1/6/9 11:30pm
Time has become a blur. We came in at 12:30am this morning when one of the membranes broke. The water was broken by the midwife at about noon.
They’re slowly decreasing the epidural. She had stayed off of it until about 8pm (about 15 hours!), when the pain became too much to bear. I’m so proud of her.
We both slept for a while after they gave her the epidural, and now I’m wide awake.
Arion is certainly taking his time, but we’re content not to rush him. His heart rate has been steady, a pulsing whoomp whoomp whoomp through the speakers of the monitoring machine.
Outside, a huge storm has raged for almost 24 hours… Rain pelting the window in whooshing gusts.
We’re all praying for you, little man.
1/7/9 6:45pm
Tamika and Arion are asleep, finally.
Shortly after I got done writing, Margaret, the midwife, called me over to help hold Tamika.
I have been extremely impressed with their practice. They have included me in every way possible during the pregnancy. There’s nothing worse than feeling completely helpless while the person whom you love the most in the world goes through the worst pain of her life.
Margaret purposefully used me in every way she could, moving Tamika around, calming her down, and helping keep things organized & plugged in.
I help hold Tamika and counted as she pushed. It was pretty rough. Arion wasn’t turning correctly. But finally, after a whole hour, his head appeared. The cord was wrapped around his neck!
Thankfully, Margaret had warned Tamika that she might tell her to stop pushing at certain points, and she did so now.
With a quick move, Margaret deftly unwrapped the cord, and in the same motion, easily slipped him out.
All this with him upside down, and without any tearing (which means no painful recovery for Tamika, which we had to go through with Nya).
And, all this after 24 hours of very very patient care.
Margaret never left us. She stayed the whole time, and never pushed Tamika in a direction that wasn’t helpful.
At 12:30am, January 7th, at 7lbs. 6oz., 20 inches long, Arion Joseph Iyutin Jancewicz was born.
He is bright eyed, like his sister, and incredibly calm and composed. He fusses only when he’s hungry, and is just relaxed the rest of the time.
I am so proud of Tamika. I am so happy with my family.
About his name.
Arion (pronounced like Orion, but with an A) is named both after the constellation and a Greek poet and musician who was captured by pirates and rescued by dolphins.
I’ve always liked Orion, Tamika loves dolphins, and we wanted his name to begin with the letter A after Tamika’s mom Angel. Nya shares my mom’s initial, Norma Jean.
Joseph comes from the Bible story. Almost all the men in my family (me, my father, my great grandfather) have the middle name Joseph, which stems from my great-great grandfather (Jozef Jancewicz).
Iyutin is a Naskapi name, which means Wind. It’s pronounced “E-you-tin”.
I’m off to bed. 🙂
Thanks for all your prayers…
Congratulations to all!
wow…
Congratulations to you and your family…
WOW oh WOW!!!! I am so proud of you Tamika!!!! Ben way to support your wifey, such a blessing to see. You wrote this piece beautifully!
Hi Arion! I can’t wait to meet you 🙂
Love,
Jessena (Beanie)
Congrats!!!! He’s beautiful!!! I love the names….unique and meaningful!
Thanks so much, Leo!
How are you guys doing? Any little Nelsons on the way for you? 😉
Thanks so much, man! I appreciate that 🙂
Thanks Jessena! We really appreciate it 🙂 I’ll make sure I pass along the blessings 🙂
Thank you thank you! I’m glad you like the names! We spent a long time figuring them out…
awww ben hes beautiful!! congrats to you both. we all miss you!!
CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU BOTH! It took long enough! 🙂 He’s a gorgeous baby boy and his name is very nice and the back story to go with it is great. God Bless all of you! May the New Year continue to BLESS your family with Health, Happiness, Love and Prosperity!
Thank you Brittney! When are you coming down to visit us?
I know, right? Only a week and a half + 24 hours labour later… I’m so glad he’s finally here!
Thank you so much, Tara! 🙂
congrats on the beautifull baby u guys!!!!
I am so thatnkful for his safe arrival. Isn’t God good? He’s georgous and you both look just like the beautiful parents I know you are.
Enjoy every minute. I can hardly wait to see the family again.
Love, Mom Melinda
PS Do you have a copy of the children’s book, HOPE by Isabell Monk? If not, I’ll be sending it soon. It’s amazing.
Well, I believe the name is a good strong name also, Tamika girl you have the strength. I admire that in you. Ben now you have a rich mans family girl and boy. Arion your baby sister is going to spoil you as well as the rest of the family. Nya the big sister. Congradulatios again.
Love you all
Congratulations you guys! He is simply beautiful! Keep up the good work. 😉
Yay! another addition to our beautiful family! Love yall! I’m so excited!
God bless you both on the birth your son!
He’s a special boy, he was born a day before my birthday!!
Can you send the tree to me
Nice pictures Pud! You captured the moments well. Thanks for not taking any pictures of me in major labor pains:) That would not have been so pretty 🙂 I Love you.
Congratulations Ben and Tamika with the arrival of Arion! We look forward to meeting him.
What a blessing….