A Day I Will Never Forget

I am backtracking a little for this post. We just recently celebrated Miss Claire's very FIRST birthday in October. In lou of a birthday letter I am posting the story of one of the 3 most amazing days of my life, the day Claire entered this world. I wanted to make sure every detail of that day would forever be documented so that she nor I would NEVER forget! After reading this story over again today as I post it is so hard to believe it has been over 15 months since that wonderful day! How time flies when you are busy raising 3 AMAZING children! Happy First Birthday Claire!
Love,
MOMMY

A DAY I WILL NEVER FORGET

October 2 started off like any other visit to Dr. Thomas's office. Since big brother was at preschool and headed for a fun afternoon with Grancy we decided to take Kennedy along to hear your heartbeat. The appointment went as planned and I was still only 2cm dilated. Dr. Thomas felt like you would hang out for another week or so, but little did she know that you would have other plans.

Amazing...in only a week we would go from a family of four to the "Party of Five." Because of this my Honda Accord just wouldn't do and I really felt like a new baby deserved a new ride. So, back on I-65 we went to Jasper, Indiana to look at a Chevy Tahoe. After a 2 hour drive, a test drive, and lots of negotiating, Daddy bought us a proper vehicle for our expanding family. 2 vehicles, several hours, 1 two year old, a very pregnant Mommy and a proud Daddy were now ready to head home. The convoy pulled out with Daddy in the Tahoe and Kennedy and I in the Honda.

We had a three hour drive home ahead of us so we pulled into a gas station to fuel up before the long ride. Daddy pumps the gas in the family so as I was allowing him to perform his manly duty I decided to use the restroom. As I pulled my pregnant self out of the car I felt something...warm, wet, gushing. Yep, it was my water. I shot Ben the look that all women who are going into labor give: you know the eyeballs bulging, the mouth open, the sweat rolling. The conversation was very romantic and loving. It went something like this: "Honey, I think my water just broke." "You are shittin' me!" Obviously Daddy didn't get the memo on the sweet romantic response.

Being the seasoned mother that I am I calmly walked into the germ infested gas station restroom to take care of a little business. Positively my water had broken and you were on your way. I guess Daddy was not the only one not getting memo's. Didn't you hear the Dr. say "one more week" and didn't you get the memo that we were two hours away from the hospital with two cars, and your big sister in the back seat?! I thought they told us that babies could hear in the womb?! Obviously you like to do things in your own time.

Parent's of three must be resourceful so we made the following plans in a matter of three minutes: parked the Honda, called Uncle Phillip to get it, called Aunt Michelle to get Conner and to come to Louisville to get Kennedy, called Grancy and told her to get our bags and to high tail it to the hospital...Miss Claire was on her way

Pappy raised me to always have respect for a vehicle, so as Daddy was barreling down I-65 at 90 miles in an uninsured, brand new vehicle I took great pride in protecting the leather by sitting on Daddy's uniform jacket. Once at the hospital a great sense of relief came over all of us. Some amniotic fluid will come out of leather, but we didn't want to take any chances on delivering you in the Tahoe. A labor that came on very quickly prolonged throughout the night. The next morning at 10AM, surrounded by Daddy and Grancy, you arrived, in your own time, in your own style and with your own story.