The Story of Vi's Birth--Final Part (4)

Well. Here it is. The final part of the story of Vi's birth. Are you ready? Well, if you aren't, too bad, 'cause here it is. Oh, and if you're new to my blog, be sure to catch up on the story:

Vi's Birth Part One

Vi's Birth Part Two

Vi's Birth Part Three

The rest of the day flew by in a blur. 

I remember leaving to go downstairs while the resident doctor checked my mom to see if her water broken . . . 

"I love you, Mom," I said as I glanced at her.  She smiled at me, and I smiled back, glad to see the light entering her eyes.

"Come on now, guys, let's go," I heard Mrs. Stephenson say as we walked out the door, the doctor shutting us out with a quiet thump. 

"What do you guys want to do?" she asked, looking at us.

After debating quietly for a couple of minutes, we all decided to go down to the gift shop. After a couple of turns down the seemingly never-ending hallway, we approached a pair of gray double doors with black-striped yellow HAZARD! tape around the edges. The word EXIT was painted above them.

Mrs. Stephenson pushed a button, and the doors opened, revealing a room of elevators.

We all walked into the room and into an open elevator. Mrs. Stephenson pressed the button to floor #1.

We immediately spotted the gift shop and walked in, looking around.

I tried on a bedazzling pair of sunglasses; Caleb (predictably) was drawn to the food section . . . the irony was, there was no real food there. Just every kind of candy imaginable. Reese's Pieces Cups, Mike-n'-ikes, kit-kats . . .  you name it! An array of soda pop was stored there, too.

I took off the sunglasses and walked over to Caleb. Speaking in a firm but gentle voice, I said something like: "Caleb. We are not going to make Mrs. Stephenson go broke by buying all this candy! One jumbo kit-kat is not worth three dollars!"

Caleb nodded and rolled his eyes. "I know, Em. I wasn't gonna ask her!"

I rolled my eyes as well. "I totally believe you," I said, my words dripping with obvious sarcasm.

Mrs. Stephenson walked over to us. "Hey guys," she smiled, "see anything you like?"

I gripped Caleb's arm and smiled back. "I'll probably get nothing," I said, shooting a warning glare at Caleb.

"Could I please get a --" Caleb glanced at me, a smirk crawling across his face "--a candy bar?"

I tell you, I could've strangled him then. I mentally slapped my forehead and said, "Mrs. Stephenson, he really doesn't need anything."

"It's okay," she smiled. "I don't mind. Are you sure you don't want anything?"

I sighed, giving in. "Ok. I'll have a Reese's."

After buying our treats, we spotted an adorable pink stuffed animal with an "It's a girl!" balloon accompanying it. "We should get Mom that," I grinned.

"Yes, except I would hate it if we got her that and she didn't have the baby today!" Mrs. Stephenson pointed out.

"You're right," I admitted.

We went back up to the third floor the same way we went down--through the elevator.
There was a small waiting room by some restrooms, so we took a short bathroom break.

Washing my hands, I noticed how tired I looked. My hair could've used some work. It was sorta tangled and was limp. It definitely needed some volume. I glanced down at my shirt. It was white, with blue polka dots. I remembered randomly throwing it on that morning.

With a sigh, I wiped my hands with paper towel and headed out. Squinting at the bright light compared to the dim lighting of the bathroom, I picked up my Reese's two-pack and took out one. Taking a bite, I chewed slowly.

Mrs. Stephenson cleared her throat. "Are you guys ready to go back?"

I nodded. "sure."

Summary of what happened after that:

We walked down the hallway and into my mom's room. The doctor told us that her water was broken, then that her water wasn't broken, then that there were still small packets of fluid surrounding the baby . . . lots of confusion. It seemed like he was going back and forth between two big theories and two small ones:

Theory One: Your water isn't broken.

Theory 1.5: Your water isn't completely broken (uh, duh).

Theory Two: Your water is broken!

Theory 2.5: I actually don't know (*gasp* is that even possible????!!!)

Ok, fine. He didn't actually say that. But that's what it sounded like. Anyway, a nurse came in and said pretty much the same thing as the doctor. She was getting increasingly more dilated (um, she was opening up to have the baby?). After she left, Mrs. Stephenson, Caleb and I left to go get our bags from the car. Ironically, we passed my dad on the elevator as we went down. Sure enough, when we came back up, my Dad was sitting in the waiting room with my mom.
 Mrs. Stephenson hugged my mom, Caleb and I, and then left. I wanted her to stay, but she needed to get home.

After a couple of minutes, Dad asked me, "Are you hungry at all, Em?"

"A little," I admitted.

"Me too," Caleb agreed.

My dad looked at my mom. "Will you be ok if we go somewhere and bring food back?"

My mom nodded, looking weary. "Of coarse."


******

Getting into my Dad's red F-150, We decided to go to Tim Horton's for sandwiches.

My mind spun with the events of the afternoon. I couldn't stop thinking about it!

