“God Heard” – Some Perspectives From Keenan.

He has blessed Nonie and me so abundantly during Nonie’s pregnancy and labor. He helped us decide when it was the right time to have our first child—just in time for Nonie to give birth before we would need to move for graduate school. He has helped Nonie as she has studied and prepared for childbirth. When labor finally began last Wednesday, He was there to give Nonie strength when hers had waned: by the time he was born, she had gone without sleep for nearly 50 hours. He blessed Nonie with a keen awareness of her body, confidence in her attending midwives and nurses, and a healthy baby. God heard, so we named him Samuel.

“God heard” is only one of several accepted translations of the Hebrew name Samuel. Others include “Heard of God,” “Asked of God,” and “God is his name.” We are overjoyed with the arrival of our son, Samuel Marshall Reesor. It didn’t take long to fall in love with him. How can one put these feelings into words? I could not have been prepared to see how Nonie would have to persist and sacrifice in order to give birth to our son. This experience has greatly increased my love for her and my testimony of the Lord’s love and concern for His children.

Although Nonie’s labor was long and difficult, what ultimately characterized the labor was her focus, stamina, and humility. I have never seen anyone do something so difficult, yet there was no preoccupation with the difficulty of the task. I’ve been trying for a long time now to describe it, but words fall so short. If one could see her focused gaze and hear her paced breathing transform for only one moment into a suppressed cry then instantly return to their former state; if one could see her complexion change to purple and her meek eyes swell from three hours of pushing; perhaps then one might begin to understand the struggle she and the Lord entertained to bring our boy safely here.

Seeing Nonie give birth has given me a new respect for women. Having a child can mean walking to Death’s door to get him. I learned that sometimes God chooses not to deliver us from suffering so He can bless us with transcendental joy. I learned that sharing the experience of childbirth as husband and wife can knit the heartstrings still more tightly together. Thank you, Nonie, and thank you, God, for blessing us with a beautiful baby boy!

Nonie's Labor Log in some detail

-- 6 August 2008 --
1:45 AM Contractions start and continue throughout the day roughly 5-10 minutes apart. The "progression" that I expected was a point of discouragement for me. The contractions were difficult from the start, and I got through each one by hanging on Keenan or leaning back from his hands while swaying my hips. Hip-swaying, counter-pressure, and staying upright were the best pain-coping techniques for labor. I am amazed how my body would just tell me what to do if I listened to it. At one point during the day, we drove up Little Cottonwood Canyon and took a walk toward Air Conditioned Rock in a rainstorm -- the most lovely part of labor.
9:30 PM We decide to go to the University Hospital to have them check dilation (we used the midwifery group there). They found me to be 5 cm. dilated, which was heartening. We decided to stay at the hospital at this point and wander the halls while they get a jacuzzi room ready for me. We continue laboring in the labor & delivery room.
-- 7 August 2008 --
12:00 AM Contractions are getting closer and stronger. My Mom and sister Meredith come to the hospital to give support and witness/document the event. Pain techniques include all different positions, including a blue birth ball provided by the hospital, a warm relaxing bath, but especially Keenan. I could not have fashioned a better coach and support than he. He was so cheering, encouraging, and wise in his counsel. He helped me to breathe and relax and used imagery that helped me cope with the labor pains. I could not have sustained my focus and determination without him, especially considering how long the labor would turn out to be. Going through this labor together was such an incredibly unifying experience for us.
2:18 AM Dilated to 6.5 cm. I decide to let them strip my membranes in hopes that it will help speed labor along a bit.
4:53 AM Dilated to "7+." I decide to let them break my bag of waters, again hoping it might have the affect of helping me reach full dilation quicker. The hardest thing about labor at this point was not so much dealing with the pain as dealing with the fatigue. I hadn't slept since the evening of August 4th. At times during labor I just didn't know what to do anymore. I had to just keep going, though the most delightful thought in the whole world was putting labor on hold while I took a nap. No such luck...
7:54 AM I've had the "urge to push" for nearly two hours at this point, growing stronger and stronger with each contraction, a good sign in my mind. I had my midwife check me again, to find me at 8.5 cm. I couldn't believe I still had 1.5 to go! Resisting the urge to push before complete dilation may have been the most difficult part of labor for me, and required the most intense focus.
9:05 AM My midwife Susanna skillfully pushes the cervix over baby's head and I reach full dilation! Wahoo!! Now I can finally start to push. I was happy to be almost done, or so I thought...
9:27 AM My blood pressure has been quite high for over an hour at this point and they take some blood samples for some testing.
10:40 AM Still pushing... Susanna tells me that my blood labs have come back and indicate that I have preeclampsia. This came as a shock, as I have exhibited no symptoms of the same throughout my pregnancy. It worried the hospital staff and it became very important that baby be born soon. They put me on an IV of magnesium sulphate to help ward off a possible seizure.
11:53 AM As my contractions have spaced out a bit (due to fatigue??), we consent to a pitocin drip to speed things along. Susanna reminded us of the 3 P's: the Power, the Passage, and the Passenger. "The passenger is ready, the passage is wide enough, we just need to get these powers back."
12:15 PM Though baby is crowning now, there are doctors on hand who want to use forceps to get him out, which I really did not want. (I also hear tell of possibly doing a C-section... doctors will often do sections quite early in pregnancy if the woman is found to have preeclampsia.) They were very worried about the affect of the preeclampsia on both me and baby. Fortunately the pitocin really kicks in and I was able to push over and over. The room filled with nurses, pediatricians, doctors, and they all became my cheerleaders through these last moments.
**12:28 PM** After nearly 35 hours of labor, a quick episiotomy (without asking, but probably for the best), and BIG BABY BOY is BORN!! Lots of crying, rejoicing, smiling, hugging, and prayers of gratitude.

