What a woman! Alaskan Governor Sarah Palin gave birth to her 5th child on Friday morning, which is pretty amazing all on its own.

However, the fact that her water broke a month early while in Texas to give a speech at an energy conference and she gave her thirty minute talk before quickly returning home to deliver the baby is what makes her Alaskan tough in my mind! Every time my water broke, I had but a single thought: Hospital NOW!

Baby Trig Paxson Van Palin, who's unusual first name is a Norse word meaning "true" and "brave victory" as well as being a family name, was born with Down's Syndrome and is doing just fine.

A spokesperson for the family said, "Trig is beautiful and already adored by us. We knew through early testing he would face special challenges, and we feel privileged that God would entrust us with this gift and allow us unspeakable joy as he entered our lives. We have faith that every baby is created for good purpose and has potential to make this world a better place. We are truly blessed."

His mother is doing great and according to her dad, Chuck Heath, is just really, really tired.

"She's tired, yeah. She traveled, well, she was at that convention, traveled all night, gave birth this morning, what have you, and hasn't slept today. She's tired," he said.

Palin is on John McCain's list of vice presidential candidates. I don't know much more about her, but if this birth story is any indication, she appears to have no problems being a multitasking working mom!

Alaska Governor Sarah Palin(click thumbnails to view gallery)