I lay in the dark beside my husband. I just couldn't get comfortable that night. "Honey...are you still awake?" I asked turning my head toward him.
"What? I guess...why?"
"Our baby will not let me get comfortable! He wants to play I guess."
Mark rolled close to me and wrapped his arm around my tummy and went back to sleep. Little baby must have felt its daddy's arm because finally he slows down in there and we all three sleep.
It was late November. I just couldn't help myself as I walked sleepily to the kitchen in the morning. I always had to stop at the door of the little "nursery" and look at it one more time. Our guest room had taken on a "new" look. Along the west wall sat our new little wooden crib with a lamb painted on the end and a bright white sheet stretched snug over the little mattress. A little dressing table sat on the south wall with a bottle of baby magic, some baby shampoo, diaper rash ointment and a number of other necessary things for babies. A couple packages of disposable diapers sat on the closet shelf. Over in the corner sat my old rocking chair, a blanket tossed up over the back.
"Baby and I have an appointment with doctor at 11:00 this morning. Do you want to join us?" I asked waddling to the breakfast table.
"I better, I guess. It's getting pretty close. I'll be in as soon as I give the cows a bale."
We loved our doctors. There were two of them working together. They had a PA named Daytha also. I loved her. She was my age and single. She was so calm and her tone of voice just had a way of easing your concerns. Today we were to see Dr. Fuller.
Mark really liked him. He was an older man, short and stout. The best part was he was not only a doctor but also a cattle man. He had a herd of cows and calves, so he and Mark had a lot in common.
It may sound strange to some, but Dr. Fuller could explain a lot to us by using his cows as examples. Both Mark and I understood what happened when baby calves come into the world and Dr. Fuller explained it would be a lot the same for me. So....yes, I would sit there on the examining table as we talked about what happens when the mother cow gives birth! I loved it!
"Really, I don't expect to see you in here again. I'm sure it won't be long now. The little fellow is in position and just waiting to come into this world," Dr. Fuller said giving me a pat on the shoulder. "It will be either myself or Dr. Fredrickson delivering. We have both been with you the whole time so we both know your history." So home we went to wait! But not for long!
"Wow, the weather has turned nasty out there," Mark announced one morning when he came in for his 10:00 snack. "It's getting pretty cold and the pickup radio says a possibility of snow."
"Does a change in weather make the cows go into labor?"I asked with a sigh.
"What?! What do you mean....are you ok?" asked a very concerned Mark.
"Oh yeah, but just kind of restless and I have a dull ache in my lower back once in awhile," I explained rubbing my back.
"Doc told us it could be anytime, so we'll have to watch it."
There was a little knock at the door and then it opened slightly, "Yoohoo anybody home?" It was Grandma who stuck her head in the door. "I brought you over some soup for lunch."
"Oh, thanks Grandma! You're a jewel!"
"Are you feeling up to par deary?" Grandma asked noticing me rubbing my back.
"Oh not 100% for sure. But the doc told us it would be any time now!"
"Well, I'll check on you again this afternoon. Just rest."
We feasted on grandma's delicious homemade chicken noodle soup at noon. That is...Mark did. I just didn't have the appetite!
Shortly after noon it started to snow. Big flakes at first came gently falling down, then smaller ones filled the air. Mark put out bales for the cows early and went ahead and fed the pigs.
At about 5:00 I was getting pretty uncomfortable. "I really would feel better if I at least called the doc to ask his opinion honey," Mark said going to the little green phone setting at the end of the couch. "It is really snowing out there and packing on the roads. It could be slick." He dialed the phone.
All I could hear was him saying "lower back pains....now and then most of the day....yes....ok...no...I think we can...ok....give us an hour...in the back door?...ok....thanks."
Mark turned to me as he hung up the phone. "The doc would feel better if we were at the hospital. Get your bag and a blanket and I'll start the car and tell Grandpa and Grandma."
Very few words were said in that little car as we made our way slowly south. The roads were snow packed and the snow hit our windshield as the wipers went back and forth....back and forth.
All of a sudden, I gasp and let out a little moan.
"Are you ok?" Mark asked reaching across to hold my hand.
"Yes," I answered under my breath, "it's just that this little someone would rather be riding on my lap!"
It was a little brick hospital on the edge of town. We pulled around to the back door and parked. Mark ran to my door to help me out, reaching in the back seat for my overnight bag. Our feet made crunching noises as we walked slowly to the door, snow falling softly around us.
