May 19, 2005: Noah is born!

This is me in a single room in the private hospital Vita (Sofia, Bulgaria). Dr. Kalvatcheva decided to have me go in for induction since the amniotic fluid surrounding baby Noah was less than desired.

So, on the 19th at 9 am we meet the doctor and got started. By 12 pm I was experiencing contractions. The first three hours went smoothly with low-level pain. The fourth hour was a different story! But one hour of almost unbearable pain and 15-20 minutes of pushing....and voila! Noah Kostov was born at 4:20 pm! A beautiful, healthy baby boy and a wonderful gift from God! We are so thankful to God for His care and to our friends/family for their prayers and support. Thank you!

This is Noah almost immediately after birth. The doctor gave him to me for only a few minutes and then he was whisked away to be washed, clothed, checked and everything else they do to newborns! In Bulgaria, the newborn baby can rejoin the mother after six hours have elapsed from the time of birth. I waited impatiently for those hours to pass. At about 10:30 pm my little son joined me in my room and I nursed him for the first time!

Here's Daddy Viktor and his three sons! Viktor spent alot of time driving the kids back and forth to the hospital to visit the new baby and to our friends for babysitting.

After 48 hours in the hospital, I came home with Noah and we were able to rest and regroup as a family of five! It's been quite a change - but one with many hands on board. Matty and Danny have been great at helping around the house and in taking care of Noah so that I can get things done...like starting a load of laundry or getting dinner on the table. They're a great group of kids!