Grace

Five years ago today I was a week past my due date. I had a near perfect NST, but right at the end there was a blip that kinda concerned my doctor. He called in his colleague, and they consulted. He suggested I go home, 40 minutes away, and come back the very next day for another NST. His colleague suggested I go to the nearby hospital directly to be induced.

I'm not one to choose induction, but I felt the Lord prompting me to pick the hospital option. I wasn't afraid, just had a certainty that it was the best choice.

I called Steadfast at work, and told him I was going home to pack for the hospital, and could he meet me at home. He did, and we went to the hospital. They put me in a labor room and I settled in bed, Steadfast got out the work he had brought with him and settled in for the long haul... after all, Catherine had taken 36 hours to arrive.

While waiting for the OB on call to come in and sign the papers to get the pitocin started, I had a wee little contraction. About five minutes later I had one that kind of hurt. I told Steadfast "maybe I won't need to be induced"... and about five minutes later, I had the urge to push. Steadfast said "you're kidding!" After all, it was April Fool's Day.. but I was not kidding. He called the nurse who checked me and said I was fully dilated. I said "you're kidding!" After all, it was April Fool's Day... but she called the OB... STAT.

The OB came in and checked and said "go ahead and push" so I did, and as I did my water broke... and the cord prolapsed, and the OB noticed there wasn't a head presenting... he said "it's breech!" and it was a whirlwind tour to the O.R. for an emergency c-section. When they got in, she was apparently transverse, not breech.

If I had had that 10-15 minute labor at home, we never would have made the 40 minute drive to the hospital.

Early on in the pregnancy the Lord gave us the name Hannah Grace (Lydia's real name)... a bit odd, we thought, as Hannah *also* means Grace... but afterwards we realized Grace was overly abundant throughout her birth. Double Grace. Grace abundant. Grace multiplied. God is Good.

Happy Birthday, sweet Hannah Grace.