You know having a child is exciting, it is exhilarating and so anticipated. I couldn't be happier to have a perfectly healthy little boy to wrap up in my arms. But along with this small little person flows an abundance of blessings that can be described only as remarkably humbling. To hold a noble and great one and to feel my own life cradled in the hand of the Lord reaffirms the reality of God's plan for us here on earth and the purity of our purposes. Seldom have I felt such peace knowing God is real and I am his daughter, a literal child of God myself living a life filled with His love and blessings. Humbling. Truly humbling.
So - a snitch of the birth story and few of the blessings along the way:
2 Am, 3:30 Am, 4:30 Am contractions, then nothing. 9 AM, 9:30 AM, 10:00 AM... more regular, then less regular, then harder and stronger then nothing. All day on Tuesday was a roller coaster of contractions back and forth in regularity. They were all definitely STRONG contractions but were abundantly lacking in regularity. Around 5 PM when I decided they were coming every 7 to 10 minutes I decided to make some calls and find a place for my children to stay for the night. Adam headed to the Mietzner's in Bloomfield so he could get to school in the morning and Matthew and Andrew to the Grey's in Ottumwa so they would have play friends. We ate dinner and farmed out the kids only to find the contractions were now 20 to 30 minutes apart and not regulating. Jonathan had to be at work Wednesday morning and we really needed to get a baby here before 6 AM. What to do? We headed to the hospital and decided to have them check to see if there was any hope of having a baby within the night. With a little patience and pitocin we managed to get our December 1st baby here at 3:12 AM.
Mom and the boys before we loaded up and headed out on our drop-off route to the hospital.
The last picture taken of Michael warm and snug as a bug.
The homeless hobos that were graciously taken in by ward members. Time and time again nurses at the hospital would ask where the other boys were and if we had family there to help. They were astonished to find that we didn't have a lick of family within 1300 miles and that G & G Olsen were still two days from arrival. What I couldn't explain to them in a brief conversation is the family that we have within our ward. How can you explain to someone the consecrated meshing of lives that occurs within members of the church? The bearing of one another's burdens, the lifting of hands (or tummies) that hang down, and the love that exists among people that you call your brother and sister. It is humbling to be a part of something so pure, and to be among people so like the Savior. We were readily blessed.
This handsome specimen is my own personal anesthetist. I take him with me where ever possible. He fulfilled his promise of being a good one to have on hand. After Dr. Coleman broke my water to help regulate contractions and get things moving Mr. Jenson pulled on the ol' latex and started a betadine rub down. In a matter of moments Jonathan had my epidural placed without a lick of pain. I was quite impressed with his services. This is the first of our boys that he has done the epidural for and a mighty fine job he did.
...so fine in fact that I found myself catching up on a article on Lion House rolls in the "LDS Living" magazine that arrived in the mail that day.
The epidural slowed me down just a titch so I had a few boluses of pitocin to rev up the contractions and with just a couple pushes Mr. Michael was born:
Wednesday evening Jonathan brought the troops up to meet their new little brother. They were so excited to hold and love and kiss him. Andrew was particularly concerned about Michael's belly button. He kept saying "Ow-ee baby button. Ow-ee button."
Andrew and Matthew's first glimpse.
Adam was so excited to share his good news with his class at school. His teacher said first thing in the morning he made the announcement. During the day at school each of his classmates made personal cards to send to the baby and his teacher sent a card and a new book for Adam to read to Michael. Adam was ecstatic to share his treasures with Michael. He was a little disgruntled over the suggestion that he change poopy baby diapers made by a few classmate. Little does he know such a suggestion will shortly become a reality.
Mom and the boys before we loaded up and headed out on our drop-off route to the hospital.
The last picture taken of Michael warm and snug as a bug.
The homeless hobos that were graciously taken in by ward members. Time and time again nurses at the hospital would ask where the other boys were and if we had family there to help. They were astonished to find that we didn't have a lick of family within 1300 miles and that G & G Olsen were still two days from arrival. What I couldn't explain to them in a brief conversation is the family that we have within our ward. How can you explain to someone the consecrated meshing of lives that occurs within members of the church? The bearing of one another's burdens, the lifting of hands (or tummies) that hang down, and the love that exists among people that you call your brother and sister. It is humbling to be a part of something so pure, and to be among people so like the Savior. We were readily blessed.
...so fine in fact that I found myself catching up on a article on Lion House rolls in the "LDS Living" magazine that arrived in the mail that day.
Andrew and Matthew's first glimpse.
Adam was so excited to share his good news with his class at school. His teacher said first thing in the morning he made the announcement. During the day at school each of his classmates made personal cards to send to the baby and his teacher sent a card and a new book for Adam to read to Michael. Adam was ecstatic to share his treasures with Michael. He was a little disgruntled over the suggestion that he change poopy baby diapers made by a few classmate. Little does he know such a suggestion will shortly become a reality.
