Wesley Haddon VanRyckeghem

Oh my! I can still hardly believe my little babe is here with us! It seems like they live in the womb for so long that it becomes their little home! But on Saturday (Oct. 16th), the exact due date, my little man decided he had had enough, and came out to meet us. Or maybe it was finally me who decided it was time...whatever the case. So Saturday I woke up feeling fine but READY. So I headed to the YMCA and did the stair-stepper for 20 min. I then googled 'natural ways to induce labor', and this very helpful blog came up. So after weighing my options I took two tablespoons of castor oil with orange juice and then drank several cups of hot raspberry leaf tea. Clay was at work so Nelly and I took the girls shopping. Half way through we stopped back at home because my tummy was going crazy...um, the RUNS! After our shopping I started dinner and at about 4:30 I felt a few contractions. Nothing that hurt but enough to remind me to cover my car seat with a trash bag and beach towel! During dinner I had several more and by about 6:30 I told Clay we should be safe and pack a few things just in case. On our way to my sister's harvest party my water broke in the van. Then the 'real' contractions started. We dropped Giselle off with my parents and headed to the hospital. I called my midwife and told her my water had broke and we were on the way (25 minute drive) and she said she should be there in 45 minutes. On the drive to the hospital I told Clay I was really nervous and needed him to pray for me. He prayed and I felt the Lord very near to me. Because my midwife was not there when we arrived I was submitted to a regular delivery room to wait. There the nurse made me stay on the bed and monitor the baby. My nurse kept calling the baby 'she' so Clay & I assumed we were having another girl! My midwife got there about 20 minutes after us and measured me at only 5cm. With my back killing me and thinking I had hours left of labor I calmly turned to Clay & said, 'If I ask for an epidural you need to listen to me'- in which he replied simply, 'no'. I looked to the nurse for support and she said once I was were I wanted to be, the hot-tub, I could make that decision then. I got in a wheel chair and went down two halls to the midwifery center and had two contractions along the way. By the time I climbed into the tub I felt like I could push. I asked my midwife if that was ok since I was only at 5cm and she said my body was progressing fast and i could do whatever felt best. At this point things got crazy as I seriously felt like I pushed him out within 3 contractions. I was in total shock at how fast he came, along with finding out we had a son! He peed on me first thing and I held him close for the longest time. What a miracle new life is. The Lord was so gracious to me as well. From when we arrived at the hospital to his birth it was less than 30 minutes! Our dear family rushed to greet Wesley and shower us with love. After everyone left Clay & I both felt overwhelmed by how blessed we are, especially by all the family we have who love us.

I had to add this picture of the kitchen we bought Giselle- Brookie and her are starting to play together-