Fourth Of July Gift

July 3rd 2009: So I prayed. I prayed and walked, and I walked and prayed. I came home, took a warm shower, and put on my cute, new, big mama pajamas. Then, the fun part. The Mommy and Daddy part, the husband and wife part, you know, that part God smiles upon as long as you’ve taken vows together? Well, I figured it was worth a shot (ok, probably the wrong word choice).  Besides, the odds were growing (dang it, did it again) that this may be the last time in a long time.  OK, sorry, no details for you. As he lay there, quickly falling into his regular “after the husband and wife time” coma, I rolled my big self over in order to see the clock, so many thoughts flooding my brain, wondering about the “what ifs” and waiting for the clock to strike midnight (awww, just like Cinderella).  Then there it was, my birthday, and guess what?…contraction.

July 4th 2009: Contraction? For real? I mean, no way, right?…contraction. Whoah, that was five minutes. Let me just lay here and wait…contraction. Lay here and wait? Hecks to the no, man. I got up and turned that flat iron on, just to make sure. I paced around my room, my sleeping husband completely clueless about the pains now regularly plaguing my lower abdomen. I made sure my packed bag and charged video camera were ready. Please believe I used that flat iron! Make up? Didn’t bother.

I called my sister-in-law, Olivia Shade. I had been through this so much in the last week, I really didn’t want to start making official calls yet, but I thought she could go up to the hospital with me to see if this was really it. She and I arrived about one in the morning. Contractions getting stronger now, I am dilated to a four, and completely effaced. OK, we better start making calls. “Happy birthday to me!” I would announce at the beginning of each call.  

Well, people started to arrive pretty quickly, which was a good thing cuz my contractions were now two minutes apart and growing ever stronger. My sisters, my parents, two nieces, a nephew, and then finally, my precious husband and children. They all sat and watched as the nurses struggled with my IV. Apparently I have great veins, but they roll. They ended up having to call an IV specialist (and I would be bruised for a week in all the spots they missed) and just as another painful contraction rolled up on me, and the IV lady attempted her magic, I sent one up to Heaven. “Please Lord Jesus” I begged. “I guess you said the magic words” she stated as she successfully slid that huge needle into my traumatized arm. I ended up getting the epidural, but not before I was already dilated to 9.5. I guess I could have endured the last half centimeter but I really wanted to be pain free as I tried to enjoy and share this last pregnancy experience with my family.  

He arrived, quite effortlessly and with only three pushes (I guess that’s how fifth children arrive) at 5:26am. He weighed 8lb., 10oz., and was 20.5 inches long. He has a head full of shiny, black hair and he has his daddy’s nose. Blessed and a blessing, he is a beautiful, miraculous, amazing, fourth of July gift. Like I said earlier…Happy birthday to me!