Welcome, Little Nephew

It's been a while since I have posted anything and I'm feeling rather guilty. But, I just haven't had anything to write about. Does that happen to other people? My mind has been so wrapped up in my WIP that I haven't been able to make it think of anything else.

Then, and this is a great excuse, I became an aunt for the first time! My favorite and only sister had a boy on Thursday evening. She called at 2:30 a.m. to say she was heading to the hospital. She had been having contractions for 24 hours at that point. She'd even went to school that day to teach. I slipped on some comfy clothes and headed out the door to Winchester, Va. which is about an hour away. 20 hours later, my little nephew took his first breath and I was in awe. Of many things.

Of my sister and her determination to have a natural childbirth. She never really bit our heads off, not even her husband. Well, there was one time when he was trying to get her to not push and he put his finger in her face, telling her to "blow out the candle". She swatted at him telling him to get it away.

Then, after about two hours where her husband and I hardly took a potty break because her contractions were so fierce and close, her nurse told her she was only 7 centimeters. I thought all three of us were going to ask for drugs!!!

She simply said, "IWantDrugs, IWantThemAll, GiveThemToMeRightNow!". She got an i.v. first to see if that would take the edge off before she completely gave up. When that did nothing but make her loopy she yelled, "IWantAnEpidural, GiveItToMeRightNow," The nurse responded, "He will be here in just a minute," to which she replied, "NoRightNowIWantItRightNowGiveItToMeRightNowICanNotTakeThisAnyMore!!" as her possessed head moved from side to side as another damn contraction came!

The best part were all the cell phones lying on one of those tables that is supposed to resemble one you would have in your living room. Cell phones didn't seem to be as prevalent 7 years ago when I had my first. But, so many times, I would be providing updates by texting or talking with a family member or perhaps one of my sister's friends and she would begin a contraction. She would yell, "Get off the phone and help me, please!" She was so polite, saying thank you and please.

This was pre-epi. Post-epi, she was the one talking on the phone and saying, "Oh, yeah, why, I am having a contraction right now. And, look, it seems to be a big one. Ha Ha."

I'm all for the natural way. In foods, clothing, aromatherapy, etc. but when it comes to your first childbirth, bring it on, baby!

After what I think was almost 2 hours of pushing, that little head came out. And, my sis helped pull him out and lay him on her belly. After the entire day of struggling, then hours of pushing and coaching and cheering, the little buger was there. And, it was the best thing this side of pregnancy, I can ever imagine witnessing. To see your sister, your best friend, bring a child into the world, a child you will love and know and help raise, a child who will be your children's best friends (and who they will inevitably corrupt!) can not be explained. At least not by a novice writer as myself.

His little body, his small but strong cry, my sister's expession of love loaded with relief that he was perfect and beautiful, my brother-in-law's tears and my dad's pride will never fade from my memory. And, my mom. Who had been there for the entire thing even though she still has little strength from her liver transplant. Who was determined to see her grandson's first breath after witnessing both my kids' first. My mom who had almost left us when that little stinker was only 3 mos in the uterus. He had been with us, in my sister's belly, when we all were at UVA pulling Mom through the worst thing in her life. Mom looked at her newest grandson and said and I quote,

"Oh, what you have yet to go through in your life! God help you," and then she balled!

And, I got it on camera! What a great shot!

I say to my little nephew, "Oh what wonderful things you will go through in your life. What trials you will put your parents through. God help US! :)"

Because isn't that the irony of childbirth? They put you through hell to only smile and make you cry with joy!

Here's to you little nephew. I can't wait to see you grow!