I was the only "mother to be" there in that little hospital. The nursery stood empty, a small light glowing on the back wall. Little cribs stood here and there behind the big glass window. They stood empty. just waiting ...waiting for our little baby. An old rocking chair sat over by the back wall. It too was waiting.
The nurse was kind and reassuring as she helped me out of my clothes and into one of those huge hospital gowns and tucked me into bed. Mark pulled up an easy chair and set close to me as she took my blood pressure and temperature. It hurt him as much as me every time I reached for his hand and squeezed. This was going to be a long night!
"Oh Mark, I'm tired of this bed! Could we walk?"
We walked quietly up the hall, talking in a whisper, reassuring each other, stopping for a bit to look through that big glass window at those empty little cribs. I would look up at Mark and see that smile on his lips and love him more than life itself. Soon one of those little beds would be holding our child.
When the sun started to tint the eastern sky, there still was no baby! But reality was setting in. The pains were coming faster now. Dr Fredrickson and Daytha stepped into the room. They checked my vital signs and chart. All was going well. The doctor bent down and placed a stethoscope in his ears and concentrated as he placed it here then there on my tummy.
"All sounds good, but," he turned to the nurse, "I want you to check every 15 minutes. I'll be back in an hour."
Sometime around the ninth or twelfth hour, a jolly little nurse came hurrying into the room. In her hands she carried a beautiful flower bouquet. "These are for the new parents." she said placing them in the window. That is when Mark lost it! He looked into my tired face and big tears started down his cheeks.
"Oh honey," I said reaching up to wipe them away, "go get yourself some coffee and fresh air. I'll be ok. Come and tell me what it's like out there."
He squeezed my hand, turned and walked slowly out the door.
It was somewhere around hour 23. Everything was a fog. I was so tired. All I knew was that Mark was setting on the side of my bed, holding me as I moved this way and that, trying to get comfortable.
Off in the distance I heard Dr Fredrickson's voice say, "We need to get her to the delivery room." I was lifted onto a bed and rolled down the hall. All I wanted was for this to be over!
"We're going to have the baby honey. We'll see it soon." Mark reassured me as he walked fast beside me trying to keep up.
Through a pair of doors we went, into a bright white room. I could hear the doctors and nurses talking but couldn't make out what they were saying. They seemed to be in a hurry for some reason. In my hazy state I thought I heard the words umbilical cord, arm, neck, but I didn't know what that all meant. I was concentrating on getting my baby into this world. Mark was standing there beside me and he was talking calmly to me, rubbing his cool hand over my forehead.
"Will everything be okay?" I whispered looking up at him. "I'm sure it will be honey. Just do what they tell you, ok?" Mark's words were so reassuring.
After a bit, we heard a cry. The doctors calm voice announced, "It's a boy! A perfect little boy!" Oh the relief that flooded over me. The relief that comes when you hear that little precious angel cry. The excitement that comes when you know it is a boy. For nine months we didn't know, but now we did.
"What will the little man's name be?" asked the nurse as she handed the little bundle to Mark.
He looked at me and said, "I guess we had decided on the name being Bret. Right, honey?"
All I could do was shake my head. I was too overcome with weariness and emotion to say a word. This little life was ours to love, to hold, to laugh with, talk with, grow up with. Our new baby laid so peacefully there in Mark's arms.
"I'll take him to the nursery now and get him all cleaned up. When you get back to the room I will bring him to you," the nurse said as she took little Bret from Mark.
True to her word, we hadn't been back in our room long before she brought our baby back to us and placed him in my arms. He smelled so good. His little fingers were so tiny and his little eyes flickered open a bit then closed. I just held him there for a long time. Mark would whisper to him softly and touch his little head and hold his tiny hand.
"This is the greatest gift God can give to a person, Mark. A perfect little boy. I just love him," I said stroking his little head.
"Me too. Yes it all is such a miracle."
A proud but exhausted daddy made his way to the little blue car in the parking lot. He was going home, but his heart was back in the hospital room. There were phone calls to make and bales to put out and pigs to feed. Hopefully he could get a little nap before heading back to the hospital.
Life changed forever in that little white trailer with its bright blue stripe. A tiny little boy had come to stay. Everything focused around that little man. I started to call my husband daddy, and my name changed to mommy. Some days were long, and sleep was priceless, but mostly we were overjoyed to be blessed with a precious addition to our little family.
"What? I guess...why?"
"Our baby will not let me get comfortable! He wants to play I guess."
