A Home Birth within a Hospital

A Home Birth within a Hospital

On July 29th 2007 seated in my doctor’s office holding my husband Paul’s hand tightly, we received the news that we were expecting.  I met the wonderful news with tears of Joy, amazement, and tears of fear.  This was indeed a miracle pregnancy and a miracle baby.  Only a year before in June of 2006 my Husband and junior high …

Journey of healing

The journey of my pregnancy and birth with my third child was one of anticipation, joy, excitement, grief, anxiety, fear, and most of all healing. I became pregnant for the fourth time in May 2008, three months after our second daughter, Gabrielle, was stillborn at 26 weeks gestation.   She had a chromosomal condition known as Turner’s syndrome which meant …

The True Strength of a Man

The True Strength of a Man

Almost five years have passed since I learned the true meaning of helplessness.  An evening that started with a romantic comedy and some popcorn quickly turned into an emotional prizefight in which I was being battered.  Learned instincts tell men to fight back in these types of situations, but there was no opponent to be seen.  My inability to fight …

Another Answered Prayer

Another Answered Prayer

Our first answered prayer, a beautiful little girl named Kailie Sera Jolene was born on June 21, 2003. Although I had had my appendix removed when I was 18.5 weeks pregnant with her, my pregnancy, labor and delivery was absolutely wonderful. We had midwives and had labored at home and then given birth at the hospital, but went home to …

Finding the bliss

Finding the bliss

Giving birth is one of the most normal everyday kind of things, while at the same time so miraculous.  I still get spun out by the fact that a birthing woman’s body  is the exact spot in the universe that splits open and allows a new soul to come into this existence. I feel so honoured that I get to …

Things are Different

Things are Different

When Allison told me that she was pregnant it was a very surreal feeling.  I felt somewhere between excitement (feeling that we are finally here) and shock (we’re really going to be parents). When week 11 came, it was time for our midwife appointment. Our midwife would try and hear the heartbeat, our excitement began to build.  Upon leaving the …

The Place Where Hawks Fly

The Place Where Hawks Fly

On November 23rd, 2009 I awoke around 2:00 a.m. with mild contractions that were seven minutes apart. This kept going until 6:00 or 7:00 a.m. I called my midwife JoanMargaret to tell her what was happening. She encouraged me to nap. I scrambled through the baby name book for a name that popped into my head upon waking. I found …

one day in july

One Day in July

Your father went into Banff on Friday July 25th, 2008 in the evening. He rode his motorcycle out there in case he needed to get back quickly to me.  I had a feeling the contractions would start that evening, so I asked your Nana to go to the movies with me as a distraction.  Once I got home I lost …

walking inn the moonlight

Walking in the Moonlight

It was the weekend of December 12, 2009, the coldest weekend of the year, and we were moving into our new home – I was 39 weeks pregnant. We were planning a home birth for number three so I was relieved to be settling into our new “nest” prior to her arrival. Just as in the past, my due date …