The Good Life: Calvin's Birth Story Part II

After a very hectic and confusing morning, the big moment had arrived!

But Chris hadn't yet.

There was no going back. I had told the resident doctor to break my water and she didn't waste a second.

It was at this opportune moment that the attending decided to introduce herself to me. You know, just to reassure me that she was around. But unless she was going to help get this baby out of me, I really didn't care. I'm pretty sure I had a "that's nice, but get out of the way" look on my face.

And right after that, Chris ran into the room. Now there was a face that I was glad to see.

Apparently Chris got to live out the epic pregnancy scene you see in all the chick flicks. He screeched up to the valet in front of the hospital and threw his keys at the young employee. "You need to fill out some paperwork," the employee shouted after him. "My wife is having a baby RIGHT NOW," Chris shouted back! After a second hesitation the valet told him to go. Chris ran to the elevators (then had to wait because there are no stairs to the labor and delivery unit) and then sprinted to my room.

And he made it. He made it for everything that mattered. He made it to hold my hand as I screamed like a wild animal. He made it to tell me I could do it even though I kept saying I couldn't. And he made it to offer his dose of comedic relief by making fun of me and the poor medical student who was being scarred by watching me give birth. He made it to see his son born and he made it to cut the umbilical cord.

The nurses told me that we checked into the hospital at 5:30am and Calvin was born at 5:57. Everything went by so fast. I was pushing and screaming and then they were laying this beautiful, messy baby on my chest. When they took him away to be weighed and measured I was feeling so overwhelmed. I was so amazed and happy to have baby boy with us. But I was also simply shocked. I don't think I was mentally prepared to have a baby yet. Chris and I sat in awe at this totally unexpected birthday gift.

I got over the shock very quickly when they gave me my clean baby for some skin to skin time. He was perfect! 7 lbs even and 21 inches long. He nursed right away and you could tell he was ready to be here.

After running all of the usual tests, the nurses left us alone to enjoy these precious first moments of life with our baby. That is always a special time that I cherish with Chris. After about an hour I was transferred to my recovery room and it was time for Chris to go class. Calvin was so thoughtful to come before Christopher's class started. :)

Since I didn't have an epidural and I didn't tear, I was feeling pretty good after delivery. Chris was in class and we don't have family out here so my room was pretty quite. But I have to say that I enjoyed that. It was so relaxing to just sit and cuddle baby boy. Another benefit - lots of time to think about what to name this baby! We had a few ideas but we hadn't decided on a name yet. Our choices: Calvin Scott, James Tanner, and Jakub Scott. Each of them had specific meaning to us. So while Chris was in class I had time to think. I decided that I wanted the middle name to be Scott, after Chris's middle name. So that narrowed it down to Calvin or Jakub. But as I held baby boy, the name Calvin seemed to suit him more than Jakub. Plus, I knew that Calvin was Chris's favorite. He grew up reading Calvin and Hobbes (and owns multiple comic books). So Calvin it was! We filled out the birth certificate forms right before it was time to leave.

You know, I always said the only way I wouldn't have an epidural when I gave birth was if it happened so fast that there was no time for it. I just didn't think it would ever actually happen. But after the fact I can say that I was really glad I had the experience. Our bodies are amazing things that have ways of coping with pain and making us forget it almost the very next day. :) I'd like to say I would do it again. But let's face it, I'd probably need to have another crazy surprise for that to happen.

But any way they get here, we are just so happy to have two beautiful, healthy children. Each one has brought a fun dynamic to our home and we love them and all their craziness!