A Labor Day Birth

     The year was 2002 and the world had changed since my last child was born 2 year prior.  There was a terrorist attack on American soil 5 months before I got the news that we were expecting our fourth child.  I was two weeks shy of turning 25.  American's were still glued to their tv sets learning more about why we were attacked and hearing about anthrax cases sweeping across the nation wondering what will happen next. The America we knew had changed in a moment's notice. America will never be the same again.  Our children will grow up in a different world from what we were used to as kids. 

     We lived in Allegan, Michigan.  Besides what was going on in the world we were doing good.  Brian was driving for Sara Lee Bakery and was home every night.  We were just starting to debate on buying our first truck and becoming an owner operator.  I was attending college part time at Kalamazoo Valley Communtiy College and our oldest was in Kindergarten.  Life was good and we were thrilled when we found out we were expecting another baby. 

     I was a part of a mom's playgroup that met once a week.  We averaged about 7 to 10 moms.  We would meet at different homes or at a park.  Sometimes we would have field trips to a pumpkin patch or the local fire house.  It was nice mingling with other stay at home mom's and talking about issues of raising children.  My doctor's wife, who has a young child, also joined in on our group.  She really is a sweet lady.  There were times when we would talk about mistakes doctors make or how awful the delivery went of a baby.  I would look over at her and smile and say in jest, "I can't say anything bad about my doctor.  If I did his wife would clobber me."   She took it with humor and really her husband was a fantastic doctor.  They were active in church, their older children attended the same christian school my son was attending and they were very pro-family.  But it did have its awkard moments.  Towards the end of my pregnancy I didn't like talking about it at playgroup.  I was uncomfortable talking about my appointments with his wife right there.  I would think in the back of my mind, her husband has seen me where the sun doesn't shine and she KNOWS it.  It was all for medical purposes but it still made it awkward.  She was a registered nurse before being a stay at home mom so she was all ready to question how I was doing physically and when I was overdue if I was dilating yet.  I hated to answer her.

      At college I was just taking general classes.  One class was Children's Literature.  I felt like the people in class never seen a pregnant woman before.  It was a summer class which ended a week before my due date of August 21.  I was certainly showing in that class.  Some of the younger girls even would ask to rub my belly and some wanted to feel the baby kick.  I let them.  They thought it was neat to feel the kicking but generally I do not like to be touched by people I don't know.  I was certainly outside my comfort zone. 

     We decided to let Brian name this baby.  We didn't have an ultrasound as the doctor didn't seen a need in one.  For a boy Brian picked out the name James Reagan.  James because it is the most used name for the presidents of the United States.  There is James Madison, James Monroe, James Polk, James Buchanan, James Garfield and Jimmy Carter. The middle name Reagan was after our 40th president, Ronald Reagan.  I thought the reasons of the name were ridiculous but he picked out the name so I went with it.  He couldn't think of a girls name at all.  I couldn't either.  Brian said not to worry about it because he knew this one was going to be a boy. 

     Like my other children my due date came and went.  Time just ticked away laughing at me as I wait and wait for labor to begin.

     It was August 31, 2002.  Labor Day weekend came upon us.  My Aunt and Uncle came from Tulsa, Ok. to Michigan a year before and we decided to all get together, along with my mom, her husband, and my sister and her husband and children for a picnic at Little John Lake in Allegan.  The weather was beautiful.  We went swimming and the kids played on the playground equipment.  I even was swinging on the swings feeling the freedom of the wind in my face flying back and forth.  I was feeling good and having fun.  Labor at this point was the farthest thing from my mind.

     That night the excitment took a toll on me and I was exhausted.  I retired to bed a little earlier than normal.  Brian stayed awake watching tv.  About 3:30am I woke up from a deep sleep doing Lamaze style breathing.   Woo woo woo wooooo!  Woo woo woo woooo!  Woo woo woo woooo?   It took me a moment to realize what I was doing.  I had to think why I was breathing like that.  The answer to my question quickly arrived.  A heavy contraction shot around myself.  Fear quickly came upon me.  I let it pass.  I stood up and took a few steps to our bedroom door.  Another contraction.  I stopped to let it pass.  I looked at the stairs.  Can I make it down the stairs?  I called for Brian quietly as our three children were fast asleep in the room next to our room.  He couldn't hear me.  I had another contraction at the top of the stairs.  As soon as that contraction passed I dashed down the stairs.  Another contraction hit and I braced myself on the door to the stairway.  I managed to make it to the livingroom and found Brian just dozing off.  "BRIAN!  It's time!"

     He looks at me dazed and confused, "Time for what?"

