Isaac, One Month

I can hardly believe it, but Isaac is one month old today. The past four weeks have flown by. I guess time slows down while you are pregnant, then speeds up after your baby arrives!

I am totally loving getting to know my little son......

He sleeps a lot and nurses a lot.

He wore preemie clothes the first two weeks.

He grunts and coos and makes baby noises.

He holds his hands together.

His feet are usually crossed.

He loves to snuggle on the chest.

He turns his head to looks at himself in the mirror when I change his diaper on my dresser.

He has a dimple in his chin.

He stretches his legs out like a frog when I dress him.

He hates to be cold; bathtime is a challenge.

He now cries tears and I tell him that breaks my heart.

He sucks on his hands when he's hungry.

He'll also suck on Bo's nose and Joshua's chin.

I call him "pumpkin" and "honeybun".

He started to smile on Christmas Eve.

Merry Christmas

A little late, but MERRY CHRISTMAS !!!!! Hope everyone had a blessed day and were able to give the birth of our Savior the quiet reflection that it deserves. Having a new baby at Christmas is a constant reminder for me of baby Jesus. I have been thinking about what it must have been like for Mary, making that long uncomfortable trip on a donkey while full term. And not having a room to give birth...how did she feel about delivering in a stable? I wonder if Joseph held her hand, helped her push... did he catch the baby? There were no epidurals back then so I can relate to the pain she surely endured. But, what I've comtemplated most of all is what it must have been like for Jesus, to have laid aside His glory to come to us as an infant. Surely He must have known who He was even as a newborn, and to be willing to humble Himself to the basic needs of a baby amazes me. If He was cold, He let Himself be cold. If He needed a diaper change, He waited to be changed. If He was hungry, He cried for Mary's breast. He could have met His own needs, He was God. But He willingly surrendered so much so that we could be redeemed. Thank you Baby Jesus for Your amazing love.

Here's what God gave me for Christmas.....

Mighty To Save

The Lord your God is with you;

He is mighty to save. Zephaniah 3:17

O Lord my God, I cried out to you for help and you restored my health. Psalms 30:2

Women will be saved through childbearing. 1 Timothy 2:15

During and following Isaac's birth, I hemorrhaged twice. After the first time, my doctor ordered two medicines to make my uterus contract. My nurse failed to give them to me, resulting in more blood loss. When I first stood up to go to the bathroom, I passed out. Bo carried me back to the bed where two nurses worked on me; giving me the meds I should have received two hours earlier, making me smell ammonia to wake up, taking my blood pressure, drawing blood to see how much I'd lost. My hemoglobin went from 12 to 8. My blood pressure the next day was 98 over 52. In spite of this complication and the neglect of my medical care, God was with me. He protected me. He spared my uterus, and perhaps even my life. My recovery has been slow because of low blood count, heavy bleeding, and clots. My OB wanted to do a D &C, but agreed to give me another week to heal on my own. God has healed me. My energy is returning and my blood is back to normal.

This Christmas, I am thankful. I am thankful for my new baby. I am thankful for God's protection of my body. I am thankful He spared my fertility. I am thankful that I did not need surgery. I am thankful for my healing.

My God is mighty to save.

Meeting Baby Brother.....

Time to push....

I was up on the bed, sitting on my feet, when I felt the urge to push. Heather went to get my nurse, who called for my doctor.

I pushed for two contractions to birth Isaac. It took four minutes. This is the first contraction. I could feel him in the birth canal and knew right where to push.

A little break between contractions, catching my breath. I realized Joshua was still in the room and asked him if he wanted to leave. He said he wanted to stay. He and his girlfriend Charity observed the birth from the corner of the room by my head.

Dr. Talley delivers Isaac.

Meeting my baby....my initial thought was that he looked like Caleb. He has blonde hair, fair complextion, a round head, and blue eyes.

Transition

The last hour of Isaac's labor was definitely the hardest. I'd been "stuck" at 8cm for awhile, maybe an hour or so, not really sure of how long. Dr. Talley asked to break my water and I agreed, thinking it would speed things up. It did, and I began having contractions close together and lasting longer. Bo and Joshua struggled seeing me in pain, but everyone encouraged me and we made it through. Heather and Stephanie never left me, they prayed and massaged and helped me change positions. I never considered an epidural, not that I'm against them, in fact, my screams probably convinced all the other laboring women in the unit to get theirs! I just preferred to rely on God's strength to help me manage the pain, and birthing a baby naturally is a very fulfilling and empowering experience. I also was passionate about avoiding a cesarean section, and reducing intervention can help reduce the chance of surgery.

Active Labor

After a few hours in the labor room, contractions were getting more intense. My nurse checked me around noon and I was 5-6 cm dilated and 80% effaced. Bo, Joshua, Heather, and Stephanie served as my "epidural" by providing lots of physical, spiritual, and emotional support. I couldn't have done it without them. They helped me stay relaxed and encouraged me that I was getting closer to birthing my baby. We continued with worship music, scriptures, massage, and counter pressure on my back and hips. I'd read about a "pelvic press"; pressure on the top of the hips would cause the pelvis to open because the ligaments are so loose at the end of pregnancy. Bo did this by pushing my hips together with his hands, and after a while he enlisted Joshua's help. Together they pushed as hard as they could, which really helped me through the contractions. Joshua couldn't believe I could stand the force and asked if I had bruises afterward. Heather made sure my shoulders were relaxed. Stephanie wiped my head with a cool towel.

Labor

Early Labor

I went into labor on my own last Wednesday night. I had been in nesting mode that evening. I finished packing my hospital bag and put away diapers from a baby shower that my bible study class gave me that morning. I had been having contractions, but assumed they were the Braxton Hicks contractions that I'd had every day since six months. I took a warm bath and went to bed, figuring they would stop and I'd go to sleep. I laid down around 11:30 or so and had my first labor contraction at midnight. Bo timed every contraction and rubbed my back. He lite candles and massaged me with lavender oil. I laid in the bed until morning; I knew I would need my strength. Around 2:00am we called my friends Heather and Stephanie, who would attend the birth and provide labor support. Since Noah's labor was so fast, I thought it wouldn't be long before we needed to leave for the hospital, but the contractions dragged on and reached finally reached four minutes apart around 7:00am. We labored at home another hour then decided to go to the hospital to get checked. I was 4cm dilated and 60% effaced. Dr. Talley admitted me. Heather, Stephanie, her girls, and our boys arrived and we talked and laughed as labor progressed. As contractions became more intense, we began comfort measures. Bo (and Joshua!) put pressure on my back, I rocked in a rocking chair, sat on a birthing ball, and leaned over the bed, Stephanie read my scriptures to me and Heather rubbed my arms with the lavender oil. More later.....

Rubbing my feet between contractions

Scripture cards

Heather's healing hands

Stephanie, "look at the little hat!"

Birthing ball

Still here....

I'm still here but spending lots of time resting. Isaac is doing great and I am healing from a challenging delivery. I worked hard for this one! Will share my birth story soon. Thanks for your love and prayers.

Baby !!!

Here he is! Daniel Isaac Chapel was born Thursday afternoon, November 29th, after fourteen hours of natural labor. God blessed me with the birth experience I wanted. I will share details and photos over the next few days. I am recovering, breastfeeding, and getting to know this little guy that has captured my heart.

Daniel Isaac Chapel

7 lbs, 15 oz

19 inches