William Bradly Mendenhall
born Wednesday April 20, 2011
@ 9:46pm
7lbs 10oz and 19 inches long
I am amazed yet again just how intricate our bodies are. How well designed and put together God made us. If ever in doubt of just how well we are made, the delivery room is the place to be reminded of how great our God really is. Shaun and I again had the privilege of bringing baby Mendenhall 7 into the world on Wednesday April 20, 2011 at 9:46 pm. It was a really long day. I awoke that morning not feeling real great. Had some discomfort in my lower back and as the day progressed so did my contractions. However, they were not strong enough nor were they very close. By 5 that evening we decided to head to my parents who are only 3 minutes from the hospital. The contractions at this point were still pretty sporadic and not painful at all. We decided to take a walk around my parents neighborhood at about 6pm and by 7 they were getting more consistent and by 8:30pm Shaun and my mom were taking me into the hospital with contractions ranging from 3 to 5 minutes apart and lasting about 60 to 90 seconds. (now that doesn't sound long, but when you are contracting that minute to a minute and a half feels like FOREVER!) Once at the hospital I was checked and told that I was 5 1/2 to 6 centimeters. I was asked if I wanted any pain medication. Early on I had decided that being our last baby I didn't want any medication. So I said "no" very hesitantly. As the contractions continued to grow stronger and closer I remember telling Shaun that I just can't do this. He was so strong. He kept saying "yes you can, you are doing great". 9:40 the midwife checked me again and it was time. She broke my water and our precious baby boy was born only 5 minutes later. It was truly amazing! Just another example of God knowing what He is doing. As Terri, my midwife placed him on my chest to give us time to bond another doctor came and scooped him up and they began to monitor him very closely. Apparently when they broke my water there was maconium in it and when William took his first breath he aspirated it into his little body. As he lay there on the table I looked over and saw Shaun and my mom talking with the doctor and they were discussing his struggle with breathing and so forth. To lay there, still being taken care of myself, knowing that something is not right with your new little blessing there are so many feelings and emotions that come rushing in. I really didn't know anything that was going on. No one was talking to me, and yet I knew something wasn't right. Immediately I began to talk to my Heavenly Father, just asking that He would take care of this little life. This precious, innocent little being that He created. About an hour later they left us hold him and I got to feed him. However, we were instructed on what to watch for during the night and throughout the next day. So, carefully I watched. I watched his little chest go up and down and listened to his little grunts and groans that we so easily forget they make. He seemed perfect to me. Beautiful, handsome, just perfect. As we entered the next morning they monitored him and by the time Shaun got back to the hospital at 9:30am the doctor came in and told us that he checked him and his lungs were completely clear and he was going to be fine. PRAISE JESUS! I cannot express the emotions that come rushing in when you have your prayers answered in such a way. No infection, no damage, no nothing, just perfect!
We are now a week and a half into our new season with William and it is so great to watch him adapt and change. To know exactly how he started in the womb to where he is today amazes me. God just absolutely amazes me. The brilliance of new life. The beauty of creation and to witness not only the birth of a baby, but the birth of Springtime. To sit and watch things bloom from day to day and week to week. To understand and grasp that it is nothing that I have done, but only God alone. I am in complete awe. To know that no matter what comes our way, He is faithful to the end. He is there with us through the pain, and gives us the strength to get through. And He is still there in the end of that struggle. God is faithful! Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for HIS compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:23
