and wiping out all creation. He is merciful, but also just.

This is one of my favorite quotes that help me balance the whole just and merciful parts of God. To destroy so many people, seems so harsh. But we know he has to be just. So how does mercy play into the flood saga? Here:

“Now I will go back to show you how the Lord operates. He destroyed a whole world at one time save a few, whom he preserved for his own special purpose. And why? He had more than one reason for doing so. This antediluvian people were not only very wicked themselves, but having the power to propagate their species, they transmitted their unrighteous natures and desires to their children, and brought them up to indulge in their own wicked practices. And the spirits that dwelt in the eternal worlds knew this, and they knew very well that to be born of such parentage would entail upon themselves an infinite amount of trouble, misery and sin. And supposing ourselves to be of the number of unborn spirits, would it not be fair to presume that we would appeal to the Lord, crying, ‘Father, do you not behold the condition of this people, how corrupt and wicked they are?’ ‘Yes.’ ‘Is it then just that we who are now pure should take of such bodies and thus subject ourselves to most bitter experiences before we can be redeemed, according to the plan of salvation?’ ‘No,’ the Father would say, ‘it is not in keeping with my justice.’ ‘Well, what will you do in the matter; man has his free agency and cannot be coerced, and while he lives he has the power of perpetuating his species?’ ‘I will first send them my word, offering them deliverance from sin, and warning them of my justice, which shall certainly overtake them if they reject it, and I will destroy them from off the face of the earth, thus preventing their increase, and I will raise up another seed.’ Well, they did reject the preaching of Noah, the servant of God, who was sent to them, and consequently the Lord caused the rains of heaven to descend incessantly for forty days and nights, which flooded the land, and there being no means of escape, save for the eight souls who were obedient to the message, all the others were drowned. But, says the caviller, is it right that a just God should sweep off so many people? Is that in accordance with mercy? Yes, it was just to those spirits that had not received their bodies, and it was just and merciful too to those people guilty of the iniquity. Why? Because by taking away their earthly existence he prevented them from entailing their sins upon their posterity and degenerating them, and also prevented them from committing further acts of wickedness.” (John Taylor, in Journal of Discourses, 19:158–59.)

In all, I enjoyed the entertainment factor of the movie. It is a Hollywood adaptation of a Biblical story...I hope people weren't expecting a strict adherence. I wasn't. I go to movies to be entertained, not informed of what my beliefs should look like.
That said, it's hard to move past the dark view on humans in general. I tend to enjoy the positive, not pessimistic ideas and a hope-filled movie goes down more smoothly. It just didn't get a whole lot better after they landed on dry ground and everyone-and thing-were allowed off the ark. I enjoyed Noah's love and reverence for living things as demonstrated at the beginning of the movie with how he handles the animals (the one that was hurt and he fights off 3 men, as well as when he was teaching his son when the birds were falling asleep). But that love for living things somehow diminished when it came to humans...even his own family. For a Biblical movie, it was more entertaining than informing.
Just as the Book of Mormon musical on Broadway was a very untrue demonstration and irreverent view of the Mormon religion, I think the movie Noah was an untrue representation of the prophet...who became a second Adam-to start the whole human race over. But, like the Book of Mormon musical, I welcome the movie Noah for what it has done to start conversations regarding the Bible. For the Christians seeing the movie, they aren't going to come out of the movie with changed minds about their religion. However, for those who are not Christians, they might be tempted to go to the Bible itself to see for themselves how closely the movie mirrors the original version. And that is a very good thing. So, go ahead Hollywood, please make more Biblical movies. Kick off more doctrinal conversations. Get people talking more about God and His relationship with man.

William Kent is a permanent staple

Doesn't take long for a guy to make himself an integral part of the family.
And I was determined to not allow myself to fall into the trap of not documenting the 3rd baby's life as the other kids. I may have swung a little far the other way, but it has definitely tapered off since these first few days and weeks of baby Kent's life. I took many pictures at the beginning but now find it much farther and few inbetween.

A few more of our time at Szalay's farmer's market with Grandma.

B was about to take this whole wagon of pumpkins home if anyone would have let him...

But luckily we had Grandma to help us find the best pumpkin of the patch...

When the eyes were open, I pulled the camera out!!

Blondie lost all his langudo hair that was covering his face. His cheeks were covered in it as well as all over his ears and forehead. He is less hairy by this time.

I think this is when I also took a video since Kent was doing the sucking reflex well after he had finished eating and fallen asleep.

He and I spent alot of time in this chair in the corner of his room.

Kids have sure not tired of playing with the Lone Ranger train set. Kyleigh is the makeshift bridge for this run.

