Madeline Grace Bertelson

Yup you DID read that right!! Having a 2 hour labour with my first child and only 30 minutes for my second - I was praying that I would get the "feeling" that labour was impending so as to get to the Hospital on time for my third child. The Dr said this time that at 14 days prior to my due date he would bring me in "look at me with the Go ahead" and wait with a catcher's mitt!!

Well God was with me again!! I KNEW again when it was going to happen!! I got up in the night (16 days prior to due date) went to the loo, felt that strange feeling again, woke up Nils and said, "We are getting really close, I think we should go to the Hospital" - Nils got up, rang up his Mum (who now was only 9 miles away) she jumped in her car and drove up here. As SOON as she got to the house, Nils and I left IMMEDIATELY telling her to get the 2 kids up, dress them and come to the Hospital with them. I had called the Dr while waiting - Burigo wasn't on call and so I talked to Gordon (who is Burigo's best buddy!!) and he said he'd meet me at the Hospital and that he would call Burigo when he got there, as Burigo had said to do so as he wanted to continue his legacy of delivering the Bertelson Bunch!!

Got to the birthing room at 3.30am, Didn't even go through admitting or anything just straight up to that floor!! Gordon checked me - 5cm - started having mild contractions - Gordon called Burigo from my room and Burigo told Gordon he would have to do it by himself as he was at least 40 minutes drive away and there was NO way I was going to wait that long!!

It all went just SO fast from then on....basically

3.30am Nils and I got to Hospital birthing room
3.35am Gordon checked me
3.40am my MIL, Matthew (7) and Melanie (4.5) arrived
3.45am my water POPPED with a HUGE POP, baby crowned IMMEDIATELY
3.50am Maddie was in the world!

All in all 20 minutes from start of labour to delivery!!

Piece of Cake!! :-)  

The Parents

The Kids

The Dogs

The Media