     "I am in labor!  We need to call your mom and get to the hospital."

     "I was just falling asleep."  he said very sleepy.

     "Well it looks like you are about to pull an all-nighter."  I headed for the phone.

     We call Brian's mom to come keep an eye on the kids.  I called my mom to come from Grand Rapids to meet us at the hospital.  I wanted her to be there for the birth.  In all the commotion Beth woke up.  She caught me having a contraction and got scared and started to cry.  I, then, started to cry.  I quickly pulled myself together and told her a new sibiling was on its way and Grandma was coming over.

     We made it to Allegan General Hospital.  My doctor was moving to a new house that weekend.  I joked with him saying that I bet he was glad I pulled him away from the house so he doesn't have to move boxes today.  He laughed and said if everything goes right he would be back home in a few hours working on it.

     My mom and my sister showed up in time.  Labor wasn't too bad and I got my dose of stadol to take the edge out of the pain.  I was the only one on the delivery room floor that early morning.  At 7:43am on September 1, 2002 a new baby entered the world.  We were overly thrilled that it was a boy.  We still didn't have a girls name picked out.  The doctor hands James to Brian.  Brian looks down at James and says, "He looks just like a little bear cub."  Then his nicknamed formed - Cubby and it is still his nickname to this day.

     Right after James was delivered another mom-to-be came in.  The nurses told me they had to do an emergency c-section on this mom and they will be right back to assist me.  I told them I understood and no problem.  Brian left shortly to get back with our other children and my mom and sister left to head back to Grand Rapids.  It was just James and I.  I was told, from past deliveries, that when I first stand up they want the nurses there in case I get dizzy and fall or other medical reasons.  So I sat there - in the same sheets I gave birth in.   James was getting heavy in my arms.  I was getting very tired of sitting too, not to mention I wanted clean sheets.

     A few hours pass.  I thought about using the call nurse button but I didn't want to disturb them in case they were still helping that other mom.  I lay James between my legs and stretch way over to pull the hospital bassinet closer to me.  I placed James in there.  He was sleeping and happy.  I needed to use the bathroom.  I look over at the bathroom door.  I was sure I could walk over to it.  I stood up.  I stayed up.  All is good.  I didn't want to leave James in the room all by himself so I wheeled him in with me.  I came out of the bathroom and looked around.  It was nice standing up.  Still no nurse to come and check up on me.  I look through some of the cupboards in the room.  One cupboard had clean sheets in it.  Praise Jesus.  I took off the old bedding and made up the bed.  At least I didn't feel so totally gross anymore.  It wasn't until several hours later (and past lunch hour) that finally a nurse came to check on me.  In my passive aggressive sort of way I showed her the soiled sheets and told her I wasn't sure where to put them.  A look of shock came across her face.  She looked at my chart.  "Wasn't there anyone who came in here earlier?"

     "No" I said in a matter of fact tone.  I think she realized that they didn't even come in to check vitals or anything.  She apologized and said they were all sitting in the nurses station watching tv.  Somehow I didn't feel much better hearing that.

     The next day we were giving the all clear to go home and I was so glad to do so. When I talked about his birth at the playgroup my doctor's wife was upset that the nurses slacked off.  She said it was probably because of the Labor Day weekend and many of them probably didn't want to be there.  She said I should send in a letter of complaint.  I told her I wouldn't.  It was done and other with and no harm was done.  She said she would talk with her husband about it so he can talk with those working there that weekend.   Being in the hospital room I felt like a hampster in a cage.  No where to go to except from wall to wall.  James was my last hospital birth.

"Cubby" James Reagan (2 months old)

    

The Homebirth of Levi

     Almost exactly three years after we found out we were expecting our fifth child we realized we were expecting our sixth child.  Six was our magic number.  We both wanted six children yet none of them were planned.  It was a week before Thanksgiving in 2007and Brian noticed the same glow about me.  We took the pregnancy test and right away the double lines showed the truth.  I was pregnant. 

     We knew right away we wanted to homebirth.  We enjoyed the experience and comfort of having a baby at home.  There is nothing like the pleasures of having our children meet their sibiling under the roof of our home.  We waited until after the Thanksgiving holiday and made our call to Faithful Guardians Midwife Services to set up an appointment.

     We had three boys and two girls and I hoped for a little girl to tie up the score.  Emmaleigh Opal would of been her name.  Emma after my great grandmother on my dad's side, Leigh after the female spelling of Brian's middle name and Opal after my great grandmother on my mom's side.  Brian wanted the traditional spelling of Emily but using the spelling of Emmaleigh used a historical approach to it.  We couldn't agree on a boys name so that made me more hopeful for a girl. 

