My water broke just before 6 am. I woke Kevin and we remade the bed in preparation for the birth. We went back to bed, but I could not go back to sleep, because of the frequent gushing of fluid, not to mention the excitement. So, I got up and decided to do a few chores. I did a few dishes, and picked up a bit around the house, but the gushing fluid was quite disconcerting, so I decided to give up on getting work done for the time being. I called Kelli, our midwife, and let her know the situation. This was around 7 am. I started having a few occasional contractions, but they were very far apart. Kelli asked if it would be ok for her to go ahead and come (she knows I labor better without an audience, heehee,) and I said yes. I checked my e-mail and let some friends know I was starting labor. Then, I relaxed in front of the TV and watched a christian program. Kelli got here sometime around 9 am and started paperwork. Soon after, a neighbor came by with a belated baby shower gift. I told her it was going to be a birthday gift instead. :o) My mom also called and I let her know that I was in labor. She was a bundle of anticipation. Around 10 am Kelli said she wanted to check me, and I was an 8 or 9. Labor was amazingly easy. I had just been sitting and visiting with the children and relaxing up until then. After being checked, I started getting a few things ready for the baby, and did a little more tidying. I also called my dear friend Melissa to tell her to be in prayer - I was going to be pushing soon. We were both very excited.

Soon things began to pick up. Contractions were lasting a little longer, but I was still tying up some last minute details. Kelli asked if she could call her assistant, Shanna, and Melody, who was observing that day. Of course, I said. By the time they made it to the house, about 20 minutes later, I was preparing for birth on the bed, relaxing through transition contractions. Hannah and Lauren were there and Hannah had the camera ready for taking pictures. Lauren watched. I asked Kevin to start my WOW!Hits cd, and the song that came on was an instant comfort to me...."I can feel Your presence here with me. Suddenly I'm lost within Your beauty. Caught up in the wonder of Your touch. Here in this moment I surrender to Your love...." God was right there with me! I felt that I wanted to start pushing, so I gave a couple of pushes while lying on my side. But, I suddenly knew that I needed to get to work to get this baby out, so I got up in a squatting position on the bed. Kevin was holding Clara, who had been upset, so I asked him to get her a bottle of milk and a paci, and put her in front of PBS kids on TV, which he did. Then, he was able to sit behind me so that he could support me in the squatting position and I could rest between pushes. I worked very hard for 4 or 5 pushes and then I heard Shanna say to the baby, who was starting to crown, "Oh baby, good song to be born to." I perked my ears to hear the words, "You raise me up so I can stand on mountains. You raise me up to walk on stormy seas. I am strong when I am on Your shoulder. You raise me up to more than I can be." And, then, Hudson was being born and as he was, Kelli called for the children. She also reminded me to help catch my baby, as Brooke stepped in the doorway. So, I placed my hands around him and helped Hudson emerge from my body and lifted him to my chest. It was exhilerating. Soon after, with the children all gathered around, basking in the joy of our newest family member, Kelli reminded Ethan to look and see if it was a boy or a girl. Hannah was so excited when she saw, that she could not keep from exclaiming, "It's a boy!" He was alert immediately, looking around at me, Kevin and his siblings. Hudson nursed soon and we all enjoyed some time together, with the children coming and going, but mostly oohhhing and ahhhing over their new baby. Then, it was time to cut the cord, so Kelli asked Ethan to do it. He was not the least interested, so Hannah clamped it and tried to cut it, but ended up needing some help from Kevin. It was a wonderful and amazing birth.

	Weighing in Big baby boy! Hudson fell asleep immediately after being placed in the weighing "sling." I don't think anyone was too terribly surprised that he was so big. He had Patricia feeling pretty crowded before the big day!

The next day....

and at one week...