I prayed for this child : a thanksgiving story

I made several attempts at a thankfulness post, but nothing came together quite right; so I decided to go ahead and share S.’s birth story with you today. It seems quite fitting for the occasion. Be thankful. Enjoy.

1 Samuel 1:27 I prayed for this child, and the LORD has granted me what I asked of him.

I confess I was initially somewhat ambivalent about having a second child. I didn’t have strong feelings one way or another. But at the time, I felt really connected to Hannah’s story about Samuel. I felt God telling me that if I did want a second child, all I had to do was ask. And I felt that it would be a boy. Although it took us quite awhile to get pregnant with our first child, once my husband and I agreed to start trying for a second, it seemed we were pregnant right away.

Dear S.

My pregnancy with you was different from the start. You got a mama that was more experienced…and more tired. Sissy and I took our quiet time every day — giving my body a chance to help you grow inside me.

I confess that when I found out you were a boy, I cried. I thought that I wouldn’t know what to do with a boy since I only grew up with sisters — but of course, God placed you in just the right family at just the right time, and you have been nothing but a joy and a blessing.

Sometimes I wondered if you were OK in there because you were so quiet and still in my belly compared to your sister. But I know now that was just your calm and gentle personality.

I developed gestational diabetes while pregnant with you, but that meant we both got lots of extra care and attention. I got to peek in at you every month at our ultrasound to see how big you were getting. I ate a special diet and learned to give myself shots.

Because I had gestational diabetes, we had a delivery one week early by scheduled induction. We had an amniocentesis to make sure your lungs were mature. I decided to give you as much time as I could after your sister’s birthday, so that’s why we chose the 14th. I hope you like your birthday.

Your lungs were ready, but my body, as usual, was a little reluctant. My doctor suggested we use some dilating cream and wait one more day, but I was too impatient to meet you; so we stuck with the 14th. A. was already at Grandmother’s having a spend the night party. She made us beaded necklaces to wear at our birthing party. And we did.

Since we were using Pitocin, I decided to go with an epidural again. I got it a little earlier this time, and it wore off before you were born. It seemed like things moved very slowly because I expected them to go faster the second time (I’ve done this before). You finally came, and it was much easier and faster to push you out.

I remember seeing you come out so quietly and so peacefully. Time stood still while you slowly unfolded your arms before you made any noise. I couldn’t believe how handsome you were. A. was excited to come meet you and even shared her special blue blankie with you. We are so thankful God sent you to our family. You fit in perfectly.

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