From conception to Birth Introducing: Amarisa Hope De Leon, our newest edition to the De Leon clan. Every child is a miracle from God, but this precious little one is a miracle to us. This precious one was a surprise. With my husband being on certain medications, we knew it was unwise to conceive. Yet, on January 12, 2014 I found out that I was expecting another baby. Although this little one was a surprise to us, she definitely was not to God. I was excited, afraid, overwhelmed, and not sure what the Lord was doing. I wrote out my feelings in my diary. January 19, 2014 Dear unborn little one, It's been one week since I found out I was expecting you. I wanted to share you with someone so I told daddy (of course) and your oldest sister... She was thrilled. I was at Walmart. You know those bins in the isles that sell little odds and end? Well, Walmart was selling dye free liquid Benydryl in those bins for 88 cents. I put one in my cart... It was a great deal. My eyes fell on the little pregnancy test in the bin. Now, I had no idea you were starting to grow in my tummy. I bought that little test, but I really had no idea why. After returning home and putting everything away, I took that test... I'm still in awe. The little line showed up that you were here. You see little one, I am 41. You are my 11th child. Many people might frown on me being pregnant. No one will say it out loud, but I'm sure they will think it. Not because of you dear child, but out of concern for my health. I get that too. This is Sunday January 19th. I heard that today is unborn awareness month. Well, I am very aware of you. I'm thankful for you. I want you to know that you ARE wanted and I'm already in love with you. But most of all God is aware of you. “For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.-Psalms 139- KJV God already knows what you look like and how you will be formed. This a great comfort to this tired mama, because i know no matter what God made you special and unique…no one else is like you. “I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” The older I get, the more aware I am of the miracle of conception and birth. How much has to work perfectly to form a created being that nine months from now will enter this world. You were conceived out of two people who love each other very much and a mommy who happens to be very fertile. It's to early to know if God lets me keep you near my heart or if He want you close to His. Either way, you are loved. Mommy There are more little letters written to our little miracle baby. Maybe I'll share those some day. My last baby was born via c-section because she was a breech baby that refused to turn. As much as possible, this baby I wanted to have naturally. After discussing my pregnancy with the OBGYN that delivered my other 5 babies, I realized that I had to find a new doctor and hospital...one that would allow me to try a V-bac. My doctor would have loved to deliver this little one, but the local hospital is not insured for a V-BAC. Through much searching I found 4 CNM's that practice at Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center that would allow me to try a V-BAC. That brings us to our Blessing Day! On September 5th I was not feeling well. I thought I had a touch of the flu. After 9 pregnancies, one would think that by now I would know the signs of labor, but no...I thought I was sick. By noon, I had made myself very familiar with our green bathroom. I started having contractions every 30 min sometimes 15, and 10. They did not really hurt, I still thought I was just tired and did not even think that this was THE DAY. By 3:30pm, I realized that I had better call my husband because maybe this was THE DAY and he should have a heads up. :) I emailed by babysitter to alert her of the possibility of us going to the hospital. We had decided months ago that I was going to allow my three older girls to watch the birth. I told them they were to be seen and NOT heard. They were already packed and ready to go. I started gathering my things together still not really believing this was "for real". All the sudden at 4:00pm, labor really started with contractions 5-7 min apart...but not hurting much. We left for the hospital at 5:00. By the time all 5 of us got in the car and started the 90 minute drive to Columbus, the contractions were harder and 2-3 min apart so Michael was going 90mph at some points. The cool thing is someone took our car to fix it and we had their car. IT WAS A NICE CAR!!! BUT Michael did NOT want to have this baby in their car. :) He was remembering the time our number 6 baby WAS born in the van in front of the hospital. When we got to the hospital I was 5cm dilated and 60% effaced, the babies head was not right on the cervix