Like it was yesterday...

Like it was yesterday, I remember the day my daughter was born. 22 years ago today. A beautiful October morning, much like today. It was her due date, so I was sure it WOULDN'T be today! I remember going into the bathroom, and hollering out to my husband NOT to go to work, as IT WAS GOING TO BE TODAY! I called the doctor, and the nurse told me to stop in at the office before going to the hospital. I made arrangements with my mother to watch our 22 month old. We dropped him off at noon, went to the doctor, who sent us right to the hospital. At the hospital we watched a soap opera with a woman having a baby. I'm sure THAT kid is 44 by now. Seemed like we had just arrived, when they moved me to a gurney and said we were going to the delivery room. That surprised me, as I hadn't even moaned or screamed yet. In the delivery room, the nurse said 'now don't push yet' - and I thought 'why would I do that?'. The doctor came in, and then said to the nurse 'you'd better get her husband!'. That seemed funny to me too, as I hadn't had any drugs yet. My husband came in and so faithfully stood by my head. The doctor, nurse and intern were in deep conversation and said again, 'don't push yet'. Well, to me, who was sure I still had HOURS to go...no moaning, no screaming, no drugs...decided to push just a teensy little bit. Thankfully, she didn't fly across the room and hit the wall... but, only MINUTES after that, there she was! Cute and cuddly and quite clean for a newborn. She would not take her eyes off her father, who got to hold her first. She even turned her head to him whenever he talked. It was amazing. He followed her to the nursery and even got to witness her first exam by the pediatritian, who was also his pediatritian, who pointed out again that she responded to his voice. Truly amazing. I called my mom at 4:00 to tell her that it was a girl, and she just laughed. When she heard the 'baby noises' she HAD to believe it.
To my mom's at noon, to the doctor by 12:30, to the hospital by 1:00, baby at 3:30, back in a regular room by 5, in time for dinner - which I ate, heartily! It was a truly wonderful amazing day, and it still feels as if it were yesterday.
Dana Nicole - 10/11/82 - 8 pounds, 5 ounces