Birth of Seraphia Maria

Sunday is supposed to be a day of rest, unless your water breaks in unison with the alarm going off at 6 a.m. 

Our first little Minnesotan came into the world at St. John's Hospital in Maplewood at 10:39 a.m. weighing 7 lbs. 7 oz. and measuring 19 in. long.  I met the doctor for the first time that morning. My doctor wasn't available. That has been the case for the last 4 babies. I was ecstatic over the doctor on call. He was the kindest OB I'd ever met. His bedside manner was comparable to that of Mother Teresa and he loved children. When you have an epidural, you're at 10 cm and close to being fully effaced, you can calmly ask the doctor questions. So I began the interrogation. He had 5 children, had to give some little ones back to God and adopted others. He had a warm and generous heart. I couldn't have been in better hands.

 

I also remembered to bring a first class relic of St. Therese the Little Flower with us for added protection. Fr. Meney had given this to me about 6 years ago before he had been temporarily assigned to a parish in England. God is so good! He knew my heart and had desired her relic, but I never petitioned Him for it.  He gave it as a surprise gift through the hands of a priest.

After a conversation in the wee morning hours with one of my nurses about all my deliveries and how things have been relatively uneventful with all vaginal births, the nurse looked at this cross, pointed to it, and said I was blessed because of Him. Absolutely.

Later in the afternoon the siblings got to meet their new sister. I wish I could have secretly recorded how they all came quietly in and remained in awe over her newness and littleness. It's a priceless moment and everyone wants to hold the baby first. We start with the younger ones and work our way up. There's a lot of love and smiles in the room!

Happy Birthday, Seraphia Maria! We are so happy you are here!