The Birth of Baby Joseph Scott Jensen

Our sweet baby Joey was born on March 5th 2008 and weighed 9 lbs 7 ozs, although he was probably a few ounces heavier when he was born. Before they could weigh him, he started peeing all over everyone. The nurses were quite surprised at the force because it hit the warmer up above the scale. Technically, we should probably add a few ounces which makes him as big as his siblings, but longer by about 1 inch (he was 21 1/2 inches long).

Doug and I decided on Joseph Scott as his name a few months before he was born. He was named this for a few reasons. First of all, Doug's brother is named Joseph Dean and goes by Dean, Doug's mother's given name was Josephine Adel, although she has since shortened it to JoDel. One of Doug's good friends is named Joseph and at the time we were picking the name, Joe was having the discussions and Doug got to baptize him in January 08'. Plus, what better name to give your son than the name of great prophets of the old testament and in this dispensation.

We decided on the name Scott for two reasons. First, my brother Charles Scott Brunner, had been working for us since May 07'. As we moved up to Oak Harbor, we still hadn't sold our house, Charles took care of it while it was on the market, kept our business running, and was willing to sacrifice to help us out during a very difficult time in our lives without complaint. There were many times when I had only enough money to pay him or pay our bills (we were basically paying the equivalent of a double mortgage because our house was not selling). He would always allow me to pay my bills first and we appreciated his love and support so much. While growing up, Charles went by Scott for the first 6 or 7 years of his life. When he got into 1st grade, there were too many Scott's in his class and there was another Scott B, so he decided to change his name to Charles. I still continued to call him Scott for at least another 10 years or so. Finally, when he was about 18, I decided I could call him Charles, but I have always liked that name. Scott Ellis is also one of Doug's good friends from high school and he was the best man at our wedding, so it was fitting to name our son Scott also.

This was my third C-section and by far the best birth and delivery, and recovery I might add, that I have ever had. The first time I heard Joey cry, tears of joy were shed, which was a first for me. I may have been so drugged the first two times, that I missed the overwhelming spiritual feelings that come with having a baby. I was in awe of the amazing ability that our bodies have to create life and I was overcome with a feeling of peace as this precious baby entered the world.

Joseph has such a calming, peaceful spirit. While I was in the hospital, I was so filled with the spirit as I held him. I just felt so close to heaven. I knew how pure and clean he was, and while I was in the hospital, I had the distinct impression that I needed to be the best mother possible for all three of my children. Doug had given me a priesthood blessing the night before I went in for the surgery and what I remember most about that blessing was that he told me that I would have a special experience that would strengthen my testimony during my stay at the hospital. Somehow, the simple act of being Joseph's mother made me want to be an even better mother, a better wife, a better person in general, and closer to my Heavenly Father. I had a wonderful stay at the hospital and I will never forget those first 3 days Joey and I got to spend together.