He's here!

Forgive the delay in posting, but the happy news is that Owen has arrived! He was born Saturday, February 13, at 7:25 a.m. We've been home a few days and are doing really well. Things are busy, as you can imagine, just settling into life with all four kids at home now, but we are so thankful and very happy to have this little one outside Mama where we can see him and love on him! I'm working on posting the story of his birth, and all the great things God did through that experience. It was more wonderful than I could've imagined, and we have precious memories of bringing Owen into the world very differently than our other children. Hopefully, I'll have it written and posted before the weekend is over. Thank you for your prayers throughout this pregnancy and your encouragement when it seemed to be never-ending. :-) He was certainly worth the wait!

39 weeks

We have made it another week, with another milestone. The past 24 hours have involved steady contractions, usually varying from 7 minutes apart, to 10 at their least frequent. They are still coming, and I'm having a good bit of backache and cramps, so am hopeful that this is the early stage of labor and today may be Owen's birthday. My appointment was with Dr. Mc this morning, and I'm dilated to 3 cm, so those contractions may have helped us progress a little! He is very positive that from the exam, it looks like my body is getting ready, and he advised us to go home and stay busy to make the time pass, but that he hoped we'd be at the hospital tonight or tomorrow. We are praying that Owen comes today if it is God's will, since it is James' mom's birthday and would be a wonderful gift for her. If he doesn't though, we think it will be soon, and are so very excited! Our families are just waiting on the word that more is happening, and so we are trying to be calm and prepared, for whenever that moment is. It's so encouraging to know that God has Owen's birthday already planned and knows each moment that will lead up to that time.

38 weeks, and holding!

Today I met with Dr. C., who was encouraging and actually gave me some exciting news. After no progress the last few visits, today there was some! Hooray!! I measured at 2 cm dilated, and 80% effaced, and Owen has dropped some more to -1. I'm very excited, and told her though I don't mind if he needs to wait a little longer, I was hoping something was progressing so that they wouldn't feel pressured to schedule a c-section. She was thankful too, and said that there wasn't a rush to do that at all. I know that it may still be a while till he comes, but am hopeful we're moving in the right direction. I was also 2 cm, and 80% at the last appointment I had with Abigail, and I had her in the middle of the night afterward, so we can be hopeful.... :-)

Other than some weird, awful reflux that woke me up the past two nights, I am still feeling o.k. overall. I'm just ready emotionally, because we want to see him!

We have Owen's corner decorated with his crib up, James is back at work, and my parents are back in town after being in Florida for a few days for my Grandpa's funeral, so we are as ready as we can be for him to come at anytime. Please do continue to pray that God's timing is perfect, and that James will be able to be here when things start. Thank you!!