Annabel Joy's Birth Story

"The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life." ~Job 33:4

I can't believe it has been one week tomorrow that our little Annabel came into the world. Before the busyness of life catches up with me, thought I would share from my journal (for those interested in reading!) her birth story that the LORD has been gracious to give.

On Saturday, June 5th, I joined Glen in our yard to help clean up by pulling weeds (while Micah pretended to mow the lawn and immersed himself in the discovery of looking at bugs). Later on in the restroom, I noticed there was a small leakage of fluid down below. I wondered if it was possible that my water broke, but decided to wait and monitor it since I didn't feel any pain or contractions (plus I thought it might be sweat--sorry if too graphic here?!). Late Sunday night, June 6th, during our bible study, I then noticed it again so through the advice of our friend Jana (doctor's wife), she directed us to call the hospital. The hospital then had us come in to test the fluid and sure enough my water had broken. PRAISE God for answered prayer since I was feeling "ready" by this point to have Annabel.

So here we were at 12:30am, June 7th, checking into Overlake Hospital where they began to hook me up to an IV for small doses of petocin and fluids. I had only minor contractions by this point so Glen and I decided to catch some shut eye. By 9:00am that morning we had breakfast and basically hung out through early afternoon with continued minor contractions (happy face intact, no pain...yet). Glen then reminded me of the verse from John 16:21, "Whenever a woman is in labor she has pain, because her hour has come, but when she gives birth to (her) child, she no longer remembers the anguish because of the joy that (her) child has been born into the world", which brought comfort to me.

Around 2:00pm, the contractions then began getting stronger and closer together in which our midwife told me that I was now in active labor. At 10 minutes to 4:00pm, she checked my cervix and I was dialated to 4cm. I remember thinking, 'wow...these are getting painful fast' so I requested an epidural. As they were bringing in the anethesiologist cart in at 4:15pm, our midwife checked me again and within 20 minutes I was dialated to 10cm!!! I was suddenly put on my side pushing...feeling every ounce of pain imaginable, yet exhilerating and exhausting at the same time. With 4-5 strong pushes, she came into the world at 4:28pm. What an amazing, profound experience.

Thank you LORD for new life, for the honor of experiencing your sweet blessing. I pray You would help me to honor You even more so as her mommy by bringing her up (and Micah too) in the nuture and ways of You. Please save them dear God and help me to depend on You through every step. To the great giver of life, I love you. Amen.