Introducing "Marble!" Number 6 in a Growing Clan

This is the Story of an all-natural home birth...

Well, December 15 came and went without a new baby. It is the old game of Hurry Up … and Wait. How very military of our new youngster! As we went through the week following, I worked hard with the boys to keep laundry up, get the house clean(er) and basically set up so that when the time actually did come things could still run fairly smoothly without Mom and Pop having to be the driving force.

Christmas 2014 picture with The Widmife at Sunday's two-day-old check up

I didn't take the time to look at the list of "things to have on hand for a home birth" that Jennifer Rector, AKA: The Widmife (a title given to her by Buttercup), gave us until around the 17th. (Might be something a little too laid back about my approach for some people's feelings of security, hmmm?) Finally looked at that list and had to go out to pick up a few things. So we hit Target up, and I went to get groceries to make sure we were stocked up. I had only been getting two or three days at a time up to that point - don't ask me why. The impending birth of a child was just not putting much of a sense of urgency on this seasoned Mama.

The Arrival of Mr. Magoo

Now I can fast-forward to the birth-day itself. We were a week past the "official" due date, which was not particularly cause for alarm since the baby was still very active and my weight had not dropped any. When you hit 41 weeks, they have you come in for a low-stress test and an ultrasound to check your fluid levels. I did both. The stress test was fine with a good, active baby. At the office for the ultrasound, she made her notes with an increasingly quiet countenance. She asked us to wait while she had the doctor look at the results. When she returned, she said that we needed to talk to our midwives and called them right there from the ultrasound office.

The midwife explained that we needed to return to the birthing center because "the average woman has fluid levels of 10 to 20." He continued, "We like to see a baseline number of at least 5. You have fluid levels of 3." 

Introductions

The last two posts were about how much I appreciate the little moments with my older children. This post is to introduce our newest joy - I am so happy to find that all of our other four are excited, happy and loving toward the new baby brother in their midsts. The full birth story will come in the next few days, but here is the snapshot info for now!

Born at 0009 (that is 12:09 a.m.) on 

Saturday, April 23, 2009

weighing in at a scant 6 lbs., 15 oz., and 19 inches

 is our fourth boy.

With his proud Papa

And with Smeagol, Maestro, Bruiser, Buttercup and Grandma

Until his personality kicks in, he'll just be "Mr. Magoo." Already he brings us joy - can't wait to see what comes next!

Something Nice to Start Your Weekend

I have three or four posts started, but none quite ready to put up yet. As we've just passed the day of the March for Life, I would like to share a quote that my mom gave me around the time that I left home for the Navy. I happened back across this little gem while cleaning the bedroom today. She said (if I recall correctly) that she wanted this little scrap of paper back sometime, so I will duly share it here and then return it.

Before you were conceived I wanted you

Before you were born I loved you

Before you were an hour I would die for you

This is the miracle of love.

~ Maureen Hawkins

I hope being reminded of a mother's love helps start your weekend off in a good way, as it has mine.

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