Her Water Just Broke...

At 3:20 p.m. on April 2nd while bending over to help one of our kids tie their shoe, Julie's water broke. I talked with her on the phone from work and her contractions have not yet started so we will try to keep you posted up until we go to the hospital. This is the first time in 5 kids where the water broke before the contractions started (just in case you cared). We will post updates and pictures as we get them so check back often. We would appreciate your prayers!

4:45 p.m. - All the necessary calls have been made. Julie "threw together" some baked oatmeal for breakfast for tomorrow morning....my wife :-) Grandma Jan is coming tomorrow morning and Amy Thomas is coming tonight to watch the kids and stay with them until Grandma arrives. Our little troop Zilkie gathered around with hands held (minus Zeke who was napping) and we prayed for the evening and morning ahead....still no contractions but more water...

5:59 p.m. - While enjoying the wonderful salmon burgers and finishing dinner, Julie has her first contraction and we call Amy to come watch the kids for the evening. We will hang low, watch the contractions, and wait for the right time to head into the hospital.

6:43 p.m. - We had this expression in the Marines, "hurry up and wait". Well that is where we are at presently. The contractions are coming but far apart and light. We will go for a walk which has helped progress the process in the past. In fact, we walked 2 miles to the video store and back on May 14th, 2002 to rent Ocean's 11, the night before David was born at 6 a.m. on May 15th. The kids will stay with Amy and we will bring Zeke along as he is getting a little uptight this evening...he has a RUDE awakening coming in the next couple days. :-)

7:57 p.m. - Julie just called a friend who is very experienced with deliveries and especially the natural type. She got some good counsel and definitely felt better about the evening ahead. Although Julie does the hard work, one thing I have learned is the propensity for the laboring mother to increase in her worry and anxiety. Subsequently, I am constantly affirming her and reminding her that she has done this so well four times previously. Our walk was fun, we visited with a couple neighbors, had a couple more contractions and are back home planning the next several hours.