If you want the ending of the matter immediately: all is currently well.

If you want the story: keep reading.

We had a wonderful home birth three days ago, despite being eleven days past the due date. Overall, I think that despite the insanity of the past year with downsizing our home (are you listening to our story?), the pregnancy itself was very good. I didn’t have any of the nausea, the heartburn, the lack of energy (thank God…how else could I have moved an entire household?). So between the pregnancy and the birth, I think I did best with this baby than with any of the other seven. We won’t talk about the afterpains.

After Baby came out, however, it was clear to everyone that not only did she need a little oxygen from the midwife (her color was a bit dusky), but that she had Down Syndrome. It feels a lot like deja vu….a second daughter with Downs. You can read Ruby’s birth story here. Ruby is now six.

So here I am, once again in a hospital with a daughter plugged into all kinds of machinery. There are some differences, however. This little one has far better muscle tone, had a great birth to expel all of that lung fluid (Ruby was c-section), and she nurses better than many of my kids ever did. The downside of where we are, however, is that I’m considered a “visitor” and cannot have food in the room at all (it’s NICU; no one can), I have to walk halfway around the floor to get to a restroom, and there is no one here to take care of ME except my husband and whomever else happens to be visiting.

We are waiting for my baby to wean off of the oxygen and to maintain good blood sugar results. So far she is doing real well, and we covet your prayers to have her come home speedily. Please pray for me, too; healing here is more of a challenge and I am feeling it. My husband Tom is taking lots of notes, so be sure to subscribe to the podcast if you want to hear more when it comes out.

Please join me in welcoming, celebrating, and praying for Poppy.

Blessings,