by Shirley Hunt
Somehow I imagined my parents being the same way. Maybe that was genetics too.
Chapter Seven
Between waiting for the ultrasound I was making a list of final preparations that I would need before opening the after school program.
Blake had, unbeknownst to me, had done the final preparations for the after school program. He knew all of the paperwork and red tape that I would have to go through far better than I did. I was both happy about it and felt kind of irritated at the same time.
I was grateful for the work Blake had done for me, yet, I felt like I was missing out on that opportunity to learn. At the same time I wondered if I was really angry or if it was hormones that were making some things seem bigger and more important than they actually were? Blake did what he thought would be the most generous thing to do.
Nothing was actually there to stop me from learning how to do these things on my own. Nothing said I couldn’t brush up on the rules and all of that good stuff to learn how to do these things myself.
The human mind was a complicated thing indeed. Human hormones weren’t that far behind, I supposed.
As much as the big things were taken care of we still had the small thing to worry about such as who would be there to help? What about the interior? What about first aid as injuries would happen.
When I was that age I once watched my sister climb up on a rather unstable looking bench wearing heels that were far too big for her. I had been afraid to climb up on the same bench for fear of falling. In fact, that was all I could think would have happened. My prophecy had come true as the bench did indeed tip over and down she went. Nothing was broken but she was very angry and accused me of causing the fall by not getting up onto the bench with her. I could not recall what happened after that.
I also knew if we tried it there was bound to be another child who thought to try it too.
Why weren’t we born with adult brains inside our child’s bodies? There would be times it would make life so much easier.
Perhaps my hormones were working over time because Blake was not around to see the ultrasound. He had taken a fall at work and had to have his ankle x-rayed to make sure it was not broken. Blake had reassured me that he was fine and he could even stand on it, though it was with a great deal of cursing and bellowing.
It wasn’t an accident that he did to cause him to fall. A very pregnant employee had taken a wrong step doing down the stairs and Blake had grabbed her to keep her from falling. He had prevented her from falling but had fell himself.
He later said that all he could think of was what if it had been me who fell? He hated and even feared the idea that I could’ve been injured in such a way. Being an expectant father really changed his view point on things and now he was much more cautious of the world.
I had promised that I would bring Blake the print outs of the ultrasounds and any important news. For the first time since hearing about the accident he joked he’d bring me back the x-rays.
My name was called and I had been brought to a small room and given a gown to change into. Did these things ever close in the back?
I was about ready to moon the doctor and anyone else who saw me. The thought entered my mind of was this a full moon, half moon, or a quarter moon? If someone hadn’t seen me before was it a new moon?
Why was my mind jumping all over the place like that? Was it hormones or was I going crazy? Did everyone make jokes about their conditions? I knew there were plenty of mortality jokes out there as dying was something that we will all do one day.
I had been told to climb into a chair and to assume the position. Right about now I imagined my dad making a joke about how “assume the position” was soon followed by “and begin” for him having to do so many push-ups when he was in the military.
I can’t say I exactly cared for the process of the ultrasound. That could be between having something pushed down on my belly and my mind being elsewhere. I don’t think the baby much cared for it either as I could have sworn it kicked at the thing that they use to press down on your belly. The name for it escaped me at the moment.
“It’s a girl!” The person announced before I could say anything.
“Blake will be happy about that,” I said.
“You’re not happy about it being a girl?”
“I didn’t want to know until it as born.”
“Oh, sorry.”
In the grand scheme of things knowing the baby’s gender wasn’t the worst thing that could happen. I should be grateful that Blake was able to get immediate medical help for his injury. Maybe I needed to give myself a quick reality check as to what the important things were at this very moment.
Sometimes it was okay to get selfish and get busy thinking about the little things but it was important not to wallow there.
When my sister or I got like that our parents would have us do a quick and small gratitude list for things that we were grateful for. It didn’t have to be long but it did have to be about a few things. My current thoughts were I was grateful for Blake, the baby, and these possible options before us.
