Birth Stories...My Little Man's Birthday

After rereading this and my daughters' birth stories, I am realizing that I add every little detail and they are rather long, but I love that-to relive the day again is such a blessing. Now that I am entering the third trimester and am feeling Annabelle grow and get stronger, I am so looking forward to her arrival. Birth is such an amazing gift from the Lord. I think it will always amaze me.

To our sweet boy, Thomas...

It was the end of January when we found out we were expecting another little blessing. We were so happy. In the following weeks we were brought to our knees many times. I had begun to bleed heavily and have major cramping one night when I was about six and a half weeks along. When we went into the doctor the next morning we were so surprised to see your little heart beating! Yet, the doctor didn't seem too hopeful. Being that we had just lost Asher just a couple months prior, we tried to remain hopeful but were preparing our hearts if the Lord decided to take you home early as well. Amazingly, you just started growing and your heart rate picked up. There was still blood in my uterus, but we just continued to lay it at the Father's feet. When we had our 17 week ultrasound, we were overjoyed to find out that you were a boy, AND the blood in my uterus was gone! We thank the Lord that He kept you healthy and thriving.

As the months grew I got bigger and bigger and it got hotter and hotter! By September we were so ready to meet you! The morning before I reached 36 weeks, I woke up and realized I was contracting pretty consistently, every 3-5 minutes. This continued throughout the day and we started thinking that day or the next was going to be your birthday as it was just how your sisters' labors started out. We even had Miriam and Grandma Bear come over just incase things picked up. Well, that lasted for 14 hours and then the contractions just sort of dwindled down. The next morning when I went to my midwife appointment, we found out that I dilated to 2 cm, was 50% effaced, and your head was at a -1 station. I was thankful to know that even though it wasn't it, we had gotten some work done.

A week later, in the middle of the night, I started contracting consistently again, this time every 3 minutes. I knew that I was Group B Strep positive at this point, and they were somewhat more intense, so we decided to go in to the hospital. We called Grandma Bear and she met us at the hospital. Susan Nickel was on call and when she checked me I was 4 cm dilated and 80 % effaced. It looked like this might be it again, so we were admitted and they started the first dose of antibiotics. We had Miriam come to the hospital as she was going to be part of our labor support team. Well, we walked, and talked, and I grew somewhat frustrated as the contractions remained the same all night long. At around eight in the morning Stephanie DeVane Johnson was the new midwife on call. She came in to check me and found that I had made no progress and my cervix was very posterior. She kindly explained that although I was having consistent contractions, I was not in active labor. She gave us our choices: stay and have them break my water, start pitocin or head home and wait for active labor to start. We thought and talked about this for a bit, I cried like a baby, and we decided the safest option would be to just go home and wait. We didn't want to risk it by starting labor if you weren't ready to come out and end up with lots of unwanted interventions.

It was hard coming home as we really thought we were going to be meeting you. I kept thinking of all the babies we heard crying as they were being delivered when we were in the hospital. Not only did I really want to meet you and hold you, but by this point, I was pretty uncomfortable. Also, your mommy has this problem with wanting to have everything all figured out, and waiting isn't my most favorite thing to do. But looking back, this was so good for me. I was once again brought to my knees as I brought my frustrations and anxieties to the Lord in that following week. God is so faithful. I think of the verse that says, “He keeps him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed upon you.” There were times when I was tired and all I could think about was when is this going to happen, but more so there were times of total peace and contentment as I waited and enjoyed those last days with your sisters. One morning was so sweet as we went to the park and had a picnic breakfast. The girls played on the playground and then we fed the ducks and geese. Even though I was uncomfortable, I still did enjoy feeling your little feet stretch out in my womb. It amazes me every time.

