Family Update

There is a reason we call him among other names..."big face"




Julie taught David to read last fall and he has really taken off and is doing so well. Since then Jonathan has wanted to learn and Julie told him she would teach him this fall. He did not want to wait. Between his own initiative and David's tutoring, Jonathan is teaching himself to read and is doing quite well. Here is a picture of a very common occurrence in our home...the boys combing over a nature book and memorizing all of the zoological information inside as David helps Jonathan read and access the "vital" information on the pages.


Our three little ones hanging out in the rocking chair.


Little girl is starting to grow up...adorable indeed!


Climbing the neighbor's tree. We love our neighborhood!!!

Selah Alane Zilkie - 4/4/09

Caroline has a little sister, Selah ("say-la") Alane Zilkie; weighing in at 5lbs 2oz, born at 4:33 on 4/3/09.

Evening Update (about the labor & baby)

It was the weekend of Feb 6-8 in 2004 and our church had scheduled a weekend retreat with another church out on Lake Michigan at a retreat center there. Julie was 38 weeks pregnant, but I was only an hour away and everything would be fine should she go into labor. The night we got there, Friday, I was up late playing cards and hanging out with a bunch of the attendees. I finally stroll off to bed at around 1 a.m. on Saturday morning. Julie had told me to keep my phone on and with me should something happen. Unfortunately when getting ready for bed that night my phone got covered with the clothes I had just changed out of. That evening around 2 a.m. Julie went into labor. The retreat service desk was closed until 6 a.m. the next morning and after two attempts to call me Julie became seriously worried. On her third try I amazingly heard my phone, under a pile of clothes, after 90 minutes of sleep. Needless to say, I was so glad to get home in time for my son Jonathan to be born at 7 a.m. at St. Mary's hospital here in Grand Rapids. I am certain that I had a little help waking up that evening. Who wakes up after 90 minutes of sleep to a very faint noise? I would have otherwise missed my son's birth.

8:49 - Julie's water broke around 4 p.m. this afternoon. We need the labor to continue to progress along as infection begins to become a risk after 18-24 hours of labor. We pray for continued progression and also wisdom to know when to go in to the hospital. If you go in too early, they often suggest all kinds of intervention which does not always help in the natural delivery method which is our desire.

10:07 p.m. - A warm shower, praying with the boys for Mama and the baby, some quiet time laying and relaxing on the bed...it's showtime. The contractions are starting to come and we are headed into the hospital. Thanks for your prayers I will update when I can.

Her Water Just Broke...

At 3:20 p.m. on April 2nd while bending over to help one of our kids tie their shoe, Julie's water broke. I talked with her on the phone from work and her contractions have not yet started so we will try to keep you posted up until we go to the hospital. This is the first time in 5 kids where the water broke before the contractions started (just in case you cared). We will post updates and pictures as we get them so check back often. We would appreciate your prayers!

4:45 p.m. - All the necessary calls have been made. Julie "threw together" some baked oatmeal for breakfast for tomorrow morning....my wife :-) Grandma Jan is coming tomorrow morning and Amy Thomas is coming tonight to watch the kids and stay with them until Grandma arrives. Our little troop Zilkie gathered around with hands held (minus Zeke who was napping) and we prayed for the evening and morning ahead....still no contractions but more water...

5:59 p.m. - While enjoying the wonderful salmon burgers and finishing dinner, Julie has her first contraction and we call Amy to come watch the kids for the evening. We will hang low, watch the contractions, and wait for the right time to head into the hospital.

6:43 p.m. - We had this expression in the Marines, "hurry up and wait". Well that is where we are at presently. The contractions are coming but far apart and light. We will go for a walk which has helped progress the process in the past. In fact, we walked 2 miles to the video store and back on May 14th, 2002 to rent Ocean's 11, the night before David was born at 6 a.m. on May 15th. The kids will stay with Amy and we will bring Zeke along as he is getting a little uptight this evening...he has a RUDE awakening coming in the next couple days. :-)

7:57 p.m. - Julie just called a friend who is very experienced with deliveries and especially the natural type. She got some good counsel and definitely felt better about the evening ahead. Although Julie does the hard work, one thing I have learned is the propensity for the laboring mother to increase in her worry and anxiety. Subsequently, I am constantly affirming her and reminding her that she has done this so well four times previously. Our walk was fun, we visited with a couple neighbors, had a couple more contractions and are back home planning the next several hours.