     My pregnancy went like clockwork.  Heavy morning sickness during the first trimester, feeling great during the second trimester and the normal aches and pains during the final trimester.  August 3rd was our due date.  I had a check-up with Laurie, my midwife.  She was feeling my round hard belly and a look of concern came across her face.  She palpated a bit more around my abdomen.  "I don't mean to alarm you," Laurie says, "but I think the baby may be breech."

     That was not something I wanted to hear on my due date.  I took a deep breath.  I didn't know what to say.  I was scared for the baby and for myself.  I never had a breech baby before.  Laurie continued on.  "There are some exercises you can try to flip the baby over if you are interested."  I nodded.  She went on to explain that by tilting the pelvis above the head the baby can rotate around and position the right way for birth.  She also wanted me to have an ultrasound so we can know for sure what position the baby is in. 

     I cried on the way home.  Brian was there with the other children.  He seen the distress on my face and inquired what happened.  I grabbed a newborn outfit and said, "Our baby is faced this way," and I held the outfit upright, "should be facing this way." and I held the outfit upside down.  I cried some more and Brian held me.  He insisted we have a Cesarean at the hospital.  I told him I insisted we have the baby at home and not at the hospital being hooked up on crazy monitors. 

     We tried doing those exercises which are not easy when a person is 9 months pregnant.  We stacked all the pillows under my hips to elevate them over my head.  I must of looked like a sight but Brian kept encouraging me to keep it up for the best of the baby. 

     A few days later we were on our way to have the ultrasound.  I was more concerned with what position the baby was in over what sex our baby is.  She spreads the cold gel over my abdomen and rubbed her machine around me.  We heard the heartbeat sounding strong and watched it flutter on the screen pumping away doing its job.  We were confirmed that the head was facing down in the correct position.  We were so overjoyed with the great news.  Perhaps those exercises did work.  She looked further around to make sure everythng else was okay.  "Do you want to know if you are having a boy or a girl?" she asked.

     Relief set in knowing that all physically is okay with our little one and we welcomed in knowing if we were going to have a boy or a girl.  She scans the machine around.  "It looks like you are having a boy!"  she says happily.

     A boy?  I wanted my Emmaleigh Opal!  I was a little disappointed but God knows what he is doing and he wanted us to have 4 boys and 2 girls in our family.  Now here we are after our due date and we don't have a boy's name picked out.  The last thing I would need at that moment would be to go into labor.  We stopped by a cemetery on the way home and walked around.  Maybe an interesting name would pop out at us.  A few names we came across we would put it with our last name to see how it sounded.  Nothing was sounding good.  We spent the next few nights looking over the computer and looking in the phonebooks for names that would work.  My biggest fear now was going into labor and not being able to name our son. 

     Going over the genealogy again we came across Opal's father's name.  Levi.  I liked it and it still gave me Opal's connection.  Now we needed a middle name.  We looked over the family tree again.  We seen the name August.  We already were in the month of August and I thought since I knew our baby was going to be born in August and I have a great grandfather named August there would be a funny twist to his name.  So for a few days we were set on it.  It wasn't until a few days before Levi was born that my mom told us about how my grandpa, her dad, got his middle name Edwin from his Uncle Ted who fought in the WWI.  We debated between August and Edwin.  Edwin was our final decision for the middle name.

Halvor's 3rd Birthday and Levi 2 days overdue

     August 5th rolls around and I was 2 days overdue.  It was Halvor's 3rd birthday.  We were wondering all day if Halvor was going to have a brother for his birthday.  The night settled upon the Earth and no baby brother for Halvor.  So we still waited.  We waited and waited. 


     It was the wee morning hours of August 14th.  Brian and I were up late watching Con-Air when Braxton Hicks contractions started hitting real bad.  Perhaps it was the onset of labor but it was too early to know.  Eleven days overdue and any pain could be the one to start labor.  I couldn't get comfortable and it was too sparce to start timing them.  I called my mom to come up so she can be here for the labor.  Something was starting to happen and if not then it would be soon.  I had an appointment with Laurie later on that day so I didn't want to call her unless something was really progressing. 

     If it was labor then it stalled out by the time my appointment with Laurie happened.  I was starting to dialate but nothing to get excited about.  We talked about home remedies we could try.  One treatment that was mentioned was to eat pineapple.  We figured we would give it a try.  We stopped by Foster's Grocery Store on the way home and picked up a fresh pineapple.  This would be our first fresh pineapple we every ate.  We brought it home and the kids were impressed.  My mom sat with us around the table and cut it up.  It was so sweet tasting.  We ate so much that all of our tounges felt fuzzy.  We retired into the livingroom to watch tv and I took a small afternoon nap. 

