Another Big Day in History!

Today we brought home little Paul David who was born on Saturday. Incidentally, as we rode home from the hospital, we listened to a program on National Public Radio where the speaker was emphasizing the fact again that our culture rarely understands the value of a child. Not only is a child a direct gift from God Himself, but it is the opportunity for parents to impact the world in a way that is rarely possible in any other way. It is amazing to me that more people do not realize the footprint they could leave in the timeline of history by just investing more of their time in children. While many Christians rarely directly disciple more than just one or two people during their lifetime, I have the opportunity now to be deeply involved in discipling and nurturing ten people in hopes of their making it to heaven--just by being a mother!

We are also grateful at how God works in response to heart-felt crying out to Him in a time of need. Just a few days before Paul was born, we were shocked to find out that he had a goiter on his neck--discovered through an ultrasound. Immediately, our plans for a quiet birth at a little small town hospital were pulled out from under us as we discovered that we were being rescheduled to deliver at a major hospital an hour from home. Not only that, but instead of a doctor that had delivered many of our children, we would have a whole team of doctors brought in from a nearby university hospital. The possibility of this goiter obstructing the baby's airway the minute he was born was a great concern so although it was totally against my nature, we began to prepare for this big "production."

To make a long story short, God began to work and change the hearts and minds of the doctors without us ever saying a thing. The next day, the lead doctor called back and said they had decided that it would be best for us to at least attempt a natural birth instead of a c section. This was enough for me to heartily thank the Lord. My main prayer was that God would touch the baby in such a way that the second it was born, before the doctors began all their procedures on him, he would cry so loudly and vigorously that everyone would know that this child did not have an obstructed airway!

At the moment of birth, there were nine doctors, specialists, and various medical personnel in the room ready to assist the baby when he was born. However, at about 5:15 pm on Saturday, I believe that the Great Physician walked into the room also because shortly afterward a very loud cry came out of some very little lungs, and the specialists started packing their bags. In five minutes the room was clearing out, and we had the great news that our little boy was going to be just fine!

On a lighter note, I have once again discovered that even in dire circumstances, if we choose to, we can usually find something to laugh about if we look hard enough. For hours, I was just minutes away from a c section during the labor and delivery. Because I did not wanted to be "carved up," (as I like to call it) a nurse was faithfully helping me by flipping me back and forth from side to side in an attempt to keep the baby's heart rate up. The doctor, noting the trouble I was going to in order to avoid a c section mentioned that I was getting the "rotisserie chicken" treatment. What he didn't understand was that from my viewpoint, it's much better to be a rotisserie chicken than a carved turkey!

Thanks to everyone that knew about our situation and prayed for us this last week. We're thanking God for adding arrow numer ten to our quiver. The blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich! Proverbs 10:22