Ethan's story

My beautiful blond baby is 1 today! Birth stories are like badges of honor. Here is Ethan's for those who want to read. for those who don't sorry!!! ;-)

Ethan's birth was fast, and as labors go very easy. Before we knew that Ethan was a boy, I insisted he was a girl. I just knew he was...after all I had a dream about a little girl...and I have woman's intuition on my side. ;-) But there was something complicating the situation, (in my mind) and that was that I KNEW very strongly that Conner and this baby were very close before they came to our family and that they would be close here. They needed to share a room. How would that work with a boy and a girl? At some point I would have to separate them. Well, I'd figure that out later.

Later on we did a 3D ultrasound. The first shot revealed that we indeed were having a boy! I just laughed and said no way!! Nate smiled a smile I'll never forget and then I realized there wouldn't be a problem with the room situation...

Fast forward to the last week of pregnancy. I had a few concerns about the positioning of the baby and whether I would be ok to have him at home as well. Four days after my date I got extremely sick! Dizzy, nauseated, throwing up...crazy sick. I couldn't even move my head, I was running into walls I was miserable! I called my midwife who taught me how to make mint tea. She taught me that the mint relaxes and soothes the stomach and the honey will keep you from throwing up. Your stomach can't throw up honey. The next day was MUCH better and I called my WONDERFUL, FABULOUS, TALENTED, MAGICIAN of a Chiropractor, Dr. Stubblefield and made an appointment thinking maybe my neck was causing the dizziness problems. I went in at about 3 or 4 in the afternoon. He checked me out and told me my neck was out but wanted to see about what he could find out about the baby. After adjusting and checking he told me that Ethan would be born the next day. I laughed on the inside and said, "um.........ok." He said, "I would get everything ready if I were you." He sounded supremely confident to me, I was still laughing on the inside. Everyone was telling me that I wouldn't go past the end of the week...

I went home and told Nate. He was hopeful, he had to leave the next day for a business meeting and didn't want to have to cancel. I went to bed still skeptical. I laid down around 10pm exhausted. Tried to relax but about 15 minutes later I realized why I couldn't. I was having some contractions. Not at all painful or lasting long but enough to annoy me. I mentioned to Nate that I was having them but they were only lasting like 10 seconds...He timed them...I was wrong...45seconds and 7 minutes apart. OK! So we called the midwife Rachel and told her what was going on. She said to call in an hour. I had the feeling that Dr. Stubz was right so I called my mom to come and get the kids. They left and we timed more contractions. Called the midwife because an hour passed and they were 5 minutes apart and lasting for a full minute. That was at 11:15pm or so. They were on their way now. BUT they are an hour away! Midwife arrived at 11:25pm checked me and I was dilated to a 6. I remember thinking something was wrong because I started shaking, and I knew I was in transition. But it was way to fast and I hadn't been in that much pain yet. They prepared my bath water...yes I gave birth in the water...and after 10 minutes of pushing Ethan was born at 12:03am! I went from 6 to baby in 38 short minutes!

Ethan was born weighing in at 9pounds even and had hardly any blond hair. He was sporting a pretty large noggin, 15cm and is the sweetest and most adorable baby! We are so blessed to have him in our family and I can't believe how fast this year has gone!! We love you Ethan!!!