After checking in at the hospital they had to wait for the doctor on call from the doctor's office. He came in and introduced himself and got the short history of why we were there. Then he said he was heading ot the other hospital where he had two other ladies in active labor about ready to deliver soon, but he would be back soon to go ahead and break the water. The contractions were becoming uncomfortable, but not too bad by this point. About 3:30, Laura called her folks to ask what road they were on, and to her surprise her mom replied "Frankfor Ave." So she gave them directions to just come down to the hospital instead of to the house where Forest's parents were holding down the fort with Nathanael and Hannah. Shortly after they arrived in the room, the doctor returned to get things going. Since labor wasn't too painful yet, and it was nearing dinnertime, Forest and Laura sent her parents to the house to eat dinner with his parents and Nathanael and Hannah.
Forest and Laura continued to surf the web and watch TV while waiting for active labor to increase in intensity. Around 7pm while watching "Cash Cab" and breathing through contractions they called the house to invite the moms to the birth of their baby. Surprisingly, trivia TV can work pretty well for distracting from contractions. Laura's parents decided to come up to the hospital while Forest's parents stayed at the house to put the other two children to bed. Laura's dad quickly decided to just read his book in the waiting room and come in after it was all over. Laura's mom, once again, took position as second labor coach. She was able to attend Nathanael's birth too, and it was nice to have her help in the delivery room again. At about 8pm the contractions were intense and Laura asked the nurse to check her progress. Still at about 9 cm it wasn't time. About two contractions later, Laura felt low pressure and called the nurse to come in again. Again, only about 9 cm. Now the doctor's assistant and baby nurse were in the room preparing for the arrival of the little one. After a couple more contractions, Laura felt the "urge to push" and the nurse came in again and said it was almost time and the doctor was on his way. One contraction later, Laura said "she's coming!" Still without a doctor in the room she refrained from pushing as best she could, but her body was ready to be done with being pregnant. The doctor came in and was getting washed and gloved and into position just in time to catch our new baby girl! Laura only had to push once to help with the shoulder and there she was, at 8:21 pm we welcomed Talitha Moriah, 7 lbs 2 oz, 19.5 in. Praise the Lord she was healthy and continues to be healthy.
Nathanael and Hannah both adore her. Hannah was a little upset at first, since Mommy didn't pick her up anymore. But after 3 weeks, and a ice storm, and staying at friend's houses, now back at home and back to the familiar she has settled into being a great big sister. She is always looking for her, and when she cries, she comes running to see what she can do to help. Nathanael is again a great big brother. He wants to hold her and kiss her and talk to her all the time. He even helps bounce her in the bouncey seat while Laura cooks to help keep her calm. He enjoys holding her and just looking at her. He imagines what she thinks of him, "she likes me!" and really likes it when she seems to be looking and smiling at him.
She truly is the Little Girl that Jehovah has provided as her name means. Her first name, Talitha, comes from Mark 5. It's in the middle of a great story of a miracle performed by our Lord. Jarius, a ruler in the synagogue, had a sick daughter. He came to Christ and asked him to come lay his hands on her and heal her. As they travel to the house, the girl dies. A servant meets them on their way and tells them not to bother returning to the house, but to let the teacher go. Christ continues to the house and is greeted by the mourners. When he announces the girl is merely sleeping, the guests laugh at him. Then He takes the girls parents, Peter, James, and John up to the room. He takes the girl's hand and says "talitha cumi" which means "little girl, get up". Then the girl gets up and walks, and He says to get her some food. This is a great story of the providence and sovereignty of God. Her middle name, Moriah, comes from the Old Testament, Genesis 22. This is the account of God asking Abraham for his son, Isaac, as a sacrifice. After waiting for a son for so long, God asks Abraham for his son as a sacrifice to Him. Abraham believes the promise the Lord had made to him that he would have a family, and the nations would be blessed through his family, through Isaac. So he obeys and takes the boy and items for an altar up the mountain God directed him to. As they go up Isaac says to his father they have the wood and the fire, but no lamb for the sacrifice. Abraham replies "God will provide for himself the lamb." Just as Abraham is about to sacrifice his son on the altar, God stops him and says he has proven faithful to the Lord and to not offer up his son. Then Abraham sees a ram caught in thorns and he and Isaac sacrifice the ram instead. He then names the mountain Moriah, Jehovah will provide. Just like in that instance, the Lord has provided the ultimate sacrifice for all sin--His only son, Jesus Christ. He was the perfect sacrifice that paid for all our sins.