     I awoke and stood up.  My mom was awake visiting with the kids.  Then a contraction hit.  I knew it was time.  I told my mom I needed to call Laurie.  I woke Brian up to help get ready.  We informed the kids that they would soon have a baby brother and if they needed anything to ask Nonna.  Aunt Bay, my sister, was on her way up from Grand Rapids.  We got everything ready and I was full of adrenaline in anticipation of a new baby.  Laurie comes in happy as can be saying, "This shouldn't take long.  We have a pro-birther here."  I had to agree.  My labors are all quick and easy.  I knew I would be holding our son by dinnertime. 

     I laid back in bed feeling the different stages of labor come across me.  I would lay on one side then rotate to the other side.  My mom would come in and try to pat my head but I had to shoo her away as I don't like to be touched while in labor.  She meant well but at the time it was like nails on a chalk board.  All I could do was hold a hand.  Things were going smoothly and I was calm the whole way through. 

    Looking out my bedroom window I could tell the sun was setting.  I knew something wasn't going right.  I should of had the baby by now.  I asked Laurie to check my dialation.  I was stuck at an 8.  I tried changing positions from one side to the other to help speed up dialation.  That didn't work.  I rolled up on all fours.  It helped with the pain but it my dialation wasn't improving.  I kept trying to keep myself relaxed but I couldn't figure out why I can't get past an 8 dialation.  I had pain like I never felt before and it lasted what seemed like forever.  I was quickly growing tired and felt like I couldn't go on.  I told Laurie that I needed to sleep and we can carry on in the morning.  She laughed and said the baby will be here by then and to keep patient.  Laurie brought in a birthing chair.  I looked at it and it scared me.  It looked like walker and uncomfortable.  Some women who have used it say it is very comfortable but I wasn't willing to give it a try.  I was determined to do whatever it takes not to use it.   Little did I know that my mom, who wasn't too comfortable about my decision on homebirthing, was very close in dialing 911.  My sister was holding her back saying being at home was my decision and to let me be. 

Levi Edwin

     Laurie decided to check the dialation again.  She learned the baby's arm was wedged up by the cheek which is what caused the stall in dialation.  It was as if he was wedged in there.  Laurie tried to pull the arm back so he can be birthed with ease.  Things happened so fast or that I was so out of it that I don't remember what happened.  But I do know at August 15, at 12:35am Levi Edwin entered the world weighing 8 pounds and 14 ounces and 21 inches long.  Right away I looked at his ears.  They were small and tiny.  He was a blue-eyed bald baby boy.   Even now, 4 years later, when Levi is sleeping his arm will lift up by his cheek.  For Levi it is his comfort.

Picture of Levi, Beth and I in Countryside Magazine
March/April 2009 issue pg 96

     Baby cries filled the house.  In a short time Beth and Ashton entered the bedroom to meet their new baby brother.  The rest of the children early in the evening fell asleep while waiting for their brother Levi to arrive.  Beth sat on my bed and watched Levi being weighed and measured.  She seen the placenta and Laurie showed her how the placenta works.  Most of all she seen me okay and knew I wasn't hurting anymore.  I told her all of that pain was forgotten about and it was replaced with love.  Brian comes in and gives me my "victory bar".  It was a nutragous that he bought for me at the onset of labor for me to enjoy afterwards.  My mom and my sister enter the room to meet the new memeber of the family. 

     Thirteen years prior when Brian and I were out for a date we both talked about wanting 6 children.  Our dream of wanting a larger family has been fulfilled with Levi.  Six is our magic number and 6 children is what God has blessed our family with.  I look back at the thought of wanting a girl.  I look at my younger boys and realized that God gave me a boy so his other brothers close to his age had someone to play with.  With the girls age difference it would of been hard for them to be close sibilings.  Perhaps a granddaughter will carry that name of Emmaleigh Opal.  Only time will tell.  In the mean time I am going to enjoy our family blessing.

The Family

She Entered This World On TV

     The year was 1997.  Life was going great.  Our only child, Christian, was between 10 and 11 weeks old.  Summer was in full swing and we were enjoying being parents.  We thought our lives were complete. 

     I came down with a severe sore throat combined with the flu.  I couldn't function.  I didn't want what ever was ailing me to pass down to my son.  With Brian working long hours it was hard to take on the mom role when I couldn't take care of myself.  I took a trip to the hospital to see if they can figure out what was wrong with me.  They asked if I was pregnant and I told them no.  The doctor said he would still test for that among other things that could be making me oosie.  Negitive results for pregnancy but positive for strep throat.  After a quick prescription I was quickly back on my way home. 

