So This is What It is Like

Yesterday, I went to bed with 3 children.  Tonight, as I type this new blog entry, my wife is laying in bed with our brand new baby son lying next to her.  It has been a good, long day.  I am emotionally drained from the events of the day.  I am physically tired ... going to bed at 1:30am (my fault) and waking up at 3:30 am to start the day with a 2 hour, if I am being generous, labor and delivery (not my fault - hehe), and then it was go go go with introducing all the kids to Joseph, our new baby son, and coming home just 5 hours or so after delivery.  The rest of the day was a full house of excited and over zealous children. 

Now, it is 10:30 pm.  I can finally slow down a little, and I ask myself, "So, is THIS what is like to have four children?"

And I look back to eight and a half months ago, when we found out we were pregnant with baby number four.  I can still recall the cautious enthusiasm I had that day.  It started with "Thank you, God for blessing us with your creation!", and it drifted over to " ... are we going to be able to do this?" 

From then until now, it was many nights of prayer.  Prayer for Kelly to be healthy.  Prayer for Joseph to be healthy.  Prayer for a labor and delivery with no complications, and as Jake prayed it "Please help Joseph to get here at the right time."

That 'right' time was 5:05 am on Sunday, April 15th, 2012.  At that time, God answered our prayers and reminded us once again that He is sovereign, and that He truly is the author of life.

Quick aside - my wife is the most amazing woman in the entire world.  She carried this baby boy for 9 months and 2 days.  She endured what I am deeming about 2 weeks of mild active labor and then 2 hours of violent transitional labor and delivery.  And at the end of those 9 months and 2 days was a beautiful baby boy.  Perfectly pink.  Eight pounds and five ounces.  Twenty-two inches.  The most adorable little boy.  Thank you, Kelly, for enduring and being so strong. Thank you for being the wonderful woman of God that you are.  And, thank you for choosing to do this whole life thing with me - end aside

We get home from the birthing center and the whole house is a-buzz.  Everyone is excited and tired at the same time.  My parents are here, Kelly's parents are here.  Three small children are here.  A dog, a recovering mother, a newborn and me.  A full house.  But I can still stop and smell the roses.  And I see a loving family all around me.  I grab my second oldest son and hold him tight. 

And I thank God, for the new life that He has blessed us with, and for the other amazing children that He has given us. 

And my mind drifts, and I know that we will, with God's guidance, be able to do this.

And I see my daughter holding my new son, Joseph.

And I tell myself, "So, THIS is what is like to have four children"

To God be the Glory.