Surprise Blessing

As most of you know by now Matt and I have welcomed our new baby girl into this world. Kate was born on April 6, 2009 – exactly one month before her due date. Who would have known that on that Sunday morning as I performed in church service all day and went to luncheons afterward that I was actually in labor. Later I realized that those stomach pains were actually contractions. I mean how was I supposed to know. But later that evening there was no doubting it that something was about to happen. My water broke at home around 9 p.m. and after that it was on. My contractions went from every six minutes to every three minutes in the time it took Matt to drive me to the hospital, which was about 15 minutes. We got to the hospital around 10 p.m. and checked in quickly to find out I was well on my way to having a baby. Matt and I were shocked to say the least. I really was not prepared. I only had one day off from work and I was supposed to have one month. This was not the plan – and I like things to go my way.  In that wonderful leisurely month off of work I had planned on nesting and resting. But, God had another plan in mind and I soon realized there was nothing I could do to stop it.

My contractions became constant with no relief from pain around 11 p.m and that is when the nurse told me that my baby would be here soon and I would not be able to get my much anticipated epidural. No drugs, lots of pain, definitely not what I had expected. I had imagined being laid up in a hospital bed for hours listening to my mp3 player, watching tv, chatting with family and friends, as my epidural did its job.  But life is usually not at all what you expect, and if it was that wouldn’t be very exciting at all. So at 12:12 p.m, Katherine Joy Forbis entered this big bright world with all ten fingers and all ten toes. She was perfect and beautiful and Matt and I were filled with indescribable joy.

As I look back on Kate’s first few weeks of life it seems like a cloudy daze. I was tired, in pain, and was not feeling like the mother I wanted to be. I was irritable at Matt, at myself, and at the world, but I kept praying that God would bring me through this tough experience, and of course he did. Kate is now six weeks old. My hormones are back where they are supposed to be and I feel an overwhelming peace about my new life. I love being a mother. It has brought me more joy and taught me more about love than I ever imagined. How can anyone look at a newborn baby and not believe there is an awesome God that created them. I know Kate is a blessing from God and one that I will be thankful for everyday for the rest of my life – well, at least until she’s a teenager. Thank you Lord for this blessing and help guide me to the wisdom, patience, and love I need to be a good mother. Amen.