It's a boy!

WELCOME!!  Hudson Tobiah

Tobiah means, "the Lord is good"

This little boy was our biggest at 7 lbs 8oz

He was also the fastest birth (but most painful).

Meeting the family.

How I spent most of the first week.  Snuggled with this boy as 

Max and Ken fought Influenza A.

Proud daddy!

I knit him this little outfit.  He was bigger than I

expected, but it still fit.

Peace Out!  Leaving the hospital.

For those of you who want more details about the birth, here's ya go:

I was 1 day past my due date, (which was Jack's birthday.  Callie prayed the baby wouldn't be born on Jack's birthday).  My parents had arrived and we were ready for baby to come.  It was Friday, the kids were out of school, my doula/nurse was going to be leaving for vacation on Sunday, so I wanted to get the ball rolling.  My mom and I went to get massages.  Just a foot massage for me.  15 minutes after we finished, I was walking and said,"Something is happening.  I think my water is going to break."  I took a few more steps and felt something again, "My water is going to break!"  As I got in the van to drive home, I felt a small trickle.  I had one contraction.  That was at 6:37pm. (I know this because I called Ken and my phone saved the info).  I called my doula (who has lived here for over 20 years and attended numerous births) and she reminded me that early labor can take several hours.

Back at home, nothing.  No contractions.  I sat on the birthing ball and eventually the rest of my water broke.  Around 7:30 I started having contractions.  They got serious pretty quickly and I was breathing through them.  I just felt we should go to the hospital, even though I only had 4 or 5 contractions.

In the car, it all stopped.  I felt normal.  Then at 8:12 I had a strong contraction that lasted about 90 seconds.  That was intense.  I remember thinking I didn't want to be sitting in the car for any more contractions.  At the hospital you have to park far away and walk about 7 minutes, or your husband drops you off at the ER and you go without him.  I wanted to walk to start regular contractions because I didn't want pitocin.

As we walked, I had regular contractions that rapidly got stronger and closer together.  I told Ken to call our doula/nurse and tell her to come.  When we arrived at the 12th floor they asked me to give a urine sample.  As soon as I attempted to provide one,  I knew things were progressing and I said, "I need to push!"  I didn't know if I did, but it felt like baby was moving and things were serious.  I was a little scared. The doctor wasn't there, nor my doula, just 2 intake nurses.

A nurse checked me and I dilated to 8.  They told me to lay on the bed, which slowed my contractions.  As I was breathing through them, the nurses were asking me questions for their paperwork, "What is your education?"  I was confused, "Are you asking me if I went to college?"  Our doula/nurse had arrived and began answering for me, which allowed me to focus on breathing and staying relaxed.  I was kind of surprised we were talking about my college degree while I was minutes away from pushing!

The doctor arrived and I walked to the delivery room.  A few minutes later I asked to push because I was in pain and wanted the pain to end.  I was at 9.5 but  a couple contractions later I was complete at 10.  This felt like forever to me.  The pain was too much, there were no epidurals, the gas and air machine was empty.  The only way out was to push him out!

I pushed for 7 minutes in an upright position and it wasn't working.  My back throbbed no matter how hard Ken pressed against it with his hand. The doula suggested I flip back over.  I couldn't move because the pain didn't stop, but with others helping me, I was on my back, and Hudson was born 4 minutes later.  (Our doula kept record of these details.)

I have since learned that when you give birth in under 3 hours it's called precipitous birth.  Most people I talk to feel envious that my labor was over so quickly, ( about 2 hours 30 minutes) but it has it's own difficulties.  You cram all the intesity of labor into an hour, but your mind isn't able to keep up with the physical changes.  I had mentally prepared all the ways I would cope with labor, but because it came on so fast, there wasn't time for my plans.

Another component of precipitous birth is a lack of rest between contractions.  Most women said they felt like active labor was one long contraction.  I agree!  Once I made it through transition to pushing, I remember saying, "I don't know when to push, it won't stop hurting!"  This is why many women get emotional at this stage; you don't get a break and it overwhelms you.

When Hudson was born, my emotions needed time to catch up with what I had just gone through.  There he was, our son!  He had so much hair, and he was big!  My first baby was just under 6 pounds and Hudson was 7.8   He looked quite Asian at first and a lot like Ken when he was a newborn.

I wouldn't have guessed that God would gift us with this gift in our 40's, but we are so very thankful.  He is loved by all of us and draws quite a crowd when we're in public.  When we moved here Max was a year old and he was a bridge to the people. We pray for Hudson, that the Lord will use him for His glory and that we parent well by teaching him the ways of the Lord, living it out as an example before him.

6 weeks old

We look forward to introducing him to you this summer while we're back.  It will have been nearly 3 years since we last saw our friends, family, and supporters in Georgia!