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Theodore Patrick Hines
2/18/15 at 2:55am
8lbs 6oz
20.5in
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On Fat Tuesday, I was eating paczki and feeling pretty…um…fat. I had just put Ellen to bed around 8 and was walking down the stairs when I thought I felt my water break. With my other two, it was a definite gush, but this being a slow trickle, I just figured I had sunken into pregnancy so far that I was just peeing on myself now.
But, after picking up the house and walking around for a while, the water kept coming, and the contractions had started. So, calls were placed and off we went on our 40 minute trek to the hospital.
Turns out that the roads were suh-lick, and we saw a ton of emergency vehicles and tow trucks pulling cars out of ditches. That was good for my anxiety. No plot twist here – we made it safe and sound.
At the hospital, they determined that I was 5 or 6 cm, so I got my blessed epidural right quick and laid down to sleep. A little while later, my doc came to break my water since it hadn’t broken completely, and that is when the shakes started. Any of you other moms have intense shaking while in labor? It’s easily my least favorite part. Anyway, I was able to get that under control enough that I went back to sleep.
Around 2:30am on Ash Wednesday, my doc woke me up to check how I was progressing. When he went to check, I heard him laugh and say, “The baby’s head is 3cm out. Hold on while I get my gloves!” As they rushed to get everything in place, I woke up Mike who was in a deep sleep. “Um, I’m pushing the baby out right now.”
Disoriented from sleep (such a hard labor…), I pushed Theo out in one contraction, and that is the end of the easiest birth story in the world.
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Theo didn’t have a name up until a week or so before he was born. The other kids had names almost as soon as we found out the gender. So, Mike asked his prayer group to pray for a name for this kid. The next day, he got an email from a fellow member with a list of names that came to him in morning prayer. Theodore was the last name on the list, and we knew it was zee one.
Even though the first name took us some time, we had his middle name chosen for a while. Patrick is Mike’s younger brother’s name as well as my dad’s middle name. No brainer.
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Theodore means “God’s Gift.” This was a particularly hard pregnancy for me and my anxiety. I had been telling myself throughout the course of it that this baby was a gift from God. I had to remind myself that God can only bless me with His gifts, not curse me. So, when we found out what Theodore meant, it really sealed the deal.
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After he was born, my mom wanted to see if there were any great feasts on February 18. Turns out it is the feast day of St. Theotonius. I can’t make this stuff up.
We could have also named him Charalampias and had a similar coincidence. And Ashton Wednesday would have been an equally appropriate name. Man, Theo, you lucked out.
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Sibling Love
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Theo is unsure of the world but adjusting well.
Glad labor was easy for you! I can’t believe the doctor checked and he was already on his way out! Sweet baby, sweet name!
Congrats, Jenna! He looks happy and healthy!
Wow..what an amazing birth story. I can’t believe you were ASLEEP and the baby was 3 cm out. Wow!
Um, I could just eat Sam up- how do you handle his cuteness! And Ellen AND THEO!!! How do you handle so much cuteness.
This is literally my favorite birth story ever- I am so so glad it went so well!!! Prayers for this transition for you all!
What a beautiful baby! I’m so glad things went well for you Jenna, I think you should be in epidural ads, because I’m dreaming of an epidural right now. Enjoy your newborn phase ;)
Love it! Look what a proud grandpa with his 3 little loves. So glad to hear what a restful delivery you had. Theodore is a doll. All of St. A’s Chosen crew sends you lots of congratulations.
So thrilled for you!!!! And you’re right. God doesn’t curse us with these bambinos, even when the throes of pregnancy feels like it. Hugs hugs hugs and look for your package soon!!
He is the sweetest! Just love that last pic!! A wee bit suspicious of this world thing.
He is so perfect! Congratulations!!! So happy to hear that the labor and birth was relatively easy. Praying for you all!
Congrats! He’s precious, truly a gift!