The morning of September 23^rd, I was now 38 weeks along, and the night before my sleep was not too great at all. I went to my midwife appointment in my sleep deprived state, and although I had planned on not even having her check me, when she offered to strip my membranes and check my cervix, I said-sure, let's do it! She explained that pretty much the only risk of doing so would be that I might start contracting again and not move into active labor. I decided I could handle that. When she checked me I was 3-4 cm, 80% effaced, at 0 station and my cervix was now anterior. She explained that everything looked great and I was ready to go-all I needed was to have some good consistent contractions.

I was slightly excited that this might mean your birthday would be any day, but after two false alarms, tried to keep my cool. The girls and I went to Trader Joes, had lunch and we all took a nap. When we woke up I decided to go for a walk to see if that might help things along. It ended up being a pretty vigorous walk. By this time I was just so desperate to do anything I could to help labor come along. In the back of my mind I knew that if it wasn't God's timing, none of this would help, so again I needed to just keep trusting in the Lord and His perfect timing.

Well, thankfully, His timing is perfect and it was very quick there after. I had inconsisitent contractions for the rest of the day and evening. Daddy decided to work from home that night, just incase anything were to happen. Around 11:15 or so I realized that not only were my contractions consistent at 3 minutes apart, but they were growing in intensity. I waited about an hour to see what would happen, and they grew more and more intense. At 12:30 or so I paged the midwife. Nancy Mathias was the midwife on call and she told me to come on in. I then called Grandma Bear and asked her to come over to be with the girls. We decided we would wait for her at the house rather than meeting her at the hospital again as to not disrupt the girls' sleep. Each contraction came on with more intensity that I started getting nervous about that decision. I called Grandma Bear a couple times wondering how far away she was. She said she could tell in my voice that this was the real thing and tried to get here as fast as she could. We cleaned up a bit while we waited, and Daddy got the car all ready to go so that when Grandma Bear arrived, we left very quickly.

When we arrived at the hospital, I was monitored in triage for a bit. Nancy checked me at 3:00 and thankfully I was now 6 cm dilated and fully effaced, and 0 to +1 station. Now it really looked like we were going to meet you! We were so excited! We called Miriam and told her this is really it and she said she was on her way.

They got the antibiotics started again and I labored in bed as they monitored your heart rate. After that, we went for a couple laps in the hallway, but I no longer wanted to do that. I labored on the birthing ball for a bit and went to the bathroom a couple of times but just started growing rather antsy. I was feeling really warm and sort of like I was going through transition. Somewhere in there Miriam arrived as I was breathing through a contraction. She said she took one look at me and thought, We're having a baby tonight!

Daddy was going to move the car and get our bags, but Nancy didn't think that was such a great idea, that Daddy should stick around. I was excited to hear that! I guess she had a feeling things were going to move rather quickly.

The contractions were getting really intense really quick, so I had Nancy check me again at around 4:00. I was so excited to hear that I was 8 cm! From that point on I remained sitting in the tailor position in the bed. I didn't really want to move. I was thankful to have Daddy and Miriam by my side, encouraging me as I breathed through each contraction. I remember trying to relax, and not be afraid of the intensity of the contraction, but focus on the fact that the intense contractions meant I would be holding you in my arms very shortly! I remember visualizing you being born and that was so helpful. Daddy and Miriam were so helpful, feeding me ice chips, keeping me cool and praying for me. I felt so loved through it all, which was so comforting and helpful.

Almost an hour later, the contractions were very intense, so I wanted Nancy to check me again. I was now 10 cm. Wow!!! This was so exciting as your sisters' labors were very long and drawn out. I then knelt on the bed which was in the sitting position, and leaned over the top of it. I didn't want to push until I felt the urge, so I did my best to relax through the next few contractions. Well in the middle of the next contraction I had that overwhelming urge to push. I remember thinking, “I can't believe this! I'm pushing already!” I pushed through a few more contractions, and then Nancy asked if she could break my water. I let out a tired, “Sure”, and as soon as she broke my water and I pushed I felt your head pushing through. I pushed with all my might and was so thankful when I felt your head pop through and the rest of your body come out. I am pretty sure that I cried out, “Thank you, Lord!!!”

