Checking In On A Friday - Memories Of Childbirth

Good Afternoon and Happy Friday.  Being on night shift has me all messed up on when I get my blog posts published.  I should have checked in last night but I was super tired towards the end of my shift.  I am working a few hours earlier so I can get off a few hours earlier.  That way I can be awake earlier to spend time with Kenyon on our day off tomorrow.  Saturday is our only day off.  Kenyon has been in Nevada all week taking a gun class at Front Sight.  It will be nice to have him home.

 

We had a false alarm yesterday with our niece Maya in New Mexico.  This is the third time she has been sent home from the hospital after not being in active labor.  I’m not sure why she thought her water broke.  Poor thing is ready to have this baby.  The baby’s due date is February 17^th.  She will come when she is good and ready.  She is stubborn like her Momma.  Ha!

 

It makes me think of both of my sister’s births.  Katie scheduled to induce with both of her girls.  With Hailey we arrived at the hospital early in the morning and it took all day for her to dilate.  Once she did it only took about 45 minutes to push her out.  Since this was the first baby for all of us, my dad and siblings were all in the waiting room.  Once they had Katie and Hailey cleaned up we were all able to go into the room and visit with her.  It was crazy to think Katie had just become a mother.  She never even babysat as a kid.  However, it was like an instant switch flipped and she learned to be a pro in no time.

 

With Emma’s birth six years later, I remember it taking most of the day to dilate as well.  However, the actual birth was quick.  There wasn’t the whole entourage in the waiting room like with the birth of Hailey.  I had stepped out of the birthing room when it was time to push.  It was only a matter of moments before Mom told me I could come back in and see Emma.  I had never been into a birthing room so quickly after childbirth.  Boy was that an experience.  It was wonderful to see that little naked baby crying.  I was once again so very happy for my sister.

 

I don’t know that I’d ever actually want to watch childbirth.  I will admit though the experience is interesting and has me curious.  It will always amaze me how a person can grow another human being.  Mothers have TOUGH gig.  But, without mothers the world would cease to exist.  Maya will have her hands full once this bundle of joy arrives.  It is hard to tell a young emotional pregnant woman to relax and let nature take its course. 

The Circle Of Life

After a very long day at the hospital yesterday where we all were able to say our goodbyes to Grandma D, she has decided she isn't ready to go yet. They are keeping her comfortable and will move her to a care center that is a close drive for Grandpa. We continue to wait and spend as much time with her as possible.  They are keeping her comfortable so she isn't in any pain. I am very thankful for that.

On a positive note, our niece in New Mexico is about to have her baby. Her water broke around 10:30am. Soon Kenyon and I will have a new great niece.

I was thinking yesterday about the Circle of Life. When Grandma A passed away five years ago my sister Katie became pregnant with Emma and my cousin became pregnant with her twins. Since our niece Maya is on the other side of the family I wasn't really thinking about her new baby coming into the world as Grandma D would be leaving it. I was updating my supervisor DeLisa when she was the one that pointed out the Circle of Life. I'm not sure if the circle will be complete in this particular case but when Grandma D does decide she is ready to go, the world will gain a new baby somewhere. It is pretty amazing how life works.

The Last Of The Grandmothers

Please excuse my absence.  It has been a rough few days.  My grandmother isn’t doing really well.  I spent time with her on Sunday and Monday at her care center visiting and then yesterday she took a turn for the worse.  The end is near and soon she will no longer be in pain. 

My grandparents will have been married 65 years in September. 

 

Grandma will be 84 in May.  Growing up I was lucky to have four grandmothers in my life, two grandmothers and two great-grandmothers.  Grandma D is the last living grandmother.  My family and I spent yesterday at the hospital sharing memories of all four grandmothers.  It was a nice way to pass the time and lighten the mood. 

At one point we were even joking about emotional eating.  We had gotten a few Subway sandwiches, chips, and cookies to share and Dad wanted a second cookie.  I said, “have as many as you want, we are emotionally eating today.”  That probably wasn’t 100% correct as I’m not sure many of us even had much of an appetite.  I have a pretty bad head cold so I know my appetite is all out of whack. 

But, as we all know you must first take care of yourself before you can take care of anybody else.