     A week goes by and I feel somewhat better.  I wasn't totally 100% but I could function.  I remember I was in the process of browning up hamburger when a familar smell loomed in the air.  I recalled that smell when I was pregnant with Christian.  It was the horrid smell of browning hamburger when I was pregnant.  My stomach started to do loops and twirls.  I could picture a light bulb flashing on above my head, I AM PREGNANT!  I thought back to the week prior when I took the hospital test for pregnancy and it came up negitive.  I kept telling myself that my nose was playing tricks on me.  It had to be something else.  As I was debating with myself my stomach told me that it was time for the mad dash to the toilet.  I think my body just confirmed what my brain was denying.  Shortly thereafter I went to the store for a home test.  I passed with flying colors.  It is now confirmed.  Christian was going to have a sibiling.

Christian was 11 months old and I was 8 months pregnant.

 

     This time I wanted to be ready for this labor.  I knew what to expect but I just wanted to better prepare my body for it.  We took a lamaze class.  It really did help me learn how to breath with contractions, the different stages of labor and delivery and how to make it a more pleasurable experience.  My body is going to do what it is going to do but anything to help it along, to me, is a benefit.  Our due date was set for May 11, close to 2 weeks after Christian's birthday.  We had an ultrasound to see if we were having another son or a daughter.  With Christian we never had an ultrasound so this was something special to see.  The tiny little butterfly heartbeat and the outline of the head was so facinating to watch.  I could just lay there all day and watch the screen and feel the movements inside of me.  When it came time to finding out the sex of the baby we couldn't do it.  Not that we didn't want to know but the legs were crossed in a way that the lady running the ultrasound machine couldn't tell.  I wanted a girl so bad that I told everyone that she is just a modest female.

     One main concern I had with my doctor was Brian working long hours and the trip to the hospital was an hours drive away.  There was a country hospital near by but I was still new to country living and I needed the city for comfort.  I wanted to go to a place that knew what was going on.   The doctor informed me that generally the second labors are quicker than the first one and he was worried too.  We both didn't want to have this baby at the Wayland exit.  He decided that it would be easier to induce.  The doctor told me he would check his schedule and possiblythe following week we would induce.  He would call and let me know.

     I was on pins and needles all week.  I kept the phone lines open waiting for the doctors call.  Nothing came.  I guess we don't induce.  Sunday night about 11pm the phone rings.  It was the doctor.  He apologizes for the late call but remember that he forgot to call me.  He wanted me to induce me that next morning and if that would still be okay.  I was numb.  The next evening I could be holding my new baby.  I told him that would be fine and we would see him there.  I dash back to the bedroom to wake Brian up.  He was already asleep waiting for his 3am alarm to wake him up.  I told him he needed to call into work because we are going to have a baby the next day.  That woke him up.  He also called his friend to watch Christian for the day.  He had a little boy also and it would be nice for him to have a playmate over for the day.

     The next morning we were rushing around getting both diaper bags packed; one to take with me to the hospital and one to drop off with Christian.  I left a message on my mom's answering machine, "By the time you listen to this message you will have another grandchild."  My mom, her husband and my sister's family took a vacation to Florida and wasn't due back to late that night.  When they left they had no idea that we were even talking about inducing.  This was a time before cell phones were popular so there wasn't a way to contact them to let them know.

     We had a girls name picked out but we couldn't think of a boys name.  We were racking our brains trying to come up with something.  I was so nervous thinking if we have a boy he will be nameless because nothing we thought of we liked.  Our minds were totally blank for a boys name.  We tried to think of a boys name before but now we were pressed for time.  We had 9 months to think of a boys name.  We can't have a baby then tell the nurses that we don't know of a boys name.  The drive was quickly ending.

     We made it to Butterworth Hospital in Grand Rapids.  The best of the best hospitals around.  I was ready for the inducing gel and the cups of ice chips.  I wanted this to go fast.  I even had my search-a-word book to help keep my mind busy.  The doctor comes in and says channel 13 WZZM is doing a segment of what to expect in births and wondered if they could talk with me.  I thought that was thrilling so I agreed.  Time marched on and no one from channel 13 WZZM showed up.  Then a few contractions hit. 

     I remembered my breathing.  They weren't real bad but enough to know that our new baby was on its way.  A nurse came in and I told her I was having contractions.  She walks over to the beeping monitor that keeps track of the baby's heartbeat, as well as mine, and the contractions.  "Nope," she tells me, "you must be having braxton hicks (false labor) because nothing is showing up."  Then she leaves.