It's amazing how you can go from such intensity to such calmness and happiness in a matter of a mere second.You were born at 5:16 am. I kept looking back as I just wanted to see your sweet little face! We heard a little cry, but you were a bit slow to give us a real good cry. Daddy cut the cord, and the nurses took you over and suctioned you out a bit. The midwife then explained that I would have to be careful and turn around to sit so I could birth the placenta. Well, this is a rather funny part because after they helped me to turn around, I began to sit and the placenta just sort of plopped out of me with no effort whatsover. I remember saying, “And there it is”. Nancy said that was the easiest delivery of a placenta that she had ever seen. She said to take a look at the placenta as it was so nice and healthy. I told her I'll pass-I'd rather just look at my sweet little baby! :-) The placenta was birthed at 5:20 and then they brought you over to me.

I will always remember when I first held you and how soft your skin was. I kissed your adorable little head and was just so thankful to be holding you! We massaged you a bit and you began to cry a nice healthy cry. Your face was a bit bruised from the delivery, but that cleared up in the next day or so. You were marvelous and we were so happy. You started nursing and it was as if you had done it for years!

They weighed you and you were 8 lb. 8 oz, and 21 inches long! I had suspected that you were a bit of a bigger baby as it really seemed that you were running out of room. :-) We are so thankful to have you as a part of our family and we love you so very much. You are eleven days old as I write this. We have enjoyed snuggling with you and seeing all of your different faces and hearing all of the different noises you make! Your sisters adore you and are often asking to hold you, see you and kiss you. We look forward to spending the rest of our lives loving you, sweet little one! May God bless you and keep you always, and would you come to know Him and worship Him with all your heart, mind and soul.

Love you always,

Mommy

Read more...

Today we found out that we're having...a sweet little baby...

Today we were able to see our newest little one that the Lord has blessed us with. It was so wonderful to be able to see that our baby is healthy and doing well. I am always amazed at our Creator when I am watching the screen, seeing all of the bones and organs at work.

Now...is this little Vande Slunt going to have these colors in his/her room?

Or these colors?

If you were thinking in the pink family, then you were right! 

The Lord has blessed us with another little GIRL!

 We are all so very thankful and excited that we have been blessed with another daughter. 

Thank you for sharing in our excitement!

Sweet little girl, The Lord bless thee, and keep thee: The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:  The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.  Numbers 6:24-26

Read more...

Birth Stories...Our sweet little Rebecca's birthday

To our sweet Rebecca Dorothy,

You will be six weeks old on Monday. I can't believe how quickly the time has gone and how much you've grown! I have been wanting to write this to you and I'm realizing I better do so soon before I forget all of the wonderful details of your time growing in my womb and your beautiful arrival.

It was about two weeks before Christmas when we found out we had been blessed with another sweet baby. We were so excited! I am so thankful that it was another great pregnancy. During the 18th week ultrasound, we were surprised and so happy when we found out that you were to be our second little girl, and that all was well with you. We loved feeling your little kicks and movements as you grew in my belly. The weeks seemed to fly by, as it was a busy time in our lives. You painted many murals with me! :-)

Before we knew it, August arrived! Your due date was the 21^st, so we started getting things ready and organized. On July 31^st, I had a midwife appointment. I had her check my cervix, just to see where we were at. It is a long way into Chapel Hill, so I wanted to know what we would be starting at when I went into labor. She assured me we wouldn't have an “I-40 baby” and to not worry so much. She didn't think you'd be coming any time soon as she said something along the lines of, “Your cervix is so posterior, I can barely reach it! And you're totally closed-Relax”. With three weeks to go, I was a bit relieved. There was still a lot I wanted to get done before you arrived.

