Welcome Baby Caleb!

The Barrett Family is so happy that Baby Caleb has made his timely appearance. He's been a welcome, squishy, delightful addition to the our little family and we are all head over heels in love with this sweet, sleepy newborn.

Here's his Birth Story...

In the weeks leading up to Caleb's due date, we had a LOT going on. I had a long list of things to get done before baby. In fact, I finally had to break it down between things that NEED to get done and things that I WANT to get done before we (I) were officially ready to welcome the newest Barrett boy. I don't generally mind being pregnant, so I was not one of those women praying for an early delivery. In fact, I felt like like with everything to be done with the house and worrying about how my big boys were going to be cared for while I was at the hospital, that I wasn't ready at all to have this baby. I frequently joked that I was "holding it" until the first week in October.

Due date per the Doctors - October 5th. Due date per my calcs - September 30th.

These past few weeks, Tim and I had been working hard to get settled into our new home ... we've been so fortunate to have friends and family come help. And notably, last Saturday (Sept 25th), my dear friend, Tara came over and the three of us tackled 6 hours of house organizing/decorating projects. It was amazing to get so much done and it did wonders for my peace of mind. Why is this part of my birth story? Because getting this house in order was a HUGE part of me feeling ready to welcome another baby ...

On Sunday, September 26th, we had a prayer time with my sweet friends - see earlier post ...

On Tuesday, September 28th, I had Bible Study and my prayer requests were for a healthy baby and delivery (this was to be my first hospital delivery and I was a little nervous about it), that I would get to have some quality time to connect with Tim before the baby was born, and that the Lord would provide all our needs, including care for the boys while the baby was born. Every prayer was to be answered in the next few days.

On Wednesday (as I was having a major baking/grinding session to stock up on bread, pizza dough, etc. for the family after baby) we heard from Tim's parents that THEY WERE COMING!! Bob & Kim had a few days off and had decided to drive to Phoenix to see us and the boys on Thursday to come for the weekend. Hallelujah! Such an answer to prayer.

(I know this sounds silly, but ...) I decided I was ready. I prayed to the Lord that baby would come and I spoke to baby and asked him to come, as well. We went to sleep on Wednesday night...

On Thursday morning, I woke up with excitement at 4am with the first signs of labor. I started having some contractions and could not go back to sleep so I got up and finished the laundry. By 6am, I knew I probably wasn't going to work, but assumed Tim still would be. I decided to make a run to the grocery store to stock up on everything Bob and Kim would need while we were at the hospital having the baby - I was sure this was the day. I called Kim from the store at 6:30am to ask what kind of milk Bob preferred and told her that I was in labor. Her response was that it would be an absolute miracle from God if the baby was born on their short visit out. ;-)

Tim left for work at 7am as he had a meeting scheduled at 10am. I figured I still had some time and that we wouldn't be headed to the hospital until later in the afternoon. I called into work and got Jared ready for school. All the while, as I was moving about from Safeway, to home, to PVCP, to Target, to home again, contractions were about 10 minutes apart but not so strong that I couldn't talk or walk through them. Once home, Tiffany was here to help me get the house straightened up and took Will to her mom's for the afternoon. Tim made it back home before she left - apparently his boss thought it was pretty funny he came in for a meeting while his wife was in labor. ;-)

And then ... we waited ... I finished packing my hospital bag, returned emails, took a nap ... contractions slowed down when I would slow down and rest ... Tim's mom thought for sure it was false alarm. Nonetheless, we had a quiet day at home with no boys and by 2:30 when Jared was about out of school we figured it was time to get this show on the road! We decided to head to Desert Ridge to buy some big brother shirts for the boys (another item crossed off "the list") and then to PV Mall to do some serious walking to keep labor progressing. I definitely wanted to have the baby today! We put the bag in the car with my pillow and gifts for the boys and headed out before Tiffany returned with Jared and Will.

All the while as we were out, contractions started to build. Tim and I had a fun time shopping and spending some much needed time together. After picking up a few things at the mall we headed home. Bob & Kim beat us there - time of their arrival from Sacramento - 5:30pm ...

For the next hour or two at home when I would sit, time between contractions would lengthen and when I was up they would shorten. We decided to take a walk and I barely made it across the street when I had to turn home because they were getting too intense. Time ... 7:30pm.