     The contractions are coming more frequently and a few more times when the nurse comes in I tell her that I am in labor.  She assures me that it is in my head because nothing is showing up on the monitor.  I start to doubt myself but I know something is happening with my body.  Another nurse enters the room.  This time I was having the contraction.  She looks at me and asks if I am having a contraction.  I told her I have been but the other nurse didn't believe me.  This nurse looks over at the monitor and gets a puzzeling face.  She places her hand over my round belly and just feels for a moment.   A pain surged underneath and I started doing simple breathing to help ease the pain.  To confirmed that I was indeeded in labor.  She looks back at the machine.  Nothing was registered.  She apologized and said that the machine must be broken and they quickly exchanged it for another machine.  After having a few straps placed around my belly and wires hanging off of me I was starting to feel like how Frankenstein's monster must of felt like. 

     Labor was getting intense.  I totally forgot about WZZM channel 13 news coming to interview me.  I closed my eyes and concentrated on my breathing.  I laid on my side.  One hand grasped the side bar while the other hand looked like it was conducting an orchestra.  My wrist and my fingers were moving in rhythm to my contractions.  For some reason helped ease the pain.  I am sure it looked funny but I didn't care.  My eyes were closed so they couldn't see me.   Soon I kept hearing a strange beeping sound.  It wasn't coming from the monitors but it was nearby.  I could hear my husband telling the nurses that his work is paging him.  Oh he better not take a load! is all I could think.  I wish I had the muscles to talk to give his company a piece of my mind.  Brian reaches over to use the hospital phone to return the call.  Marv, the dispatcher and knowingly full well that we went into the hospital that day to have a baby, was calling to see if Brian wanted to take a load out that night!  Brian alerted Marv, "My wife is in full labor and is about to have a baby very soon!  NO!  I CANNOT TAKE A LOAD TONIGHT!"  I am so glad my husband chose the right anwser, as if there was any doubt.

     For a quick second I opened my eyes long enough to glance at the clock.  It was near 6pm.  I remember thinking that I could be holding my new baby in time for Jeopardy, one of my favorite shows.  It was time to push and in a matter of no time we added a new baby to our family.  When the doctor announced it is a girl a great relief came upon me.  I no longer needed a boys name!  She was a girl, just like we prayed and hoped for.  A beautiful 6 pound 11 ounce, 19 inche long girl. 

My sweet Elizabeth May 6, 1998



     I looked up at Brian to see his reaction when something caught my attention right over his shoulder.  There was a man standing there with a camera.  I gasped in shocked.  I looked around the room and there were some of the staff from WZZM in my room!  I am a very private person and I had no idea they would be there during the delivery.  They must of entered the room while I was concentrating on my breathing and my contractions.  I wanted to quickly look for that button on my hosptial bed that would make the bed fold up in half so it can hide me.  I was so embarrassed.  I think the look on my face spoke a thousand words and the camera guy knew what I was thinking.  He said, "Don't worry.  I didn't video anything private.  It only shows your daughter being lifted up and handed over to your husband."  That wasn't the point.  Obviously I know they are not going to show anything personal on TV.  It was the fact that HE was in there and could see something personal. 

     Throughout our stay at the hospital our daughter was known as the little tv star.  I have to admit, after looking over who is there during her birth, it is neat to see crew of WZZM Channel 13 News.  It aired on May 20, 1998.  They interviewed someone else but it showed our daughter being born into this world.  I thought our life was going great.  It is now only getting better!

Becoming A Mom For The First Time

     It was early August in 1996 when we gazed upon the two lines on the pregnancy test that declared that we were going to have a baby.  I was half way into my 19th year and Brian was half way into his 24th year when a flood of emotions filled up inside of us.  Excitment, nervousness, anticipation and a tweak of fear were among the first feelings we got.  Ready or not we were going to be parents. 

     Morning sickness was not pleasant.  I felt like I was on a first name basis with our toilet.  I couldn't keep anything down and even smells would send me running to the bathroom.  There was a store on Merson Corners in Allegan County which sold BBQ sausages.  They were a big seller among the locals and one of Brian's favorite.  I walked in and came darting out to the back of the old building to reveal what I had to eat last.  From then on I couldn't enter that building.  Even today thinking about the smell of those sausages sends my stomach into a roller coaster ride.  Brian had to go on his own to enjoy his favorite snack. 