Chapter Eight
Now began the great race. Which would arrive first? The after school program or the baby? I really wasn’t sure which would appear first but part of me was good and ready for the baby to be born! When your mother says it’s something out of the Aliens movie she was not kidding.
I had gotten lucky and the school agreed to work with the after school program. We had decided to name it for the district which we resided in. It wouldn’t be linked to just that one district but rather it would be available to all children who needed it. I didn’t like the idea of the program only being for certain people. Not to go into race issues but the idea felt to segregation like for my comfort.
The painting of the interior had to be done and then it was ready for opening. I wasn’t sure if I’d be available to be there for the so called ribbon cutting but I’d be able to read it in the local papers and online if the baby came along at the same time of the opening.
Speaking of the baby, yesterday Blake and I had both been sitting on the couch when the baby moved and we could both see it. I had the thought of if I placed a small glass of water on my belly it would move like something out of that scene in Jurassic Park.
I looked over at Blake and said “It’s your fault.”
“Mine?” Blake asked. I could tell by his face he was both amused and yet so confused by this accusation of mine.
“You’re the one who provided the other half of the baby’s DNA.”
“I did, but you’re the one carrying her!”
“If men had to give birth the human population would drop dramatically.”
Blake raised an eyebrow, “Are you saying that the human race would go extinct?”
“No, but I think men would only go through the labor process once.”
Blake paused and pursed his lips, “There was a short story about that once. I forget the name but I remember the basic outline of the story.”
“That certainly escalated quickly,” I laughed.
“You started that one!”
I did enjoy exchanging banter with Blake like this. I didn’t know how many married or in love couples did this but it was fun. I suppose we all show our amusement and love in different ways.
It turns out the after school program did indeed open before the baby arrived. Technically it opened right before I had to be rushed to the hospital as the baby was now coming!
You never really do forget the doctor’s scientific announcement of “we need a mop in here” when your water breaks.
Why did I suspect something out of an old cartoon where someone walking in was to suddenly slip in it to some old sound effect? Maybe the Wilhelm Scream needed to be added for good measure.
When your body begins to start pushing a tiny body out of itself you begin to think of odd things. At least I did as my mind went to all the things that could happen to a woman when going through labor. Your mind has a fun
ny way of doing things.
At first I had wanted to have a natural birth due to all the stories I had heard about the epidurals and the complications that could arise including a longer labor. By the time I wanted that epidural it was too late so it was a natural birth all the way.
Like my mother before me I screamed at my husband with each contraction. I even went as far as to tell him if he ever entered the same building as me they would never unearth his body.
Blake said nothing, which due to the circumstances, was probably a wise thing. I already had a death grip on his hand.
If it was true mothers would forget about the birthing process after the baby was born I welcomed that idea.
“You did this to me!” I screamed at Blake.
At the time I couldn’t tell if Blake was going to say something or if he was about to faint. Were all fathers to be like this or was it just him? Perhaps it was the threat or the sight of blood?
Birthing a child was not that clean and orderly experience we had all been told it was. The media lied to us! If I had known this was what went into it I might have decided not to go through with it.
When I heard the baby cry I had forgotten what I thought and felt in that instant. Before me now was a tiny baby…that was practically flipping us off. Clearly she was not happy about having been born.
“Well, that’s one that’s not for the baby book,” Blake said.
“Mom said I did the same during her ultrasound,” I told him before looking at the doctor and giving an order, “Give me my baby!”
The baby was average length, weight, and had a set of lungs on her. It would be amazing if the entire hospital couldn’t hear those little lungs screaming away.
“Now, the next one should be easier,” I said. “Mom always said the first birth is the longest and hardest.” I looked to Blake, “Why are you grinning like that?”
“I think our mothers were right in that mothers always forget the labor process after the baby is born.”
Blake and I had decided to name her Elizabeth Rose after both of our grandmothers.
She was the most beautiful baby I had ever seen and in my opinion that was not just motherly bias talking. She was the most beautiful baby.
Between the after school program opening and the birth of Elizabeth Rose my life felt complete and perfect.
I never would have thought that someone from my middle class background could find and marry such a wonderful man and have such a beautiful child. Yet, it happened and life was perfect.