June 5th was shaping up to be another day of me being pregnant and trying to embrace each minute of baby girl inside of me. I woke early and took a shower, straightened my hair and attempted to shave my legs for my ob appointment scheduled a few hours later. I figured I would take one last pic of my growing belly, secretly wishing it would be my last day holding her inside of me. My desperation for her grew as each day came and left without her in my arms.

My sister was kind enough to watch the girls so I didn’t have to bring them with me my appointment. After meeting with my OB, I was scheduled for an inducement on the 6th. We only told one other couple, asked for prayers that the inducement would happen and went about the rest of the day. Richard worked his way through his lunch break, knowing the importance to finish things up before his week-long paternity leave started. The girls and I grabbed him lunch and savored our pizza pockets and doughnuts from A&P. We squeezed in a quick nap and popsicles were a must after walking to cayden’s school in the warm weather! Richard thankfully stood in the kitchen slaving away on my dinner request as my contractions started to come. I assured everyone I was fine and nibbled on the dinner I had been craving. We snuggled on the couch with the kids; daddy explained to them why mommy was getting up and swaying back and forth, and it was a quiet way to start labor. As bedtime approached for the kids, we said our nighttime prayers and I realized that labor was getting more and more intense. I again, tried to assure Richard I was fine, not fully giving into the fact I was in labor and sent him to bed. Midnight came and I was soon faced with the fact I couldn’t be “tough” any longer, my contractions were coming at a frequency I could no longer hide and my husband woke to a stubborn wife unwilling to admit it was time to go to the hospital. After secretly timing my contractions I was informed that a minute and a half was out of his comfort zone and a phone call was placed to nana. We arrived at the back entrance of the hospital at 1 am, I of course refused to be pushed in a wheelchair and soon realized that my stubbornness was ridiculous. Countless stops along the way to the OB ward happened as my husband’s face showed immense concern as well as excitement. I found myself lost in some worship songs I have been working on for church and blocked everything out, Richard was ever patient, trying to attend to my needs, but knew to wait until I asked. My water broke shortly after arriving, a first for me, since all the other kids’ labors required help from the doc each delivery. After downing two IV bags and my first round of antibiotics the call was place to the nurse anesthetist at 2:30 am…Mr. Steve is a saint in my books and after figuring out how to get my heart rate to chill out after the epidural I found some much needed relief. 4 am came with the realization that there was no stopping the pressure that was soon making me uncomfortable. After convincing the doc that his wife really had to push, I was surrounded by my husband and nurses at 4:10…9 minutes later little miss was out and screaming to the world that she was here.

Ya’el Ariel Ruth was born at 4:19 am, June 6th, weighting 7lbs 13 oz and 20 in long. It seems so surreal when I think about how everything fell into place. I was able to get Cayden through all his end of school activities without balancing a newborn. I went into labor on my own without having to be induced, something we had been praying for and close to the weekend so Richard didn’t have to use up too much PTO while in the hospital, my mom was able to help out with the big kids and the nurse that helped deliver Ezzy and Kyre, was there to deliver Ya’el. The OB doc that delivered Ya’el was not my first pick, but ended up being the exact doc I needed to help deliver a baby that was coming out face up, which is apparently a difficult way to deliver a baby.

Ya’el (strength of God) Ariel (lion of God) Ruth (faithful companion, vision of beauty) is perfect in every way. My mom did an amazing job naming her.

We were blessed by my friend Stephanie to come and take pics less then 8 hrs after her birth…enjoy!

My mom with help from my sister dressed the kids in the shirts we had made with them a few days before hand and headed our way.

Stephanie was able to capture the very essence of what Ya’el means to all of us.

The pure joy we experienced as parents as we studied each detail of her tiny body is written all over our faces.

As she was placed in my mother’s arms and received her much anticipated name, it all started to sink in.

She was analyzed by a disappointed brother who just wanted to see some blood.

Ezzy immediately asked if we got to keep her

and Kyre…well the pic says it all.

It has been 5 days since she came into the world and I lack words that do justice to her very presence within our home.

She is a vision of beauty

I will say that I have been asking the maker of time to do me a favor…

as I look at the other kids and realize how much they have grown, I’m aware I haven’t drank in their precious lives enough and I truly blinked. I am cherishing every nighttime feed

every poopy butt and every chance I get to know this little soul that has been given to us. Our family feels more complete as we have all open our hearts to her and embrace the change she has brought to us all.