     I worked at the local Family Dollar store.  It was a fun place to work and I got to know some of the people in the community working there.  Brian grew up in Allegan county but I was only a few months new to Allegan's country way of life.  Having morning sickness and working the cashier line wasn't very pleasurable at times.  That morning I had a bowl of Raisin Bran for breakfast.  A woman came through the check out line with several items and lacking very much of a shower.  My stomach started to turn.  I couldn't open my mouth.  I was using every muscle I had to keep my breakfast tamed inside of me that I couldn't even muster a smile.  I had to let her know her total.  I paused for a moment to gain my composure, eyes watering up and with enough courage I was able to quickly slip out a total for her purchase.  I was making change and I could feel a tickle in the back of my throat.  I knew it wouldn't be long before I would be bowing down to the porcelain gods again.  I looked up and seen a few others in line behind her but I knew I couldn't hold it in any longer.  I tossed her change down on the counter trying so hard not to be rude.  I just ran to the back room making emergency eye contact with the assistant manager Evie for her to take over at the register.  Right before I made it to the bathroom Mt. Jill erupted.  It wasn't pretty but my stomach was thankful for releaving itself.  I cleaned everything up and returned back to the cash register with blood shot watery eyes but able to have a conversation.  Several customers later my nose started to burn a little bit.  I grabbed a tissue and blew my nose.  A lonely raisin!  It was the last of my breakfast still trying to make its way out. 

     The rest of my pregnancy was uneventful.   I loved being pregnant after the first trimester and morning sickness was over with.  The feeling of life moving about inside is a indescribable experience.  I almost feel sorry for the men in the world that they would never know this miraculous feeling. 



I was 8 months pregnant standing at the flooded Grand River over in Johnson Park in Grandville, Mi.





     Our due date was April 23.  It came and went.  The doctor said we could induce the next week if we wanted to.  "After all, the baby is only going to get bigger."  he said. 

     You never tell a 9 month pregnant lady about a baby getting larger.  That statement sealed the deal and we were going to induce.  Newborn clothes were even looking too big and I was getting very nervous as to what I was going to expect.  I have heard a zillion horror stories of labor - it feels like you are on fire and you can't cool down....it is like pulling your bottom lip up over your head....it is the worse feeling in the world....women have been known to die from giving birth!!!!  At this point I was beyond scared.  I was comparing myself to the crash test dummies from the 1980's commercials.  There was a brick wall and I was heading full force into it and it was going to be painful but there was no way to avoid it. 

     We arrive at Metro Hospital in Grand Rapids on April 27, 1997.  I remember thinking how sick-minded I must be to purposely go to the hospital to be put into a lot of pain.  Deep down I knew the grand outcome would be a baby but at that moment I could only think about labor and what to expect.  We didn't take any lamaze classes nor did we have an ultrasound (as our doctor didn't see the need in one) so I really didn't know what was about to happen.  My side of the family waited at home as so did Brian's side.  I just wanted it to be Brian, the medical staff and myself to be in the room during the delivery. 

     The doctors used Prostaglandin gel to help get the labor going.  He told me I couldn't move or eat anything for 4 hours when the gel has been put on.  4 hours later nothing happened.  The doctor gave me another dose.  I was getting very bored just lying there and nothing was happening.  TV couldn't hold my attention.  I was too nervous thinking about what to come.  The 4 hours pass and still nothing.  So the doctors put some more Prostaglandin gel in me.  At this point I was hungry and thirsty and wanted to move.  I was allowed ice chips but it just wasn't making me happy.  At 8pm there was no sign of labor.  Brian was ready to go home.  The doctors insisted that we had to stay and sometimes, especially for first time moms, it takes a while.  We were both tired and frustrated.  They gave me another dose of Prostaglandin.  Finally at midnight a dull but alarming feeling came over me.  It finally arrived!  Labor.  Unfortunally at this point I was too tired, hungry and drained to deal with it. 

     For a short while the labor pains were sharp and hard.  I was asked if I wanted anything for the pain or an Epidural.  I have seen shows on Epidural's and the needle looks extra long and painful.  I have also heard stories where if they give you the shot wrong it can paralyze you for life.  I didn't want to take that chance.  I was given a small dose of Stadol to take the edge off.  I don't know if it was the drug or the wee morning hours combined with shere exhaustion but I was falling asleep.  The nurses kept having to wake me up and telling me to breathe.  She even helped me in how I was trying to breathe.  They finally had to put an oxygen mask on me to get extra oxygen into my lungs.  Labor really didn't seem as bad as what people have told me.  I kept waiting for different stages that people would tell me I would feel and I never felt them. 