Not entirely sure how I feel about posting this picture, but for history sake, I'll keep it. A few weeks after giving birth and keeping the postpartum girdle by Bellefit on 24 hours a day. Sure helped pull everything back into place.

Kids were able to get a few more outside playtime.

I went to a girls night out at Kami Macy's house with a few other friends. Here we are playing a minute to win it game. A bunch of ping pong type balls in a box tied to our butt and we have to empty them first by shaking our booty. Yep, Moms have fun together ;)

This just looks painful...

B & K's friends Carter and Sophia came over for some fun playtime. They sure don't take long getting into their imagination play once that shed opens.

Kyleigh watched this dance with me when I was nursing Kent and loved it. I had to replay it so many times: dancing with the stars doing their number to 'what does the fox say' song.

Liked having his hands by his face.

Meal brought to us by the Tefteller family. So delicious.

Must've been a good dream.

Boys enjoying a lazy Saturday morning together.

B getting to know his little brother. He doesn't play with Kent as often as Kyleigh, but there sure is no love loss between the two brothers.

She has earned her stripes with baby Kent--she can elicit the best baby laughs from him.

With two brothers, she has not lost her feminine touch.

B had a school program in which he performed a few songs with the rest of the kindergartners.

Uncle Scotty doing what he does best.

Kent's Birth Story

I haven't written Brenden or Kyleigh's birth stories, but I read others stories and somehow find myself fascinated with every different one and just want to record Kent's for history sake.

It had been a fairly normal pregnancy with all the appropriate weight and tummy enlargement gains. I had more pelvic pressure earlier than either Brenden or Kyleigh which made it more uncomfortable and painful to walk around. Due to not having regular cycles and having to go 3 rounds of clomid to help me get pregnant, I didn't have an exact date to go on to know Kent's gestational age. Early October, I didn't think he was going to last until the 24th, which was his due date. Kent had been breech early on, but as he grew, he turned himself around. I had been dialated and effaced for several weeks when I took a long walk with the kids to a lake up near Peninsula. I also took primrose oil, raspberry tea and ate pineapples on the 18th. If Kent was ready, I was told that those natural things would help labor progress. I was already at 2cm and 50%. 

Trent and I watched a movie, I can't remember which but probably something like Hobbit or Avengers or Greatest Game Ever Played. At 9 I started feeling some contractions. I waited to tell Trent until they grew in length and intensity. Finally I told him when I couldn't completely breathe comfortably through them. Then I started timing them. It was irregular and 20 min then 10 min and when it got to 5 min apart, I texted my mom so she could be on alert. She started looking online for flights out that night or next morning. I told Trent he better get the bag upstairs that I had packed and was sitting in the crib and I texted our neighbors to see if we could bring k and b over to sleep.....and then the contractions started to slow and stopped. I was so sad and disappointed. I let myself think that this could be it and we were about to meet our little son. 

I texted Kat and my mom that the contractions stopped and it was false alarm and not a funny joke. I was so sad!! Wanted to cry, but didn't. After awhile, you get so anxious to meet the little guy and desperate to hold him in arms and not inside belly. 

We go to bed around midnight, but I have a hard time sleeping...like almost every night the last few months. I wake up around 2 and feel a little pool of water down under, but dismiss it from being amniotic fluid cause I've already thought that 2 times before and gone to the doctor office with it coming back negative. I go to the restroom and go back to bed thinking that if it is amniotic fluid, usually contractions kick in cause hormones send that trigger that labor is progressing further. About an hour later I wake up freezing. And start shivering like I have a fever, except I don't have a headache to accompany the shivers. So I pull on the covers (cause I haven't really needed them while I've been pregnant due to my internal 'heater/incubator'). This doesn't help and I only get worse. The shivers become so strong and uncontrollable that I wake Trent up and tell him that something is wrong and maybe we should go get checked at the hospital. I waited an hour of shivering before waking Trent up to make sure it wasn't something I could just control or fix. At 4 we finally load the car with my bag and call the doctor office to see which hospital the on-call midwife was at. I had seen many different midwives throughout this pregnancy since you don't choose which one to help you deliver the baby-you just get the one that's on call and if she is already at a hospital with another patient, you go to her, but if she's not with a patient, then you can choose which hospital and she will meet you there. 

We also called the Mummas down the street since we have to wake someone up and they offered to come over anytime night or day. (They were a huge blessing as this labor took longer than expected and they did some serious entertaining). I forgot to turn my cell off silent and missed the call from doctor office telling me to go to Summa Hospital. I had pre-registered at General so we drove there hoping the midwife was at General. Only once we were checked in and in the triage room did we check the phone and realize the mistake (which we both think was a blessing in disguise because of the quality of care we received from General Hospital with the nurses and the Doctor that delivered Kent).

