YOUNGEST DAUGHTER HAS ARRIVED

middle of the night water breaks

FEAR

90 mph down the interstate

"I'm scared"

long labor

prayers to Mary

walking up and down hospital corridors

long night

watching the sunrise through contractions

prayers prayers prayers

falling in love with the big guy all over again

"I can't do it"

water birth

"I'm scared"

patient midwife

patient husband

"I can't do it"

tub surrounded by helping hands and gentle voices

"Please God help me"

LOVE PAIN FEAR

exhaustion

all-too-familiar pain

"PLEASE MARY MOTHER OF GOD"

PAIN PAIN PAIN PAIN

crying

giving up

"I can't do it anymore"

FOCUS

arrival

relief

happiness

natural endorphins

cries laughs cheers

LOVE LOVE LOVE