Well, you can imagine our surprise when that Sunday, the 3^rd, I woke up with contractions. I hadn't slept well at all the night before, I might have been contracting through the night, too. I woke up around 4:45, and decided to just get started on my day. It was when I was in the shower and getting ready that I realized these contractions felt real and had some rhythm to them. At 6:00 I decided to time them. They were about 4 minutes apart. At 6:30 I woke your father and told him that today might actually be the day. I could see the surprise and excitement in his eyes. I was excited, too!

I decided to take a bath and drink a lot of water to rule out false labor. While in the bath they were 5 minutes apart. At around 7:00 I called Grandma Bear to give her the heads up. She was going to be the one to come get Julianna and bring her to Uncle Jason and Aunt Kim's. I then paged the midwife and received a call back from Deb O'Connell. She was the midwife who delivered Jules! She advised me to just relax and go about my day and see if the contractions intensify.

The contractions got closer to 3 minutes apart as I talked more to Grandma Bear on the phone. We decided it would be best for her to come and hang out just in case things progressed. I went to lie down to try and get some rest. The contractions then slowed to 7-10 minutes apart. I started getting a bit discouraged as I thought maybe this wasn't going to be your birthday. Daddy was getting everything together on the list, just in case it was the day. Grandma Bear arrived around 9:00 or so. Julie was playing in the exercauser and having fun while everything was going on. After an hour or two of going between laying down, sitting down, and pacing around, I decided I would just get up and go about my day. I couldn't sleep with the contractions anyhow, and thinking about it was making me crazy!. By that time it was about 11:00 or 12:00.

So I made two meatloaves, one to freeze and one to take to Aunt Kim's. We finished cleaning the apartment and putting things in storage. From about 1:00-3:30 the contractions were consistently about 3 minutes apart. We started talking about how it might be smart to make the 40 min. drive to Chapel Hill, so we knew if Grandma Bear should take Julie to Aunt Kim's for the night. In the next hour the contractions got more intense, so I told Daddy, we should probably hurry up a little bit, just in case.

I called Deb and told her we would be coming in. We left around 4:30 or so, and got to the hospital around 5:15. We waited in the waiting room while they got a triage room ready....which leads to a funny story. I was finishing a contraction and I heard somebody say, “Do you eat a lot of salt?”, so I looked up just to see who he was asking, and this young man asked again, “Do you eat a lot of salt?”, and I realized he was talking to me! And he said, “Because your feet are kinda swollen.” So I said, “Well, I am kinda pregnant”....(Wow)....He explained his wife was in labor, and she too had swollen feet due to eating a lot of salt and kool-aid. All I could think was that it was probably good he was waiting out in the waiting room.

Around 5:30 Deb checked me and I was 3 cm. dilated, 80% effaced and at a + 1 station. She was amazed at how low your head was! She told us to walk around some and then come back to see if we should be admitted or not. We made some calls, and decided that Grandma Bear would take Julianna to Aunt Kim's. We went to the cafe and got some food to eat.

At around 7:30, Deb checked me again, and I was now 3-4 cm. She left us for a half an hour to monitor the contractions, which were growing in intensity. Dad read some scriptures out of my journal. It was a sweet time together. At 8:00 Deb decided to admit us due to the fact that I was GBS positive and needed antibiotics.

The next 14 hours are a bit drawn out, so I will write a little synopsis. Throughout the night, I worked on relaxing through the contractions, made many a trip to the bathroom. Daddy raided the pantry many times, and ate a lot of cereal. He got a few hours of sleep in here and there. Of course, I didn't get much sleep except for a few dozes in between contractions. I was so antsy at times-the hours seemed to go by so slowly, as I just longed to hold you in my arms! I watched a few episodes of The Cosby Show, and did a lot of walking around the halls, as well as hanging out on the birthing ball a bunch and praying.

