The Birth Story

I have been wanting to take a minute and type up the birth story, and since Abel is sleeping, Luke is heading home from his grandparents, and Lee is putting in our new flood light, I have time.

So...after a long pregnancy of me announcing that I would never induce, we induced on July 3rd. It is funny how I am always learning to eat a little humble pie. =)

Lee and I arrived at the hospital at 7am on Friday morning. We were admitted immediately, and I was put on pitocin within the hour. About an hour after that, they put in the epidural, and then the labor really began.

My doctor came in and broke my water. While doing that, she realized there was meconium in the fluid. Immediately, I could feel my heart drop. Our doctor advised us that he would have to go to NICU after birth just to be checked. As I was trying to guard my thoughts from going to the worse, and I began to pray. I prayed the Lord would not let any fluid get into his lungs.

As the labor progressed, I kept trying to change positions to get comfortable. Unfortunately, Abel was unable to keep his heart rate stable if I moved so I was told to remain in one position. Once again, I kept asking the Lord to protect him.

By 2:00pm that afternoon, I was 7 centimeters dilated, and all of sudden, my epidural began to fade. The thought of pushing out a baby without an epidural is a very scary thought to me, so I began to beg the nurse to increase my epidural. At first they didn't want to because they were afraid I wouldn't be able to push him out, but after a small nervous break down, I was given more.

Less than one hour later, Abel William Lewis was born at 2:51pm. He is a beautiful, healthy, big boy. Although this labor was a little more stressful than Luke's, it was well worth the work. He ended up not needing to go to NICU. I am so grateful to the Lord for his protection over Abel throughout this pregnancy and birth.

Abel William Lewis

Introducing Abel William Lewis. He was born on July 3, 2009 at 2:52pm. He weighed in at 8lbs 15.6 oz, and he is 21 & 1/2 inches long. I will update more of the birth story later. Enjoy!

The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

So...I went in for my 39 weeks appointment today, and here are the results.

The Good: 2cm dilated, 60% effaced, scheduled for induction on Friday, July 3rd.
The Bad: Stomach measuring in at 41 & 1/2 weeks
The Ugly: 38lbs gained.....what Abel may be 16lbs at birth??

Praying for a healthy birth, healthy baby, and a healthy Luke (he decided to greet his brother with a 101.9 degree fever today).

38 Weeks and Counting.....

Today, I went in for my 38 week appointment. Last week at the 37 week appointment, I was measuring in at 1 & 1/2 centimeters dilated and 60% effaced. So, today I imagined how she would say that I was measuring 3 centimeters, and that we would need to induce this Friday. I had so much hope in this conversation that it was to my pure disappointment when she advised me that NOTHING HAD CHANGED. Well...that is not completely true, I had gained weight. =)
So....to make the story better, I called my mom to tell her that Abel doesn't seem to be going anywhere, and I am now regretting the prayers that I had made for him to come on his due date. She comforted me by letting me know that she still prays that for him daily. Are you kidding me? Two more weeks. I know two weeks isn't long in real time, but in pregnant time that is equivalent to four months. I'll keep you posted after next weeks appointment.

Update on Abel

Last Friday, we went in for our follow up appointment for Abel. The doctor told us that the dilated kidney had not changed at all. Although, we were praying for a miracle, this news was not completely bad. Without an increase in dilation, the likelihood that something is blocking that kidney from circulating the urine, is less likely. So....we really don't have any clear answers at this point.
On a side note, the Lord used a letter to really speak to me about where I am suppose to stand for Abel. I was given a letter by a woman who felt that the Lord wanted me to have it. The letter was about a story of a woman who had a child that had many complications, but through prayer and fasting, the Lord healed the baby. Now, I am not sure how it all works out, but I really do believe the Lord desires for me to pray and believe. So...that is what I am doing. We will know more after birth, but as for me, I will be praying and believing for a healthy baby boy.

Picture-32 weeks

This is a picture from my baby shower. I am 32 weeks, and Jocelyn is 28 weeks. I am 35 and 1/2 weeks now, and still growing!! =)

Sweet Abel

I wanted to write an update on our little Abel. About three weeks ago, I went in for a routine doctor's appointment where they just do a weigh in and measure my stomach. (Please note, I was only 30 1/2 weeks) To my joyful surprise, my stomach was measuring in at 36 weeks. (Yikes..I know)
In retrospect, I believe this was God's hand on Abel's life, because it is what got us in to do a sonogram. Nervous that the baby may be a 15 pounder, I was scheduled a sonogram for the following week.
The sonogram went well except for one small detail. Little Abel has one kidney that is dilated. This means for some reason urine is getting backed up into this kidney. Once they found this out, they sent us to a specialist where it was confirmed that this was true.
So...here we are, with a diagnosis that assumes that he may have to have surgery after birth, and at this point, there is very little chance that he could heal on his own prior to birth.
As the diagnosis was determined, I just felt in my heart that they did not include God. We go back on June 5th for another sonogram, and we will see then how Abel is doing. I am praying and believing for God to heal him. I don't know how it all works out, but I am trusting in God who is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. I will keep you posted. I just wanted to give God the glory by posting the before.