Happy Birthday, My Boy

May 9, 1997

My sister came to our house for lunch. The night before I had painless contractions which lasted about two hours before subsiding so, along with her, she brought a "Signs You're in Labor" list. As usual, we ran out of time to talk about everything we wanted and after a while she went home.

Later that night, The Swede and I sat watching television. It was 9 p.m. when I felt another contraction, this time with a little discomfort. I began a list timing each one. Awhile later, The Swede announced he was heading to bed. I briefly fell asleep on the couch. I was awakened a couple hours later with more pain. "Not too bad" I thought to myself. "I can do this."

At 4:30 a.m. I woke The Swede, told him "This is the day we're having our baby" and took a shower. Still thinking the pain wasn't too bad I dressed in my hospital best and went downstairs to track more contractions. At 6:30 a.m., I felt the baby do a quick movement and with a bubble-bursting feeling, my water broke. My first reaction? "Gasp! My water just broke. Now what am I going to wear?"

My doctor told me to get to the hospital pronto and in the first five minutes in the car, I had had three contractions. We had a forty-five minute drive ahead of us. The Swede, ignoring stop lights, discussed with me the possibility of us having to deliver this baby ourselves. Low and behold, we made it -- with a few hours to spare.

In our hospital room, I asked for an epidural and got in bed. Over the next hour and fifteen minutes, while I waited for the epidural, (slow, #%#@& anesthesiologist) I writhed, swore and gripped The Swede's finger with a vice-like intensity. I thought to myself "I'll NEVER do this again.", "Who would EVER do this a second time?" "Where the *#&@&% is that anesthesiologist?" I have never said f*** so much in my life.

After I got my epidual, things were fast and painless. I was ready to push at 11:10.

At 11:40, we were finally able to see our beautiful baby boy face to face.

The Swede took to fatherhood very naturally. I sat in bed completely overwhelmed by how unexpectedly painful labor was. (I suppose I can be somewhat self-absorbed.)

I remember these cute grunting noises he made. He rarely cried. He was as near perfect a baby as one could hope for.

That was 11 years ago tomorrow.

Who knew 11 years could by go so fast?

Happy Birthday, my beautiful boy.