My dishwasher's possessed

one mom's attempt to find humor in the chaos

Special Delivery

By

Lying in bed I feel another contraction. The familiar tightening and release. The same contractions I’ve had for the last four months.  

The contractions that have me on modified bed rest, not allowed to drive, and brought me to the hospital two times in just the last few weeks. 


I’m hoping this is just another false alarm. 


I have my bag packed, my Norah Jones CD ready, and my favorite doctor all scheduled to do my C-section Monday morning. 


It’s Sunday, 2:00 a.m. I’m to be at the hospital in 28 hours.


I really don’t want to call the doctor in the middle of the night. That will ruin the “nice patient” status my favorite doctor gave me.


I can’t quite explain the crush I have on Dr. B. except to say that it is perfectly innocent and my husband is well aware of it. 


In fact he said that you can always tell whenever Dr. B. is in the office because all the women’s voices rise two octaves and get very sweet whenever he walks into the examining rooms.


Dr. B. gained permanent crush status when he called me the day I left the hospital with my daughter three years earlier. 


He had to fly to the Bahamas after Lizzy’s delivery and called me from there. He even remembered my new baby’s name. I was looking forward to my last baby being delivered by him.

Joe played on my crush when months earlier I was shocked to discover that I was pregnant with baby number three. I was excited for sure, but I was also scared out of my mind. 


This baby, though very wanted, was not in the plan. After four miscarriages and two babies born with the help of fertility specialists, it seemed impossible that we could get and stay pregnant the good old fashioned way.


What if I miscarried again? Lizzy had been such a difficult pregnancy and overseen by a high-risk practice. Would I survive a third baby? 


I was a wreck that August evening standing with Joe looking down at the positive test result.


“Kathy, just think, you’ll get to see Dr. B. again.”


I can always depend on that man to make me laugh.


Another contraction.


The clock says 2:05 a.m. 


Then I felt a gush of water. 


Oh no, this is not a test, this is the real deal. 


I attempt the Herculean task of lumbering my extremely pregnant body down the stairs to the play room, where Joe and Tom are camping out, complete with a tent and sleeping bags.


“Joe,” I whisper, trying to sound calm in case a six-year-old Tom should wake up.


“Joe… Joe…”


“Yeah,” my husband croaks out.


“My water just broke.’


“Oh… did you call the doctor?”


“Not yet.”


“Well, you call the doctor and then wake me up.”


I consider life as a single parent. 


I decide that yelling at my husband is not going to get me to the hospital any faster, and I better start enacting a plan unless I really want a home birth.


I call the special emergency number for the high-risk patients and let them know what is going on. They connect me to the very tired head of the practice. He tells me to come to the hospital and assures me he lives only five minutes from the hospital. If I’m in fact in labor, they will call him, and he will do the C-section then and there. 


Of course he’s the doctor on call. Though an excellent doctor and the hospital’s chief of obstetrics, he doesn’t have Dr. B.’s personal touch.


So much for best-laid plans.


No Dr. B, no Norah Jones in the background. This baby had a sense of humor.


I deal with another contraction and then call my parents because someone will have to watch Lizzy and Tom. Thankfully the kids haven’t woke up.


It was hard to believe that only hours before, we had had our special dinner out with the kids. Over hamburgers Joe and I went over the game plan for “baby week” with Tom and Lizzy. 


We let them know that Sunday we would have chocolate chip pancakes at their favorite diner. Then we would bring them to Grandma and Grandpa’s house, where they will stay while mommy is in the hospital with their new baby brother.


I had the “It’s a Boy” pencils ready to go for Tom’s kindergarten and Lizzy’s preschool class. Their “I’m a Big Brother, and “I’m a Big Sister” shirts were all set for them to wear to the hospital and for school. I was prepared.


I saw my reflection in a store window and tried to burn it into my memory. There I was, hugely pregnant, holding hands with my gorgeous boy and girl knowing this was going to be my last pregnancy and one of our last times out as a family of four.


Another contraction comes, and I know I better get moving since they were only getting stronger and we still had a 40 minute drive to the hospital.


I look at the cradle in the corner of my bedroom, no sheet or bumper ready. I thought I still had a whole day to get it prepared. How different from when I was expecting Tom and the cradle was all set up weeks before his arrival.


