The BIRTH

At 8:38am our beautiful baby was born.

I have no idea how it happened. Those last few minutes are a blur. I honestly think I blacked out. When I came to, she was being laid on my chest, a hysterical, terrified mess. And it was the moment.

Time to step up and be her mother. Forget everything that had happened. Be calm, soothing, comforting, reassuring and positive. And, just like that, I switched gears. I was no longer the patient or the victim, she was and she needed me. Suddenly, I had all the energy in the world for my little girl. The pain of everything I’d just gone through, and being stitched up with nothing numbing me while she was in my arms, was nothing. The only feeling was love. Okay, and relief. Somehow she and I had done it. We were quite the little team.

I never saw that anesthesiologist or nurse again. But they could have been right in front of me. I only had eyes for one, special, tiny person.

I realize my experience is tame (and fortunate) compared to most. And, for that and, most especially, for her, I’m so thankful. Mainly, it was more humorous than anything. At least in hindsight!

And, not to be outdone, our departure was just as colorful as my labor.

I went into the hospital on a Thursday evening. By Sunday, I was being dismissed. But not before I took a long, hot shower. It was beyond time. And I wanted to leave the hospital at the hospital, if you know what I’m saying. So I scoured myself. For a good thirty minutes, I lathered and re-lathered. I soaped. I sudsed. I shaved. I stood and just let the hot water pour over me and my traumatized body. It was a great shower (Maybe my last good one to date!). So great, in fact, it was news-worthy.

The New York Fire Department was outside my hospital door. I opened it in my towel to see ten men in uniform staring back at me. My steam shower had been so hot and so long that it set off the alarm and the entire local fire department came.

What a way to make an exit. Or, in my daughter’s case, an entrance. It’s clear we’re destined to have an adventurous life together. And, so far, it’s been just that. May the excitement (and hilarity!) continue…