Our baby was due to arrive on December 24th. I was frantically trying to wrap up studying for final exams for the winter semester of law school. I had it ALL planned out, after the baby was born I'd only have 1 semester left and I'd only have to take 1 online class and 1 Saturday class. Babies sleep sometimes, right? So, I figured it would be no problem--I just had to get through to Christmas and through my 4 course load of that semester. I was working on my second to last final exam. I went to bed the night of the 10th after studying all day and evening. I awoke on the 11th to some strange rumblings and what could have been my water having broken, "but it was just a tiny bit of water and it was probably nothing" so I decided that I'd be darned if I wasn't going to take the scheduled final that I had that evening. I was so focused on getting that thing out of the way that I didn't have time to think about the fact that I was probably in labor. I studied all day. The test was supposed to be from 6-9pm in St. Paul at William Mitchell. I live 50 miles from the school. No problems and no worries, all I had on MY mind was taking the stupid test. After all, if the rumblings were something big, I'd know it!
As I was preparing all day for the test, I was doing my usual pre-test freaking out which includes being highly anxious, stressed and nervous-y. When I was finally confident that I was ready, I headed out the door to school. The test began with the usual sweaty palms and nerves. But something was different. First of all, the test was easier than other law school exams, which was a nice change....and then...I began to feel something. My mind knew instantaneously that the somethings were contractions, real ones, but Heaven Help Me I was going to finish that test--come hell or baby water or the actual baby, I was seeing it through. The odd thing was, I was not in the least worried or nervous about the impending delivery. I was, again, so focused on the test and just had faith that everything would be fine. I think it is odd because in most of my life I'm the biggest worrier that I know. For some reason God decided to show me how to be calm in those few hours and it was great. I was actually beginning to have some excitement build, partially because I had at least an idea of what to write for my exam (I was excited that I wasn't entirely clueless) but more so as I began to figure out was happening babywise.
When the exam time was over I headed out and called the hospital. I told the nurse in OB what had transpired that day. She curtly asked me, "Is it your first?" which I interpreted to mean, "Is this false labor?" since it was almost 2 weeks early. I told her it was and I wasn't even acting too concerned, I think I even told her that it was probably nothing. She told me to come in to have it checked out just in case. I called Matt and gave him the scoop but so as not to be one of those who freaks out at every little movement, I kept telling him it was probably nothing and maybe he shouldn't even meet me there. I told him not to bring my baby bag or anything like that but I did insist that he shave, I wanted his new baby to see his beautiful daddy face and that seemed more important to me than having my own pajamas.
As soon as I arrived, almost skipping in, I checked in at the front desk and they rather looked surprised as to why I said I was there. I assured them it was because I might be in labor, they looked very doubtful. When I finally was checked by the nurse and in my room, she confirmed what I probably knew all along, that I was indeed in full fledged labor. Matt arrived and no sooner turned around to go get my things. I had about an hour or two of pretty intense contractions but I thought it was bearable. I did get an epidural (God love the inventor of that thing) and the waiting began. Since it was about 10:30 at night when I got there, I was supposed to be sleeping and waiting, but by this time I was so full of adrenaline, sleep was the last thing on my mind. I just COULD NOT WAIT to call my sisters. I was holding off as long as I could and at about 4:30 am I couldn’t stand it anymore. I called Laur and said, “Remember that time when I was dilated 5 cm? That was about an hour ago.” I thought I was so funny. She and Anna made it to the hospital in probably minutes. Once they got there it was fun to take pics and talk about what we thought the baby would look like, all of that baby stuff. At about 9 am things started to get a bit intense so I asked for more anesthesia but the guy never came back. At about 11:00 my Dr. came back and we were ready to go. The Dr. made it so easy for me (despite running out of DRUGS!) by allowing the baby to nearly be born before I had to do any work. Gabriella Rose was born at 11:30 am. A perfect, healthy baby GIRL. Matt got to say, “It’s a Girl!”
and I’m on the video camera stating with conviction, “I wanted a Girl!!!” Laura, Anna and Nellie were all there for the big event. I am so happy they were with us. Everything about Gabby’s delivery went perfectly. Matt was the first to hold her and we all took turns in due course.
For the next few days I couldn’t let her leave my side, unless it was to let someone else hold her. At night I wanted her right next to my face--I am sure this contributed at least partially to her later being the most needy baby in all the land. She still asks me every night, “Mommy, will you snuggle me?” We had some rough days and nights over the next few years. Gabby had some sort of crazy reflux deal and puked from one end of our house to the other and back again, she always wanted to be held or swung in her car seat and she wouldn’t sleep, and I mean WOULD NOT EVER SLEEP for about the first 2.5 years of her life. She sleeps now but she just ‘needs’ a little extra snuggle from me, okay, so she needs me to lay with her still in order to fall asleep. Do I mind? Do I regret not waiting until law school was over to start our family? Do I think how easy the bar exam would have been minus a nursing, never sleeping, 6 month old? Do I wish I didn’t have that thing you get when you have kids where you now have to worry about every little sniffle, ache and every single disease known to man that could possibly harm your child no matter how remote or unlikely? Nope. She’s my daughter.
I love you Gabriella Rose. Your birth day is one of my greatest memories and I cherish it more deeply than you or anyone will ever know.
Here is the little ditty I wrote on the birth announcements I sent out after she was born:
“Twas two weeks before Christmas as I sat in the classroom, the baby was stirring but I was fifty miles from home. The students were ready with sharpened pencil leads, while visions of ‘A’s danced in our heads. We wrote our exams, looked them over with care, in hopes that semester’s end soon would be there. When down in my tummy there arose such a clatter, I finished my test and wondered what was the matter. Away to the Hospital I made a quick dash, calling Matt to meet me, which he did in a flash. We stayed through the night and Matt tried to sleep as the baby monitor let out a steady “beep beep”. December 12th had arrived, 11:30 am was upon us, and the baby began to make a big fuss. When what to our wondering eyes should appear, but a miniature (our last name), as cute as a bug’s ear. Her eyes, how they twinkled, she had ten fingers and ten toes, we decided to call her, Gabriella Rose. At 7 lbs. 5 oz. and 18.5” she was a right jolly little elf, and I cried when I saw her in spite of myself. A blink of her eyes and a twist of her head soon gave us to know why we had wed. God brought us together to give us this Christmas gift, and forever to Him, our praises we lift.”
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