the atkins' adventures: Birthday Week: The Birth Story

Every child loves to hear the story of their birth over and over until they know it by heart! I remember asking my mom to tell me about the day I was born every year on my birthday. I can't wait to share Jonah's story with him someday. Every birth, wanted or not, is a miracle of miracles. I get tingles every time I think how amazingly God designed us! I feel like the story of Jonah's birth is extra special...not only because it's MY baby, but because it could have been much different.

My due date had come and gone without much fanfare. No contractions, not even the fake kind. My next Dr.'s appointment, two days later, was equally uneventful. So, my Dr. suggested we go over to the delivery center in the hospital. He was recommending we have labor stimulated. He said we could wait it out another few days, but might still be in the same spot only with more urgency. If we went that day, there would definitely be less stress on the baby. So, off we went. Jonathan and I went home, packed a bag, and drove up to the hospital. They were full. They said we should come back the next evening. So, Thursday evening we headed up there again, prepared to spend the night in a delivery room. They were more full. No beds. So, we went home again with a definite reservation for the next morning! Friday rolled around. We called ahead, they had our room ready. I remember watching Regis & Kelly's Halloween show while we got settled into the delivery room. I also remember praying the prayer that never fails, which is simply, "Thy will be done." I prayed that prayer almost constantly, mostly to keep my mind off of the impending labor! The nurse came in to examine me and see what was what. I was only dilated a little bit, like maybe a 3. She proceeded to check the position of the baby only to discover something was not quite right. He was face up. She paged our Dr. and asked another nurse for a 2nd opinion. I'll spare you the details, but if you've had a baby, you know I was UNCOMFORTABLE. Our Dr. ordered a sonogram to check things out. Sure enough, that little guy was not only face up, but not engaged in the birth canal. AND the sonogram revealed the cord around his neck. So, we were faced with the option to wait it out and see if he'd reposition...OR have a c-section. I felt myself getting anxious about a C-section. That was the last thing I'd wanted. But, suddenly I felt very calm and knew it would be the best option. (still praying the prayer that never fails)

The Dr. came in and said he'd checked on the O.R. They were booked up that afternoon, but had an opening right away. They wheeled me in to get me ready and Jonathan started calling family. After what felt like 45 minutes (but now in retrospect seems like 5 minutes) Jonathan came in all "scrubbed in." He stayed by my side and held my hand while they did the surgery. When they got into the uterus and delivered Jonah the Dr. commented that the cord was indeed around his neck...twice! I will never forget how sweet Jonah's first little cry was. It wasn't even a cry...it was just the sweetest sound I'd ever heard. Jonathan held him and brought him to me. Then I watched as they cleaned, weighed, and measured Jonah while Dr. Zeller put me back together. Then, I was off to recovery. Because of the spinal block I had to go downstairs to recovery while Jonathan stayed with Jonah in the nursery. This was agony. I wanted to hold him and talk to him. All I had to do was wiggle my toes. I now know what it feels like to tell my brain one thing, but not have my body respond. Toes are a long way from the brain. They WOULD NOT cooperate. So, while I was recovering I was thanking the Lord for revealing Jonah's position. I was so so so glad I'd never gone into labor. WHAT IF I had tried to push with the cord around his neck like that?!? Thank you, Jesus for protecting my sweet sweet baby!

DISCLAIMER: this is NOT a video, do not try to "play," or it will take away the image.

We gave the nurse our camera so she could take pictures, not knowing the camera was set on "video." So, we have several sweet little snippets of our first meeting Jonah! This is one of them. It's taken from behind my head. Because it's such a short snippet, it will not play as a video.

The verse we chose for Jonah was Jeremiah 29:11, which says: "For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you."

During the c-section, when the scalpel went through the uterus, Jonah's face was right there and he got a little cut on his temple. I know the Lord protected him from harm. It could have been his eye. That scar is still visible....very faintly visible today! I kind of like the reminder of God's protection...plans to prosper, not to harm!