On this date five years ago, I had been in labor since 31 weeks. I was on a medication to stop it that made me feel horrible. I was hot. I was annoyed. I had been barfing forever. This wasn't my first go-round and I knew what to expect as I waddled into my 36 week appointment. Pee in the cup, be violated by a familiar stranger. Same old, same old. As I lay back in the stirrups though, contracting just like I had been for the last 5 weeks, she said the words that made me snap to attention:
"Um, you're six centimeters."
Six? Really. Seems not far from 10.
I sat up. "So, can I just swing on home and pick up a few things and grab my kids from daycare and set up the crib and stuff quick?"
Her: "Yeah, NO. I don't want to be the OB on the news that has the patient who delivers her baby on a gravel road somewhere outside of town."
I stared at her blankly.
Her: "That patient would be
you....who delivers on a...gravel...ok...anyway...NO."
Silence.
Me: "It'd only take a few minutes. I could also use a beverage."
Silence.
Right.
Me: "I'll see you at the hospital."
I was admitted around 6 pm and Eli was born around 9:30 pm and he needed a little oxygen to help him breathe, but then he was right as rain. He had dark hair to start and a serious little face, which was the only time in his life that he was serious. And we loved him from the very start. Fiercely loved him. And I would like to thank all of you who love him too.
Happy 5th Birthday Eli! The world is so much brighter with you in it.
