For Unto us a John is Born...

Our package arrived just in time for Christmas, and it was sent express delivery. John Richard Van Yperen was born at 1245 AM on the 23rd of December. He weighed in at 7 pounds 1 oz, and 20 and one quarter inches long. It all happened much quicker than we could have ever expected. And from the picture to the left, he's already ready to start flying.

Just before we left for an Ugly Sweater Christmas Party, Kate was saying that she was feeling a lot of pressure and she was a little uncomfortable. By the time we had driven about 20 minutes on our way to the party the pain was much worse, and at about 2 minute intervals. So we stopped on the side of the road as she called labor and delivery. They suggested we stop by so we did. Once at the hospital the pain was even worse and for the first time we realized that they were really contractions. They told us that she was progressing and that we should go home get rid of our ugly sweaters, grab our bags and come back. By the time we came back Kate was in a lot of pain during her contractions, and she was well on her way to having John. After some initial worry that the anesthesiologist would not get there in time it all worked out, the epidural was a buzzer beater, and from there things went more smoothly. About 6 hours after it all started, John was here and both mother and father were overjoyed. We stayed in the hospital for just over a day and a half and we are now home with John to enjoy our first Christmas together.

To have John during the Christmas season was also a perfect reminder of Jesus’ birth. We read the Christmas story in Luke this morning together as a family, and I remarked to Kate, I now have much more insight into a verse and a half that I always just glossed over, “While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloth and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn“ Luke 2:6-7. I now realize Luke probably omitted a lot of details there! But to think we are so blessed to have had the best medical care, we had a nice warmer to put him in right after birth, we had plenty of room in the inn (we were the only one’s in the maternity ward). Still I was worried and scared at plenty of times. Joseph and Mary’s ordeal has become a lot more real. John is such a great reminder of the humility that Christ clothed himself in to be born into this world as a little baby.

Now we celebrate Christmas this morning, despite it being anything but a silent night last night. We look forward to God’s faithfulness in John’s life. And we are so blessed to have so much support from friends and family as we take this journey.

Merry Christmas!

David, Kate, and John