Serenity Leigh
I am disappointed.
I am envious.
I am hurt.
I am jealous.
But most of all, I am proud.
I am disappointed in your choices so far, envious of the new life you have created, hurt by your pushing me away, jealous of the family you have now started, and proud to be your sister. Never, not in my wildest dreams, would I have ever expected you to be fearless going into battle, and not even cringe when the contractions went from many so close to one continuous spasm.
Even after 30+ hrs of lack of sleep, I am not easily impressed, but you have done so. And she is gorgeous, although she more resembles her father than you, she has your toes (giggle). She has potential, I hope you rear her well.
Yes, folks, my sister had the baby. She had basically continuous contractions since roughly Saturday about 5pm, and when they got rather constant, and about four minutes apart, they left to the hospital…at 11:30pm. They checked in just as I was calling–I figured something was up and wanted to know if all was ok. 40minutes later I was pulling into the parkinglot (40minute drive from my apt to the hospital while doing 80 down the highway and getting lucky and falling in behind a cop doing 70 in a 50…). While she slept fitfully from a muscle relaxer, I huddled in the room’s unpadded wood glider, my mom stuffed herself in the pukey-floral half-couch, and the daddy lay fast asleep on a quickly assembled cot (after my mom and I basically pushed him away from my sister). I couldn’t sleep, I sat and listened to the baby’s heartbeat on the moniter and watched the machine graph her contractions. That is kinda lulling, but every time I was even remotely close to passing out, the heart-rate would change or there would be some beeping from the machine (like….ran out of paper….gawd that was loud!). The nurse checked in every hour, checked her dialation every two, and at four, they booked her and checked her into the hospital…originally they figured she’d be out and home in an hour or so, but after nothing but continuous contractions and another slight change in dialation….
She eventually caved and had the epideral. Not because it hurt so much, but because the pain was so constant that she couldn’t sit still, she was squirming and the pain-stuff they’d pumped her with didn’t do a damn thing…and basically she was maxed out on the stuff. Oh how she slept! The daddy used that time to retreat and call up friends and family.
OH! My new in-laws…..oooooooooohhhhhhhh boy! Yikes. Let’s say white-trash, plus plastic surgery, plus a diva complex, plus sick drunken stories. THAT was the waiting room before we called into the delivery room to listen in. *Shiver* I think I’m going to refuse any invitiations to that side of the family reunion….sorry sis, but DAMN!
But I should get back, no? By two in the afternoon, she’s barely dialated, but fully efaced, or so the nurse says. To hell with it, I have a 45minute drive (meaning I won’t be flying at 80 down the highway home) ahead of me and I’ve been awake since roughly 7 or so the day before. Sure I’ve pulled all-nighters before, but given that the last one was with the aid of a fianced couple, 1/2 bottle Jack, and 1/3 bottle vodka (all me), I wasn’t lasting quite so well this time around. If I got any sleep at all, it was in 5min incremants that can’t be called sleep. So I made up my mind; either the baby would be here soon and I could go home guilt free, or I’d leave at 4pm no matter what and see the baby Monday after work.
I left at 3:15pm for a 5minute run to Braum’s just down the road, she’s sitting at 6 and just waking up to be checked again. I get back about 3:20pm or so and get a phone call as I’m walking to the elevator "We’re getting ready to push!" Whaaaaa–???!!!??!!!!
At 3:48pm, Serenity Leigh officially joined the world. She was barely bigger than I was when I was born! But she weighed a few ounces less. 6lbs, 10oz, 19 3/4" long. She has her daddy’s hair style and color, daddy’s chin, daddy’s upper lip, mama’s amount of hair, mama’s nose, and mama’s toes. I told myself I wouldn’t cry, not with a million people milling about. Serenity is the only one to see my tears as I welcomed her to this world and talked to her. Hugging the daddy gave me an excuse to hide my face long enough for them to fade, and then I hugged everyone and left. I’m an aunt again! And my mother is now officially a grandmother, and this time not by a step-daughter.
