Nicholas James Slegers

Everyone told me, but I couldn't believe it. That is, until April 16 when I fell in love for the third time. I suppose I should back up a bit and start from "the beginning".... It was Sunday morning and I was preparing for church. I was quite discouraged because I was STILL pregnant and was feeling like I would never have this baby. But I chose to set aside my personal feelings and to stay true to the call of ministry. Now don't get me wrong. I did not want to be in church. I did not want to sing. I did not want to socialize and be polite as everyone said, "Any day now!" in that annoying sing-song voice. I wanted my baby. I wanted to feel his soft skin and gaze into his (what I assumed to be) big blue eyes. I wanted to cuddle and embrace my little one in my arms as he peacefully nursed at my breast. I was ready. Wasn't I? So we went to church; Daddy, Mommy, Collin, Grandma and Miss Marie. I'd like to say it was nice to see everyone and to lead a great worship service, but I would be telling a lie. But I did it anyway as I've learned it's not about how I feel. Sometimes we just have to do it anyway. When church was over, I was walking down the stairs when I felt like there was an "emergency". I'm a grown woman! Grown women don't "wet" themselves. I didn't believe this was my water breaking. It was nothing like it shows in the movies or on tv. So I didn't tell anyone. I just figured contractions would come if it was real. So I continued my day as usual. We went to lunch and then Chris headed out for the last day of FriendQuest for the semester. I did give him a heads-up about the possibility of a trip to the hospital, just in case. I took Collin home and put him in bed for his afternoon nap and Pat suggested I lay down and rest. I figured it would be good, because I had started very slightyly contracting. After laying down for a whole five minutes I decided to send my mom a text that read something like this: me: THEORETICALLY SPEAKING, IF MY WATER BROKE, WOULD I START HAVING CONTRACTIONS? Mom: NOT necessarily. WHAT'S WRONG? Me: WELL...MINE MIGHT HAVE BROKE AT CHURCH, BUT NO CONTRACTIONS. I'M SURE IT'S A FALSE ALARM. Mom: GO TO THE HOSPITAL! Me: I THINK IM GONNA TAKE A NAP FIRST...DON'T TELL ANYONE OK? Mom: I ALREADY TOLD DAD, RUSTY, GRANDPA AND GRAMMA. WE ALL THINK YOU SHOULD GO TO THE HOSPITAL. Me: YES MAM. I went downstairs and told Pat all that was going on and she said, let's go! I woke Collin up from his nap, and we headed to the hospital for what I was sure was a false alarm. Nicholas James Slegers arrived the following morning (if you can call it that) at around 2 in the morning! The on-call doctor delivered him and placed him on my abdomen and I think my first words were "Hi little man!... Why isn't he crying?" he wasn't crying. He just looked at me and then the nurses took him to the warmer. Something wasn't right. One of his arms didn't seem to be moving. It was limp. The nurses called a specialist in to check on him and she said he seemed to be ok. They just kept an eye on him for the rest of the hospital stay. I am happy to say Nicholas was doing quite well by the time we left the hospital! After a whirlwind of visitors, friends and family, we have been able to settle into our new normal. I am always amazed at how deeply we are loved. It shows through the outpouring of love and prayers we receive during these most treasured moments! I'm learning how to be a wife, mother of two, daughter, friend, organizer, accountant, and Godly woman I can be with help from the Father! I am so forever blessed!