Yes...our son was finally born. Mary Sue is delighted to have him beside her rather than in her.
Let me first say that both Mom and Paul are doing absolutely terrific. The rest of us are great as well.
Paul Thomas Ryan - May 29th 2009 6:45PM - 8lbs 12ozs, 22 inches
Paul was born in our bathtub in water. It was an indescribable experience. Mary Sue did wonderfully. She never slept the previous night and still had the energy to push. She had contractions for nearly 22 hours and no epidural. I am so proud of her. It is a reminder of what we are capable of if left with no choice but to go forth.
There is something so liberating and invigorating about a newborn. It brings hope and happiness to you like nothing else. We praise and glorify the Lord for keeping both Mom and baby safe. Hallelujah!
As many of you know we used a midwife. It was truly a great experience. She was very competent, knowledgeable, calm and confident. Of course there is some nervousness and uneasiness not having a doctor. However, this is a birth. It is not a surgery or a treatment. There is something so natural and instinctive about the birth of a child.
After he was cleaned up and cared for I introduced him to his grandmother, Grammy. She was outside playing with the kids and getting ready to announce bedtime. I came to the door, opened it a crack and asked her to come over. She was oblivious to the fact that I was holding her grandson and she broke into tears. Grammy has been instrumental in sustaining Mary Sue through the last several weeks. She came 3 weeks early because we were certain that the baby was imminent. However, he just never came (must be a Mama's boy). Anyway, Grammy has taken a huge burden from me and Mary Sue and we have all enjoyed her company. The kids adore her and I think she has enjoyed this unique experience. Thank you Marcia!
After Marcia had a brief moment with Paul I asked if she would go outside and have the kids come in one at a time. I introduced them to their new baby brother. Each had a different unique reaction. It is something I will never forget and I hope they won't either. There was no jealousy or envy. They were just so genuinely happy to see him.
We decided to name him after Paul the Apostle. He was a man of strong conviction and humility. Paul brought the message of grace that was offered in faith in Jesus Christ. Once a devoted enemy of Christianity, Paul became determined to spread the message of salvation by faith.
Thomas is in honor of my grandfather. He was a great man who died 8 years ago. I miss him now as much as when he died. We had much in common.
This is Paul speaking:
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.
You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him! For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
Romans 5:1-11 NIV
Let me first say that both Mom and Paul are doing absolutely terrific. The rest of us are great as well.
Paul Thomas Ryan - May 29th 2009 6:45PM - 8lbs 12ozs, 22 inches
Paul was born in our bathtub in water. It was an indescribable experience. Mary Sue did wonderfully. She never slept the previous night and still had the energy to push. She had contractions for nearly 22 hours and no epidural. I am so proud of her. It is a reminder of what we are capable of if left with no choice but to go forth.
There is something so liberating and invigorating about a newborn. It brings hope and happiness to you like nothing else. We praise and glorify the Lord for keeping both Mom and baby safe. Hallelujah!
As many of you know we used a midwife. It was truly a great experience. She was very competent, knowledgeable, calm and confident. Of course there is some nervousness and uneasiness not having a doctor. However, this is a birth. It is not a surgery or a treatment. There is something so natural and instinctive about the birth of a child.
After he was cleaned up and cared for I introduced him to his grandmother, Grammy. She was outside playing with the kids and getting ready to announce bedtime. I came to the door, opened it a crack and asked her to come over. She was oblivious to the fact that I was holding her grandson and she broke into tears. Grammy has been instrumental in sustaining Mary Sue through the last several weeks. She came 3 weeks early because we were certain that the baby was imminent. However, he just never came (must be a Mama's boy). Anyway, Grammy has taken a huge burden from me and Mary Sue and we have all enjoyed her company. The kids adore her and I think she has enjoyed this unique experience. Thank you Marcia!
After Marcia had a brief moment with Paul I asked if she would go outside and have the kids come in one at a time. I introduced them to their new baby brother. Each had a different unique reaction. It is something I will never forget and I hope they won't either. There was no jealousy or envy. They were just so genuinely happy to see him.
We decided to name him after Paul the Apostle. He was a man of strong conviction and humility. Paul brought the message of grace that was offered in faith in Jesus Christ. Once a devoted enemy of Christianity, Paul became determined to spread the message of salvation by faith.
Thomas is in honor of my grandfather. He was a great man who died 8 years ago. I miss him now as much as when he died. We had much in common.
This is Paul speaking:
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.
You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him! For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
Romans 5:1-11 NIV