Mark rolled close to me and wrapped his arm around my tummy and went back to sleep. Little baby must have felt its daddy's arm because finally he slows down in there and we all three sleep.
It was late November. I just couldn't help myself as I walked sleepily to the kitchen in the morning. I always had to stop at the door of the little "nursery" and look at it one more time. Our guest room had taken on a "new" look. Along the west wall sat our new little wooden crib with a lamb painted on the end and a bright white sheet stretched snug over the little mattress. A little dressing table sat on the south wall with a bottle of baby magic, some baby shampoo, diaper rash ointment and a number of other necessary things for babies. A couple packages of disposable diapers sat on the closet shelf. Over in the corner sat my old rocking chair, a blanket tossed up over the back.
"Baby and I have an appointment with doctor at 11:00 this morning. Do you want to join us?" I asked waddling to the breakfast table.
"I better, I guess. It's getting pretty close. I'll be in as soon as I give the cows a bale."
We loved our doctors. There were two of them working together. They had a PA named Daytha also. I loved her. She was my age and single. She was so calm and her tone of voice just had a way of easing your concerns. Today we were to see Dr. Fuller.
Mark really liked him. He was an older man, short and stout. The best part was he was not only a doctor but also a cattle man. He had a herd of cows and calves, so he and Mark had a lot in common.
It may sound strange to some, but Dr. Fuller could explain a lot to us by using his cows as examples. Both Mark and I understood what happened when baby calves come into the world and Dr. Fuller explained it would be a lot the same for me. So....yes, I would sit there on the examining table as we talked about what happens when the mother cow gives birth! I loved it!
"Really, I don't expect to see you in here again. I'm sure it won't be long now. The little fellow is in position and just waiting to come into this world," Dr. Fuller said giving me a pat on the shoulder. "It will be either myself or Dr. Fredrickson delivering. We have both been with you the whole time so we both know your history." So home we went to wait! But not for long!
"Wow, the weather has turned nasty out there," Mark announced one morning when he came in for his 10:00 snack. "It's getting pretty cold and the pickup radio says a possibility of snow."
"Does a change in weather make the cows go into labor?"I asked with a sigh.
"What?! What do you mean....are you ok?" asked a very concerned Mark.
"Oh yeah, but just kind of restless and I have a dull ache in my lower back once in awhile," I explained rubbing my back.
"Doc told us it could be anytime, so we'll have to watch it."
There was a little knock at the door and then it opened slightly, "Yoohoo anybody home?" It was Grandma who stuck her head in the door. "I brought you over some soup for lunch."
"Oh, thanks Grandma! You're a jewel!"
"Are you feeling up to par deary?" Grandma asked noticing me rubbing my back.
"Oh not 100% for sure. But the doc told us it would be any time now!"
"Well, I'll check on you again this afternoon. Just rest."
We feasted on grandma's delicious homemade chicken noodle soup at noon. That is...Mark did. I just didn't have the appetite!
Shortly after noon it started to snow. Big flakes at first came gently falling down, then smaller ones filled the air. Mark put out bales for the cows early and went ahead and fed the pigs.
At about 5:00 I was getting pretty uncomfortable. "I really would feel better if I at least called the doc to ask his opinion honey," Mark said going to the little green phone setting at the end of the couch. "It is really snowing out there and packing on the roads. It could be slick." He dialed the phone.
All I could hear was him saying "lower back pains....now and then most of the day....yes....ok...no...I think we can...ok....give us an hour...in the back door?...ok....thanks."
Mark turned to me as he hung up the phone. "The doc would feel better if we were at the hospital. Get your bag and a blanket and I'll start the car and tell Grandpa and Grandma."
Very few words were said in that little car as we made our way slowly south. The roads were snow packed and the snow hit our windshield as the wipers went back and forth....back and forth.
All of a sudden, I gasp and let out a little moan.
"Are you ok?" Mark asked reaching across to hold my hand.
"Yes," I answered under my breath, "it's just that this little someone would rather be riding on my lap!"
It was a little brick hospital on the edge of town. We pulled around to the back door and parked. Mark ran to my door to help me out, reaching in the back seat for my overnight bag. Our feet made crunching noises as we walked slowly to the door, snow falling softly around us.
I was the only "mother to be" there in that little hospital. The nursery stood empty, a small light glowing on the back wall. Little cribs stood here and there behind the big glass window. They stood empty. just waiting ...waiting for our little baby. An old rocking chair sat over by the back wall. It too was waiting.
