And then there were three

Today was my due date. And we got to celebrate this highly anticipated date with our little guy in our arms instead of in my belly! It's hard to believe Ethan is just a few days old because it seems like he has always been a part of our family. He is adjusting well, and has brought so much joy to all of us~ his big sister and big brother(and boy, does Elliot look BIG now!) continually love on him.
The Lord was gracious to us through my labor and delivery. Many of you know that Michael has been very sick again with his disease~ we didn't even know if he would be well enough to help me through the labor. And even though he still isn't doing much better, he was able to be there and be a special comfort and help to me.
Ethan's birth story is very simple, nothing dramatic. But it was nothing short of a miracle of God, as all new life is! Here is how he made his entrance:
Friday, August 21st- I had steady contractions for over 4 hours, but wasn't convinced it was the real thing so we didn't go to the hospital
Monday, August 24th- I had my midwife appointment and found out that those contractions I had Friday night got me to 3cm and about 60% effaced. I was surprised when my midwife, Pat, said that she hoped to see me at the hospital that night. Not sure what to think about that prediction, but hoping she was right, I walked extra long that night and bounced like crazy on my lamaze ball. Then went to bed. We had specifically prayed that Ethan would come either before Thursday or wait until after Saturday because Pat was going to be out of town for that time. Since I hadn't seen any of the other doctors- let alone even know their names- I really wanted Pat to be the one to deliver him.
Tuesday, August 25th- I woke up feeling achy in my hips and lower back and thought that I had overdone it in my walking the night before. Then I started feeling rather crampy. As the day went on, I felt pretty sure that the time was very near, but just to be sure, I went on a long walk again that night. My contractions started around 10:30pm- nice and steady at 2-5 minutes apart. They weren't painful, but were definitely increasing in intensity. Thankfully Michael's parents had arrived that afternoon to help out- not knowing whether baby Ethan would be arriving so soon. I told Michael that I thought that "this was the night", we packed our bags, and Michael laid down to rest a bit before going to the hospital. Michael's mom stayed up with me as I sat on my ball again and paced the house, timing contractions. A couple of hours later (1am) we checked in at the hospital. As soon as we got there, the contractions became much more intense. We were admitted, Michael rested and I walked around the maternity ward for the next couple of hours until I couldn't walk through the contractions anymore.
Pat came in that morning around 5 to check on me and I was about 5cm and completely effaced. Mr. Happy Doctor Epidural Man came and by 7:30, I was watching my contractions being recorded on the monitor without feeling a thing. What a wonderful thing that epidural is. Pat broke my water right after that.
Around 8:30am, Wednesday August 26th, I was ready to push. And by 8:56am, I had the little peanut in my arms. Lots of dark hair(already fashioned into a mowhawk, courtesy of my midwife), long fingers and toes, kinda purple, messy and beautiful, screaming and oh SO LITTLE compared to E1 and E2: 7lbs. 1oz. 20.5"
The whole ordeal was simply wonderful. Since my midwife encourages an active labor, I wasn't hooked up to anything until that epidural at 7:30am. I was completely aware of everything going on and felt very energetic. In my previous labors, the epidural gave me horrible body shakes and made my stomach sick while I was pushing and for a couple of hours following. But no sickness this time. No swelling, no stiches, no uncontrollable shaking...I was up and showered less than two hours following his arrival. It still is hard for me to believe I just had a baby, because I feel completely normal and ready to start running again!
Pat was wonderful. You wouldn't have known that there was a birth going on in my room because everyone was so upbeat and chipper and excited. There were two student nurses helping assist in their first delivery (which Pat told me that I gave them the perfect birth) and they were almost as exicted about Michael and I were. It was really neat listening to Pat explain everything to them as we went through the delivery. We are thankful for such a great experience and know it was the grace of God that allowed it.
So now there are three. Three precious little ones. Emma and Elliot seemed to have grown up overnight while we were in the hospital. Ethan is doing very well and seems to be a content baby. We are loving having him, and are praising the Lord for our sweet new bundle.