At a stop sign, we passed a homeless man holding up a cardboard sign. Scrawled across it in messy black marker, it read:

Even a smile helps.

My heart swelling with compassion, I looked out the car window and gave him my brightest and cheeriest smile.

He looked taken aback and shocked. He probably didn't get a lot of smiles from the curb where he stood. As the light turned green, and the car started to move, I saw him hesitantly smile back.

I really hoped my smile counted.

******

After we had gotten our sandwiches, we went back to the hospital. Finding a small waiting room towards the back, we ate our sandwiches and talked for a while.

"You know," my dad started, swallowing, "You guys might not get to stay on for the delivery."

I swallowed as well, with a slight difficulty. "What?"

"All I'm saying is that the doctors might not let you guys in to watch Violet be born . . . its more likely, though, that they just won't let Caleb be in."

While Caleb protested, I feverently prayed the God would let me witness the birth of my sweet little sister.

*****

Back at the room, the nurse suggested that my Mom walked to get the baby "ought there."

My dad accompanied her up and down the hallways, while I (typical of me) played Geometry Dash on my iPad.

Several minutes later, Dad walked in and said to me, "Em, why don't you go and walk with Mom for a while."

I walked out and paced myself with my Mother's short strides. "Are you nervous?" I asked, glancing at her.

Mom exhaled suddenly and stopped for a moment. In a minute, she was fine. I was confused, until she said, "Sorry, Em, contraction."

Oh.

Then she answered, "No, not really. Just kind of sad that my last baby is coming out."

With a sudden pang I realized that seven children was going to be enough for my worn-down Mama.

"Really?" I said sadly. "Your last baby?"

Mom looked at me. "Em, we've talked about this. My body is getting older, and so am I. I feel like God is closing this chapter in my life, and I'm ok with that. Plus, my varicose veins are really bad. Can you imagine an eighth baby?

Being the stubborn rebel that I am, I silently prayed that my mom would get pregnant again after Vi was done nursing.

We talked for a while, and then returned to a room after ten plus laps of the long hallway.

Then a nurse came in. "Ma'am, they're ready for your epidural."

I saw that look in my mom's eyes. Fear, stubbornness, and confidence all mixed together.

Last time she had had an epidural, the doctor was careless, and he accidentally pushed the needle too far in her back. She had a terrible spinal headache, and it was "like a bowling ball that was being pushed down on my head."

The doctors didn't want any "distractions" in the room, so they made us leave.

Kicked us out.

We found the TV room and sat for a while, watching a weird episode of The Big Bang Theory. (Well, they're all weird, so . . . )

After about 20 minutes, we returned to the room where the doctor was finishing up.

"Hi guys," my Mom said weekly, her mascara smudged and her eyes weary. She lay on the bed, acting like she didn't want to move.

It was dark outside now, and so I laid down on the couch, trying to catch a nap. I savored this once-in-a-lifteime feeling of specialness.

Violet was coming.

*****

Even though I never really slept, I rested peacefully on the couch, thinking and praying. I felt my Dad shake my shoulder. "Emma, it's time!"

I burst upright and sprang the covers aside. Violet was coming!

They were going to let me stay in! Hallelujah! Violet was coming!

Caleb had to leave . . . but he would come in to cut the cord . . . Violet was coming!

I was so excited, I could hardly breathe. I saw my mom concentrating, heard my Dad saying, "Caleb I'll get you immediately after. Don't worry." I saw the doctors getting ready, felt the adrenaline pulsing through my veins, my heart steadily beating in my chest.

Violet was coming.

I couldn't concentrate; my thoughts scattered here and there.

Violet was coming!

I hurriedly took out my mom's phone and took a video as she pushed, her brow furrowed in pain of labor.

"That's it, Amanda, breathe," the doctor soothed. "Breathe."

Mom nodded and let her head fall back. "It's ok, Mom."

Pushing again, my mom grunted as a light sweat broke out on her forehead.

"I can see her head!" the doctor cried. "Good job, Amanda! You can do it! Breathe . . . and . . . push."

Suddenly I heard the sweet sound of an infant wailing. Her tiny pink body going up and down, up and down, as she breathed.

I gasped as the doctor fully pulled her out and laid her on my mom's chest. Tears ran down my Mom's cheeks as she cried and held onto her baby.

I cried, too. Even my dad cried as we looked upon sweet Violet.

"Go get Caleb," my mom managed. The doctors covered her up and Violet continued to cry. "Hush, sweetie, shh... Mommy's here."

Caleb entered into the room and the doctors showed him where to cut the cord. Then the doctor placed her on the scale.

Six pounds.

Measured her body.

19 1/2 inches.

Then they wrapped her up, placed a hat on her sweet little head, and gave her to my mom.

Sweet Violet was here.

*************


Well guys, that was the story of Violet's birth. Hope you enjoyed it! If you want to know more about what happened after she was born, let me know in the comments. Have an awesome, God blessed day!

XO--