It doesn’t seem like almost two weeks since my little one was born. He is such a sweetheart, and already seems to be fitting into our home- it’s as if he’s always been.
When I first found out that we were expecting, I was overjoyed. I think that age plus having had several children has taught me not to take anything for granted. I’m very aware of what a miracle pregnancy and childbirth are and I know that each new addition brings new character and new experiences to our family. I can daily see Scripture come to life before my eyes as the Lord shows me first hand what a blessing children are.
My pregnancy with baby Jon was not easy. As with my other pregnancies, nausea has not been fun and I’ve had little “issues” here and there that have been a stuggle. I’m so thankful for my husband and older children who showed immeasurable understanding and never failed to lend a helping hand.
The end of my pregnancy came the announcement that baby Jon was “oblique-breech”. Never having experienced this before, I cannot begin to explain the amount of pain that I was dealing with. His head lodged against my left hip and his feet against the right side of my ribcage, there were days that it was literally hard to move much less walk and perform normal daily tasks. I was so thankful at the end of the day to just be able to go to bed. How is it that those days were only a few weeks back and now they feel like a lifetime ago?
As our scheduled induction date approached, I became more and more at ease with the thoughts of the induction. Paul had the 4th of July off work so for the first time in all of our child bearing years, it was nice to spend a leisurly day as a family and not have to rush here and there making plans and taking care of things that needed to be done.
I had not considered the fireworks that might be going off all night due to the holiday. I was so thankful that in all of our years in our home, this was the first when after 9 p.m. there were no more fireworks going off anywhere near. It was so nice and I was thankful for the opportunity to get in bed and rest before my 4:30 alarm.
At 1:30 in the morning, I woke up feeling really horrible. We’re guessing now that I probably had a little GI bug or something. I wasn’t really able to sleep anymore that evening- everytime I would lay back down I would have a horribly sick feeling. I finally got out of bed and started to get ready for our hospital trip. All the way to the hospital and for the first couple of hours of the induction I remained really sick to my tummy and was surprised to learn that I was also running a temperature. These are not fun things to deal with when you are trying to birth a baby! –But, I was so thankful for the meds that they immediately began to give me. I’m not usually one who likes medicine, but in this case, it was welcome and it made me feel so much better.
(Last picture of Paul and I before we had Jon.)
I have to say that even with the sickness, our 5 a.m. drive to the hospital was so nice. The sun was just coming up and traffic was light. It was one of the most relaxing drives. Again I could see the Lord’s provision in having such a calm before the day began.
Our local hospital has a L&D unit that is divided- 1/2 of it holds the vast majority of moms and the other side has just a few rooms but they are nice and large as well as being very quiet and secluded from the general traffic that seems to flow through a labor unit. We had asked my doctor if it would be possible to request one of these rooms since our inductions are usually so long (I’ve mentioned before they usually easily go into the double digits). The day that we were to call, I told Paul that I thought I would not call for the reservation but rather just trust and pray that the Lord would have us where He wanted us to be and just be in peace with that. -The morning we arrived I was so excited that not only were we on the side that we wanted, we had the very last room on the hall. The whole labor experience was so quiet, and I had very few people coming in and out of my room. It was wonderful.
After I got settled a bit, the doctor came in to break my water. Paul and I had decided that unlike every other labor where I waited and tried not to have an epidural, this time I would get one early to see if it would allow for a shorter labor. My doctor set a time (only about a half hour away) for the epidural to be done. I anxiously waited for the time to arrive. I have not had good experiences with epidurals. In fact, in the past, they have hurt just as bad as the delivery itself. This time (maybe it is because my contractions had not gotten so bad?), my epidural was a breeze. Though there was some slight pain, it was quick and easy and I felt very few contractions afterwards.
(Induction started and water broken.)
So then we waited, I was so amazed that each time the doctor came in I was more and more dialated- very unlike me.
One of our highlights was our doctor asking Paul if he would like to deliver our son. Dr. McKenzie delivered Jon’s head and then turned things over to Paul. It was the most amazing experience watching my husband. The doctor was so patient to tell him exactly how to move him and hold him so that he could work his way out. Paul was so excited…during the delivery I don’t think that there was a dry eye in the entire room. Paul still is amazed and will from time to time comment on how he never thought he would ever deliver one of his own children. That in itself was a blessing.
(Paul in his delivery gear!)
(Paul looks on as Dr. McKenzie shows him how to deliver baby’s shoulders.)
Jon was born at 2:33 p.m.- it was a perfect labor and delivery. The Lord was so good to see both of us through it so well!
(Jonathan delivered into his daddy’s hands.)
(Daddy learning to hold baby to properly clear airway…could there be a more proud papa?)
(Mama crying over the whole experience, it was wonderful!)
(Paul handing me baby Jon…he was so beautiful! I think that tears of joy flowed from me for well over an hour!)
(“Hi little Jon, my newest little arrow from God, I’m your mama.”)
You can read the “blog in progress” HERE.
The whole hospital visit was wonderful. Of course, I’m glad to have our little one home now. There is just nothing like being in your own bed and in your own home! -Especially when there is someone new to share it with! : )
(Basket of chocolates made for the hospital staff. Diaper bag and quilt I made for Jon.)
(It’s humbling to realize that even after all that work, the work has really only just begun.)
(A perfect baby boy.)
(Our hospital door bow.)
(8 Sweet arrows and now 1 more!)
The Lambert Family is proud to announce:
~Our newest miracle from God~
Jonathan Patrick Lambert
Born July 5, 2007 at 2:33 p.m.
Weighing 8lbs and 6oz, Measuring 20 1/2″ long
Jon is welcomed by his parents, Paul and Tracy, and eight very excited older siblings: Courtney, Joshua, Jacob, Jessica, Matthew, Timothy, Benjamin and Emma
(Proud big brother, Joshua!)
(Loving big sister, Courtney.)
(Delighted big sister, Jessica.)
Yet another photo!!
