"IT'S A GIRL!", I yelled to Lori. She looked at me in wild-eyed confusion considering I interrupted the management of her present contraction. "WHAT???!!!" she shouted back.
Considering the head was just barely starting to show, I admit my words of encouragement got a wee-bit mixed up. In the middle of repeating, "Good Girl!" and "Keep Pushing!" and "You can do this!" the words, "It's a girl!" somehow managed to show up. But nevertheless, it appears I was right! (And good thing I was or this moment would be held over my head forever...)
Despite my gut feelings a boy was on the way, Lori's maternal instincts served her right! It was indeed a new baby girl! After a 15 hour natural labor, including over 4 hours of beet-red and broken blood vessel pushing, Lori gave birth at home in the baby's nursery.
Meet Marian David Wenzel!
Born at 4:23 AM on May 15th, 2014
7 pounds & 7 ounces, 20 inches long, and ridiculously gorgeous...