Azariya Faith

Our beautiful baby girl was born May 26th, 2011 at 2:20am.

Azariya Faith

7lbs 14oz

20in

Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought that by the time I was 28 I would have 5 beautiful and wonderful daughters! So here I am wondering why I am so blessed with such a full life with such beautiful girls! I know not everyone gets as excited for us anymore, but I am blessed to have people in my life who are excited for our 5th daughter like they were for our 1st. She is blessed with wonderful family and friends who see her as a blessing from the Lord.

Labor and delivery this time was so different and can be summed up with two words...BACK LABOR! I can see why people say they will never forget the pains of labor and that they will never have another kid! Although I can't say that I will NEVER have another kid I can say that I will never forget the pains of labor this time! Actually to tell you the truth my back still hurts a bit. I went in at 7am on Wednesday to be induced. My doctor is a very natural type and wanted it to be as natural as possible. He uses a gel to induce labor. The first dose was given at 9am and contractions started to come a little at a time. He came to check on me around noon but wanted to wait and see what would happen since my contractions were coming about 5 mins apart. He didn't do a 2nd dose until 4pm. He was feeling good about the progress and had a good feeling that he would be back around 2am to deliver our little baby girl! (Honestly I didn't think that would happen. He also said that the day before at my apt. He was sure I would go into labor without having to be induced! Silly man!) Labor was progressing well and with each contraction my husband was there to help me through them. But as I was nearing the end not even my husband was able to comfort me. Before he would rub my back during contractions and it helped tons...now as soon as he touched me it made it hurt even more. The only thing that I was able to do was cry out to God for His help. It's at the end of labor that I start to question if my decision to do a natural labor and delivery was right. I was just ready to not be in pain anymore.

Well it came time to get ready to deliver the baby. They called the doctor to let him know and started getting the room ready. The end was in sight and I was so excited to finally meet my little baby girl! So here is the funny thing my doctor walked into my room at 2am! WOW! He was good at estimating that time! As he walked in with excitement he said "Here comes number 5 of 10...right?" Yes my doctor is pretty funny but at the time I didn't find him funny at all! D quickly said "I think she's thinking this is 5 of 5 right now!" He also asked me how many pushes I thought it would take. My answer was 2! I was not ready to do 2 hours like I did with my last baby...but I was also thinking that in reality it would be 2 hours. But to my surprise and my doctors surprise it only took about 5 pushes. I was determined. I think it also helped that instead of an almost 10lb baby she was a little under 8lbs.

I was so thankful that it was over and that we had a healthy baby girl. My doctor couldn't wait to go home and tell his wife that we had another baby girl. They have 3 girls and no boys! I feel like life is so full right now. Even though days can be stressful with so much going on and kids dealing with change in the house our house is full of joy.

Psalm 127:3-5

Behold, children are a gift of the LORD,
The fruit of the womb is a reward.
Like arrows in the hand of a warrior,
So are the children of one’s youth.
How blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them;
They will not be ashamed
When they speak with their enemies in the gate.

Babies Babies Babies!

No I have not had my baby. But thinking about the delivery and how it could be any day now has me thinking about the day I had my other girls. I can remember each day very clearly.

Minnesota birth

The Inquisitor was a whole new experience. I had never done anything like this before so it was all new to me. Being pregnant, being in labor and having a baby. She was born on a beautiful fall day. I actually went into the hospital on her due date and she was born the day after. Labor was hard and I didn't think it was going to be as hard as it was. Near the end I spiked a high fever and then they started to worry about her. I didn't push for long and you could tell there was some concern for her health as doctors and nurses gathered around her little bed. I was able to hold her for a few seconds and then they rushed her off to the NICU where she was the largest baby. They knew she had some kind of infection and she was having respiratory problems, but there seemed to be no answers for all of our questions. Being first time parents it was terrible experience. And our hearts were so relieved when we were finally able to bring her home.

Asia birth

The Emotionalist was probably the most exciting birth. We were living in Asia at the time and gave birth in a local hospital there. I was the first westerner to give birth there and they were so excited. It was amazing to me because I had a nurse by my side the whole time I was in labor. With every contraction she would rub my back or my belly which made the whole process less painful. She was an amazing nurse and even though would couldn't understand each other because of a language barrier she knew what it was that I needed. When it was time for an epidural a man walked in that they claimed was the anesthesiologist. I was sure he was a taxi driver! (Anyone who has ever lived where we did would understand that one!) I told my husband that the man was not going to touch me and I would do it all natural if that's what it meant. Once they told him he was no longer needed he sat down on the couch in my room and was going to watch the American give birth. I kindly asked my interpreter to ask him to leave. So she had my doctor tell him and she said "American babies look the same as Asians when they are born." He got up and left. But that still left two doctors for me, a midwife, 2 nurses for me, 2 doctors for the baby and 2 nurses for the baby. How there was room for my husband and I in that small room I am not sure. But she was born with no problems and I had given birth in a foreign country and naturally for the first time!

California birth

The destroyer was born just as stubborn as she is now. She wanted to come how she wanted to and she didn't want to make it easy on me. I was determined to have another natural birth, but felt so pressured to have an epidural that I didn't have the power to say no anymore and finally just let them do it. She was not turning how she was suppose to and by the end of it all they were talking c-section and I was so fed up with the dr and nurses that I was just ready to have one to get it all done with. Thank God it didn't come to that. He was giving me 15 more mins for her to turn and she did! She was my smallest baby at 8 pounds even and she was so cuddly right after she was born. The hospital was so loud and crazy that I was happy to leave 24 hours after I gave birth!

Iowa birth

The diva came in style. After having to be induced twice I was sure that I would have to be induced again. But she came without having to be induced. After my horrible experience at the last hospital I made sure they knew I didn't want an epidural and that if they kept pushing it I might walk out and have the baby at home! Ok...so I probably wouldn't do that. I had a pretty easy labor which was good because actually having her was horrible. 2 hours of pushing...2 HOURS! When the doctor caught her she lifted her up and said "Wow she looks like she's 2 months old!" That's right she was my large baby 9lbs 11oz!

So I will have another Iowa birth. This will be strange for me to give birth in the same place more than once. I am a little nervous that I am going to have a rather large baby, but we have been praying for a healthy sized baby that won't be larger than The Diva. Looking forward to sharing some great news with you all!