The nurse was kind and reassuring as she helped me out of my clothes and into one of those huge hospital gowns and tucked me into bed. Mark pulled up an easy chair and set close to me as she took my blood pressure and temperature. It hurt him as much as me every time I reached for his hand and squeezed. This was going to be a long night!
"Oh Mark, I'm tired of this bed! Could we walk?"
We walked quietly up the hall, talking in a whisper, reassuring each other, stopping for a bit to look through that big glass window at those empty little cribs. I would look up at Mark and see that smile on his lips and love him more than life itself. Soon one of those little beds would be holding our child.
When the sun started to tint the eastern sky, there still was no baby! But reality was setting in. The pains were coming faster now. Dr Fredrickson and Daytha stepped into the room. They checked my vital signs and chart. All was going well. The doctor bent down and placed a stethoscope in his ears and concentrated as he placed it here then there on my tummy.
"All sounds good, but," he turned to the nurse, "I want you to check every 15 minutes. I'll be back in an hour."
Sometime around the ninth or twelfth hour, a jolly little nurse came hurrying into the room. In her hands she carried a beautiful flower bouquet. "These are for the new parents." she said placing them in the window. That is when Mark lost it! He looked into my tired face and big tears started down his cheeks.
"Oh honey," I said reaching up to wipe them away, "go get yourself some coffee and fresh air. I'll be ok. Come and tell me what it's like out there."
He squeezed my hand, turned and walked slowly out the door.
It was somewhere around hour 23. Everything was a fog. I was so tired. All I knew was that Mark was setting on the side of my bed, holding me as I moved this way and that, trying to get comfortable.
Off in the distance I heard Dr Fredrickson's voice say, "We need to get her to the delivery room." I was lifted onto a bed and rolled down the hall. All I wanted was for this to be over!
"We're going to have the baby honey. We'll see it soon." Mark reassured me as he walked fast beside me trying to keep up.
Through a pair of doors we went, into a bright white room. I could hear the doctors and nurses talking but couldn't make out what they were saying. They seemed to be in a hurry for some reason. In my hazy state I thought I heard the words umbilical cord, arm, neck, but I didn't know what that all meant. I was concentrating on getting my baby into this world. Mark was standing there beside me and he was talking calmly to me, rubbing his cool hand over my forehead.
"Will everything be okay?" I whispered looking up at him. "I'm sure it will be honey. Just do what they tell you, ok?" Mark's words were so reassuring.
After a bit, we heard a cry. The doctors calm voice announced, "It's a boy! A perfect little boy!" Oh the relief that flooded over me. The relief that comes when you hear that little precious angel cry. The excitement that comes when you know it is a boy. For nine months we didn't know, but now we did.
"What will the little man's name be?" asked the nurse as she handed the little bundle to Mark.
He looked at me and said, "I guess we had decided on the name being Bret. Right, honey?"
All I could do was shake my head. I was too overcome with weariness and emotion to say a word. This little life was ours to love, to hold, to laugh with, talk with, grow up with. Our new baby laid so peacefully there in Mark's arms.
"I'll take him to the nursery now and get him all cleaned up. When you get back to the room I will bring him to you," the nurse said as she took little Bret from Mark.
True to her word, we hadn't been back in our room long before she brought our baby back to us and placed him in my arms. He smelled so good. His little fingers were so tiny and his little eyes flickered open a bit then closed. I just held him there for a long time. Mark would whisper to him softly and touch his little head and hold his tiny hand.
"This is the greatest gift God can give to a person, Mark. A perfect little boy. I just love him," I said stroking his little head.
"Me too. Yes it all is such a miracle."
A proud but exhausted daddy made his way to the little blue car in the parking lot. He was going home, but his heart was back in the hospital room. There were phone calls to make and bales to put out and pigs to feed. Hopefully he could get a little nap before heading back to the hospital.
Life changed forever in that little white trailer with its bright blue stripe. A tiny little boy had come to stay. Everything focused around that little man. I started to call my husband daddy, and my name changed to mommy. Some days were long, and sleep was priceless, but mostly we were overjoyed to be blessed with a precious addition to our little family.
Such a precious story!
ReplyDeleteIs this your story? Have you changed the names??? Your writing makes you feel like you are sitting in the corner watching it all unfold! So sweet......the first baby!
ReplyDeleteBrings back memories of when our son Doyle was born when we lived in Anchorage, AK. Thanks for sharing your precious experience!
ReplyDelete