Our First Home Birth ~ Rejoicing Over Logan Thomas

On Thursday, January 20, I was consistently having contractions about 5 minutes apart, so we called our midwives.  Lynn was with clients, so Michelle came.  When she arrived my contractions almost completely stopped - I was 4 cm and 100% effaced, but no real labor.  Michelle went home and said she’d stay on alert.

Mark took the day off and we enjoyed the time together…the last as a family of “four”.  Mark and I went on a dinner date, leaving the two boys with my mom.  I began having small contractions again regularly during dinner.  Yah!  A middle name still had not been decided for Logan so during dinner, Mark finally chose Thomas for his middle name.  I teased that Logan wouldn’t come until he had his name; little did we truly know how soon he would be here.

Our First Daughter ~ Alyssa Grace

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I remember when when we first went to have a sonogram done to see what we were having.  I was sure number four would be a boy.  I mean, I have had three already.  I know how to do boys, so this was sure to be another, right?  October 2002, lying on the examine table and as soon as the transducer was placed on my tummy there "SHE" was.  My reaction...

"No.  It can't be.  I don't know how to do girls.  Check again."

One year ago today...

Today is a very special day.  I remember the anticipation….I remember the anxiety of waiting {15 additional days once man’s “anticipated date of arrival” had passed!}…I remember the struggle of resting in God’s PERFECT timing and my great desire to hold the precious gift He was giving our family again.

Minutes after delivery ~ a photo collage of a labor of love

Carolyne Joy's Birth Story...short version

Short Version of Carolyne Joy's Birth Story

{a lot of details are left out of this version but thought some people may only want limited details so here goes...read the LONG version here}:

3 weeks prior to delivery ~ onset of inconsistent contractions {which continued over the 3 week period}

End of week one ~ loss plug, some effacement, 2cm dilated {excitement that things were starting…anticipation of an upcoming birth}

Week 2 ~ {due date} more effacement, 3-4 cm dilated {anticipation that birth was imminent…surely with this much progression things would happen soon…disappointment as our due date came and went with other women who had been due around the same time as me delivering already}

Week 3 ~ no change…no more dilation, no baby {discouragement, frustration and doubt this girl would ever come…}

Week 3…Friday ~ another sonogram to make sure all was well with me and baby Carolyne Joy {to my dismay the first image of her also showed her weight of 9lbs. 11oz….oh my word!}

Conversation with John who has done our sonograms for 11 years now, as follows:

“John, 9lbs. 11oz.! I can’t deliver a baby that big!”, I said. Tears began to roll down my face {I don’t like to cry, but this couldn’t be helped.}

“She’s not 9lbs., 11oz. It’s hard to measure weight when they are term. What was your last baby? Your biggest?”, he asked.

“8-14.”, I said with tears still streaming.

“She probably 8 something and you’ve already delivered 8 pounders. You can do it, she’s your 8th.”, he answered.

“But the screen said 9-11…she looks so pudgy. Is she okay? All things are working well and should I be concerned about anything?” “So, what’s the new due date?”, I asked.

“Everything looks great. The images are just hard to be accurate due to being overdue. Due dates don’t change…she looks fine and everything is working just like it’s suppose to.”, was his reply.

I tried to be encouraged, but had my doubts as to her size…8 something, I don’t think so.

Week 3 continued ~ the weekend was full of activities, with no increase in contractions or their intensity. {discouragement mounts, surely people are now wondering how late was…will she come? Am I prohibiting her from coming somehow? She’s only going to grow and at some point she’ll have to be delivered! Could I do it?}
September 13th, 3am ~ contractions wake me up and continue manageably for the next few hours…I decide to call Karen around 6:30am

Conversation and background information as follows:

[Huh…maybe this would be the morning? I waited and watched as the time crept closer to morning without any real increase to intensity or closeness…however, around 6:30am I thought I’d call my midwife and just let her know…maybe something was happening.] She answered and told me she had just arrived to another birth. “Okay then,”…that said, I knew I would probably “shut down” labor wise until she was available…[I know what you’re thinking…how do you shut down labor? Trust me, my strong will has done it before ~ I typically start to shut down my labor when the sun comes up. The day is just too full of activity in the home and, for me, lacks peace for bringing forth a new baby. Been there and done it on a couple of occasions.] She offered to come check to see how much progression had taken place if I wanted; call her back in about an hour to let her know what I decided to do. The mind is a powerful thing and I told her “I’ll wait for you to finish…just call and let me know when you’re done.” {smile}
September 13th; noon, 4pm, 6pm ~ Karen checks in with me and gives updates on this first-time mom she is with…her baby will be here anytime. Karen calls another midwife to come check on me [This 1st time mom had a beautiful home birth but some minor complications after birth so a hospital transfer was necessary. Karen stayed with her until the transfer was complete and this new mom was settled. She is a wonderful and wise midwife…a blessing to those she ministers to.]

September 13th, 7:30pm ~ Michelle arrived shortly after her student, “Peachy”, to check on me. She calls Karen to let her know I’m about 5cm [Side note later about this call.]

September 13th, 9:30pm ~ Karen is on her way…arrives around 10:30pm; Mark calls my friend and she brings the children home at my request ~ more peace for me knowing they are getting a good’s night sleep in their own beds and Zach would not be affected with classes on Wednesday morning this way.

