That night I couldn't get comfortable and I couldn't sleep. Gee. I was nine months pregnant with a sciatic nerve blowout, and my alarm would be going off in four short hours to head to the hospital. No warning flags there. So I decided to pass the time on the couch with my snoogle preggo pillow and my contraction timer app. Contractions were erratic so I didn't put much stock in them, but then they began to feel a little uncomfortable. I hemmed and hawed for about thirty minutes before deciding to wake Gabe and call the nurse hotline. (Now, waking Gabe is no small feat, mind you. The man sleeps in a comatose state. But he jumped up right away this time! Another missed sign maybe??) Gabe thought he might as well get in the shower since he wouldn't be able to fall back asleep. I called the nurse. Her response was a light hearted, eh, you're supposed to be here in three hours anyway so just come a little early. So I spent the next twenty minutes that I had waiting on Gabe to get dressed to straighten my hair, apply minimal makeup and recheck - for the hundredth time - my bag. Seriously, we were moseying along...
I woke my sister up as planned, just a little earlier. I instructed her to not get up or wake Kendall yet since there seemed no immediate need to do so (their plan was to come around 9ish) but to wait til she heard something from me when I was - ahem - comfortable snuggled down into a hospital bed with a drug drip and time on my hands.
In the car I called the grands to let them know if they chose to head on now they could. Good thing they all jumped too. I realized en route that things were progressing and this was really it, but I didn't want to freak Gabe, the driver, out. I did ask him to accelerate through the construction zone since we were the only car on the road. I promised I would take it up with the policeman if we were pulled over.
I really knew I might be in for it on the walk into the hospital. Good thing we decided Gabe would come back later for all the bags...and bags...and more bags. But good thing also we did grab the one bag with the camera in it. (There ended up being no time to make a second trip out to the car.) I REALLY knew I was in for it when my water broke at the check in desk. And I REEEEEALY knew I was in for it when the nurse told me I was 7 cm. You should have seen the shock and horror look on Gabe's face when the anesthesiologist quickly but way too lengthily explained why I might not have time for an epidural. My reaction? Well, what was panic going to accomplish in this situation?? Gabe did tell me later I interrupted him to ask him to hurry it up. Poor guy. Wonder how often he's seen at the villain instead of the hero. I just knew I'd never live it down from my two besties if, after all, I didn't get drugs this time NOT by my own elective.
But I did manage...somehow...to get the epidural. Too bad Brielle was out by the time the epidural kicked in. Oh well...Wonder how much that epidural will end up costing me per minute??
IIIFFF there is ever a "next time" I think we'll be pitching a tent in the hospital parking lot. Umm, yeah, I don't ever plan on experiencing that again!!
Gabe's parents and my two besties (How many friends would get a phone call at 4:30 am and jump out of bed to dash to the hospital?? I'm telling you, I have the best two besties on the planet!) made it in time. Barely. My family missed it. Barely. But everyone had arrived by the time Gabe and Brielle came out so it wasn't a huge deal.
So much for a late morning or early afternoon baby. I was in my recovery room by 7am in time for breakfast. Good thing because I was starving!
Here's the first picture of Brielle...
Mommy's first time to hold her...
Daddy's announcement to the fam...before they could even settle down to a cup of coffee...
The Big Sis got to meet her first...
I'm smiling because it's over...(and the epidural had just kicked in)...
Bestie Jenn Jenn and Brielle...
Bestie Danielle and Brielle...(She thinks Brielle is named after her since their names rhyme....shhh, don't tell her.)
Nana and her girls...
JuJu and her favorite nieces...
Gigi with two out of the three for her...
Family of FOUR...
