The last week has been so full of miracles! I have not done well in recording the miracles, I regret, however I have been fully engaged, and am grateful for a day to makes notes!
I have felt impressed for a few months that our day was going to be 8/28/2010. Something about it sounded right. I told my Dr. Joy Welsh that I thought that would be my day several weeks back, she laughed, and chuckled with her entire staff that I was funny! I recorded it on our family calendar that I thought that would be our day. As it approached, my anxiety grew. I was in the temple, as the witness couple two weeks ago Wednesday morning (it was closed this past week.) Words in the prayer were just for me, instructing the patrons in the circle to replace their fear with faith, and to have courage to go forward! I knew that was instruction meant for me! Replace fear with faith! Faith!
We had a beautiful Standards night here in our home on Tuesday night, and everyone asked how I was... well I am 8 1/2 months pregnant! How should I feel? Fat :). I know not fat, but I couldn't move! It was a beautiful event! All of the Bishopric came as well as all the members of the Stake YW Presidency. Sister Julie Anderson spoke on the Art of Womanhood, and Sister Jody Hughes followed with hints on conversation, gratitude, and being a friend. She is so friendly and outgoing. They both did beautifully!
My parents came from SLC late Wednesday night, and Thursday we spent the day trying to finish up projects. Thursday at 11:30 I had an appointment with the Dr. I was dilated to a 4, and ready anytime to have this baby! I didn't feel like that was the right day to have a baby yet! That was also cousin McKenna's Birthday, we love her, but didn't really want to share that very day. Friday I didn't feel strongly that it was the right day, but by Friday night, I felt we should walk. That evening, we made hamburgers for all the kids, and Grandpa & Granny and then just before we left, Grandpa offered to give me a blessing. I will never forget it! He told me that the Savior was aware of my needs, that he would be right there beside me that night, and that he knew of the suffering I was experiencing. He told me again to replace my fear with faith, and to know that I was being carefully cared for by both He and my Heavenly Father. It was a beautiful blessing!
I know that the promises from that blessing were in effect that night! I am so grateful for the power of the Priesthood!
I wore a power bracelet for that night, and thought of my Elder Harr (he requested that we order these bands of magnetic power) often! I needed the extra power of the priesthood was grateful for the reminder that there was extra power for me that night! The blessing also talked about all the Grandmothers she was saying good-bye to in heaven before she could jump here to earth! She was to bring their love and compassion here to our family!
Brad and I walked until about 11 that night. We parked at the downtown Wells Fargo, and hiked up to Dixie rock, (it was very dark!) around the Pioneer Park up there, and then wound our way back to the bank parking lot. I was having contractions hard by the time we made it back to the truck. I was exhausted and asked to please come home and rest to see if the contractions would continue on their own. While walking, the power of the heavens was abundant! We watched the lightening off to the North East as we hiked, it reminded me that My Heavenly Father has all power and that He was there to help me that very night!
I came home and rested for a couple of hours, until just after 1:00 a.m. sometime. I woke to a hard contraction, followed immediately by thunder and lightening! I know that My Father was nearby! I finished a few loads of laundry, and worked around home for a bit, by 3:00 I woke Brad and said I needed his help. We knelt and prayed, asking if we should head to the hospital or continue to wait a bit. I felt we should wait, knowing that once we went to the hospital we would be sitting on that hospital bed, hurting, and not wanting it to last long! Brad helped me run a tub, and I rested as I could in the warm bath for a bit, then I tried to lay down and close my eyes for a few minutes. I finally couldn't stand it any longer. We headed to the hospital a little before 6:00 a.m..
She was born at 7:35 a.m.. It was nearly perfect. We had prayed that we could have a friend, a Fabulous Nurse, Carolyn there for us. When we got through all the security doors at the hospital into Labor and Delivery, they pointed down the hall and said that someone would check us. Brad looked down, and it was Carolyn! I had to grab him and brace through a contraction. Carolyn walked towards us, greeted us with her warm smile, and said that she wasn't wasting the time to check us, she could see that I was in active labor, and she was just checking us in, putting us in a delivery room! I cried a tear, and told her I certainly hoped that these contractions were doing something! I went about changing my clothes, and Brad looked back into the nurses station just across the hall, and saw Dr. Chad Lunt who is Joy's partner, our Doc! Thank You Heavenly Father for tender mercies! I had cried at home that my water wasn't breaking, and that I knew that if it could just break, I was sure that we could get this done! It was Dr. Lunt that came and checked me, he said my water was bulging, and asked if I wanted him to break it... YES PLEASE! He smiled, and got the little hook to help me. Brad was helping Carolyn, trying to answer all the questions for check-in she said that I was going to deliver before she could get the questions all answered :). Happy day! (Grandma Mary used to say that all the time! I knew she is close by!) Dr. Lunt knew that he had talked to Joy about us, but couldn't remember the particulars. Yes, there were details, he chuckled as he said, "I remember, you're the one that was scheduling your natural delivery for 8/28!" Yep! That was us, and here we were on 8/28 ready for delivery! I told him that I had texted Joy, and that she had asked to please be present when we came to the hospital. Brad called her again, and she said she was grateful as her phone had been in the other room, and she didn't see the text. Carolyn was still trying to fill out the questions on the check-in form, and Joy came in. Carolyn was thrilled to have Joy there, she said she really liked working with Joy, and was excited to have her back in the delivery room! Joy came in smiling. She checked me, now an 8, and said that she was going to change, and would be right back. She didn't take long. I worked/suffered/breathed through a couple more contractions. Carolyn said that I still had a little lip on my cervix, and that I shouldn't push yet. When Joy got there, she said I could go ahead and push! Hallelujah! I was so grateful! Brad says it was three contractions later, our little angel was here! Yea! 7:35 a.m. and she weighed in at 9 lbs 8 oz! I didn't see the scale, but Brad said he looked over, and it read 9.8.1 and he determined that meant 8.1.. no they explained she was 9.8! I felt bigger than I had with any of my other babes! For a reason! She was bigger! I am so grateful she is here safe, healthy and strong! I loved that hug - the slimy one on my stomach when we both have worked and cried through the struggles to earn life! The pure joy of success together! A moment like no other, indescribable! Bonding for eternity as we all wept there together - Brad and I and a new being right from the presence of God!
I came home that evening by 5:30 p.m.. The kids came to the hospital to hug and welcome her with my dear Mom and Dad! D.F. from the office also stopped by just as we were leaving that evening. Miracles happened with all the tests, probes, verifications that needed to happen so that we could come home. I was so grateful to spend the night in my own home!
Perfect delivery! Beautiful blessing of a new Baby to our home! Gratitude to God for his goodness, His plan for us, His children, His generosity and love! Thanks be to God! Laus Deo!