but was actually a little crooked. I labored very slowly. I had prayed that this labor would be fast, quick, and safe. I was not looking forward to labor...who ever is? But I kept picturing in my mind the tiny newborn prize at the end. For the next 7 hours the contractions stayed 4-5 min apart. God did not answer my prayer for a quick delivery, but he did give me Grace for a easy delivery. Even though the contractions were 4-5 min apart, they were not excruciatingly painful. In fact, I could talk and walk through them. However, I also knew that until I was dying in pain, this baby would NOT be born. But in the meantime, I had rest between them. At 8:00pm, I was only dilated to 7. I think that without my dear husband, I would have given up by this point. (like that is possible) I am so grateful for his love and devotion... Having a midwife in the hospital has the advantage of having her the entire labor process. If fact, I truly believe that I would have labored longer and ended up with a c-section if she had not been with me. Until the babies head was on my cervix straight, she was not going to be born. Because of this, my midwife had me labor in various positions to turn baby around. In the meantime, the girls were taking selfies trying to pass the time QUIETLY! :) Melody was quietly reading. Finally at midnight, she was in the perfect position and the contractions suddenly became horrible. (Which was good). As I hit transition, and had that "I can't do this anymore" moment, the midwife had me roll onto my side. Two contractions and one LARGE push later, our 11th baby was born Earth side at 1:18am Saturday morning. The next three pictures are of the big girls. This was Saturday about 4:30am. Amarisa had been born at 1:18am. They had been up all night with me at Amarisa's birth and had not slept yet. After a 24 hour stay in the hospital, Amarisa and I came home to a houseful of excitement. I am enjoying every tiny part of her! Praise the Lord for all His gifts!
2 Comments
God Has Answered With Love Have you every heard someone say, "Time flys" or "This year has gone by so fast"? Well, I am about to say it again! WHERE HAS THE TIME GONE? Sometimes I feel like I am flying from one task to the next. I am defiantly not complaining, because I love the life I live...just stating the facts. The homeschool year is over...Do you hear the clapping of applause coming from my house? The grades for next year go as follows:
By the way, you probably have not met the latest little angel to grace our home? Isn't she adorable? We all agree that she is a keeper. After a long 39 weeks of pregnancy, I went into Labor on a Wednesday evening. I was having contractions every 10 min that did not really hurt - which would have been great except she was still laying breech. Not really sure what to do, (I know a mom of 9 children should be an expert) we went ahead and drove to the hospital. Walking into the ER at 10:30 at night is usually a quiet experience. Not this time, that place was hopping and not with patients! There were quite of few nurses and "other people" standing around. Obviously, I asked the question on my mind? "What in the world is going on"? The lady as the desk kindly replied with, "Lions and tigers and Bears"! What? I should have replied with,"Oh My"! (I am really not that quick on my feet.) Yes, it's was true, the night I was going to give birth to a beautiful baby girl, the city of Zanesville was overrun with Lions and tigers and Bears! Actually, they killed a bear that night right across from my hospital in the Wal-mart parking lot. Anyway... She probably would have come quickly...because I was dilated to 6 by the time I was checked in the hospital. No one was really in emergency mode (neither was I) until I was slammed with a HUGE contraction...I knew from experience...this baby was going to come soon. My doctor would not try a breech delivery, so I was given a shot to stop my contractions, a full epidural (which was my first one ever), and was taken to the OR so this little one could be turned manually. Shaking uncontrollably from the shot and epidural, I was not enjoying this delivery. The docs really tried to turn her by pushing and pulling and rotating... She was defiantly stuck!! At this point, it was 2:30 in the morning, prepped for a C-section, shaking uncontrollably from the epidural, and waiting...Because twins were being born in the OR next to me, I waited for a little under 2 hours for my doctor. Laying there on the OR table, I thanked God silently for the life of this little one and prayed that the Lord would see me through this quickly. Charity Elianna De Leon was born soon after with a healthy yell... Elianna - " God has answered", Charity - "love". God has answered with love!