--A Few Thoughts--
I feel so grateful that my baby was born healthy -- the primary motivator for our desires to go for an unmedicated birth. Samuel's heart rate stayed up and the only potential harm that could have come to him was the necessary attachment of an internal fetal monitor right at the end (they couldn't keep his heart rate straight from mine for a while there), but he weathered it well.

While on my mission in Belgium a few years ago, I read a scripture that made me want to have my children naturally. It was John 16:21. This scripture made me think I had something to learn about the Atonement of Jesus Christ. I can't think of anything more effective than natural childbirth to help me gain a stronger testimony of his sacrifice, though it remains a pitiful comparison. In natural childbirth, a woman endures indescribable pains to bring life to another person. By His great pain and suffering in the Garden of Gethsemane, the Savior brought life to all who would receive it, without which, we could not live eternally with our Heavenly Father and loved ones. His pain came naturally and was borne out of love, as was mine (though during labor I did find myself more focused on the enduring of the pain rather than the fruit).

We indicated some things in our birth plan that did not end up happening as anticipated. I had to make some compromises to get the blessing I sought most: a healthy child. Things could have been so different if they hadn't happened just as they did (especially considering the dangers of my preeclampsia, which wasn't discovered until the last two hours). During the labor I wondered if I had been crazy to want to give birth in this way. Then in falling in love with my healthy, beautiful son, my feelings on the matter were only strengthened. This is partly why we decided to name our son Samuel, which I think Keenan is going to touch more on later. I feel so grateful for the divine help I had throughout the labor, as well as the indispensable support from the hospital staff, my family, and especially Keenan, who is going to be The Best Daddy for our little one. I can tell already.
Both of us are recovering exceptionally well. :)
Welcome to our family, Samuel!!

The Most Beautiful Announcement

Please welcome into the world Baby Samuel Marshall Reesor! He arrived 7 August 2008, at 12:28 PM after a 35-hour labor, weighing a healthy 8 lbs. 7 oz. He is the most beautiful blessing to his parents. Details and perspective on this event to come shortly...

The Very Last Leg

Nonie and baby have passed their July 31st "due date" (which was moved up from the original August 4th). We've officially moved down to Nonie's parents' in SL, though Keenan still commutes to Logan as necessary for shows (he has people covering him in case of labor conflicts). So at this point we're just biding time practicing, organizing, preparing to move, and hoping baby braves the birth canal before we head out to California in under two weeks! (Nonie may stay back a bit if the events feel too close). More to come soon, we hope... :)

Opera and New Arrival

Nonie and I are getting good at attending the opera. We must really love it, because it's managed a place in our schedule on some important occasions: the day after our wedding, our first anniversary, and ... our second anniversary! Yes, our anniversary was last Friday the 18th. Nonie decided to accompany me to both of the shows for which I ran supertitles: Manon Lescaut (Puccini) and 1776. I'm also playing the orchestra piano part in Into the Woods.

It's impossible to adequately describe the impact Nonie has had on my life in the two years we've been married. Nonie has born the burden of working to support us by teaching violin while I've been in school (student Kristene pictured below).She's a forgiving friend and a faithful companion. She's a good listener. As a brilliant musician, Nonie shares in my enjoyment of music and the arts.

Nonie has now been carrying our soon-to-be-born almost nine months. Marriage has blessed our lives. Happy anniversary, Nonie!

We're proud to announce the arrival of a new member of the family!

Adopted on July 5th, 2008, he was born in 1911 in New York City at Steinway factory. He's a red head, 5'10" long. This piano has come to us at a very reasonable price with excellent personal financing, and is in good condition. Having a piano in LA means that I'll be able to practice at home, which is especially good for days when being on campus would otherwise not be necessary. We were able to finance through our credit union, mostly by freezing some savings, thereby producing a loan with a very low interest rate.

But really, we're more excited for our baby boy, who may come at any moment. Nonie's midwife has told us that Nonie could go into labor at any time!! Nonie will be giving birth at the University Hospital in Salt Lake, with the help of their resident group midwifery practice. The recent arrival of our nephew Abraham Marshall has excited us even more for the birth of our baby. Still no name ... hopefully that revelation will come soon!

One more piece of fun news: I had the opportunity to play Saint-Saëns piece, Carnival of the Animals, with the Utah Festival Opera Orchestra on the 15th. I gave my best effort in preparing and it paid off. Opportunities to play with orchestras don't normally come very often, so this was a privilege. Here are a couple clips from Tuesday night (the first is Fossiles, the second is from the Finale):

Important Cousin Addendum!

In writing that last blog, I neglected to mention that I already have one very cute niece, Lucy, and two very playful nephews, Simon and Thomas. We are so glad our little one has such playmates waiting to befriend him. I loved my cousins growing up, so I'm glad my boy has four all ready for him!!