Happy Birthday, my 6 year old!

Oh Gideon,
It is hard to imagine that six years have gone by since I cradled you in my arms for the first time. You came so quickly and surprised us!

We had company over that night. My due date was 3 days earlier, and so far, there was no sign that you might make an appearance! You sure fooled us!

We went to bed around 11pm, and as I laid there, I began to feel the tightness of contractions begin. I got up, being sure not to disturb daddy, and went into the living room to see if labor was starting.

I watched a little tv and went onto the computer, where I timed my contractions. By midnight, they were every 6-9 minutes apart, but weren't too painful yet.

At 12:30am, I decided to wake up daddy and tell him what was going on. He was very excited!! He took a shower and got ready to possibly head to the hospital.

By 1:30, daddy thought he should call our friend Megan to have her head on over to our house. I wasn't even sure this was really 'it', but let him call her anyway. I remember taking a shower, still not sure if this was really labor!

Megan arrived around 1:45am, and we sat on the couch, talking, waiting for the contractions to pick up. We figured that because Nolan's birth took 22 hours, that it would take at least 10 hours until you were born. We were wrong, very wrong!

It was 2:30am, when I stood up and walked over to daddy...and things started to get much more painful. It was as though you got into just the right position and let my body know it! Megan began to get worried when she noticed that it was 3 minutes inbetween contractions. We headed for the door!

We only lived 10 minutes from the hospital, but in mid-August, it was HOT! I made daddy turn off the air conditioning because it was bothering me as I continued having contractions.

We arrived at the hospital at 3am. I was still able to walk, and turned down the wheelchair that was to bring me to my room. But, once the receptionist at the hospital saw me have a contraction, she made sure I was wheeled to Labor and Delivery.

As I was wheeled in, daddy stayed back at reception, since they were having problems with their printer. We thought we would have hours until you arrived, so we weren't worried at all.

The nurses checked to see how far dilated I was at 3:10, and I was at 5cm. I was excited about that, because it seemed to take me forever to get to this point with Nolan. John stuck his head in the room to see how I was, I told him I was at 5cm, and was ready for an epidural. That was an epidural I would never get the chance to have!

By 3:15, the contractions picked up, and they were one on top of the other. John finally arrived back in the room after moving our van, and just stood back, not sure what he was supposed to be doing!

At 3:30, I started to feel nauseaus and told the nurses that I needed to push. They looked skeptical, but checked me anyway....I was dilated to 10cm!!! Needless to say, the doctor wasn't there yet.

I remember the nurses telling me not to push, and pretend to blow a feather. Yeah, right. My body was taking over and was literally pushing you out by itself! The nurses had to keep lowering the heart monitor on you since you kept going lower and lower...it was beyond my control!!

The Doctor showed up at 3:45am, and was told what was going on....he suited up and told me to push!

The nurses had to break my water as you were crowning! I think you could have been born in the bag of water, had they let you.

After one push, I was told to stop and breath as they eased you out. There were no complications and no stitches were needed. I felt great the moment you were born, and had a shower soon after.

You were born at 3:53am.....less than an hour after we arrived at the hospital!

They swaddled you up, and you were laid on my chest. I hadn't even had a chance to put on a hospital gown! You began nursing like a champ and were one of the most beautiful boys (apart from your brothers!) that I had ever seen.

Daddy called up Megan to tell her you were here...and she thought it was a dream because you arrived so fast.

I remember when daddy left the hospital around 6:30am, to get home in time to see Nolan waking up. It was just me and you...all was quiet and calm. I loved on you and held you and was so grateful that God chose me to be your mother.

Gideon David...August 13, 2003...7 pounds 6 ounces...19 inches long

My dear boy, you have grown so much since you turned 5. You are a first grader now! You are able to read a bit and follow along in your hymnal. It has warmed my heart and brought much glory to God, as you have grown in your love for the Gospel.

It wasn't that long ago, that you told me "Mommy, I remember when I didn't love God. But now I do...but I can remember when I didn't." Oh, it brings me so much joy to see your joy that only God can give!! I pray that you continue in your thirst for knowledge of our great God. Though suffering is inevitable, I know you will persevere and become a great man of God.

I love you so much!

Love,
Mommy

The first time I held you...this was right after you were born:

The first week that you were home from the hospital:


You with big brother, Nolan: