–Another shorter update…. Bethany is now home and doing great. Our original goal had been to be at the hospital a minimal amount of time after delivery. Long enough to ensure mom and baby were stable, and then home.
Ironically, that’s exactly how it worked out. There were a number of changes/adaptions in how this baby was born (I’ll write more about that later… short story is no c-section!). And yet, by the time Bethany was 24 hours old, she was resting comfortably in her bassinet in our room.
Thank you for your prayers. I don’t know that I can communicate the challenges of the delivery in a blog post, but I will try at a later date. We were so in need of prayer support. My sister Sarah told me she was heavily impressed to pray at 11:06 pm (cst) last night. I can’t say exactly to the second, but I know confidently that was within minutes of when we were coming up against a wall and needing God’s direction. He proved faithful to carry all of us through.
There was a NICU crash cart (supplies for trauma) sitting in the hallway. We passed it doznes of times as we walked laps. I remember often praying as we passed it, “God, can we please not need anything in that cart for this baby.” It never entered our room (or least I didn’t see it), and I don’t think it ever even left it’s parking spot. Praise the Lord!
He was gracious to us these past few days. All challenges aside, we have a Bethany Faith to hold and to love and are rejoicing in God’s goodness.
Gratefully,
Nathan
“He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler” (Psalms 91:4).
She is so cute and precious! I pray for Melanie as she rests and her body heals and recovers. Can’t wait to see pictures of Miss Abigail with her little sister. God’s blessings to you and your entire family.
I’m so glad that I checked here one last time before I head to bed! What an absolutely, perfectly sweet face! She is so pretty!
I’m so blessed to go to sleep tonight knowing how the Lord answered your prayers for your little girl. I’ll pray before I sleep tonight that the Lord will grant Melanie a quick recovery, that He will give you rest or His strength and grace in the times when you will be so tired, and that little Bethany will stay healthy and grow well in the weeks ahead.
Thank you so much for the pictures!!! 🙂 I can just imagine how excited Abigail must be to have a baby sister! Thank you, Lord!
She is simply beautiful. Perfection.
God is good, soo godd1
What a precious blessing! Glory to God!
My prayers of rejoicing for you and the beautiful addition to your sweet family are lifted up to our Father in heaven. I am so thankful that God orchestrated your steps and you faithfully walked His ways!
Congratulations and joy to all of you!!! (I bet Abigail is pleased to be a big sister!! :))
Praise the Lord for Bethany Faith. She is so precious and beautiful. So glad the newest Maxwell is at home and doing well!
Nathan, that baby is beautiful! The Lord gave you such grace to bring her in to this world alive and healthy and full-term and without the need for the NICU!. Congratulations to you and Melanie and Abigail and your entire extended family! I’m sorry to hear Melanie had such a difficult birth (after all this time waiting and praying for each week and then the struggle at the end!) but she has so many hands to help her rest and heal, and there was no C-section — yay! Take good care of your girls, all of them (I know you will!).
And now, what does Abigail think?
She’s BEAUTIFUL!
Thank you for sharing with us!
She is beautiful, many many congratulations. A precious gift indeed.
A precious gift indeed! She is beautiful – congratulations!
Praise GOD!!!
What a BEAUTIFUL baby….
I am so thankful everyone is home and doing well…. What a MIGHTY God we serve!!
Praise the Lord from whom all blessings flow! Bethany is absolutely beautiful….her skin looks like velvet. Take care.
Marie
Nathan, she is just beautiful!! Many congratulations to you and Melanie. How wonderful Melanie and Bethany are home already. I’m sure Abby was missing her mama. God is so good!
Gorgeous!! Prayer is a wonderful thing. Congratulations. So glad to hear that everyone is home and recovering.
Congratulations! Bethany Faith is absolutely beautiful! I am so happy that y’all are home. I pray for a smooth transition for your family as you adjust to now having two blessings from the Lord.
I look forward to hearing all about the labor and delivery, and how God took care of Melanie through it all.
Enjoy your time with the precious newborn baby!
Thank you for sharing the news! What joy!
What a beautiful sight! May God bless Bethany with a desire to follow Him all her life. Kathy
Nathan, thanks for the sweet update! Bethany is beautiful and I’m so happy to hear that mama and baby are home. Abigail must be so delighted!
Praying for Melanie’s recovery and that Bethany will nurse well.
Praise the Lord for this new bundle! 😀
=) How precious!
Oh, she is beautiful!! It is wonderful to “hear” you praising the Lord through the trials of a difficult labor. After all, without the trials, we would not need the Lord’s abundant grace. We are so incredibly happy for you all – you would think we had a baby around here!! We will continue praying, as always, for all the Maxwells.
Oh!Oh! Oh! Such a precious,beautiful baby! She is so cute!
We’re so glad you had no need of NICU! Praise the Lord! Hope that Melanie has a speedy, easy recovery. Abigail must be thrilled!
God bless! Still praying!
Rebecca K.
