It May Be YOUR Birthday, But I Got The Gift!

**Disclaimer: I wrote this post for myself, and for "Rose". My goal this year is to write each of my girls' birth stories on their respective birthdays. Today is "Rose's" day. This is a long post; boring for most; but precious to me! Continue at your own choosing, but if you decide to partake, leave a birthday wish for her in the comments...please!**

Six years ago yesterday, I got out of bed, poured cereal and milk for the girls, made a cup of raspberry tea for myself, and announced to my family, "We will be having a baby today!"

The day progressed much like three other days of note in my life. Braxton-Hicks contractions giving way to "real" contractions, becoming stronger, longer, and closer as the hours passed. No panic, just a sense of anticipation charging the air.

I called my mid-wife sometime mid-day to put her in the know. Around 5:00 PM she came over and checked on me. I was only 3 cm dialated, but I had been here before, and knew things would kick up. Did I want her to stay, she asked. No, I would call her later.

RedDaddy had gone to work that day, but keep in constant touch. I remember feeling like a watched kettle ;) That feeling only intensified when, after skipping church (it was a Wednesday), I answered the telephone to hear a friend say, "Well, I guess you aren't in labor after all." As I leaned against the piano for support, I said, "Yeah, well tell that to my uterus!", and quickly handed off the phone.

We put the three girls (that sounds weird) to bed, with promises that we would wake them up for the blessed event, though they would be heading to Grandma and Papa's house for the actual delivery; we let said grandparents know they were "on call"; and then we gave the mid-wife another update over the phone. I insisted that we should try to get some sleep, knowing how much energy was about to be expended.

I think we went to bed around 10:00 and I was able to sleep for all of an hour. I stayed in bed timing contractions for another hour, until the discomfort...who am I kidding...PAIN was too great and I headed for the living room couch.

Then began four of the most Spiritual (capitalized intentionally) hours of my life. There are not enough words to describe that time; perhaps if I could paint or sculpt or... I am once again at a loss for expression!

I have given birth five times. Five. I've given birth in a hospital, in a birthing center, and in two different homes. I have given birth amidst a room full of people, a house full of people, and in the company of only my husband and a mid-wife. I have worked VERY hard, and hardly exerted myself at all (given the task). I have experienced EXTREME pain, and I have thought, "That wasn't so bad." I have labored quietly, and I have made more noise than I'd like to admit.

BUT...none of the other experiences were anything like this night. It was just me and God in the dark. He held my hand, He wiped my brow, He whispered comforting encouragement, He took the pain. I knew He was there. Really there. If I had ever doubted His existence (and honestly, who hasn't?) He proved Himself to me in the early morning hours of February 5, 2004.

There is so much more I'd like to convey, but I suppose it's meant to stay between me and my Lord.

I will however, share the culmination of Sweet Rose's entrance into this world. (You can hardly wait, right?!)

Just before 4:00 AM I looked at the clock in utter surprise at how much time had elapsed. The next contraction hit with punch and I realized things had gotten quite serious! I began to feel uneasy for the first time that night/morning, so I told the Lord, "I'm not really sure when to call Heidi (our mid-wife), but I don't want to wait too late. You tell me when to call, okay?" With the next breath came another contraction, and with that contraction, for the first time in my mommy career, my water broke!

At first I wasn't sure what had happened. Then I started to feel warmth and thought, "Ooooooh!" I shouted, "RedDaddy (well not really), you need to call Heidi! My water just broke!" Poor guy. He was in a deep sleep and hadn't realized I wasn't in the bed. He jumped up and then couldn't find me. When he did, I was trying to get to the bathroom, but insisted that he call Heidi and his parents. He did, and I did.

We met back in the living room. The girls were getting their bags, I was trying to find that peaceful place I had spent the last four hours, RedDaddy was getting our bed ready for the birth of our fourth daughter, and my mid-wife and father-in-law were on their ways.

Heidi arrived at 4:35 AM, immediately followed by RedDaddy's dad. Heidi came into our living room, knelt in front of me and just silently watched me have a contraction. She ever so calmly got to her feet and told RedDaddy, "Let's get her to the bed...and we don't have time for that" pointing to the pool we had planned to inflate for a water birth.

As I made my way down the hall my father-in-law was trying to stay out of the way, but get the kids to the car. We made it to the bed just as I had the urgre to push. Heidi took one look at me and said, "You know, the kids may as well stay put, this baby is coming now." I agreed, so Dad just took them back to their rooms and waited the roughly 10 minutes.

Yes, she came swiftly and easily. Three pushes and we were holding her! A few quick minutes of clean up and the girls were able to meet their newest sister. She was perfect; 7 and a half pounds of pure pink love.

Her un-blog-cognito name means "wise ruler or counsellor who is full of grace". I love her name for it truly fits her. I love her for she truly fits our family. I love the memory of her birth for it truly fits my God!