September 13th, 11:00pm ~ Michelle leaves, Karen and two students remain…adults try to get some rest as the rest of the children are sound asleep. Karen and I talk a bit after she gets some paperwork done. She checks me and I’m still about the same…[Side note on this coming soon.]

September 14th, midnight ~ I suggest Karen go try to rest; she reluctantly does. I stay in my room paces and praying. [See the long version for more details on this.]

September 14th, 12:05am ~ God answers my specific prayers immediately. Back-to-back, VERY intense contractions kick in. I’m alone [long version contains more details] and go to wake up Mark.

September 14th, 12:20am ~ Mark gets Karen…amazingly she checks and I am 7cm dilated! I start shaking and feel nauseous…I’m in transition! [No water birth…no time…long version contains more details of this God given testimony.]

September 14th, 12:45am ~ I give a little pressure with a contraction…water breaks.

September 14th, 1:35am ~ I am given the green light from Karen that I can push… I pushed once, WAIT…her hands are on her face. Sorry, no stopping now, she’s got to come…work it out I said. Push two…there she is, three, all of her out! Three pushes, three minutes…no tearing, no complications…with the exception of her being a little bruised due to the nature of her birth ~ but Vitamin K really helped with that later. Praise the Lord!

September 14th, 1:40am ~ Carolyne Joy’s official time of birth ~ 10lbs., 12oz. and 22” long

For the rest of the story, you will have to go the long version and read the WHOLE account, God’s perfect timing from beginning to end.

Blessings ~



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New Life...Carolyne Joy

At long last our 'not-so-little' girl has arrived!  Praise the Lord ~ He is greatly to be praised!

At 1:40am today {September 14, 2011}, our 10 pound 12 ounce girl arrived measuring 22" long.  Birth story to follow after some much needed sleep and family bonding time takes place these next few days, so be sure to check back for the testimony of God's faithfulness, mercy and grace in this beautiful home birth.

For now, I'll leave you with some pictures of our "Joy"ous moment.

Moments after our QUICK and momentous delivery...this girl came forth with BOTH hands on her face...she topped Liz's one hand/head delivery!

A proud pappa...with his pudgy girl!

The astounding moment of weighing in...our biggest yet at 10 lbs., 12 oz. ~ my wonderful mid-wife Karen (l) and her senior student wid-wife Terry (r)...also attending was another 1st yr. student mid-wife "Peachy" (not pictured here).

8 hours young...Liz peaking to see if she has any hair ~ with several of her brothers and sisters looking on.  ;-)

As you can see, she loves her hands at her face...our precious 'not-so-little' Carolyne.

Thank you for all your prayers ~ God is faithful!

Blessings ~

You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You because he trusts in you. 

Isaiah 26:3

 {A verse of encouragement to me given by a friend yesterday...thank you, as my mind did stay fixed on Him ~ with continual thanksgiving and praise.}

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She's Here...Announcing Elizabeth Hope!

(1 hour young)

Elizabeth Hope

Gracefully entered our home on Wednesday, September 23, 2009

at 4:41PM

8 pounds 12 ounces

20 1/2 inches long

brown hair (can you believe it?!) and dark blue eyes

I awoke at 3am with consistent contractions occurring every 10 minutes or so. I got up ~ laundry called ~ and then I woke Mark around 4:30am. We called the midwife and that was the beginning of her journey.

Of course, I have been anxiously awaiting and trying to reconcile when she would actually come. Now I can say...our due date was Saturday ~ my birthday ~ September 19th. How sweet the thought was to have a baby for my birthday...God's plan was obviously different.

This was actually happening...not according to my plan...which would have been in the wee hours while children were sleeping, awakening to their newest little sister, but God was teaching me and growing me in His sovereignty over ALL things. This would NOT be a night birth, it would NOT be while my children were nestled in their beds soundly sleeping, it would NOT go quickly ~ according to my time table, BUT would be ALL in accordance to HIS perfect plan.

Contractions were VERY manageable, my water did not break and things moved slowly, but easily along throughout the day. Our home was very peaceful, as the children were blessed to spend the day and evening with a friend (and their friends). Our midwife and her student assistant spent the duration with us, also awaiting for the appointed moment of her arrival. I still struggled believing that this was the day ~ for goodness sakes...I could carry on conversation easily, my water hadn't broken...was this really going to happen? Amy Carmichael's poems put to music were softly playing throughout the labor to help still my mind...(beautiful CD and one of my favorites)

Yes. By 4:00pmish I was around 8cm dilated and now needed to focus during contractions (with each one I purposefully gave thanks to the Lord). By 4:30pm a contraction and my water broke. Two concentrated pushes (almost completely dilated...but my body said 'push') and "welcome to the world"...she here. Of course, she has loved her hands from the time she found them in the womb and why would she change that during delivery? That first push was a delivery of head AND elbow...a doozy, but God is good!

I will say that despite the growing process the Lord taught me during this labor (releasing the plans of myself and resting in His perfect plan...an ongoing lesson)...the actual labor was one of our best ones...beautiful, peaceful pregnancy and an equally beautiful and peaceful birth.

Praise God from whom all blessings flow!

The 9 Smiths ~ Thursday, September 24th (16 hours young)