The labor and birth of Linus

Due date: December 24th

I thought I would never have this baby. You know that feeling. You just, kind of, give up. You begin to live with the notion of being pregnant for the remainder of your existence.  I had never really had this feeling before.  Almost all my other babies were born within a day or two of their due dates. I've had 8 babies before this one. My first was 10 days early. She ruined me for all the rest, but that's another story.

Linus's labor began around 10pm on December 29th after a peaceful, restful day. I tried to get some sleep, but wondered what the birth would be like as it would be our first homebirth with just Jerry and I. Finally, at 2am, December 30th, I knew things were drawing to a close. The pain was almost unbearable and I had cried. I always cry right at the very end. Right when I think I can't go on anymore. Right before the baby's born... so I knew it would be soon.

At every unbearable contraction I would expect to get the urge to push. Every 5 minutes or so I would be bitterly disappointed. After a couple of hours, I was ready to throw in the towel. I seriously considered the hour drive to the emergency room for a caesarian section (the unthinkable). I prayed for a reprieve and the Lord was gracious. For 20 minutes I got a rest before things began to pick up again at about 6:20am.

This whole time Jerry was very supportive. He's always supportive, but I know he feels helpless at these times. He always cries after the babies are born. I always though it was because of the mystery and the miracle of birth. He told me recently that, yes, it's those things, but mostly it's because he's so relieved to see me out of pain.

Finally, at about 7am, I got the urge to push. My water broke, slightly stained with meconium, right before his head came out. Jerry said for a split second he thought the baby was deformed, but it was only his fist presenting with his shoulder. No wonder labor took so long and no wonder it was so painful! The rest of him slid out painlessly, but that's when the adventure really began!

It's only Fair...

EEEEEEEEEEEeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I was invited to join Lydia and Carroll this year at the NC State Fair! Whoo hoo!!!
On to the grub!
Now, wait... what's this? I just went to upload my photos and I notice that I only have pictures of the milk shakes?! I must have been too wrapped up in Fries and Funnel Cake! I guess for more documentation, you'll have to visit Lydia & Carroll's blogs.

"Partners in Cream"

NC State Chocolate Ice Cream Milkshake (yeah, baby!)

Carroll blinked...
Yes, (sigh) they're my new best friends!

No, Lydia, even Mr. Hotdog doesn't want your sugar-free milkshake... I don't know what she was thinking. Perhaps it was brain freeze... or maybe her mind was slowed by all the greasy foods we ingested... As a side note, I was very proud of Patience for winning 3 ribbons on her 4 entries! I'll let her post about that on her blog :o) That girl can do anything!

We lived it...

I AM IN LOVE

Wedding Video & Song

Find more videos like this on Friends of Franklin Springs Family Media

The song was written by the bride. It was incredibly exciting. I wish you could have been there!

Hearing Him

~sigh~ Dark. Quiet. Snuggled and secure. Feeling very content. Oblivious to everything. Almost...

I was almost asleep when I realized I could hear something. Low and deep. It was the beat, beat, beating of my husband's heart. It was a wonderful sound.

And it made me wonder...

Have I ever been close enough to God to hear his heartbeat? That's what I wondered as I was lovingly wrapped in physical arms. And, also, what does God's heart beat for? And then, as I was quietly listening, I heard it. Beat, beat, beating...

And the answer... startlingly... was me! God's heart beats for me! It beats for all His people! God, Creator of the universe, created all people and He has a love for each one!

Zephania 3:17 says, "The Lord your God is in the midst of you, a Mighty One, a Savior Who saves! He will rejoice over you with joy; He will rest in silent satisfaction and in His love He will be silent and make no mention of past sins, or even recall them; He will exult over you with singing."

And Deuteronomy 33:12,

The LORD's beloved rests securely on Him.

He shields him all day long,
and he rests on His shoulders.

Why else would God send His only Son to die a torturous death, if not for love? Maybe you'd say, "Joy, that doesn't make sense. A loving father wouldn't put his only son in harm's way, let alone let him die." Very true. But it was a joint decision. The Son went willingly because He knew it was the only way we all could be together again. We all have rejected God, but we all were Chosen. We all have hated and despised our brothers, but we all are Loved. We all have gone astray, but we all are called to be His followers.

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written,

"For your sake we are being killed all the day long;
we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered."

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.