Chloe is here!
Sunday, June 28th, 2009It’s a girl! My husband and I welcomed our fifth child, a beautiful healthy baby girl. She was born at home into our loving arms and surrounded by my family. Her Aunt was there to do newborn massage on her and get her settled as I finalized the delivery. Her Grandfather was there praying all the way while keeping track of her Apgar upon delivery. Meanwhile her cousins were there to help clean up and keep track of times (pushing, delivery, etc.). Her other Aunt was helping assist her Grandmother with the delivery and taking care of me, while her honorary Aunt was responsible for her chord clamping. Most importantly, I had my husband keeping me strong with his comfort and loving encouragment. Looking into his eyes helped keep on track and remind me of what I needed to do to bring our baby girl into this world. “Keep going, your doing great!!!”, were the words he would keep saying. I will never forget his strength, the very strength he somehow transferred to me and got me through. Our Chloe was born at 2pm and weighed in at 8 lbs 8 oz. and 19 inches long.
It was not the typical smooth homebirth, in fact, it was quite the opposite! My labor began at 2:30am and she did not arrive until 2pm that afternoon. Given that this was a 5th baby, we were a little taken back at the length of time it took for her to arrive. Then upon further evaluation, we can now say that it was a God send! She was born with a short chord, making the delivery part a little more interesting. In fact, had I not had the team of people I had at my home things could have been worse! I will forever be humbled when I think of Chloe’s birth. It is easy for us to think that it is us that has control, beginning with getting pregnant and ending with having the baby. When you go through an experience like this, where if one thing had been different or altered even a little, the outcome could have been fatal or different. It reminds me of how little control I have and how much faith I need to say, “It’s out of my hands”. I give thanks daily and keep my mind from wandering into the “what if” or “it could have” and remain focused on the “wow, how great God is”. I don’t want to take away from the many miracles that took place that day, the birth that is Chloe’s. I look forward to retelling Chloe’s beginning to her, as I hopefully bring to life the very reality that life IS A MIRACLE!
So here I am, a new mother of now 5 and excited to see how this little miracle grows. I am enjoying every moment, relishing in her every move and growth. I will not take for granted what it took to get to this point and give thanks each day for all the ups, and yes, even the downs!
Shaloam!!







