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We knew for a while before Canaan was born what his name would be, but we never expected that it would be so fitting. "Canaan" (pronounced Cane-N), in the Torah / Old Testament scriptures, is actually both a name and a place (though we chose it because of the meaning behind the place, not the name). It was the name of the Promised Land that God gave his people after their long captivity in Egypt. Their journey to Canaan, this promised place, was long and difficult.
The road to our Canaan was a lesson in complete reliance on God. At 20 weeks I started having pre-term labor contractions which required bedrest for nearly half of my pregnancy. There were a few moments of complete breakdown... not knowing if Canaan be born early with severe complications... or live at all. But God was with us - hearing our prayers for our son... and providing us with encouragement through the many wonderful friends, family and complete strangers who helped us with meals and company.
The doctors thought we'd likely make it to week 30 at best. We had his premee clothes ready and learned all about life in the NICU. But then, miraculously... week after week passed by. In total I had somewhere in the neighborhood of 22,000 contractions before Canaan was born safe and healthy at 39 weeks.