Today one year ago I lost a little boy. He was ushered into the arms of Jesus before I got to hold him, cuddle, watch him grow, and teach him about our great Saviour! Yet now he knows more about my Saviour than I do...Heaven is a sweeter place! Zachariah Benjamin was born at 7:00am on March 19th at 17 weeks… A beautiful, miniature, perfect 8 inch long, little boy. All the fingers, toes, eyes, ears, face, nose, legs, arms, perfectly in place. Two weeks earlier, we had named him Zachariah. His name means “The Lord Remembers” I am so thankful that He does!! He is in the presence of Jesus.” Through this last year, I have lost two other angel babies...I never got a chance to meet and name those two...yet Jesus has. I also have met many other women who have experienced heartbreak. If I had not lost Zachariah, I never could have really understood the pain and loss losing a little one can cause...I could try...but not really understand. Now I do. I told a lady recently, “Yes the pain eases, and time does heal; yet the hole of that missing child does not go away.” The following women are ones that I know personally... Stephanie Dickerson “Nehemiah Benjamin Ray's earthly vessel was delivered at 8:55 March 1, 2011 at 24 weeks gestation. The placenta was not developing correctly.This is the hardest thing that we have ever had to deal with. Nehemiah is with the LORD JESUS. Nehemiah will always be remembered in our heart, he taught me a lot in this time on how to love my wife. Nehemiah means Jehovah Comforts: GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME, ALL THE TIME GOD IS GOOD! Proverbs 3:5-7” Kylie Manor Moye "On the day of Shane's birth March 19, 2010, he was 24 weeks and 3 days gestation, weighing in at 1lb 11oz. 12.5 inches long. On the day he was ushered into heaven, he was 24 weeks 4 days old , weighing in at 7lbs .07oz 19 inches long! Throughout his 6 month stay in the nicu, Shane had 6 major surgeries, too many tests to count, he was fed, not fed, fed, not fed..., one infection after another, fingers poked, heals poked (many times a day ), but through it all he was a fighter and our little hero.” Mary Lynn Van Gelderen "On March 23, 2010 little Emma Van Gelderen went home to be with the Lord. Emma passed away at about 25 weeks along. Her earthly body was buried at the Bill Rice Ranch." Four little children...much prayed for by their parents, yet entering into the presence of Jesus before their parents got to spend much time with their earthly bodies. Yet as a believer, each of these mothers will see their little one again when we reach heaven. Not only will we have a chance to see them but have the opportunity to spend all of eternity with all of our loved one in the presence of Jesus. How do I know this? Because I have accepted Christ's substitute on the cross from my sins. The death that was meant for me because of my sins, Jesus took upon himself, taking my death and all my sins on Him. Three days later, doing what no one has ever done, He resurrected from that earthly grave to conquer sin, death, and hell! As a 21 year old young lady, I repented of my sins and received the Lord Jesus Christ as my own Saviour. I know that each one of those ladies have trusted Christ as their substitute for their sin as well! How about you? Will I see you in Heaven? If any of these children could talk right now, maybe they would quote from the Psalms... Psalm 139. For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them. KJV Michael and I were discussing about the problems of Labor and Delivery in America the other evening.
Did you know the the United States has perhaps the most advanced health care system in the world, but it also has the second-highest infant mortality rate of any industrialized nation? Why is this? I have had four different doctors, and one midwife; and have delivered in five different hospitals. My experience has differed with each. It is a rare thing for a doctor to see a full natural birth...Many women don't know what a natural birth experience ever is. Is Birth a Medical condition or a natural part of giving life? In 90% of cases, it is a natural part of giving life...but many women are not getting that picture when going to the hospital to give birth. Many times a typical labor goes like this...
My husband and I were discussing Stephen's birth because we had made it to the hospital, but not out of the van. Therefore, he was born in the van. However, my water did not break until the time of birth causing the labor pains to not be as intense. The next day at the supper table Stephen, who is now 7, said, “Mom, I heard you talking to dad and now I know why I was born in the van!” “Why?" I replied with a straight face. “Because,” he said, “You did not get my water pumped With a straight face...I agreed, then quickly excused myself for a quiet laugh! |
AuthorGod reached down in love and rescued Cassandra from her sin at the age of 21: changing her life, purpose, and focus forever. Archives
February 2019
|