Samuel, page 2

Four contractions before we reached the interstate (about 15 minutes). Ohhh, they hurt. Lord, please let us make it. And give me strength if this should take a long time and get a lot worse.

More contractions on the highway. Now I could feel the stretching pressure in my cervix. Not time to push but getting there quickly. Lord, PLEASE let us get there. Keep Your hand on his head until we are there!

I was telling every part of my body to relax and be open, except my uterus. Don't let go yet. I couldn't. The baby would have come. I didn't know it consciously... but I still knew it. I didn't think maybe we had to hurry.... I knew it. It was so close.

It was 2:15 when we pulled up to the hospital. They lock the main entrance at night, so we went through the ER. Two or three more contractions just walking in. We had parked close to the entrance.

Not yet. Not yet.

Did I want to walk down the hallway to the elevators up to the 4th floor or sit in a wheelchair? I hesitated... then sat. I was so thankful I did. It was bliss. Almost there.

When we got upstairs, the nurse brought us into a room to see if my water had indeed broken. We went into the bathroom and she did her little swab thing. Yes, it had broken. Well, good, now we both know. She told me to follow her out but I HAD to sit on the toilet. Anyone paying attention would have seen that the baby was quickly working his way out. It was otherwise irrational... no, I have to go to the bathroom NOW. I sat down for just a few moments and realized, no, I didn't have to go to the bathroom, I needed to have a baby. I got up and started heading over to the bed. My mind was barely with me anymore. My baby was coming and I couldn't let it out yet. She said to follow her to a different room. Derek grabbed our stuff. I didn't even know where we went. I just followed quickly. My water was leaking. There's the room. There's the bed. Strip my clothes and throw on a gown for a tiny amount of modesty. I climbed on the bed... and let go.

I relaxed. Everything was okay now. He can come. And we can do it. Let him out. So I did. I kneeled on the bed and began to moan the great sounds of a birthing woman. The nurse wasn't sure what was going on but once she realized the situation and had been assured that we had it all under control, she was fine. There was that wild sensation of a body moving through mine. The ring of fire. And he slurped out onto the bed. I remember his whole body flopping onto the bed. Derek and I quickly scooped up our wet little boy. It was 2:28am. We'd done it.

Awareness returned to me. I looked up and saw Mom and Letisha there. Eliana was to my right, watching from the couch with awe.

No pictures, no videos, no doctor. Just another beautiful birth. Another beautiful baby:) I was in love once again.