In The Life of A Jensen: Ode to the 12-year old.

Today marks the 12th anniversary of Sydney Layne's birth. I have shared with her for the past 20 hours different moments of significance that occurred 12 years ago.

For example, the labor beginning late Saturday night, May 10, 1997 and continuing through Mother's Day, Sunday, May 11, 1997. That labor continued through church meetings, through coming home, driving Payton and Riley to grandma and grandpa's house (since I was scheduled to be induced the next morning), and laying on my side drinking lots of water as per the advice of the nurse. I recalled the moment when we finally decided it was time to head to the hospital with contractions 5-6 minutes apart; Darrin Weaver coming over to assist Larry in giving me a blessing; the nail prints in the armrest of the car as I tried to breathe through the pain. *Sydney was quick to note that hers was my first "normal" delivery since Payton and Riley both came c-section. Thanks for understanding, Syd!* I explained to her what it meant to be at a -1 (yes, you read that right, a -1!) when I was checked at the hospital which, in turn, meant an entire night of non-drugged labor. I did leave out the memory of attempting to walk the halls (I had friends that swore by that technique), hanging on Larry's neck, admitting to him that I would rather die. I tried sitting in the hot shower, the water hitting my belly, while Larry read to me- that actually worked for quite a while. But I did omit the part about Larry falling asleep while I labored on in the hard chair alone. But I didn't harbor bad feelings towards him, it was more envy than angst.

As I read the clock this morning, 8:40, I am taken back 12 years to when I finally was given a little something to take the edge off - blessed Stadal!- and finally hit that magic #4 so I could get my epidural an hour later. Then it was only 45 minutes to a 10, 3 pushes to crowning. This is when the nurses left to round up Dr. Bigler. You see, the nurses station had a bet going all night that I wouldn't make it and would end up with another c-section. Ha! Ha! Did I prove them wrong! (I'm glad I didn't know about that until after it was all over- perhaps I would have given up a long time ago!) Larry and I were left alone in the room, Sydney crowned, stupefied to say the least. The nurses came back a minute or 2 later and told me to "close my legs and lay on my side". Yes, that's right. Dr. Bigler was in a c-section and would be a few minutes more. But when he did sweep through that door those nurses were ready! With a glove each to slide on his hands as he sat in the stool at the end of the bed, they were set. One more contraction, one more push and voila! Sydney Layne was born. And I swear to you my very first thought was "I could do this again". Crazy, I know.

There has always been something special about Sydney. We prayed to know we should have her. Larry and I both felt prompted to have #3, but tried very hard to ignore it. When I finally told him my feelings, he admitted to having them as well. We decided to fast and pray to know if it was the right thing because we certainly couldn't wrap our heads around the idea with a 9-month old and a 3-year old. But it was meant to be. I then prayed, actually I think the term demanded is more suitable, that I wouldn't be sick if I was going to go through with it. And those prayers were answered as well. We're not sure why she had to come when she did. Maybe Riley needed a sister that close. Maybe someone else out there needed her. Maybe we'll know why someday, maybe not. Either way we recognize the blessing she is in our lives and I am grateful for listening to those promptings way back when.