Yes, another day (Monday) spent at the hospital. Fortunately there were no tests done, no ANC levels to worry about, no Oncologsits, Immunologists, Heart Specialsts, etc. There were really no serious worries except for the blanket of snow falling and what that might do to our long drive home. It wasn't the typcial hospital visit that our family has grown acustom to these days. I was called to the hospital because my little brother and his wife were having their baby....their first!For so long now hospital visits have been a dread sprinkled with hope to find answers, usually ending with more questions, more worry. But today was a different kind of walk down the halls of the hospital...a quick tone to my step, sounding out notes of anticipation, excitement and joy. I arrived shortly after the epidural kicked in and Alicia was calm and relaxed. Mike, on the other hand, bless his heart, worries enough for all of us. Being their first, there were a lot of emotions floating in that room, even fear, worry, anxiety and all the questions of new parents. but this fear and worry (what's this all going to feel like, how big will he be, will he cry a lot, will I ever sleep again)...those fears have a sweet taste to them, unlike so many other fears that are lingering on the 'other floors' of the hospital. Four and a half hours after my arrival to the hospital, it was time...time to push, time to dig deep and find the only strength left after 13 hours of labor to help the doctor bring her sweet angel into the world. My mother and Mike had her legs, holding them up at the wonderful medicine of the epidural did it's job while I stood by her side, holding her head up and counting as she pushed with all her might. An hour of pushing had passed, Alicia's strength was fading, but she kept fighting, pushing, and never complaining. The nurse put her on oxygen as the baby was showing some signs of stress and the doctor was called in to identify a blood clot that came with the last set of pushing. The placenta had ruptured a bit, so the time to get this baby out was decreasing significantly. After an episiotomy and watching the strength of a 'mother' emerge from the depths of exhaustion, fear and anticipation... we all counting that last count...1, 2, 3...tears streaming down our faces, fore we all had the opportunity to witness the miraculous gift of BIRTH! One of the most beautiful moments God has given us...when one of his precious spirits takes their first breath and enters into their first moments of life. Life...the lessons, the struggles, the bumps, bruises, tears, triumphs, laughter, lessons, trials, broken hearts, and all the rest we can imagine.
Baby Gavin was perfect, a head of hair, 2 sweet dimples, 10 perfect fingers and toes and eyes full of wonder and life. My sister -in-law Alicia showed so much courage, strength, determination and love and made me so proud to be apart of that incredible moment with my family. Kurt and the kids arrived shortly after to meet this sweet baby, the newest member of the family. I left the hospital late that night still processing the surreal situation I had just witnessed and even though the chill of winter was all around us, the snow now covering all the earth and the thought of spring was pushed to the back of our minds...we just left a precious moment of 'spring'...a new birth, new life, new experiences...joy, hope, laughter and witnessing the doors of heaven opening right before us and sending down yet another angel...my nephew GAVIN!Welcome sweet child, may your days be filled with laughter, may you not dwell on the trials, but look toward the triumphs...may you always find time to smile, laugh, love and may you always know your worth and that your family loves you...forever.
No comments:
Post a Comment