We leave the door unlocked for the Mummas to walk in and then we take off before they arrive because the shivers are uncontrollable and causing my body to shake. It feels like the transition stage when I was delivering Kyleigh. We drive to Akron General and get checked in. In triage they check if I'm leaking amniotic fluid. I was so they get me into a room. I tested positive for Group B Strep so they begin my penicillin iv. I think that was around 6 and they were hoping that Kent wouldn't arrive before 10 so that the drugs would have the full 2 bags/dosage before he arrived to make sure he didn't catch my group B strep.
Around 7 we fill the jacuzzi and the doctors tell me to alert them immediately if I begin to feel pressure because they don't want me delivering in the tub. Trent takes a nap on the couch while I call my substitute for my Primary class to let her know I won't be at Church the following day and to cover for me (I had her lined up previously, so she just needed the green light of when to teach). After Trent's nap he finishes a school assignment. I am hoping he can hurry and be done soon because the contractions were starting to get more intense and I would need his help soon. I think around 11am is when Trent finishes his assignment and I decide it's a good time to take a walk and try the exercise ball to manage the contractions better. After our walk, Trent begins pushing on the small of my back each time a contraction starts. He was excellent during the whole thing. His arms would get tired...cause my labor was so long this time around...and after pushing on my back (and later my knees) he would shake his arms because he had to push hard and long during the contractions to counter the pressure for me. The doctors and nurses check me and sadly, I progress rather slowly. About noon I get into the bed and try sitting on my knees and hug the back of the bed. That helps, but the labor still progresses slowly. I keep checking the clock thinking...by this time both Kyleigh and Brenden had been born...neither of them took this long to make their decent out of the birth canal. Come on, Kent! Changing positions and taking a walk was all supposed to help the labor progress...but it was a slow going.

At 2, I am in hard labor pains, but just kept thinking about how great this is going to be to see my little guy and all this pain is worth it. I am trying every breathing technique I read and researched. I am trying the visualization techniques and it does help. But that minute hand is moving at such a slow pace. I text my Mom and find out where she is...I think she's in Chicago and will be here around 8pm. Trent talks to the Mummas to tell them that I am still in the 'fighting chair' and it's probably not too much longer now. At somewhere around 3:30, the resident doctor checks me and says I am at about a 9.5 or more and can push now if I want or wait a little longer......I didn't hesitate a second. Are you kidding me? There's an option? NOW!
So he calls in the team. They grab a large and long table from the adjoining room. It's covered with a sheet so that I don't see all the scary looking instruments. Pull down these very large and very bright group of lights and direct it toward the bed. A nurse comes on each side of me and one of them tells Trent to stand on my right side. The resident and main doctor come in and take their position at the foot of the bed.
We only met the doctor who would deliver Kent that morning but really liked him...so I fully trusted and listened to him and liked his 'coaching' style. He was very encouraging but firm. The nurse said I probably pushed about 3 times and Kent came right out.

The very first thought that came to my mind and out from my lips when he slimed out was..."Finally!!"

I felt slightly bad that it wasn't something more sentimental and sugary sweet, but I was so anxious to meet this little guy and had been anticipating his immediate arrival for 5 hours shy of 24 hours and being exhausted and hungry and anxious....I was finally glad to see him. :)
The doctors clamped the cord and let Trent cut it. Then they placed him on my and wiped him down. I had let them know previously that when he arrived, I wanted to nurse him right away before they took him away for weighing, measuring, bath, and shots. (With Kyleigh-I found that the first hour is their strongest instinct to nurse, so I wanted to capitalize on that since I had so much trouble with Brenden nursing).
Kent proved to be a hungry guy and did well with his natural instincts. They took him away to measure and weigh and bathe and Trent followed. I had taken a picture of him and sent that to my family to let them know that he was safe and sound into his new world.  He arrived at 7 lbs 8 oz and 20 inches. Our heaviest baby yet...and supposedly early. Both Brenden and Kyleigh had been born at 40 weeks exactly and weighed in at 6.14 and 5.15 respectively. So, Kent, who was almost a week early, came in quite a bit heavier than his siblings....Trent and I hope that his great appetite continue throughout his life...at least something more substantive than his two older siblings would be nice.

This is my favorite moment....when baby has arrived, I know he is safe and healthy, his tummy is full and the room full of chaos and people milling about have all departed...and it's just us. A new life. A new baby. And a heart very full of gratitude.

