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Thursday, December 13, 2012

Welcome Home, Bright Light

We joyfully welcomed Norah Dell on the evening of December 11, after a very swift labor.

I spent Tuesday with my husband, children, mother, and sisters, experiencing sporadic, start-and-stop labor. We went for a walk in the beautiful December sunshine, my sister and doula Julie stimulated my acupressure points, ate lots of nourishing food, rested, cancelled my acupuncture appointment and biophysical ultrasound because I thought labor was starting...

Then it stopped. And started. And stopped again.

We rebooked an appointment for acupuncture, and headed into town at 5:00 pm.

When we got home, I had a bath and a bite to eat, and noticed that the mild contractions I'd been experiencing all day were suddenly feeling a bit stronger. I got into bed and noticed that they were suddenly "regular" and that I was making some mild moaning sounds.

I called my sister Lana to check out what was happening, and shortly after we called Julie (who had gone home to check in with her family while I had acupuncture) and the midwives.

Again, suddenly, the contractions became much stronger, and before I knew it I was in full-on labour. It didn't take long to realise that the baby was on her way.

When my water broke, Lana called for my mother and Robin's mother (who had popped in to visit), and immediately saw Norah's head appear. In one or two more pushes, she was born into the startled hands of both grandmothers and her aunt. Her daddy was busy in the next room comforting her big brother, who was very frightened about the sounds I was making.

Norah was immediately placed on my abdomen, dried off, and we waited for everyone else to arrive. Julie pulled in the laneway at the moment of birth, and the midwives arrived about 20 minutes later. The umbilical cord was cut, the placenta delivered, and babe and mom were checked out and given a clean bill of post-delivery health.
Immediately after her birth.

Jude and Violet met their little sister immediately after her birth, and Margot slept through it all. She came down the stairs the next morning full of excitement, and quickly introduced herself to her new little sister. We let the big kids stay home from school, and they spent the day sliding outside, drinking hot chocolate with candy canes under the Christmas tree, playing board games, and taking turns holding the baby.
Birth is beautiful, terrifying, and unpredictable. This fourth labor was unlike the others in many ways, and Norah's arrival was more swift than even I could have predicted. She looks like a baby Snow White, and weighed 7.5 pounds at birth...my smallest babe yet!
I can't say we're all falling in love, because we're already there, completely and madly. 

Thank you all for your well-wishes, thoughts, and prayers; this space will be quiet for awhile as we focus in on celebrating this beautiful gift we've been given at this blessed time of year.


44 comments:

  1. Congratulations!

    this is how Byzantines say congratulations: May God grant her many blessed years in health and happiness!

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  2. Congratulations! What beautiful little babe, and such a precious name too! <3

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  3. Congratulations on another lovely child. (:
    Rest and be well, Mama, you deserve it.

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  4. I had a nice cry reading this. My second labour was a 40 minutes long, runaway train ,spontaneous labour that ended with my daugter Rebekah being born with no one around save her father.It leaves one a little shell shocked!
    It was the picture of your three older children all crowded around their new sibling that did me in. We have such a photo of my fourth arrival just moments after her birth with her three sun kissed siblings crowded around as they came and went outside to the back yard to play that late afternoon. Homebirth; really, what makes a place more a " home" than that?

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  5. Enjoy these blessed days.....and have fun knitting for your sweet one!

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  6. So wonderful - congratulations!
    (Just don't know how to say in English -how- wonderful.)
    Best Wishes!

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  7. Congratulations dear friend. Norah is a beautiful name. What a wonderful Christmas gift!

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  8. Congratulations on your sweet baby girl.

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  9. Congrats mama! This gorgeous post (and that picture of you with your four littles) totally brought tears to my eyes! Enjoy this amazing new life you have brought earthside! Can't wait to see more pictures! xo

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  10. Congratulations!!! Welcome Baby Norah.

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  11. Oh wow how beautiful!!! Welcome little one, you picked a great family!

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  12. Congratulations! She's perfect! Crazy fast labour and delivery, wow. Thanks for sharing.

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  13. Oh! My heart has burst with such happiness for you all! What a glorious treasure you have within your little tribe. Blessed be this awesome time! Wishing you all big love and joyful snuggles xoxo

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    1. what an amazing little girl!! I knew ur silence meant she was here!!

      Congrats Momma!! The picture of you with all your children makes your family looks amazingly complete :)

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  15. Welcome Norah Dell, and congratulations! Love from Alison and Rob

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  16. Congratulations, what a beautiful labour story and name. She is adorable.

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  17. What a sweet little one! Enjoy her first days. :)

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  18. Joining in on the welcome chorus. Norah is gorgeous. You are all gorgeous and glowing. And you've got me crying (again!) with that photo of you and your babies; all of you gazing at Norah in wonder and adoration. Reminds me of a similar scene in this house when Littlest entered the world. Yep,choked up. So deliriously happy for you all.

    I can't wait to meet Norah.

    Blessings...

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  19. Congratulations to all of you! She is beautiful!!

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  20. What a beautiful story, so glad that although she arrived so quickly all was well. What a story! Feeling so happy for your whole family :)

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  21. I've been away for a while. I was so happy this morning as my little guy is still asleep (a rarity) that I got a chance to find out your good news!!! What a beautiful story. The pics are amazing.. especially the one of you and your beautiful brood!!

    hugs!!!

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  22. oooh congratulations!!! I've been anxiously following your progress the last few weeks and I'm thrilled for you :) Such a perfect little angel!

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  23. I've been checking here faithfully and was so glad to see a post yesterday. What gorgeous pictures. Enjoy that little package. The boys were especially chuffed to see Mr. P's new baby. Joseph told me that his whole kindergarten class got an early Christmas present, Mr. P's new baby. So, there you go - you have around 20 other parents who stand under three and half feet tall.

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  24. Congratulations! Wow, what an amazing and beautiful birth story. Baby Norah is so very beautiful. Tears flowing here too...Daniel is amazed and misses you in the classroom. Stay warm and cozy together.

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    1. Congratulations! Mom told me and I just had to see the pics! She's so cute. Wishing you the best of luck!!!

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  26. She's beautiful! Congratulations!

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  27. Congratulations! She is absolutely beautiful! Happy Holidays.

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  28. Congratulations! Beautiful name for a beautiful babe!

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  29. Congratulations and welcome, sweet baby girl! She's beautiful.

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  30. Congratulations on your new daughter and family member. Such a wonderful name. I love the photo of you and all of your children gathered together. :)

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  31. Congratulations!!!!!!! She is perfect!

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  32. Blessings on the new babe and all her loving family. May you be quietly renewed.

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  33. Congratulation! what a beautiful baby and birth story. Have a wonderful christmas with your family.

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  34. Welcome, baby Norah, we love you already <3

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  35. Yay!! Many congratulations to your family! Well done, mama :) Enjoy your babymoon.
    -Jaime

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  36. Congratulations to you all! She is truly beautiful, like all of your wonderful children. I hope you all have a wonderful first Christmas together.

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  37. Oh my gosh, how did I miss this post?! Congratulations!! I am so excited for you and your family - she is just beautiful! xo

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  38. Congratulations! What a darling! And sounded like an amazing birth story too!

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  39. Love that photo of you and all the children. What a gift! Merry Christmas.

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