Happy Birthday James!

Wow, time flies! I can't believe my little guy turns 2 years old today. It seems like yesterday I was sitting in the doctor's office waiting for a normal check-up when my water broke suddenly. The doctor walked in and said, "Looks like we are going to celebrate a birthday today!" What? I couldn't believe it, James was going to arrive 6 weeks early!?! I began to cry as I told the doctor I wasn't ready yet. I still had so many things to do; James' crib wasn't put together, none of his cute little outfits had been washed with Dreft yet, my hospital bag wasn't packed, and I couldn't stop thinking that I had left the house this morning with a sink full of dirty dishes! What a crazy thought! A precious little being was about to enter my world and change it forever and I was thinking about a dirty kitchen! I was also a little bummed that I had only had a piece of toast and hot chocolate for breakfast because I knew the hospital would not feed me until after James was born. But I quickly forgot about my stomach when the pain of the contractions started to really bump up a notch. After 12 hours of labor, I finally requested an epidural and was able to rest a bit during the night. Unfortunately, the epidural brought my progress to a standstill for 7 hours. So the doctor lessened the dosage (which increased the pain) and within 3 hours James was ready to make his grand entrance. My mother, who quickly flew in from FL, pulled out the video camera, Ricky changed into a nice, button-down shirt and I brushed my hair and put on some lipstick to welcome our little peanut. We had the Newsboys Adoration CD (praise and worship) playing in the background. With the third push, out FLEW James Richard Denham IV! (5 lbs 6 oz, 18 inches) A nurse and I gasped at the explosion of baby that the doctor had just caught! Rick's words were, "Oh, look at him!" amidst tears and laughter. I was still in shock at the shear power of that last push that I was still holding my hand over my mouth when the nurse handed him to me. I couldn't help but think to myself, "Thank you Jesus for this precious little gift, your ways and timing are perfect."