By about 8:30pm contractions were 6-10 minutes apart and very strong. I was feeling like it was probably time to head to the hospital but was waiting for them to be just a little closer together. And then - during one particularly intense contraction, I'm pretty sure little Caleb kicked me and my water broke. We got in the car to head to the hospital. It was TIME ... 8:40pm.

As we drove to St. Joe's we realized that we hadn't paid very close attention as to which parking garage to park in to get to OB Triage in our little tour a few months earlier. Truth is, we were pretty much past that point anyways, and headed straight to the Emergency Room entrance.

Tim pulled up to the door and went inside to try to figure out where we were to go. He returned a few minutes later with two (maybe 3?) nurses who recognized that I was pretty much ready to have this baby. They started asking questions, "How long have you been in labor? What baby is this? Your THIRD? Are you ready to push?? Get her on a gurney!" and they moved me onto the gurney and started wheeling me upstairs. One of them decided against waiting for Tim to find a parking spot and just got moving. I texted Tim to remember my hospital bag and pillow on his way up from the car. Time ... 9:03pm.

We blew through the doors in OB Triage and I was wheeled behind the curtain as they attempted to begin monitoring the baby. First check showed that I was already dilated to 9 cm (10 cm and you are done). The midwife on call came up to take me to the delivery room. The midwife happened to be the same midwife on call at Bethany the night Jared was born. Tim had made it to my side by this time and within a few minutes we were in the delivery room and I was nearing the end of my rope. The labor and delivery nurse was trying to check all my vitals. By the time she karate chopped my knee to check my reflexes, I'd had it. "Are you kidding me??!" I asked. I'm pretty sure the 2 L&D nurses observed from the corner of the room from then on out. All the while, the midwife was calm and cool, much like she was with Jared. Helpful, but hands off as Tim and I did our thing. I don't know what I would have done without my sweet husband. As with both our boys, he was such a good coach and kept me as calm and relaxed as possible.

Another check and I was still just about at 9cm but we decided to start pushing. Pushing is NOT my favorite part of the birthing process and it took me a try or two to get serious about getting this baby out and getting labor over. Five pushes total and I was holding our new baby boy. Time ... 10:06pm - Thursday - September 30th.

Perfect delivery, perfect baby, perfect timing, perfect provision.

We joke about getting to the hospital barely in time, but for us it was great. We didn't want to be having a long time in labor at the hospital and wanted to avoid any unnecessary interventions. Apparently, checking in at 9cm is a pretty good way to do that. ;-)

Another hour or so later, we were headed to our recovery room for our hospital vacay. This was the main reason we opted for a hospital delivery over another home birth this time - so we could have a day or so to recover before heading home with the big boys. With Bob and Kim at home with the boys, Tim and I were able to totally focus on loving on little Caleb and resting up. We both noticed how much we were just ENJOYING this baby - holding him, talking to him, soaking in this time bonding with just the three of us. Tim was a total trooper on the plastic couch and stayed with me at the hospital - I was so glad to have him there & grateful for his help caring for Caleb. It was awesome to get to have our labor day date and then this time together in the hospital was such an answer to prayer.

On Saturday morning, after the boys' soccer game (during which Jared scored TWO goals), Tim packed up our little room, we strapped Caleb into his new carseat, and we headed home to spend the rest of the day with Bob and Kim and the boys. Sunday morning, they made the drive home to Sacramento.

Can you believe the timing of it all? We are truly, truly blessed. It seems every prayer and detail of the entire process was perfectly provided for by the Lord. We are so very, very grateful.

And my God will supply every need of yours

according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:19

Welcome Baby Caleb!

September 30th, 10:06pm

8 lbs 6 oz, 20.5 inches long

Tim with our midwife, Donna Tash

Eyes wide open after birth - taking it all in.

Tim - proud papa to his 3rd boy ...

We did it! Waiting to go to our recovery room.

First morning sunshine ...

Warming up after his first bath.

Daddy putting on Caleb's first pj's...

Will meeting his little brother and holding

him for the first time. Will was sooo excited!!

Bob and Kim holding baby Caleb when they brought the boys.

Sweet Jared holding his littlest brother.

He was worried about tipping over. ;-)

Kisses for baby...

I love my boys ...

Daddy and his three sons ...

The plastic couch - going down in history

as the most uncomfortable "bed" ever.

Little baby in a big carseat ... going home...

On our way home from the hospital ...

feeling rested

and so grateful for each and every answered prayer.

For this child I prayed, and the Lord has granted me

the petition that I made to him. 1 Samuel 1:27