Surprise! He's Here.

Good morning, sunshine!

Well, Daniel Wells Collett apparently decided that January 7 was more appealing than his due date of February 7, because I woke up at 4:45 am on Friday with my water broken and we welcomed Daniel into this world at 11:25 pm. We will be going home from the hospital today, and we are both doing great.

Our new son is named after various family members. Daniel Collett was his great-great-great-great-great grandfather. He was born in England and died in Utah. He was an American pioneer who walked across the plains and helped tame the wild west, working hard to turn the desert into a livable home.

Wells Ivins Collett is his great-great grandfather, and Wells Frost Collett is his great grandfather. And my husband's middle name is Wells, so now you know where our new baby's name is from.

Of course, it must be noted that I do have a brother named Daniel who is very wonderful and I love very much, but both of my brothers are wonderful and have great names. I just happened to marry a man who wanted a son named Daniel.

Dr. Jill

We have been blessed with not only the wonderful blessing of health to mother and baby but also the assistance and kindness of many attentive nurses. I am so grateful to the service they have rendered and how their caring made our stay as comfortable as possible, under the circumstances. One nurse was very sweet to Jill and let her play dress up.

I have also received great care from two physicians from my OB/GYN office. I had already met and liked both of them, so I was happy to have them on my side. I do wonder though how long I will be remembered by them as the patient who requested a fourth fern test.

After the first three, the doctor did not feel like he could say with 100% assurance that my water was broken. At 4 1/2 weeks early, you don't want to induce labor unless it really has already begun on its own. He told me to go home, and my discharge papers were printed. However, I requested and was granted a fourth fern test and finally was able to prove that Daniel was on his way.

It was incredibly relieving and gratifying to show that I had not lost complete control over my bladder. (If the amniotic fluid were not leaking, then really the only other possibility for the underclothing moisture was wetting my pants!) Hopefully if I ever do lose control of my bladder muscles, it will be much later in life. I am too young for that sort of blatant organ disobedience!

First Family Photo

So, long story made short, our family has increased to four, and we are all happy and well. Daniel has already been held by all four of his grandparents and half of his parents' siblings. We feel very blessed and humbled by this gift from God. And Jill seems thrilled to be a big sister.

That reminds me. One of the most touching memories I will take with me from yesterday is Jill constantly sidling up to my hospital bed and saying, "Mama okay?" One of the lessons I will take with me is to always eat before going to the hospital, because they probably won't let you eat. And the experience I will never forget was the miracle of watching Daniel emerge (with the assistance of a well placed mirror).