The Holden Family: The Perfect Final Addition

We are so excited to announce the perfect final addition to our family, Mia Reece Holden. When Ben and I were married I wanted to have four children and he wanted to have two and we decided that three would be the perfect compromise. As we drove home with all our girls in the car he looked at me and said we have our family, the one we have been working for. There is a sweet feeling about being complete and Mia has made our family complete. We are immensely blessed with 3 beautiful and healthy girls and there is a sweet peace and joy in knowing that our children are healthy and that God has chosen us specifically to care for these three sweet girls.

And with our final addition comes the story of her entrance into this world and the story of her name. She entered the world at her own pace and yet the perfect one. I was moving along and at 37 weeks was told that I would most likely not make it until August 4th and then Mia put the brakes on. She was not feeling coming that early and decided to stay put. August 5th we made our scheduled induction for Monday morning on the 11th, but I was hoping to go into labor as I was trying to avoid having all the medications needed for induction. Ellie was induced and I was familiar with the process and knew it would go well, but wanted to go into labor on my own. We began the waiting. I walked and walked and walked each day and did my exercise video every day. The girls and I also went to the pool as much as we could. Every morning Ellie would ask when is the baby coming and I would say when God decides it is the perfect time. I went to bed Saturday night with some back aches but was able to sleep. I woke up around 4 or 4:30 in the morning with the same aches and they would not go away. I let Ben know that I thought it could be time. We were very diligent about not waiting around since Quinn came within two hours of my first contraction and ten minutes after getting to the hospital. I made the calls needed for the girls and we arrived at the hospital around 5:45 or so. I was 6 cm when we arrived and after checking in I was planning a wait and see process on an epidural. With Ellie I had one and with Quinn there was no time. I liked not having the drugs for the feeling afterwards as my body felt much better after Quinn. I decided that I would see how the process went and if I was moving slowly then I might get one and if things went faster I felt I could do without. Around 6:30 the contractions were intense and I let them know that I felt I would need an epidural. They put the order in but told me it would be a little bit as I had not been there long enough for my blood work to be complete. At the same time I felt it was time to push. The nurse checked and I was 10 cm and little Mia was coming. Ready or not the epidural was not happening. Three pushes later she was here at 6:47 am, about an hour after pulling into our parking space. She weighed 6lbs 8oz and was 20 1/2 inches long. She was completely healthy and we both passed all our blood sugar tests with no problems over the next 12 hours. I have struggled through all three of my pregnancies with obstacles but in the end the Lord has blessed me with labors and deliveries that go fairly quickly and have all been healthy. The gifts of our girls have far outweighed the struggles and though challenging have been manageable. I have delivered all my children in the same hospital with an incredible staff that have encouraged us and loved on us. God has always more than provided and with Quinn and Mia I have been able to get home a little over 24 hours later with the support of the medical staff. It is always challenging for me to wait and be patient as the Lord requires and especially in the final days of pregnancy when I just want to hold our sweet baby, but God has always provided immensely and has taken care of us in more ways than I can imagine and with a new little one in our home I am always reminded of His great love and care for us.

Mia is the perfect piece in our family puzzle. I had come up with lists upon lists of names, but with a third girl it was a challenge and Ben did not like any of my names. Around 32-34 weeks of pregnancy he came up with the name Mia and we pondered it for a while. I am a person that wants the name to mean something. Ellie means light and her personality represents that to me in our home and in my life. Quinn means wisdom and intelligence and as she grows I already see those traits in her naturally. When I found that Mia meant wished for child I knew her name would be Mia. She is our final child and I have dreamed and wished for all my children but from the beginning a third child for us has always been our dream and wished for result. Ben also brought Reece to the table in my 37th week as a middle name and I also really liked it. Reece means enthusiasm and in our home that is abundant especially over this little girl. I believe she will grow to embody that in our home and in our life.

She has already fit right in and Ellie and Quinn are absolutely smitten with her. They can not get enough of her and want to hold her all the time. They love on her and kiss her and she has rolled with it all. Their energetic attitudes have not phased her one bit when she eats or sleeps. We are all completely in love and completely overjoyed and thankful for this gift that God has chosen us to be the bearers of!