Labor Day

April 19th. I woke up early, probably around 5:45am to Daniel burning up hot with a fever. “Whew, glad I’m not in labor.” were my exact thoughts because now we’ve got a sock child. So, we come downstairs, and watch some early tv, while he lays on the couch. And then, it starts. 

Pain. 

Timeable pain. 

With a feverish child. 

Oh no. 

So....... around 7:00am I call to see who the Dr. on call is. 

Around 8:00 I call the labor and delivery floor to tell them how I’m feeling. 

Drink water and lay down. 

Ok. 

Admittedly they slowed, a tiny bit, enough for me to doze off lightly. While this is happening, dennis is distributing the children. Sara to our friend Lisa’s, and Daniel to dennis’ parents house because Daniel had a fever. And we watched HGTV while I cycled through some contractions. Around 10:45 I decided we needed to load up, grab some lunch and evaluate how I was feeling. We made it to chipotle, and once we hit the parking lot, I knew time was getting close!! 

He scarfed down his lunch, and off we went, and the contractions were INTENSE! 

I got there and was 80% effaced and 5cm dilated! 

We were waiting on the room with the tub, but, it didn’t get cleaned up in time. 

Dennis helped me as much as he could. I went into the shower for a bit for some relief. 

For whatever reason, I decided I wanted my normal clothes on. 

Needless to say, by this point, I’m losing my mind. I look crazy. Lol 

It was about to get real. 

We’re less than 15 minutes at 2:22, and just one push from the time this picture of below was taken...

We had a baby!!!!! And let me tell you, I thought I may die from the pain. 

He was here!! But, a little problem: my iv came out. Which wouldn’t ordinarily be a problem, except: I was experiencing a postpartum hemmoradge.  

The moments after I have a baby always feel so strange. It’s like the most intense fog I’ve ever been in, but need to be more alive and present than in any other moment at the same time. 

This was about the time Dennis Informed me that Bennett didn’t look like a Bennett. And just like that, he didn’t have a name! 

He looked exactly like Daniel to me, initially. But not later. 

The next morning, I felt pretty good. Got up, took a shower, and aimed to just enjoy my new NAMELESS baby. 

Later, the kids came. 

Our first family picture of 5. 

By the night before we left, we sat down to eat our “fancy” dinner the hospital provides, and we committed to naming our baby. And by the end of the night, I decided I didn’t hate the name David. And thats how we came to this conclusion. 

The next morning it was time to go, and enjoy oir first night and day at home. 

I put David Bennett Maggi in this old onesie that my dad wore 55 years earlier. 

Time to go home!