Baby Announcement for Elijah Jack

Birthing Elijah

Great is Thy Faithfulness, Great is thy faithfulness
Morning by morning New mercies I see
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided
Great is thy faithfulness, Lord unto me

This is the song the Lord gave to me on the morning of
February 4, 2002. Why is this significant?

I was awakened by contractions several times during the night and
they continued to increase in frequency and duration throughout the
day. Around noon, I realized I was really in labor and called Tony to
come home and called Martina (our primary midwife). Martina said
she'd check back with me around 3:00 to see how labor was
progressing. At that time, contractions were about every 7 minutes
and lasting around 45 seconds. It was during this time, as the
contractions were strengthening, that I began to hum Great is Thy
Faithfulness during the contractions. I can't tell you what a comfort
it was to me to be constantly reminded of His faithfulness. When I
would get to the part that says 'All I have needed, thy hand hath
provided' the contraction would peak and go back down. It was so
neat to see the Lord comforting me in this way.

When Martina called at 3:00, she said she and Kim (the other
midwife) were on their way. At about 3:30 I nursed MaryVance to
sleep and then laid down with her. I dozed between contractions
until about 4:30 when they became hard enough that I felt I needed
to get up. When I got up MaryVance woke up and was fussy so I
nursed her again.

Just a little before 5:00, my water broke--a new sensation for me
as it has never broken with any of my other babies. I called Martina
to make sure they were on their way. She said they would be here
within 10 minutes. Martina arrived at 5:00 and around 5:30 checked
me. I was dialated to 5 and having contractions every 3 minutes at
that time, though the contractions did spread out a little after she
arrived.

Around 7:30, I decided to try relaxing in a warm tub. The
contractions continued to strengthen and lengthen and I was able to
finish the entire chorus and part of the first verse of 'my' song. I
was no longer able to hum, but was singing the song in my mind. The
first verse talks about 'harvest' (which was very meaningful to me)
and about 'bright hope for tomorrow'. I kept thinking about how
this baby was our 'bright hope for tomorrow' and this gave me such
a focus and the strength I needed for that contraction. I got
frustrated once and Tony gently reminded me that the
contractions only come one at a time. I know it sounds so simple, but
it really helped me to be able to just focus on the moment--whether
it be contraction or a rest period between them. Tony was such a
pillar of strength for me.

Around 8:00, Martina came in to check the baby's heartbeat. I
asked her at this time when she was planning to check me again. She
said they usually check every 6 hours, unless there is some obvious
change. At this point, my friend Lisa had arrived.

At 8:15, I decided to get out of the tub as the contractions were
really hard and there was only a brief break between them. I
thought that if I could lay down a little while, it would give me a
little more of a break between them. I was thinking I still had
several hours to go and was really in need of a break. I had several
contractions between the bathtub and the bed. Unbeknownst to me,
Tony decided he should go get Martina as he could tell my demeanor
was changing. Lisa helped me to the bed and asked what she could
do to help. I asked her to pray for me. She laid her hands on my
head and prayed aloud for the Lord's protection and comfort. It
was really beautiful and helped me to keep my focus where it
belonged.

Martina came during Lisa's prayer, and after the prayer she
checked me I was completely dialated. She told me later that she
was not expecting me to be so far along--was she surprised! I told
her the contractions were not ending. They seemed to peek and
head downward and then to start right back up. I told Lisa to sing
Great is Thy Faithfulness for me. I can't tell you what a surreal
feeling this was for me. I had my eyes closed. I was totally unaware
of anything that was happening except for my body giving birth and
this beautiful song just washing over me. Tony went to get the
children --they stayed in the corner of the room by my head.
Martina said for me to just follow what my body was doing and push
if I wanted to. I never felt an overwhelming urge to push, but I
realized that my body was pushing so I went along with it. I pushed
twice and his head was born. Martina asked me to breathe through a
few contractions so she could suction him. Then my body contracted
and his body was born. It was so beautiful. There are no words to
adequately describe this experience. I was able to hold my
beautiful, perfect little son as he took his first breaths.... My
'bright hope'...

He weighed 7 pounds and 10 ounces and was 19 inches long. He is
our smallest little one! He has strawberry blonde hair, blue eyes
and is nursing like a champ! His biggest sister, Molly, cut his
umbilical cord--what a gal!

I want to thank those of you who were praying for us.

Great is HIS Faithfulness!!