Let me first say that while this was by far my most uncomfortable pregnancy, in the end it was so worth it.

I suspected all along that we were:
1. farther along than I thought
2. having twins
OR
3. having a big baby

An ultrasound ruled out multiples, but it did look like we were having a good-sized baby. On top of this, I had a high level of amniotic fluid. I was super crowded from about the 7th month onward.

In the last month of my pregnancy, I had lots of contractions, and about 3 weeks before my due date I let my midwife check me. At this point I was dilated to a 4, and about 75% effaced. She believed I would soon go into labor. Well, about a week later I wondered if I might be in active labor. I called my midwives out, and had dilated to a 5, but I was not in active labor quite yet. Yet another week later, after much daily crying and overall frustration, during the early morning hours, my water broke. It was an amazing thing. I actually thought I started to feel the baby descend while I was asleep. I awoke with my hand low on my abdomen, trying to determine what the baby was doing. Less than a minute later, my water broke. This was about 4:40 am. We looked around for the phone, and called our midwife. She was on her way, but did ask that we call if I started to push. I had a couple of little, easy, fizzly contractions, and began wondering if I was going to go into active labor, or if this would be another false start. Well, I did not have to wonder for long. I got into a warm bath, because my teeth were chattering, and I wanted to relax, when I had one very hard contraction. When the next contraction hit, I felt like pushing! Kevin called the midwife, who had just pulled into the driveway. After a couple of contractions in the tub, I decided to get out and move to the area where I planned to push. And push I did!!! My midwife asked if I wanted any of the kids there, so Kevin ran to awaken Brooke and Hannah. The others were not easy to awaken. The other midwife, Shanna, and their assistant Melody, arrived around this time. Brooke and Hannah came in and got cameras ready. I had no idea how much progress I was making, so I kept feeling for the baby's head, which was soon crowning. I stopped pushing, and let the head be born slowly. Then I was able to give a final push, and with Kelly's help turning the shoulders, Mason was born. He was so wonderful, and I was so extremely thankful that he was out.

This birth was so fast. I can still hardly believe that 44 minutes after I awoke I was holding our precious new baby in my arms.

Ethan made it in soon after, and was so excited to see his new baby brother. He even did the honors of cutting the cord.

And then Lauren and Clara straggled in, and a bit later Hudson trailed in. And everyone was in love with our new baby, Mason.

When he finally got weighed, I was surprised and astounded to hear that he weighed a whopping 10 pounds 4 ounces! Baby-zilla! He was 21 3/4 inches long.

Ethan cutting the cord.

Now daddy finally gets to hold him.

Hannah gets to hold her new baby brother.

Clara and Hudson get to know Mason.

Clara holds Mason.