Update and Addendum

We came back from the hospital yesterday afternoon. Ariel and Abraham passed their tests with flying colors. Abraham didn't even cry with all of his pokes and shots, just whimpered bravely. I told him he could cry.

I'm also posting to make a clarification or two from the last post. It may have appeared, because of the scriptures at the beginning, that Ariel's labor was easy and light. It wasn't. Those were our theme scriptures throughout the pregnancy so I felt it appropriate to post them. It was certainly the hardest thing she had ever done. It took all that she had physically, spiritually, emotionally, and mentally. But the Lord did strengthen her. And she was patient and cheerful. She may not have been smiling and laughing through it all, but she didn't ever snap or yell or anything of the kind. It was a difficult, long labor buoyed by angels and the strength of the Lord.
So, yes, the labor was extremely arduous, and Ariel did extremely well (as did baby).

And I also wanted to clarify the origins and motives for the decision to birth naturally. The original reason Ariel wanted to have the baby naturally was because she hates and fears needles. It took me some time before warming up to the idea of her laboring and delivering without medicine. After more reading, taking classes and talking we decided there were other good reasons, beyond the fear of needles (the word is Aichmophobia, in case anyone was wondering), to have the baby naturally, and so we left our doctor to go to a midwife.
Thanks for reading! This is one beautiful baby!