”Praise the Lord, praise the Lord! Let the earth hear His voice, praise the Lord,Praise the Lord, let the people rejoice! Oh, come to the Father through Jesus the Son, and give Him the glory great things He hath done!”
What a beautiful baby girl! Such a special gift.
Gracious me, little Bethany is seriously one of the most beautiful babies I have ever seen… and I’ve seen a whole lotta babies! Praying for a smooth adjustment for the whole family♥
YAY!!!!! So excited for your family and so grateful for God’s love, kindness, and faithfulness to bring you through and bring her forth!!! She is absolutely beautiful! 🙂 Rejoicing with you!
Nathan and Melanie,
Thanks for sharing pictures of her. She is so beautiful. God is gracious always and has a way with working things out exactly when they should be and how they should be. My youngest is 9 weeks old and we too experienced somewhat of a miracle. Long story short, she was our 5th child and I was praying for a vbac. I had had all 4 of our children by c section. After a tubal reversal and 3 pregnancy losses in that first year, we were blessed to have Emily. My doctor agreed to let me have a trial of labor. After a whole weekend in labor, with no progress, but horrible contractions, my doctor decided to go ahead with the c section. He clearly directed us in those last days of our pregnancy. Our youngest son was born at 34 weeks, so we also know what its like to pray to make it to a “safe” gestational age. All this said my husband and I are so glad that all is well with you all. Rest up, and enjoy Bethany 🙂
In Christ~
Maudie S
What a beautiful miracle! Thank you for sharing the photos with us. When things settle down a bit, please let us know how Abby is doing and what she thinks about being a big sis.
Congratulations!
She is gorgeous! Congratulations!
Oh my! She is so bee-you-ti-ful! Praise the Lord for this wonderful gift!
Hugs for Melanie!
Newborns aren’t supposed to be that pretty!! Oh, what a gorgeous baby! She looks sooo much like Melanie!
I’m so glad that all of you are healthy and home. Now becomes the longer harder work of recovery for Melanie. I hope she doesn’t try to do too much. I’ve had four babies, and I finally have figured out that sometime in the first few days, I feel good enough to run a marathon…but it’s an illusion! If I push too hard too soon, I have a major setback. Take it easy, rest rest rest!
May Bethany grow to be a strong and loving woman after God’s own heart!
Grace,
The W. in VA
Congratulations! Bethany Faith is beautiful! Praise God!!!!
Precious pictures! Thank the Lord she arrived safely! Congratulations!
She’s so precious! What a blessing from God! I’m sure Abby was happy to meet her. I’m glad that Melanie and Bethany are home and doing well. That’s truly an answer to prayer!
I’m praying that Melanie will recover well. Blessings to all of you!
She is precious! Congratulations. Enjoy your babymoon.
Oh, she is so beautiful! 😀 What a special precious little one! 🙂 I am soo happy for you both! And so happy this little one came same and sound and did NOT need to be in the NICU! 😀 Thank you for charing the sweet pictures of you new little blessing. 🙂
And we’ll be praying for Melanie’s recovery! 🙂
Praising the Lord with you all! 🙂
~Miss Rachel~
Congratulations! She is the prettiest newborn. I love those cheeks! Please do take it easy Melanie – I’m sure everyone is telling you that! We continue to pray for the health of baby and Melanie (you, too, Nathan!) Enjoy your “babymoon!” I’m so grateful to God that he’s given you precious baby girl Bethany to love.
Rebecca W.
What wonderful news and what a beautiful blessing! She is absolutely gorgeous!
I can’t remember the last time I was so relieved to hear about the safe arrival of a little one.
Praising God!
She is stunning, just like the goodness of our Father who never ceases to amaze me with His goodness towards us. Praise Him for this precious one! Praying for a easy recovery and for Abby as she learns to love a new baby sister!
Praise God for His love. Bethany is adorable- just love that hair. We look forward to hearing more details latter!
Bethany looks too pretty to have had a rough time getting here. Praising God for His provision and protection. Praying for Melanie physically, emotionally and spiritually as she heals and remains the heart of the home. Kim C. and Family
Oh my is she ever cute! Congratulations to all!!!!!!!!!
Yay!! She is beautiful! 😉 I am so happy and praising the Lord for her safe arrival! Wow…what a journey for you all. Thanks for always sharing 🙂
Congratulations on this little blessing! I prayed for Melanie and the baby, and I am so glad everything went well. Praise God!
Praise God! He is sooooo good!! Bethany is just lovely. We are so happy for your beautiful growing family!
She is beautiful!
She is super cute!
Katy
She is perfect and beautiful! YHVH has truly blessed you abundantly!
No c-section is always a blessing.
Enjoy those girls! 🙂
Praise God for your wonderful blessing! I’m so glad to hear that Melanie and the baby are doing great!!
Praise the Lord! Rejoicing with you all.
The Lord’s mercies are new every morning; great is Thy faithfulness!
Bethany is beautiful – – what a precious gift from our Lord!!! Continued prayers, Patti M.
Simply beautiful baby. Really, she is so perfect! Glad to hear things went well with minimal intervention.