Two days before Myles arrived

The boys and Grandparents meeting Myles for the first time

Luke is a huge helper!

Nevan wants to cuddle!

Sweet baby Myles!

Welcome to our hearts, Myles!

This is Myles' birth story into our world.  After planning for a homebirth for 9 months, I went to have a biomedical ultrasound at Shands to make sure the baby's fluid levels and movements were o.k.  I was one week over the projected due date...and this usually makes doctors and midwives nervous...it's like you hit their due date and they are ready for the baby to appear :)  I knew my baby was fine, God has reassured me of this...and I also knew with Luke and Nevan coming late, this baby was exactly where he was supposed to be!  I also had been through this pressure with Nevan and was not surprised by everyone's anticipation of his arrival.  Friday morning, March 23rd I went in to have the ultrasound done.  According to the technitions everything looked normal, and I went home.  Later in the afternoon I got a phone call from one of the midwives who informed me that "I had failed my test."  That was the wrong way to approach a woman who was anxious with the coming arrival of her baby, plus feeling pressured to perform birthing a child, when the reality was I had no control over when God was going to call out this child.  I only continued to have faith that in His perfect timing my precious baby would arrive.  Friday afternoon after receiving the news that my pregnancy was now labeled "at risk" because of low fluid levels, I was informed that unless I had my baby that night, I would be turned over to the physicians at Shands and have to deliver there.  I was so stressed, bummed and emotionally silly about the whole thing.  About 10 pm that night I started having contractions.  Patrick and I put the children down and we went out for a walk, the contractions were coming every 10 min, then every 7 and then every 5 min.  I called the midwives to let them know I was in labor.  When they came I was 3 cm dilated, and they suggested that I try to get some sleep and rest through the contractions.  Well, I sure did.  I slept the whole night...woke in the morning VERY refreshed to find out that my contractions had stopped.  I was so bummed. 

At this point, the midwives urged me to go into Shands and see the nurse midwife there...they wanted to induce me.  One of my earnest prayers was that I would be able to go into labor naturally and have a quick, uncomplicated, amazing birth experience.  I trusted that God would perform over His word/promises to me and that I could experience birthing a child with ease and love and have an amazing experience knowing that I was not under the curse, but that I had been set free through my salvation in Jesus Christ!  Honestly, though at this point Saturday morning I was such a mess....emotionally....my sweet husband took me out for a wonderful breakfast and all I could do was sobb through it...I couldn't get a hold of myself for thinking of all the horror stories I had read about pitocin and what it could do to a woman in labor.  I was terrified, but the Holy Spirit would bring me back and remind me to just continue to believe in Him and have faith.  That day I received a card from a sweet friend in the mail it included a scripture at the end: "Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." Phill 1:6  The verse went right into my heart and it was Holy Spirit telling me I AM FAITHFUL TO COMPLETE THIS, JEANNE!!!!

I also felt like Holy Spirit told me, "Jeanne, I want you to pay attention and follow what your husband reccomends to do."  My mom and dad came and picked up Luke and Nevan, and Patrick and I (not willingly) drove to the hospital.  I kept doubting God.  And I walked by faith, not by sight right into Shands.  After getting to labor and delivery triage, we met the nurse midwife there, her name is Libby King.  When she walked into our little area I started to cry.  She was straight-forward, and expressed her concern that the fluid levels were too low and that the baby needed to come out that day.  I was sensitive and didn't want to hear that.  I wanted to have a natural birth experience, but I also didn't want to bring any harm or risk to the baby.  After conviencing her to re-do the ultrasound, they again "calculated" that my fluid levels were low.  After spending a good amount of time talking with us, she left Patrick and I to discuss what we were going to do.  I was emotionally not able to make any decisions and basically just wanted to go home and forget everything that everyone was telling me.  I felt fine.  The baby felt fine.  I wanted to go home and sleep in my bed, pull the covers up over my head and hide from everyone who was pressuring me to have a baby!  God sent a nurse to me.  She was an angel, I know.  She came in to check on the baby's status (heartbeat and movements) and she was so sweet.  When she came into the room, she looked extremely familiar to me, turns out she is a nurse midwife who is joining the Midwives Coop, and I had met her just a week prior.  She was so tender and sensitive to me in my emotional state.  She got down on my level and spoke to me like I was a woman who was 9 months pregnant instead of just a number or a patient.  For the first moment there I felt like everything was going to be o.k.  Patrick helped me to understand that it would be a good idea to go ahead and check-in to the room, but first we would go out and have lunch. 

We ended up at Crisper's.  Despite my nausea, I somehow was able to eat a healthy meal.  As I was eating lunch, I started having contractions!  I couldn't believe it.  When we got back to the hospital I had plenty of time to change, take a nice relaxing shower, and just chill out.  During this time a very sweet sister in Christ just so happened to call me.  She said that I was on her heart all day...as I sobbed on the phone, she said, "Can I come by and see you."  Of course I said YES!  As it turns out this precious sister in Christ was sent by God to intercede for me, she ended up staying and taking the part of "Mom" through my labor and delivery, praying me through my contractions.  People have told me before that they have experienced feeling someone's prayers, I can honestly say now that was true through my birthing experience.  My parents also came by with the boys and we said goodbye to them one last time.  At that point I was having contractions consistently, and Libby, the midwife came to check me.  When she did...she said, "Oh!  your 4 cmm dialated!"  Why don't we just let you go into labor naturally?"  I about went to the moon, I was so happy!!!!  From that moment it was only 4 hours later that Myles Elijah was born rapidly into my arms.  I remember laying there looking at the clock crying, saying, "God you are always right on time!"  I couldn't believe it!  Just one more stretch of my faith in believing in His promises to me.

As it turns out, Libby, our midwife was a woman who loved Jesus :) We had our own private worship experience in our room throughout my labor.  We sang praises to God through my contractions, and I experienced the power of Christ in that room!  It was a powerful and delightful.  God ordained the birth team that night.  He knew exactly who needed to be there, and exactly where I needed to be to birth Myles...it was perfect and I felt VERY well cared for...I actually was thankful that i was in the hospital...and to have a couple of days of "pampering."

After getting home from the hospital I received an email from another friend who had been praying for me during this time....she said that she wanted me to know that a devotional had come to her the day I had Myles and that she prayed specifically God's word for me, guess what it was???? 

Phill 1:6  Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Amazing!  I am still rejoicing, and reminiscing the awe and amazement of our faithful God.  He is so Good. 

Also this amazing sister in Christ who stayed to intercede for me, a mother of 3 herself, had written on Patrick and I's wedding card seven years prior,
Phill 1:6 Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

And just for the record...when Myles came out...our midwife said, you definetely had plenty of fluid, Jeanne....  :)  It was all in God's wonderful hands