I got checked a few times throughout the night-Deb was so great as well as our nurse Cherese. At 10:15, I was 4 cm, and completely thinned out. At 2:30, I was 5-6 cm. At 4:30, 6 cm. At 7:30 we got new nurses Margaux and Wendy, and Susan Nickel came on as the midwife. At 8:30 she checked me and I was 7 cm. She advised me to keep walking and to try some different positions during contractions to open up my pelvis. At 10:30 I was still 7 cm, so after much consideration we decided it would be best to break my water, as at this point I would only progress, and I was growing very tired. The whole labor was just like Julianna's....very gradual. Thankfully, your heart rate remained beautiful and everything was fine, and the midwives weren't one bit worried at the slow labor. I feel so blessed by them and their confidence in the whole birthing process.

The water leaked out slow at first, and then began to come out very fast. It was then that I really moved into active labor and the contractions grew very intense. From about 11:15 to 12:00 I tried a few different positions, just doing my best to relax and breath through the contractions. I ended up standing and leaning over the bed side table on wheels and doing a lot of rocking. Daddy kept the table steady for me and just encouraged me as I worked through the contractions. Once again, he was my rock.

Here is the part that just amazes me. We had wanted to hire Robin and Lara,the doulas that helped us through Julianna's birth, but weren't able to. We were a bit disappointed about this, because they were such an amazing help! Well at noon, our nurses took their lunch so they had the hospital's volunteer doulas come to help us. This is right when things started getting really intense, and I was having contractions right on top of each other, so this was such a blessing! They took turns with one keeping me cool with a fan and wash cloth, one rubbing my lower back, and both them and Daddy encouraged me through each contraction. We saw that as such a blessing from God, that He provided that help right when I really needed it. At times I felt as though I couldn't go on, but was encouraged by that as I remember Robin and Lara reminding me just a few days before that when I felt like that, it means I would be holding you soon!

Soon the nurses came back and checked your heart rate and were getting everything ready as it looked like you would be here soon. I heard Susan back in the room, and really started feeling a lot of pressure, like I might have to start pushing. I felt the need to tell Susan, (as if she didn't know), but all I could get out was “Sue!.....Sue!!!....” It was funny looking back on it. Susan assured me that she was right there and ready to catch you, so I could start pushing when I felt the urge. Well I most certainly did in the next few contractions so I began to push, still in that standing up position. Everyone was commenting on your full head of hair! Susan warned me that soon my legs might give out, so if we needed to, we would move to the bed. Well sure enough, the next contraction I felt really wobbly-and I think Daddy was growing tired as I was holding on to him with all of my might!

Susan said, Okay, we're going to move you to the bed and you're going to be on all fours. Those two feet seemed like a mile, but I thought, let's do it! In the middle of moving I had to push again, so I had three people holding me sort of in mid-air as I pushed! Thankfully, I was able to get on the bed for the last two contractions. I pushed with all of my might, just knowing I would be holding you soon, and felt your little head pop through and then the rest of your body slither out. What an amazing feeling!!! I was able to see you right away in this position, and what a beautiful sight!!! You came out posterior-sunny-side up, or down, due to my position, that is. :-) That explains all of the pain I felt in my back at the end. You were worth every second, of course.

You let out a nice cry and shortly after, Daddy cut the cord. I turned over and laid in bed and then the nurses placed you on my chest and Daddy and I were just so thrilled to see you and hold you!! You calmed down quickly in my arms and we just stared and stared at you. We were just so thankful that God had blessed us with anther beautiful girl. Soon after, I pushed out the placenta, and then began to nurse you, and everything just seemed absolutely perfect.

You were 7 lb. 1 oz and 18.5 inches, and so beautiful. God is such an amazing Creator, and we are just so thankful to Him that He gave you to us. We will do our best to follow Him as we raise you, with our prayers being that you may grow up to know Him and love Him with all of your mind, heart and soul.

We love you, sweet girl.

Read more...