He certainly seems to be adored by his big siblings! Congratulations!
Wish my birth stories were as smooth! ;)
Now that’s the perfect delivery! He’s adorable!
Best birth story ever. And that first pic of just your boys, Sam looks so adorable. Congratulations Hines fam <3
Love love love this. Totally wins the easiest birth story in the world award. :)
Congratulations!! So happy for you!
Glad you had a safe and easy delivery and I love the name! Little Theo’s big chunky cheeks are the sweetest. I also like his look of concern in that last pic.
So happy for you, and what a beautiful, beautiful baby!
Awwww! Congrats ! He is already chubby cheeked! Cute!!
Congratulations! He is perfect.
The Starving Inspired
he is so beautiful and i am so proud of you. you are amazing
Perfect, perfect, perfect! I LOVE the name / saint link-up. Isn’t the Holy Soirit great like that??! Awesome, Jenna. Congrats!!
Wow, I think this is my favorite birth story. So awesome. I’m so glad you had an easy delivery after a not-so-easy pregnancy!
Theo is adorable…Congrats!
First off, MAJOR congrats. Second off, I seriously need to try an epidural birth….that sounds amazing. Way better than all that natural crap I convinced myself was necessary, lol!
Congratulations, Jenna!!! What sweet and adorable pictures!! I have to add to the chorus to agree that this is the best birth story ever!! I’m so glad it was easy for you and baby Theodore. Love the naming story, too. What a sweet little family!!
Dang, girl. Hope I have a labor like that! Sounds like your ride to the hospital was the worst part. Congrats! ALL of your kids are adorbs.
So we had the very same due date and chose the very same name for our boys! Crazy talk. Congrats on your little Theo!
Hooray for Baby Theo! I love your birth story – easy labor and deliveries rock!!!! Sam looks like he’s bursting with pride. Has Ellen fallen in love with little Theo yet or is she still wishing for that baby sister? xoxo
Hahaha when I had an epidural with Cecilia the same thing happened to me! I fell asleep and the doctor came and checked me and was like, “DON’T. PUSH.” Because she was totally on her way out!
Congrats, Jenna!!! Your story makes an epidural sound AMAZING and I have a horrible fear of needles. ;) What a cute little guy you have!
What an amazing birth story! Yay for modern medicine!
Love that last pic of this sweet boy!
Congrats!!! I’m so glad he arrived safely and that everything went OK for you (and that he at least came a little bit before his due date!). Were your kids as amazed by the “wonders” of the hospital room as mine were (they had to move the bed up and down, drop my giant hospital water bottle, check out the snacks other people brought me, etc!)? I hope your recovery and transition home is going well.
I love this! I love that his birth was so easy peasy for you! You were so wrapped in prayers! Congrats to you mama and your beautiful family! Continued prayers during these early months of transition! You’re amazing and so glad he was such a sweetie (and that y’all made it safely to the hospital!).
I’m glad you had such an easy labor! My second two babies tend to come fast at the end, too. :) Love the meaning of little Theo’s name; it’s perfect!
Congrats!!! So wonderful.
aww….so sweet. i would have FLIPPED out if our roads had been like that and all. oh, no no no!
love the last photo! he looks like, “uuummmm, it’s entirely too cold out here. what’s up with that?”
love it! i may have to do a 7QT for when baby #4 is born in august :)
Ohhh congratulations dear friend. This’ll be one of my fave birth stories. Nearly slept yer way on thru it rite?! Ha! I love it. I love it. I love it. Reading it during this weather and the last leg of my own pregnancy gives me LIFE. I’m so happy for you, for Mr. Theo, and for your sweet famery. And the name thing! How truly special.
Congratulations!!! He is so handsome.
Congratulations! What a sweet little guy. I have a daughter who born Ash Wednesday 2006. I said I gave up pregnancy for Lent. :) And I always get the shakes (five babies so far) and it’s one of my last favorite things about labor!