Abigail Ryan began her entrance into this world around 11:30 pm on May 3rd (her estimated due date). After days of mild contractions, the REAL ONES had begun.  I woke up Don and asked him to stay awake with me (I was still not sure if “this was it.”).  About a half hour later we called my mom because it was evident that our baby girl was knocking on our door.  After my mom arrived to stay with the boys, we headed to the hospital.  Since I did not want to enter the hospital too early because I knew it would be harder to labor there with the intervention-happy medical staff than it would be with my natural-birth supporting hubby, we took our time entering the hospital: stopping at Meijer, McDonalds, and walking around the hospital parking lot.  I prayed a lot during this time.  I focused on scripture a lot.  I held onto my hubby a lot.  I laughed a lot.  I refused to lean into fear and chaos like I did during Eli’s birth and surprise… I felt blessed and safe.

When we did check in with labor and delivery, I encountered a not-so-helpful (pregnant) nurse.  She checked me and told me I was only 5/6 centimeters dilated and not effaced.  I asked her to fill up the birthing tub.  She said there were other things to do first.  I literally prayed that God would give me a new nurse.  I again asked this nurse to fill up the birthing tub.  She still refused.  I asked her for water.  She told my hubby where he could get me ice chips.  (He’s so good he got me water anyway).  This nurse was obviously not used to a woman giving natural birth and she did not care to help me labor well.  Thankfully God did answer my prayer to rid her from my birth and brought in Nurse Barb.  Barb was great!  When I asked her to fill the birthing tub, she did so.  When I told her that my midwife was on vacation and that my doula was sick.  Sweet, wonderful Barb replied, “I’ll be your doula.”  She was my doula.

Barb supported both me and Don when I moved into the transition phase and I started yelling at Hubby that I wanted an epidural.  (My super patient and intelligent hubby reminded me that it was almost time to push and that it would all be over soon).  Barb noticed around this time that I started pushing and checked me again (the tub wasn’t full yet at this point and I didn’t even have time to labor in it at all).  I was “complete” and ready to push.  My midwife’s backup doctor had not arrived yet, so they called for the hospital doctor.  She arrived and I began pushing.  Barb coached me to push.  I noticed the doctor and Barb became a little alarmed during the process (I later found out it was due to Abbi’s umbilical chord being wrapped once around her neck and having a possible knot in it).  Abbi came out quickly.  After 4 hours of labor she joined her family!  She swallowed some meconium on her way out and had some labored breathing.  After I pointed out that she was purple the nurses took her and her daddy to the special care nursery where they monitored her breathing for a few hours.  Then she was returned to me!  Though most hospital laboring practices frustrate me (mainly their lack of support for natural, non-medicated births), I really do appreciate hospital after-care and meals!  We went home the day after Abbi’s birth and were welcomed by two adoring brothers.  We are now living happily ever after!

My next post will be some cute Abbi photos.

This subject is actually near and dear to me. Child trafficking for labor and sex is specifically troubling to me.  It is a subject that has kept me up at night balling my eyes out in intercession for an end to this sinful madness.  It is a subject that has led me to get involved (on a small scale) with International Justice Mission and meet with my local congressman to urge him (well, his representative) to pass through important child sex trafficking legislation.  Please check out some of these sites and consider getting involved in this matter:  Pray for an end.  Pray for boldness to take political action.  For the record, most legislation brought before the U.S. Senate and Congress is bi-partisan, meaning both Democrats and Republicans “support it.”  So far, the amounts of money proposed to be spent by the U.S. government is a drop in the hat compared to the overall budget and not a concern for our government officials.  The reason these laws don’t get passed though is because they are pushed aside by the big dog laws: like health care reform.  These proposed bills get overlooked and then our congressman and senators take a summer break from their work… having no new interventions in place domestically or internationally to combat human trafficking, stop human trafficking, prosecute those who are perpetrators of it, or provide recovery assistance to the victims of it.

Now, I urge you again. Pray for an end to modern day slavery.  Pray to be a part of that end.  Pray to be a tool of healing and redemption for ALL of those involved in it.  Act when the Holy Spirit prompts – there are several organizations  and churches out there like Make Way Partners and Crossroads that can making getting involved relatively easy (logistically, not emotionally).

Don’t just complain about Craigs List on Twitter. That may be bringing about some awareness, but as my hubby pointed out to me, it’s also limiting awareness.  Human trafficking is advertised and perpetuated everywhere:  local yellow pages, on the streets through word of mouth (yes, Ohio has a HUGE trafficking problem).  Don’t just blame the Craigslist folk and think you’ve done your duty.  Don’t just think you’ve got your own cause you’re passionate about, and don’t have time to focus on this one too.  People’s lives are at stake.  It especially angers me to think that our entertainment driven culture  can watch (for leisure) Law & Order Special Victims Unit for an hour or more each week but not spend an hour combating similar REAL crimes through prayer, writing letters, etc.

Christian Women: Our ancestors helped kick African slavery in the butt and we should be actively doing the same to rescue the men, women, and children who are being traded and abused today.  Go to The Oaks tonight at 7:30pm and get more informed. May Satan be bound in chains, not those whom God created!

End Jill’s preaching here

Most importantly, in an attempt to really focus on Christ – the author and perfector of my faith – my savior, redeemer and Lord… I have been studying scripture regarding fear, trust, hope, etc.  I have been making a notebook full of scripture that I hope to focus on during my labor instead of focusing on the fears and lies of the enemy.  I have also been creating a music play list filled with worship music and other songs that bring me comfort and help me to lean into the Lord instead of prayer.

I have also been reading a book called Christ Centered Childbirth.  It’s been helpful in redirecting me toward scripture reading and meditating on Christ.  I wish I would’ve started reading it earlier in my pregnancy (when my dear friend originally loaned it to me).

Anyway, thanks be to God for once again reeling me back in.  I am experiencing PEACE AND JOY AND HOPE regarding this birthing process and meeting my Baby Girl!

Photo Credit

Yes, I am doing that pregnant lady thing called “nesting.” Don keeps trying to get me to sit down and relax, but I keep noticing things that need cleaned, organized, or thrown out. My tolerance for clutter and dust is at its all time low. The stacks of items for my yard sale are growing larger and I can’t wait for a nice, sunny day or two to get rid of this stuff for good!

I also started taking the tabs off the cloth diapers so I could put new ones on them (the velcro lost its cro). I got a little too ambitious with the seam ripper though and broke it… another project on hold

The one area in which I don’t feel the nesting urge is cooking. Thankfully the last two nights we were able to eat off gift cards we’d received for Easter (yes, my mother uses any occasion to get us a restaurant gift card!).

Anyway, that’s all for now! Chirp, chirp!