Valuing the Miraculous, Part Three

It is a joy to share that our son Silas Eben Garcia was born at 1:13 p.m. on Wednesday, October 28, 2015 in the Chilean city of Iquique. He weighed 7 pounds, 9 ounces and measured 18.9 inches long.

I am overwhelmed with gratitude for answered prayers surrounding his entrance into this world. My hospitalization for his birth was the first in my life, and I had many fears regarding surgery via cesarean section. The more I read of possible complications, the more I began to specifically pray for God's grace and protection regarding each of these. I did my best to lay each concern at His feet over and over again before Silas' birth day, and I give Him all the glory for hearing and responding with mercy!

The night before Silas was born, my sister flew into town with her 10-month old and 11-year old sons. Her presence and help with our children at home allowed us the peace of mind to say goodbye to them the next morning and focus on what lay ahead. We arrived at the medical center close to 8:30 a.m., having pre-registered the afternoon before. One of my prayer requests was for the availability of a private room so that my husband could remain with me the entire time. The day prior we were told to ask the day of the surgery, and at first we were told there were no single rooms available (but possibly within a couple of hours.) However, when the receptionist called to confirm this, she was told there was already a room reserved under my name! We never learned how this came about but chose to praise God for this first example of His mercy on such a momentous day.

Another tremendous blessing was having a close friend from church hired as a surgical assistant at the medical center a month or so before my cesarean. The day of Silas' birth, she was able to switch to our operating room and accompany me even during the prep time while Pedro still had to wait outside. It was calming and encouraging to know there was a familiar face concerned for my welfare and explaining what was going on around me.

As silly as it may sound, I was nervous about everything from having an IV inserted to (especially) the epidural anesthesia. However each of these procedures while not fun, proved to be bearable. The anesthesiologist was the only person I encountered who was gruff and impersonal, but even so he did his job quickly and well. Possible negative reactions to medications was another concern, but at the most I experienced itchiness from the morphine. Keeping mental track of each of these answered prayers helped focus me on God's faithfulness in the midst of what frightened me. Also, singing or humming songs about Him reminded me that He was in control of what was happening. One song in particular that came to mind the morning of my surgery was "Lord, Prepare Me to Be a Sanctuary." I had not heard it in years but it helped center my thoughts at various times during the day. I did experience shortness of breath during the cesarean which tempted my heart to panic. But God was present and faithful even then.

My number-one prayer request was for Silas to be born healthy and strong. The hours we waited for him to be brought to us stretched long as he needed some initial help with oxygen and testing due to his unexpectedly "big" (for a 37-week old) size. Yet God answered those prayers with a healthy, calm baby who is so much beautiful than we could even have imagined!

Certainly one of the greatest answers to prayer of all is that Silas even exists after 17 years of diagnosed infertility and as a sweet surprise we did not even know to continue to ask for (already being abundantly blessed with our "Fab Five" at home!) And along with that, I am reminded every moment of the amazing gift that my husband is to me and to all of our children. I am reminded through experiencing his prayers, concern, tenderness and care during my pregnancy, birth and now recovery. I am reminded as I watch him handle a tiny new baby with such gentleness and think back on how he has lovingly welcomed each one of our children along the way.

For these and so many other answered prayers, I want to "value the miraculous" and give God the glory. He has been, is, and ever will be a Faithful God!

(Read Parts One and Two.)