Trent and I thought that my Mom was going to arrive at 6, so he rushes home after meeting and kissing Kent. He thanks the Mummas for taking such good care of Brenden and Kyleigh (who had a great time by the way-puzzles, coloring, food and petting dogs and cats all day long) and starts to head over to the airport...until we get word that it was 6 arrival to Chicago and not Akron. So he takes the kids to get dinner at McDonalds. The kids are too excited to see Grandma to sleep so Trent takes them all with him to grab Grandma from the airport...Kyleigh was able to stay awake long enough to see her, give her hugs and then promptly falls asleep. I get to see my Mom and she gets to meet the newest addition to the family before she heads home with Trent to put the kids to bed. We have church at 9 am...and it's going to be 6am her time.

There was not alot of sleep going on that night and it felt so terribly long before I was able to see my Mom again and have the kids meet their new baby brother. But they eventually came and it was so very nice....

Now for the photos...

Trent was a wee bit tired. This was around 9 am and the poor guy had been up since 3am and was exhausted by this point ;)

Grandma and Kyleigh meeting baby Kent after church the following day...not quite 24 hours old.

(These photos are out of order). 

Here's Kent's first picture ever. just minutes into his new world. A chunky, healthy 7 oz 8 lb and 20.5 inches. Trent just informed me that he's scared to cut the umbilical cord cause he's afraid it's going to hurt us...but he does it anyway and has cut all three kids' cords.

Trent said he felt real lucky to have a sweet baby. He felt that the hospital blanket was too rough on the new skin, so Trent grabbed the soft blue blanket that we brought from home and wrapped his little guy in it.

I also had nice visitors come say hello to the new guy. My friend Erica stopped by:)

Grandma got us McDonalds after going to the doctor for Kent's 2 day checkup and B and K's flu shots. They (ok-Kyleigh) was tough and she got them a treat. Brenden was gingerly holding his leg the whole way out of the doctor office and into the parking lot while Kyleigh was swinging her lunch box of food we had brought. I took the picture of her ordering food here cause I knew my Dad would enjoy teasing her. :)

Lots of hand washing after school happening these next few days when the kids got home.

Every week was a different color and this day was "Black day" so Grandma helped Kyleigh find the perfect black ensemble.

My favorite clothes for the new guy: easy diaper change-ability and hand coverings to prevent him from scratching himself.

Grandma took us here and got some sweet goodies:

With all her cooking, cleaning and entertaining, she probably didn't get to do this enough:

Grandma took us to the farmer's market Szalay's and this is what Kyleigh picked out. She was incredibly excited to finally be able to chow down on her "treat".

Time soon came....too soon....for Grandma to leave us. We got her to the airport early, so she would be sure to catch her connection and meet Grandpa and Great-Grandma and Aunt Terri in New Orleans for a river cruise.

We missed her terribly, but there was plenty of this still going on...

Kyleigh had to hold him daily. She was confused who the real mother of baby Kent was for awhile...

I sent this picture to my family in a group text cause it looked like he was holding his fist up ready to knock someone's block off....

Milk coma.....

A real good Dad...

And a fun Grandma. We picked out pumpkins here at the farmer's market as well.

Trying to figure out who all these new faces are and if he's in the right place....

We all enjoyed the pumpkins and each picked out our design. Kent's pumpkin was left un-jack-o-lantern-ified since he was unable to wield a pumpkin cutting knife just yet. (Kyleigh's was a cat with the stem acting as a tail; B was a witch i think; mine was Frankenstein and Trent was Sorensen or Superman...I can't remember).

The meals we received after my Mom and Trent's mom left were so nice and appreciated. This one was from Hannah van Bibber.

B has always been a gracious older brother when others encroach upon his personal space...which is nice cause it's about to get worse...

This meal was from my visiting teacher Janai Tegland.

I just find him so handsome. Such fine features.

Kami Macy brought us homemade sloppy joes and fixings. Yum!

One of, if not the, first photo of the kids together.

Typical scene of these two together.

I told Kyleigh to get me a binky from the drawer upstairs and this is what she brought me. I don't think Trent has seen this picture yet....

Funny girl

A faint smile...

Our baby of the family was just usurped.

Getting acquainted with his surroundings.

This is the very first day Kent came home from the hospital. We were all quite enamored.

Sunday, October 20th. Trent was making breakfast food for dinner when Grandma and I walked in the door from the hospital with our new babe.

It took awhile before we convinced her that baby Kent doesn't need a pillow under his head every time he lays down.

(The following pictures are way out of order. This is the hike in Oak Hill between our house and Peninsula that the kids and I did on the day before Kent was born).