Birth Story Part TWO.

{part one here} Next thing I know, I'm sitting in the hospital's security vehicle, in the beginning of the snow storm... wondering... is this what I think this is..... 
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I close the door of the vehicle and wave goodbye to the nice gentleman. "Good luck miss! You picked a good day to have a baby!" he hollers. I knew he meant the snow storm. I knew he meant that it's safer I'm here than on the roads. But my mind went elsewhere. In that moment, all I could think about was what this day meant. Would this be the day I give birth to my son? Would I really truly hold him outside the womb, today? Is this the first day of a new life for me and my family?

Will December 26th, the day after Christmas, forever be a memory and celebration of our son's birth?

I walked through the hospital doors to find out.

Holding my belly, waddling my way to the front desk, a panicked, frazzled woman runs by me, grabs a wheelchair, looks at me, and says "Maybe you need one of these as well?" "No thanks, I reply."  I'm okay. Really.

But the woman that she had grabbed the wheelchair for? Clearly wasn't. She had those large chucks underneath her. She was moaning. She was begging for the front desk lady to hurry up and take her upstairs. "I'm about to have this baby right here, right now, if you don't hurry up I will push this baby out!" Now if that didn't get that lady's attention, I don't know what would have. Her eyes lit up like saucers and she just about stumbled over her own feet trying to run the my-water-broke-and-I'm-ten-centimeters-ready-to-push-lady upstairs in the wheelchair.

"I'll be back for you ma'am shortly" she yells out to me. I'm fine, I say, under my breath. Really.

And in that instance, I truly was. Because hearing that woman say she felt like she had to push? Well that just about stopped any kind of labor I had and made me, for a moment, want to run out the door. In a way... I wasn't sure if I was ready.

I felt like time was going by so slow. I talked to Andrew on the phone, who was on his way over, but it was brief and at the time I didn't know exactly what to think of all this. He, on the other hand, was a bit frantic. Unsure if "this was it." Trying to remember to grab all the bags. Five too many.  I imagine, probably trying to prep himself for what was to come.

And although I should have been focusing on whether or not it would be go-time, my mind could only go to my "to-do list." Do I have this done. Did I remember to pay this bill. Did I say all my I love you's ? Did I give enough kisses. Did I do this, or that, or .....

 Knock knock Becky!! You may be a mother-of-two today!

"Ma'am. Are you ready to go upstairs?" And just like that I snapped out of it. Yes, I am. Wheelchair? No thanks.

I was placed in the triage room where I was surprised to find the same nurse that delivered Elliana. I knew that if I were admitted though, she wouldn't still be here. For two reasons. Shift change was in less than an hour. And two, she's triage today. But regardless, I can't tell you how comforting it felt to finally see a familiar face that brought back memories of the best day of my life. The birth of my daughter.

She placed the sheet on me. We talked about the last birth. Checked my contractions. Remembered how fast everything went with Elliana. Cervical check time. Joked about how quick this one would be.

And the moment of truth.

I was hoping to hear 6cm. 7cm. 8cm. Anything, but,  "4-5." Which is just about where I was at my cervical check a week and a half prior. I felt a little beat down at that moment. Certain that this meant I was going home. In this storm? Absolutely not, I thought. There was no way I was going to be sent home in the biggest storm of the year. Another "false alarm?" How many more can we have?

But those weren't the words that I heard. My nurse came back with the biggest smile on her face, "You're staying!"

Immediately, tears filled my eyes.

I called Andrew right away, who was already on his way, and I still remember word for word what I said to him. "How does December 26th sound to have a son?"

He also was as surprised, and kept saying over and over again "Are you serious? Are you sure? Really?"

And just like that, I walked across the hall to the Labor & Delivery room, knowing that there were only a few hours left of me being pregnant. Just a few hours left of us being a family of three. Just a few hours left before our lives were about to change.

We didn't call anyone right away. Once Andrew arrived with our bags upon bags full of stuff, we decided to get situated and talk to the doctor about the plan of action before we even made a single phone call.

And then the conversation that Andrew and I hadn't had before started. The conversation on calling our families and whether or not we would have people in the room. Actually, I think it was a given that my family would be there. Andrew never thought otherwise. And if I was to be completely honest here, I never did either until that very moment. And in that moment? Something hit me. For whatever reason, I just wanted it to be Andrew and myself. Not because I didn't  want my mom and sister there. Not because I wasn't happy with my first birth experience where we had 5 people in the room. Not because I wanted to be selfish and have this moment to ourselves.

Okay, maybe that is the reason. In my heart, in that moment, I just wanted to share this experience with my husband, Andrew. The two people that made this bundle of joy. The two people to watch him come into this world. Just me and him.

And looking back? It was the best decision I ever did make.

So the phone calls were made. "We're staying! We're having a baby today." Texts were sent. Pictures were uploaded.

This was it. Today... we were having our baby. Our second baby. And there's no going back now.

Part III, the final part, tomorrow.