the newest family member

After Christmas, we found out my niece was unexpectedly (to her anyway!) expecting. And for her, things have been rough. Very rough. So as the time approached, it's safe to say she has been more than ready for Lucy to come on out and join the family. Two weeks ago, on a Sunday morning, as they were driving to church, she got sick. That is the normal part of this story. Her husband, who is a youth pastor, pulled over to the side of the road. Two of their teens came up on their pulled off car, and pulled over to see if they could be of assistance. Except, they thought Ellen was actually having the baby, so wouldn't look in that direction - at all. It was sweet, but also a little funny.
So this past Sunday night, I thought about texting her and asking what crazy thing happened that day. But I didn't. And then Monday morning I got the text from Mom saying that Ellen was having some semi-normal complications Sunday night and they had admitted her to the hospital. So by Tuesday, the doctors were saying she could not go home, but they wanted to keep observing her, continue giving Lucy steroid shots to help her finish developing, and were facing either inducing labor or a Csection Friday morning, which would make her only 2 weeks early. Then came Thursday morning, and things began to change. Labor was induced early, and within a few hours the doctors made the call for a Csection as Lucy was not tolerating all the changes taking place. A little before 9pm NC time, I officially became a great aunt.

She looks like her Dad; I think she's beautiful, and so far I've refrained from repeating the sermon she preached to my younger sister when she became a new Mom. As a 4 year old, Ellen had heard enough of all the first time Momma mutterings, and informed Naomi that her son was NOT perfect, as Jesus was the only perfect baby in the world, and if she continued to say such things about him, then she was committing idolatry. Not only that, but he was just a normal baby. Only the baby Jesus was wonderful and perfect. And she would know that if she went to church. (My sister was not attending anywhere at the time.) Everyone, except my little sis, thought it was a little bit funny. We chalked part of it up to jealousy, and part of it up to the simplicity of a child's views on right and wrong. But there was a time or two today on FB I couldn't help but smile as I read her posts - some of those very same views my sister had stated years ago.  Too bad we didn't have cell phones with voice recorders or video recorders back then.
So Lucy Marie, while we know you're not perfect, you're the best gift God the Father could have given us last night. We're thankful our prayers were answered and your arrived safely, and that your Mom is now doing okay as well. Even with our modern hospitals, things can sometimes be a little scary, reminding us that we're really not in charge after all. Thanks for that reminder.