Pregnancy Update...the sweet sounds of a beating heart and those precious little flutters

Well, it is Thanksgiving Day, and we have much to be thankful for, as always. This little one growing inside of me is reason to give even more thanks to the Lord! I am just about 16 weeks along, with a due date of May 11th. Yesterday the children and I went to the midwife and we were able to hear our sweet baby's heart beating...such a lovely sound. This week I have started feeling little one wiggling and moving about, and with having more pregnancies it really never grows old. The whole process of the Lord knitting together a child in the womb will always amaze me, and we feel so blessed that He has entrusted another one to us. Oh, that we would be faithful parents to this little boy or girl.

Speaking of which, we will hopefully find out the gender of this little one on Tuesday, December 11th. So, to follow our fun little tradition, you can add your vote to our little poll here. What do you think? Will this Baby Vande Slunt be a little brother or sister for Julianna, Rebecca and Thomas?

Usually, when we do this poll, most people say, wait a minute-I want to see a picture! And how have you been feeling? What are you craving? So, I will post a picture-and no we're definitely not having twins. I just tend to show early, and it seems to be more so with each pregnancy. :-)

I had my normal few weeks of nausea, and that is pretty much over at this point and has been for a few weeks. I still get a little queasy before I go to bed. I will say this, it was more like the girls' pregnancies-somewhat mild. Thomas' was the worst so far...although not as bad as some of you ladies have it at all! (Please don't think I'm complaining) I wasn't all that tired, just a week or two of that. I crave meat, eggs, and grapefruit....and chocolate, but that's always a craving of mine, pregnant or not. That's about it as far as symptoms and cravings go.

Now it's time for you to cast your vote...

Read more...

Birth Stories...My first born Julianna's Birth Story

I love reading birth stories. Birth is such an amazing gift from God and I am always amazed by the whole process. I read many natural birth stories when pregnant with Julianna and it was such an encouragement. Hopefully, this will be an encouragement to  you. The reason it is so long is because it was my longest labor at 40 hours, but it really wasn't as bad as that sounds, just very gradual. And the Ambien that they recommended I take to get sleep in between, I would never do it again! I only took half a dose but I woke up so confused and walking into walls. Ah well, you learn as you go. I thank the Lord for my sweet Julianna Rose who is such a blessing to our family.

This was written by one of the two doulas that helped me through the birth, Robin Rennells.

Dear Julianna,

As one of your mom’s birth doulas, (labor support people) I had the privilege of being present for you birth. The following is the story of your birth as seen through my eyes.

Your mom called me at 5:37 on the morning of October 25, 2006. She had been having mild contractions for about an hour. I encouraged her to rest. She called again at 7:20 and said they were now four to five minutes apart and she was having some bleeding. She said for me to meet them at the hospital.

When I arrived at UNC at 9:15, she was in triage with Susan, one of the midwives. Susan checked her cervix and determined that it was a loose one centimeter dilated, 80-90% effaced, and your head was at negative one station. Susan recommended activity with rest in between to get labor moving. We left the hospital about 9:30 a.m. and went to the local mall to walk around. Your grandmother went with us. We all had lunch together at Bear Rock Café. Your mom really enjoyed the salad she had!

The contractions did not intensify in frequency or strength, so I headed back to Raleigh. Your parents walked around Chapel Hill for a while before returning home as well.

I talked to your mom a few times that day. She was unable to sleep, probably because she was so excited about meeting you! She called me again that night at midnight and said things had picked up. I met her back in triage at UNC with the midwife again.

Susan checked her and this time she was two centimeters dilated, 100% effaced, and at plus one station. This was definite progress, but not enough to warrant admitting your mom to the hospital. She said we could walk around or go home. We walked the halls and stairs of the hospital until about 3:00 a.m. We checked in with Susan again. She recommended that your mom take some Ambien in order to sleep. (She had been up for almost twenty four hours and still had a long road ahead of her.)

