After some muscle testing with little result, I called a friend and she did some muscle testing...it seemed as though I wasn’t eating enough (I knew this, deep down) and the placenta was not working well...we rotted in some nutrients that evening and labor slowed... stopped.

I was somewhat grateful but yet a little disappointed. In the next few days I could tell a huge difference...the placenta healed and my body was also healing. Sunday night, March 31st, I came to terms with the fact that it was gonna be a few more weeks...Ben & I baby danced a couple of times that day, just for fun, cause I wanted to! We just enjoyed each other (not knowing that was the last time to baby dance with this baby inside) It was truly the most meaningful and most healing!

March 31st I also remembered saying to my mom, "it’s gonna be a while".

I think God had other plans * g *

April 1st I woke up to use the potty and didn’t notice that Ben wasn’t in bed. (at this point I was getting up so much to go that I did it in my sleep)

Will was in the bathroom and scared the CRAP out of me...so I went back to bed till he was finished then headed in. At that point I glanced at the clock and it was about 3:15. Anyway, I noticed I had lost my plug and stood up to check and felt liquid running down my leg. I was thinking to myself "am I still peeing?" hmmm. I sat back down kinda stunned trying to figure it out. LOL

Finally I hollered at Will. He agreed that it was my water and I noticed I was having mild contractions...

I went downstairs (w/ towel between my legs) LOL. I was very excited that the time was nearing. I typed a note to my new e-bud and her mucus plug came about 2 am that same morning, how cool huh?

I decided to have Will start the tub... luckily, because it took ALL morning.

Christian woke up and wanted in bed with us. It was beautiful for him to sleep with us for the last time as our only child.

Labor progressed nicely I really can’t remember what we did all morning. I think we just picked up. At around 11:00 Will fed Christian and put him down for a nap. Will and I get into the aquadoula tub, and my contractions got stronger. I was in and out of the tub later on. I hated laboring in the tub and "labor land" is REALLY intense for me. Transition is defiantly the battle of the wills for me. ( my own wills) Transition was at least an hour and finally reality hit, I felt the babe crown (at this point I was pushing unconsciously and just happened to noticed he was almost out. I was squatting next to the tub. I flipped when I felt down there and his head was almost there and I thought, "I need to get into the tub" I had one more contraction and Will got Christian (he just woke up from his nap)

I told Christian that I was gonna make some noise that it was okay that I was gonna push the baby out. he said okay with his lips a quivering. Next contraction the head came out. Christian was sitting on the bed eating chips. LOL like he was watching a good movie or somethin’

I had a feel of slight urgency for the baby’s body to come... I might have even started to push before the next contraction came... he turned and was out... His cord was wrapped around his neck, we lifted him out of the water and slipped it off... (I noticed it was a boy and said, "I KNEW IT!") He just wiggled and twitched a little he didn’t take a breath, he just rested and wiggled and pinked right up. I got out of the tub, and after a while he still wasn’t breathing. So Will and I began to pray...we were talking to him and telling him we loved him and that we wanted him to breath. He always responded and wiggled when Will put his hands on him and talked to him... the cord was still pulsing and the blood was still going to him, so I was really unconcerned!! Will on the other hand was concerned...he prayed...

I looked into the tub and realized there was NO blood... I didn’t tear YEAH!!! Finally the placenta came, I stood up and delivered it. It broke open and then the cord began to quit pulsing and Samuel began to breath...30 minutes after he was born...he pinked up even more!!!

He is beautiful... I have yellow/orange colostrum again...this is so weird to me. My milk came in 4 days later and he is still nursing very well...

As you all noticed "NO PAIN" It just was intense and like a watermelon was trying to come out! LOL

Naomi

Monday, April 1, 2002- at 3:15am Naomi's water broke and she lost her plug. She was in the bathroom on the potty when it happened (really nice for no clean-up... since I am the designated "cleaner-upper"). She came in our bedroom, where the birth tub was, and we decided to start filling the aquadoula, she really wanted to get in it! I started filling it at around 4:00am. It was a challenge! I had turned our water heater up all the way to get maximum heating! But it wasn't a big enough water heater to heat that much water!!! It took me till around 10:00 to get it the way we wanted it... thank goodness.

Christian, our red-headed two year old, went down for a nap at 10:45. Naomi and I got in the tub at 11:00 and the birthing started to progress!!! She began to relax and contractions got harder and closer together...she was in and out of the tub, on the bed, on the floor, back in the tub, in and out trying everything to find that right position that feels the best. (It was really hard not to help or make suggestions...but I didn't!) She got back in the tub during the really hard contractions, now getting close to 1:30pm.

Christian woke up at 1:45, perfect timing! I carried him into our bedroom where Naomi was in the birth tub with a contraction bearing down on her. Christian is very compassionate, there is a very close link between him and his mommy, so seeing her in discomfort (understatement!!!), was hard for him to watch. But he was very interested! Naomi could tell that the baby was getting ready and closer to make it's appearance, and she was right!

The next contraction, Christian and I watched as the next contraction pushed the baby's head out of its mommy into the water. WOW!!! Christian and I were amazed, excited and almost crying! The next contraction Naomi pushed our new baby out and I had the awesome privilege of reaching down into the water and catching my new son! I handed him to his mommy and he didn't cry, he just looked soooo content in his mommy's arms, against her skin. He just relaxed and went back to resting. I suppose mommy wore him out pushing him down the birth canal into this world of great wonder! Samuel was born at 2:00pm on April 1, 2002 into his parents’ arms.

It was wonderful to see him be so content in his mommy's arms, we all cried! To see a new life began in this world by the very hand of our Creator...is the most awesome experience! I feel so privileged. I will forever be in amazement.

Samuel weighs 8 pounds and is 20 inches long, a wonderful, perfect size!

We praise God for giving us the intuition, knowledge, strength and trust thorough the pregnancy and delivery. We will forever be thankful for the health and safety He has provided!

Will