At the Hospital

I'll fly throw these boring details, but as this experience is someday for Andrew and his siblings, I'll note a few things here that they should know.

On the way to work from my 9:00am appt on March 11, I told Mom yet again that I just didn't think I would make it to April 3. I knew that people could walk around for weeks at 3 cm, but I just didn't think I would. Her only feasible response was "well, if you can't wait until April 3, you'll have to give Dad company on March 23." Mom had figured out that of the 9 adults in our immediate family and 3 grandchilden---at the time---that all 12 people had birthdays on either the 3, 7, 11, or 12 of the month, except for Dad, who is a 23rd. So to keep Mom's recordkeeping easy, Baby K, as we had deemed him early, just had to be born on the 3, 7, 11 or 12. It would be acceptable, however, to "join" Dad on the 23rd. But I reminded Mom that the 23rd was Easter this year and that I didn't want to miss church on Easter with the inspiring choir Wellshire has and the huge orchestra they always bring in for the big day. Her response was simple. "You go into labor anytime after noon and still have the baby by midnight!". Only hours after this conversation, I would be in labor. The date was the 11th. Baby K may not be here by midnight, but that's okay as the 12th follows the 11th.

March 11, 7:00pm - Arrive at the hospital - pain is sufficient to disallow speech during contractions. Completely deflated when told, "you are still only 3 cm. We typically don't admit patients until they are 4 cm." "Well what on earth do I need to do to make THAT happen!?!? I am NOT going home in this state. What would I do?!?! I am clearly NOT going to work tomorrow...or to sleep tonight!" Walk the halls for an hour and see what happens.

8:00pm - "Em? We're at the hospital. I don't know if anything is gonna happen----silence for 45 seconds----tonight or not, but I wanted to put you on dog alert in case is does." "I'm out the door right now! I'm going to get Daisy and Molly, bringing them to my house and coming to the hospital.". "But it's too early...". "Bye!".