My due date came and went as I figured it would. I was feeling fine and content to wait despite the impatient people around me.
I'd had contractions on and off for about a week. They never got regular or harder but I could tell they were doing something. They pulled at my back and down my legs. I figured I was probably a few centimeters already and had a feeling that this labor would be a quick one like my third baby. The only fast one I'd had. And I'd never had a "middle of the night" baby so each night I'd think that I'd get some good sleep and possibly start labor early the next morning like I'd always done before.

Sunday night Tim and I sat down for a marathon of "Lost" which we'd just started watching from the beginning. (We'd heard so much about the show and Kathy even had it penciled in her appointment book so we started watching and were hooked. lol)

I'd had a few contractions...maybe three in an hour but I dozed off anyway. I woke myself up mumbling. Tim laughed at me and asked if he should rewind a little. I told him to wait just a minute because I had to go to the bathroom and get a drink of water.

I had a strong contraction while out of the room and had to wait till it was over to move. I told Tim about it but sat down to watch more of the show. It was 12:30.  Just a few minutes later, I had another really strong contraction. Then another few minutes, another one. Hmm... After several of these that were about 5 minutes apart, I decided to call Kathy and give her the heads up. She suggested I wait another 10 minutes or so and let her know what was happening. I'm sure I sounded way too calm. They continued coming and she called to check on me. She said she would go ahead and pick up Jennifer and come on over. I figured it would take them about an hour.

As soon as I hung up I started worrying that it would be a while before the baby came and they would get here and I'd be the proverbial "watched pot." The contractions spread out and were less intense. I convinced Tim (after much whining on my part) to call Kathy and tell her to take her time. She'd already picked up Jennifer and they were halfway here. Tim prayed with me and we waited. They got here and I told them not much was happening. They said that didn't matter and we could watch TV and if we got tired, we could all go to bed. So we all sat down to watch more of "Lost." I had to go to the bathroom so Tim paused it for me. I had a really strong contraction and some bloody show. I heard a tiny pop but couldn't tell if it was the baby or my water. No trickle or gush so I went back to the couch. As soon as I sat back I felt a small trickle. Told them not to pause it that I'd be right back. Went to the bathroom and got a small gush. Saw the vernix in the otherwise clear water. Lots more bloody show. Put on a pad and went back to watch TV. I decided to stand up because the contractions were getting a little stronger. Jennifer said something about my "poker face." LOL! Labor has always been that way for me. I can handle labor. It's the birth part that gets me. While standing there I had another gush and wondered if the pad would hold it or if I'd be mopping the floor soon. LOL! I started shivering a little bit and within minutes I was asking Tim to make sure the pool was hot enough. We all moved to the bedroom and I got in the pool.

It always amazes me how a contraction can be so intense and take so much to get through but as soon as it passes, I can chat like nothing else is going on. That's how it was for a little while. 

At some point, Sarah Kate woke up and came into the room. Samuel woke a few times, disoriented because we'd moved his mattress to the girls' room. He'd come in, get consoled by Daddy and ask to go back to his bed. Josh woke up and came in at some point too. Soon enough transition hit. That's when I go from calling "Mommy" to moaning "God help me", and "Please, Jesus!". Very funny to talk about after the fact. I remember asking what time it was and it was shortly before 4 a.m. I asked Kathy how many more of these contractions I had to go through. She reminded me that it was just 10 minutes of it. (As in my last two births.)

I kept hoping to feel the baby's head down low but there was nothing there. I knew it had to move way down yet. I kept trying to straighten out a little but when I'd come up out of the water it hurt so bad. My legs were feeling so weak like I couldn't squat there any more. (WHY didn't I walk more?!) I finally felt the baby move way down and straightened my legs out in front of me a bit. I was holding myself up off the floor of the pool though.

I so dreaded the thought of pushing and swore that I wouldn't do any pushing that the baby and my body would have to do it all.

Kathy listened to the heart tones and I knew this was the part you see in all those shows where they tell a woman she needs to go ahead and push the baby out fast. And most times, it seems to work and the woman pushes with all her might. I felt like if I heard that, I would give up. All I could articulate was, "Don't threaten me!" I said the baby was fine and Kathy and Jennifer agreed that yes, the baby was fine and they could see the scalp and that it had great color.  I felt him crowning and kept saying, "Come on, Baby!" I could feel his head and his hair! I screamed and pushed as hard as I could. I tried not to scream but I just couldn't help it. Jennifer gave me Rescue Remedy...twice. Whew!

She, Kathy, and Tim were right there supporting me and praying. I groaned that I could do this and they agreed that I could and was doing it. I tried to look but couldn't see past my belly. But I could feel that little face. The nose, the mouth! Oh my gosh, I just wanted to know who this was! Where my other babies just slid on out after the head and shoulders, this one paused for a bit at the chest. I was holding around the chest and just waiting. Then out he came and I lifted him out of the water and moved the cord as fast as I could to see that it was a BOY! The little pattern breaker! I put him up on my shoulder and he straightened his back and lifted his head. He continued just looking all around, so alert! 4:02 a.m. A 3? hour labor!

Amazing, again, the fact that in seconds I could go from wild screaming to sitting, smiling, and laughing! I felt GREAT!
Josh woke Benji and Sarah Kate woke Rebekah and they all came in. We let Sam sleep but he came in later. We waited for the cord to stop pulsing then Tim cut it and took the baby while Kathy helped me out of the pool. The placenta came quickly and soon I showered and got into bed. 

Tim brought me some scrambled eggs and bacon and toast. I didn't know I was so hungry! Jennifer and Kathy checked the baby out and Jennifer put him in the sling to weigh him. I was sure he didn't weigh as much as Sam did (9-3) so we were all surprised that he was 9 pounds 11 ounces! 22 inches. Crazy! Okay, he might not have looked that big, but he FELT that big! ;o)

I am humbled by God's grace, mercy, and incredible blessings. I cannot understand it. Praise Him!

It has taken us a week to name him and we've come back to the only boy name we'd ever had anyway. Josiah Luther. A double reformer name. <grin> Since he was born the day before Reformation Day, it seems fitting. 2 Kings tells how Josiah became the King of Judah at age 8. At 20, he had the Temple repaired and the scrolls containing the Law were found. It was read to Josiah who in turn, had it read to the people and required that they all worship God.

Luther was Tim's dad's middle name and his grandfather's first name. But also, of course, the surname of Martin Luther who posted his 95 Theses on the Church doors on Oct. 31, 1517 which, in turn, started the Reformation.
So there you have it!

Blessings,
Michelle

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