A few years back (OK, a few more than a few), I was in the middle of a divorce, my oldest child was staying with my sister because my head had come temporarily unglued and I was 10 1/2 months pregnant, living with my parents. Oh yeah, life was grand.
I woke up in the middle of the night in labor. My mom worked graveyard shift at the local hospital and my dad was at home. The hospital I needed to go to (insurance issues, don't you know?) was 60 miles away in the BIG CITY. There was NO way I was waking my Dad, the functioning alcoholic, horrible, terrible driver with the dirty, nasty, used for construction, reeking of beer and cigarette smoke pickup truck to drive me to the hospital.
It was a little after 6. Mom got off at 7. All would be fine.
I forgot that it was the day Mom got her hair done.
Mom got home between 10 and 11 and asked how long I'd been up. I told her since 6:34. She asked how long I'd been in labor. I told her a while longer than that.
Did I mention that I was in labor with my first child for 4 hours?
We got in the car - the 3 day old Ford Grenada. If you do not remember the Grenada, it is because God loves you. This car was SO underpowered it was unbelievable. My mother had always driven big Fords - big gas-guzzling Ford V8s that could GO! Then my first husband was killed in a car accident, we all lost our minds temporarily and went for safety and conservatism and really crappy cars. Anyway, as we were driving to the Big City, me with very little sleep and Mom with no sleep, she kept telling me that if I ruined her upholstery, she would kill me and I kept telling her to put her foot in it then and it wouldn't be a problem and a Volkswagen Beetle, a friggin' VW Bug, passed us. It was mortifying.
We got to the hospital. They checked me over, told me I was not in labor and to go home. I told them I was in labor and that, since home was 60 miles away, I was not going home. They very snottily decided to put me in a labor room and said that they would check on me in a few hours.
Mom made sure that I was settled and went to lay down for just a bit in the waiting room. This, obviously, in the days before "birthing suites". Well, long story short, 3 hours later they came back to check on me and barely had time to wake Mom up.
They wheeled me into delivery and the same rocket scientist who had decreed that I was not in labor was exhorting me to "Wait till I get my gloves on!" He got his gloves on and my mother got there just in time to welcome the child of my heart.
Happy Birthday, Baby. Know that you are loved.
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12 comments:
Were you really 10-1/2 months pregnant? You had quite the ordeal. Happy birthday to your daughter. I want to say something bright but I can't think of how to say what I really would like to say. I have been thinking today about how it seems we sometimes go through really bad times and yet we make it when we wonder if we really will. I could tell you about something that happened to me on the way home from the hospital with one of my children that would make anyone sad, but I won't. I am glad it is past, and I have to remind myself the past is past and today is always a new day. My mom used to tell me (and she went through some really horrifying times) that at night she would look in the mirror and make herself smile, she didn't want to let anyone take that away from her. I wish I had a magic wand to fix things with, don't you?
Junebug - Yeah, I do but then I realize that if it weren't for ALL of those things that happened we wouldn't be right here right now - and I love right here right now.
Yeah, they thought she was twins. Turns out she was just stubborn!
Wow..you're a trooper! What a great story to tell though.
I found your blog via Pioneer Woman. I really like what I have read, and I am so glad someone else has such a big heart.:)
wow. what a story. unbelievable hardship, and it does all seem to come at once, doesn't it?
happy birthday to your sweet daughter. and happy birth-day to you, too! you're the one who did it!
Wow, what a cool (in hindsight!) :) story! Happy birthday to your daughter!
Mom & daughter bonding stories always fill me with so much emotion! And, wow I would've kicked that darn doctor where it counted. Jerk. Funny, cause my mom was in labor with me for 76 hours & her doctor told her the same thing...because he had a 3 week ski vacation planned.
Wow - you were a brave woman!!! Happy Birthday to your "little" girl!
It's so funny when I hear the stories about the doctors thinking it's going to be a while and then, voila - It's time! Glad your mama got you there in time and you didn't mess up that 3 day old car. :)
I'm such a sucker for birth stories, no matter how good or bad! I'm glad that you didn't listen to those doctors, or else you would have had the baby in the car on the way back!
I'm glad it all worked out and I can't imagine what it must have been like to be going through a break up when 10.5 months pregnant... Wow!
I love this story. How wonderful, and I think it is too funny you were passed by a Beetle on the way. Thanks for sharing.
Great story...happy, happy birthday to your "baby" girl!! You have alot to be proud of!!
Great story...happy, happy birthday to your "baby" girl!! You have alot to be proud of!!
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