Baby Boy Three: Birth Story 3 of 3

Although baby number 3 waited until nearly 41 weeks to finally bless us with his arrival, yes one week past our due date, when he was ready….he came in the quickest of all three!  The doctor agreed to give me until Tuesday to go on my own and it was Sunday morning. We had settled on a girl name 7 years ago when expecting our oldest, so we knew if we had a girl the name was going to be Stella Rae.  We are traditionalists when it comes to baby names and Stella was his Granny’s name and Rae would become a fourth-generation name beginning with my grandpa Ray, then my Uncle Ray, and my middle name is Rae.  We had not completely settled on our boy name until what we did not realize was only hours before delivery.  We knew the middle name was going to be Ray but Robert had decided he wanted a biblical name to go with Ray. 

 

Around 6:30 a.m. on Sunday, January 26^th, I informed Robert that I was starting to have contractions at 15 minutes apart and that we should probably begin to think about getting the boys somewhere and us to the hospital.  He had been reading in his Farmer’s Almanac and Bible and came back while I was finishing getting myself ready for the day… yes of course I wasn’t going to the hospital looking like a mess and  said, “What do you think about the name, Jacob Ray?”  I loved it! 

 

After dropping the boys off with The Ninja (see previous blog, if I just lost you), we decided to read about Jacob from the Bible between contractions to make sure he wasn’t a Judas… we want to at least begin his life on a positive note.   We learned that he was the youngest brother and made a promise to God to give 10% of everything he was blessed with back to God, hence inspiring 10% tithing. He was however a little bit manipulative as a child with his older sibling, but who isn’t?

 

We arrived at the hospital around 9:15 and our newest addition was delivered and in my arms by 9:45! I really wanted to go on my own without being induced and I got my wish…however my plan was not to go at it without an epidural or any pain meds because I have always said that there is a difference between tough and crazy.  Well just call me crazy because there was zero time for any pain meds.  They got my IV in minutes before the baby arrived and didn’t actually officially check me into the hospital until I was holding my newborn baby boy, Jacob Ray. 

My Father-in-law...The Ninja

When I was first introduced to my in-laws, we were a little uncertain of each other.  My father-in-law was especially unsure of me dating his youngest son.  The Pistol Annie’s song, “Hell on Heels,” comes to mind when I reflect on his first impression of me.  However 12 years later, I now know that although he has a tough exterior, he is really a big softy!

His behind the back nickname, The Ninja, began because he always seems to come out of nowhere to protect his family and farm.  He somehow knows when we pull into the driveway and times his call perfectly as we walk in the door.  He can sense when someone is at our house and will double check the person’s purpose for being there. 

Last spring, a friend came to pick strawberries and within 5 minutes of her arrival, he knew she was there, and came over to make she was not an intruder.  Her text she sent me was, “The ninja caught me.”

A few years back a neighbor had an insurance agent come to his house to look at a vehicle that was located in his garage.  My father-in-law with a weapon in hand and the person’s license plate number recorded, approached the man asking, “Are you buying or stealing today?” The guy dropped his clipboard, and terrifyingly explained he was trying to make arrangements for the truck to be fixed! 

Typically when I am going to have visitors, I try to let him know so he does not worry.  However on one occasion I forgot to give him a call to let him know my family from Terre Haute was coming to visit.  As my family and I were standing in a circle talking, he proceeded to speed his Kawasaki Mule down my driveway and through the middle of the circle we were standing in and explained without stopping, “Just making sure there weren’t any freaks bothering you,” and drove off.  After my dad stopped cracking up, he voiced that he was thankful that he does not have to worry about my safety.

As we have been expecting our current child, he always makes sure that there is someone on, "Jamie Duty," in case I need anything. Then just yesterday, I had car trouble and my husband, brother-in-law, and of course The Ninja all came to my rescue with a car trailer, truck and every possible supply to get me and my vehicle home. 

Through the years, I have learned that although it takes time to build trust with a ninja, once you do, you and your family are always protected!