Home Birth...

As we await the arrival of our baby girl, many people have asked about our plans for delivery.  I love to see their reaction when we tell them we are having her at home with a midwife.  The responses vary, but the most common ones are, "You mean your husband is a doctor, and he lets you do that?", or "So, does James deliver the babies at home?", and "Wow!".   In case you're wondering too, No, James does not deliver them, we have a wonderful, competent Midwife, who takes total care of the delivery, and brings an associate with her.  James just enjoys being a dad, like so many others.  We love our midwife, and are so blessed to have her be a part of this delivery as well, and the best part is that she loves Jesus, and shows us the love of Jesus through her care and actions.
Here is a picture of her after Hali was born.

Having a home birth is a mix of the good, the bad, and the ugly...just to name a few contrasts:
Good:
-less likely to have a C-section
-laboring in the comfort of your own home
-not having to brave the snow and ice on the way to the hospital
-breakfast in bed, with no nurses waking me up every hour to check my vitals

Bad:
-having to be transported in the rare case of an emergency
-the feeling that I should have my house clean and in order before the baby arrives
-what to do with the kids
-wondering if our Midwife will have to brave the snow and ice to get here

The ugly:
-Well lets face it folks, the pains of childbirth are a curse, and I wouldn't call it pretty - no matter if it happens in a L&D ward, or at home!!!