Joy Restored: She’s Here!

 

We are overjoyed to announce that Lydia Irene is here! She was born on Wednesday, June 18th at 3:17pm 6lb 13oz & 19.5 inches.

God was gracious and gave me strength to have the natural VBAC experience that I had been asking for. It was difficult and painful, but also incredibly satisfying and even enjoyable! Adam and my friend/doula Amy were such great supporters in helping me have the best birth possible.

(If you’re in the market for a doula, take a peak at http://www.atxdoulas.com/)

I had mentioned to Adam a few weeks ago that one of my goals for myself was to be able to smile in labor at least a couple of times, especially once it got intense. And that happened! There was even some laughter and joking going on too! But, once my water broke at 8cm, the smiles were replaced with Xena the warrior princess grunts, groans and low-toned screams. Thankfully this part only lasted a couple of hours until Lydie was born.

It has been such a different experience having a HEALTHY baby. The first couple of hours after she was born I felt so uncomfortable that she wasn’t hooked up to various machines monitoring her vitals. How would I know if she was breathing!?! Oh right, just look – like everyone else does. On our way home from the hospital Adam and I both marveled at how wonderful it was to not feel overwhelming anxiety about whether our newborn would suddenly turn blue or stop breathing! (I still sat in the back seat with her, but I let myself look out the window a few times!). We have had many of these little thankful moments like this over the past two weeks. He has given us abundant peace, and exponentially increased our joy.

The other day I was praying and telling Him how much joy I was feeling getting to be Lydia’s Mom and care for her as her little body is adjusting to being an out-of-the-womb baby. I felt so loved by Him. And He sent my mind back to when Brooklyn was just days old and we were in the thick of the heartache and disappointment upon learning of her diagnosis, and I hear Him say to me, “That was love too.” It was all a part of what He’s produced in our lives through our story. His love is not always just what gets us through the tragedies, sometimes the tragedies are  the avenue in which we can actually experience His love.

“He changes rivers into deserts, and springs of water into dry, thirsty land. He turns the fruitful land into salty wastelands….
But He also turns deserts into pools of water, the dry land into springs of water.”

Psalm 107

So as I am thankful to be singing the second half of the verses in this psalm right now, my heart has been stretched to see even the memories of our past pain as a display of His faithful love for us.

We are loving our days (and nights) with our Lydie-bug. Here are some pictures of our two weeks with her thus far.

 

 

Shortly after birth: She is screaming her little lungs out. It sounded like music to this Mama though.

 

First family photo

Hanging out at the hospital. She loves to have her hands by her face just like she did in each and everyone of our ultrasound pictures!

 

Going home!

1 week old but 2 baby chins!

 

Happy girl!

 

We cant get enough of her. But after looking at the pic again, we really should make more time to shower…

 

Milk drunk. I am so thankful she is a good nurser!

 

Smallest hat we could find! She’s so tiny still!

 

Maggie has been slowing warming up to her new little sister

-Brooklyn & Lydia’s Mommy