She went home and got about three hours of sleep. The next call I received was at 11:45 a.m. She said the contractions had intensified and they were headed back to the hospital. I went to pick up my doula partner, Lara, and we headed back to UNC. We arrived about 12:45. This time, there was great progress. Your mom’s cervix was now seven centimeters dilated! The midwife on call, Jane, said for her to get moving to keep labor progressing.

The nurse, Holly, started a Hep lock and we turned on some lively Christian music your dad had brought. Your mom was so happy and relaxed. Even though she was now in active labor, she smiled and said, “Whatever you guys, I’m so excited!”

She walked some in the hall, sat on the birth ball, and moved around the room. About 1:20 she thought her water was breaking.

Your grandparents came in to see her. Your granddad gave her a big hug and got tears in his eyes. Your mom said, “You’re getting all emotional on me!” and he said, “Come on now, you’re my daughter.” They left to return to the waiting room shortly thereafter.

We talked your mom through the contractions, offering lots of encouragement. A few times she said, “I feel so spoiled, you guys are so great!”

At 2:15 she was perched on all fours in the bed, leaning on the birth ball. Your dad put a rolled up warm blanket on her back and she said “That feels so great.” She got up to go to the bath room and said “The contractions are stronger on the toilet, but that’s good, right?” Your dad stayed close by her, gently stroking her arm during contractions. She began to take on the hazy look of a woman deep in labor. At 2:45 she said, “This is perfect. I couldn’t ask for it to be any better.”

At 2: 58, Jane, the midwife, recommended that they break the remaining water. Your mom was a bit nervous about this, but wanted to continue to progress so she could meet you. At 3:10 she broke the water and there was only a tiny amount of cervix remaining, as she was nine centimeters dilated. Your mom sat up in the bed in a tailor position while your dad read to her from her scripture journal. He gave her Altoids whenever she asked for them, (which was frequently.)

At 3:12 Lara went out to the waiting room to update your grandparents and to bring back some coffee. Your mom reported lots more pressure. Lara and I did a maneuver called the double hip squeeze and applied counter pressure to both of her hips during contractions. We used Lemon Basil cream to rub her hips.

Jane then explained the process of “laboring down.” (This is what women do when they are fully dilated, but not yet having a real urge to push.) She breathed beautifully through the contractions and stayed very calm and peaceful. Never once did she complain. None of the nurses could believe she was not medicated in any way and that she was coping so well. Jane said it was a testament to good labor support. I told them all it was a testament to God because your mom had been praying about your birth for months and months. She and your dad have amazing faith and belief!

At 4:46, she began to push. She used the Rebozo that was tied to the squat bar. At 4: 58 they catheterized her bladder. At that time, Deb O’Connell came on as the new midwife.

We could see tiny bits of your hair as your mom continued to push. Your dad said, “Julianna's having a good hair day!” Then he said this was the best birth he had ever seen.

Your mom pushed with such strength and determination. Deb said, “You are pushing like you have already had a baby!” We suggested that she change positions so we removed the squat bar and she pushed with us helping her hold her legs. We wiped her face with cool clothes and everyone in the room cheered for her and encouraged her. At 7:33, you were born! As soon as your head came out, your dad helped deliver the rest of you and placed you on your moms’ chest. He said, “It’s Julianna! It’s Julianna!” You were crying robustly and were a beautiful pink color. Your mom was ecstatically happy. One of the nurses in the room said, “Oh, I love my job!”

Your dad cut the cord at 7: 36. Lara went to tell your grandparents. They were so happy! The midwife said, “I feel privileged to be here –what a gorgeous birth!”

Shortly thereafter, we helped your mom latch you on to her breast. You took to it very well after about only a minute. We were all so proud of you! Your parents were overwhelmingly joyful to finally meet you.

You have chosen wonderful parents. They love each other very much. They also love Jesus and they will teach you to know and love him too. May your life be full of His abundant blessings and love.

Love,

Robin Rennells and Lara Statile

Read more...