Sophia was born – June 29th, 2013 at 11:06pm.
Wisdom!
Wisdom to have nurses who were God’s messengers around us answering our questions and getting ready to help Johnna in any eventual emergency.
Wisdom!
Wisdom is what we needed to make every single decision during those 33 hours of labor.
Wisdom!
Wisdom is what we asked God for in order to discern our steps along this long-short journey at the hospital.
Johnna called me on Friday, June 28th at 3:45pm to let me know that her water had broken. Immediately, I shut down my computer and drove back home. We went to the hospital. At that point Johnna did not have any contractions. After a couple of hours, no contraction and her dilatation was 
1cm out of 10cm. Not a good sign.
The scenario forced us to make the very first decision at 3am (June 29th): pitocin – For the next following hours, Johnna got several contractions and Vanessa, our doula, and I helped her by using the techniques that we have learned from the Bradley method. After a few hours of contraction and relieving techniques, the result was the dilatation of 1cm out of 10cm. Not a good sign.
Once again we were forced to make a choice at 11am (June 29th): epidural – In order to relax Johnna’s muscles, in order to relax her cervix, in order to make her dilatation to grow until 10cm and get ready to push the baby out.
After a few hours, Johnna’s dilatation went from 1 to 3 and then from 3 to 7 and then from 7 to 10cm at 5pm (June 29th).
Time to push!
Everybody was excited and ready for the expected moment. Vanessa and Jessica, our two doulas, were helping Johnna holding her legs, I held her head, the nurse led the process and we counted one time, two times, three times and for almost 3.5 hours, we tried and tried and the baby did not come out because she was posterior (sunny side up = face up) and asynclitic (crooked). After a while, the doctor came into the room and I could feel a critical moment. She told us we had three options: vacuum with three tries, forceps, or C-section. However, at that point C-section was exactly what we were trying to avoid, but Johnna was already exhausted and what she wanted the most was to have her baby with her. If the vacuum procedure or forceps failed, Johnna would end up in a C-section anyways. Once again we were forced to make a choice. After a few seconds of silence Johnna asked me what we should do and then we decided to do vacuum.
I took 3 steps back and the only thing that I did from that point was to pray and ask God for wisdom. At that point we did not know if it was a boy or girl. On the whiteboard we had two names: Andre or Sophia.
After a few minutes, about 12 nurses joined us in the room – they were ready to take the baby once she came out, but also they were ready to take Johnna for an emergency C-section, if needed.
The doctor, the nurse, our doulas and I were supporting Johnna as a choir we counted to 10 as Johnna pushed the baby out and her doctor worked with her instrument.
The first. The second…
Now Johnna had only one more try. Otherwise, she would end up in a C-section. The doctor asked her if she would like to push without vacuum. Johnna did one contraction without the vacuum. Then, the Dr. Taneja asked her if she wanted to do one more push without the vacuum, or if she wanted to do the last vacuum push. Johnna was extremely tired and knew that if she was going to get the baby out, she needed all her strength for the last vacuum push. She said, “Vacuum!”
Everybody was with Johnna supporting her and counting…
Suddenly, the baby came out and the doctor held up the baby like in Lion King and asked Johnna “What did you have?” Johnna answered: “A girl, it is a girl!!”
Sophia was born with tears of joy and relief…
Sophia (Σοφíα, Greek for “wisdom”). The Greek noun sophia is the translation of “wisdom” in the Greek Septuagint for Hebrew חכמות Ḥokmot.
We find wisdom as the main topic in the books like Proverbs, Psalms, Song of Songs and Ecclesiastes.
In Christian theology, “wisdom” (Hebrew: Chokhmah, Greek: Sophia, Latin: Sapientia) tells us an aspect of God, or the theological definition and concept regarding the wisdom of God.
I could go on and on, but I want to go back to Sophia, our daughter who has been bringing tears of joy, serenity and wisdom to our family.
Wisdom!
Wisdom to choose Jessica and Vanessa as doulas in order to follow us along this path. They were 
like angels and fountains of wisdom showering their words over us, being present and helping us in every single phase of bringing Sophia into the world.
By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established; through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures (Proverbs 24:3-4).
This constructing process has to do with step by step, brick by brick, stone by stone with perseverance and patience. As a result of these small but constant steps we find beautiful and uncountable treasures at the end of this journey …
Wisdom to build trust. Wisdom to make decisions even though we have to choose the least dramatic choice – sometimes not being able to avoid complete pain or even some loss like in the classic and very rewarded movie, Sophia’s Choice.
Life is made by daily choices. Life is a choice!
Very often, life forces us to make “Sophia’s choice”.
Wisdom to persevere and be brave. Wisdom to discern. Wisdom to be patient and to not lose hope. Wisdom to be innocent like a child, but measure the consequences of every decision like a general who goes to war. Wisdom to live life and enjoy every single second…
It is what we have been learning – enjoying every single second of this beautiful miracle in our arms – Sophia Annalise.
Welcome little Sophia. We love you!
How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! And to get understanding rather than silver! (Proverbs 16:16).
Fabio and Johnna