     The nurse told me I can do a small push so she can see how far along I was.  I barely pushed when Christian's head was making its way into the world.  The nurse quickly put her hands up to stop the baby from coming out and screamed for the doctor.  This doctor (some other doc that was on call) came nonchalantly waltzing in eating a sandwich.  He places his sandwiches down on the counter and finishes catching our baby.  No longer were there movements inside of me but ahead of us layed a beautiful baby boy.  A son!  We had a son!  Exactly at 4am in the morning we became parents to an 8 pound 11 ounce, 21 inche long bouncing baby boy! 



Christian's  newborn picture



     We did the usual holding and examing our son that every parent goes through.  We were thrilled yet exhausted at the same time.  He was so adorable and perfect.  A nurse came in and asked if we wanted our new son to sleep in our room or to go to the nursery.  I said to go to the nursery in case he wakes up and I didn't.  I was nervous about sleeping through in case he was hungry or cold.  It was probably a good thing I said that too.   Brian went to the car to get a few hours of sleep and I still layed in the same bed that I already was laying in the day before and drifted off to sleep with happy thoughts of being a mom. 

Several hours later I woke up hearing my mom and her husband whispering to each other.  I realized I was in the hospital and I have a new son.  I quickly sat up and let them know I was awake.  They apologized if they woke up me and I told them that it was alright.  They wanted to see their grandson.  I paged for the nurse.  She enters the room and I introduce my mom to her.  I ask if she can bring Christian into the room.  Then she replies with a dreaded question that no new parent wants to hear, "Didn't the doctor tell you?"



     I choked up a bit.  Tell me?  Tell me what?  I was quickly freaking out inside.  On the outside I tried to stay calm since she was only the messenger.  "I don't think he did.  What is wrong?"  I could barely get the last words out of my mouth.  Please God, I begged, Please let everything be okay.  I didn't know if I wanted to hear what would be said next.  I didn't know if I could handle it. 

     She replied back by saying that she will contact the doctor and have the doctor tell me.  Not good! Not good!  Lord Jesus, whatever happened I know you have a reason for everything and I trust you. I thought to myself.  I was numb.  Time froze. 

     What seemed like an eternity the doctor called.  He apologized but said that he came in the room to talk with me and I sat up and conversed with him so he thought I was awake.  I strained my memory for any bit of recall to let me know he was in my room but nothing was coming.  It totally blank.  I couldn't remember a thing of him being there.  I was feeling horrible.  A medical crisis was going on and I wasn't sound enough to remember it.  Failure as a mother was quickly entering my thoughts.  The doctor went on and said that while monitoring Christian he started breathing too quickly and he wasn't getting enough air so they had to put him in an oxygen text.  I am sure in the medical world this wasn't a huge deal but for a young new mom this was nerve wrecking.  I didn't know what to expect now.  Lord, he's in your hands but you know my heart and I really want to have my son be okay.  I cried. 

     Brian came up shortly afterwards.  I told him the upsetting news.  He went and talked with the nurses and seen Christian.  He came back.  I wanted to see Christian too.  Brian didn't want me to because he was afraid that seeing him all hooked up in tubes and IV's would upset me.  I gained up my composure and told him that I am his mother and he needed to hear my voice.  There was no discussing it.  I had to see him. 



     The nurse took me to him.  He was in what looked like a mini fish tank.  He was on his back so tiny and helpless.  The tubing was distressing to see but I knew it was for the good of him.  I couldn't hold him.  All I could do was slip my hand up around a plastic sheet and hold his hand.  His baby hand was so soft and tiny.  I spoke to him and reassured him that I was there and he needed to get strong so we can go home.  It was hard but I stayed with him for a while. 

     Before being discharged from the hosptial everyone had to sit in on a small discussion about basic baby care.  I enter the class and looked around the room.  Happy faces of new mothers holding their baby outlined a table.  I felt all eyes stare upon me with question in their eyes as to where is that woman's baby.  I just wanted to sink in a hole and let the next few hours pass by.  Going around the room to introduce ourselves I explained what happened to Christian.  I have to admit that I was a bit jealous that these new mom's got to show off their little darlings and I couldn't even hold mine yet.  It seemed like a cruel joke. 



Christian age 2 months



     Finally after a few days Christian was able to come out of the oxygen tent.  Talking with the doctor he explained that upon a quick birth Christian inhaled some imnoitic fluid which gave him his breathing troubles.  He said it was very common with babies that are quick to birth.  We finally got the okay to discharge.  The nurse helped us put our tiny baby into the car seat and wheeled us down to the main doors.  That was our start to the Moyer family.