Dressed, and ready to go, I head down the stairs once again and wake Joe. 


He seems surprised to hear me say I’m ready and we have to leave for the hospital. But, he gets up and gets dressed.


I answer the door in the black of the night and see my parents smiling at me.


The contractions are coming pretty regularly now and I’m not in a very smiley mood, but I try.


My parents are very big natural birth proponents, having me and my sisters that way. No drugs. Lamaze breathing. My dad was even in the delivery room when my youngest sister was born in 1970, a time when it was still a very new thing to do.


They both start coaching me in my breathing. 


I start to wonder what I did in a previous life to deserve this special kind of hell.


Joe is getting a cup of coffee and once again I contemplate single parenthood.


Finally, we are off to the hospital.


We see the same familiar faces in the admitting department that I have seen on my two previous visits.


“I’m not leaving this time without a baby,” I announce.


We all laugh.


It’s Sunday, 4:30 a.m.


Now settled in the labor room, it is pronounced that I am, yes, in fact in active labor and will be having this baby now. My doctor is called and they get me ready for my third C-Section.


I’ll spare you some of my more colorful language that I used before they could give me my epidural. Suffice it to say that I apologized to all of them between contractions and let them know that the doctors   considered me one of their nicest patients.


Sunday, 6:00 a.m. My beautiful baby boy is born. 


I look at the sweet, six-pound baby that I was sure was 18 pounds and I’m instantly in love.


Back in the recovery room, Joe and I are smiling our heads off and all thoughts of single parenthood are gone.


We start making the calls: Baby Peter is here, a day early, but perfect.


Our family is complete. Three children, just like we had always wanted. I feel like we just won the lottery.


I can’t believe that it was seven years ago that the boy who makes me laugh and smile when I least feel like it, was born. He brings humor and joy into our family, and I couldn’t imagine life without him.


Happy birthday Peter.

Comments

  2. Unknown says

    Being the mother of FIVE I could not read this post without tears streaming. What a lovely story of Peter and how he came to be. You are a terrific wrtier and I shall follow you more. So in honor of your Peter, I wish many happy birthdays, smiles and cupcakes. Now I must go and find some tissue for my blubbering eyes. Blessings, Elizabeth

  3. XLMIC says

    What a sweet, sweet birth story! And I am glad that you never followed through on those thoughts of single parenthood 😉 Happy birthday to your ‘baby’!

    • Kathy Radigan says

      Thank you so much!! It’s so nice to see you!! I still remember your beautiful birth story about your youngest daughter! I’m glad I didn’t follow through on the single parenthood thing too!! xo

  4. Susi says

    What a wonderful birth story. It’s so interesting and nice to read other people birth stories and get a glimpse into their heads. Happy, Happy Birthday to Peter! 🙂

    • Kathy Radigan says

      Susi, I love to read other peoples birth stories too! I also really enjoy writing them, it’s so fun to remember back to those special days!! Thanks for the birthday wishes for Peter! He is going to love all this attention!!

  5. Rosann says

    Kathy, you really are an amazing and gifted writer. As I was reading this, I felt every emotion you described and couldn’t wait to read what happened next. I’m so happy to have met you along this blogging journey and honestly feel like you are rapidly becoming one of my BFF’s! Lol! I hope Peter had a great birthday party this weekend and that you got lots of hugs and snuggles from your happy little man. I love you dear friend!

    • Kathy Radigan says

      Thank you so much for the lovely compliments my dear friend!!! You sure know how to make a girl feel good!!! I certainly count you among my BFF’s!! Thanks so much!! Peter did have a lot of fun at his birthday party this weekend, and I look forward to celebrating his special day at his school with him tomorrow!! I love you too!

  6. Maria says

    i love the way you tell a story, kathy! this was so beautiful. i clung onto your every word and loved every bit of peter’s birth story. thank you so much for sharing. you had me laughing and smiling and tearing up at parts. especially where you said you contemplated single parenthood for joe’s coffee break.
    HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO PETER!
    i hope it is a joyful one for all of you <3
    wishing you a wonderful week and a very happy april!
    xoxoxo
    maria

    • Kathy Radigan says

      Thank you so much sweet friend! I love to see your comments on my site!! Joe and I have been laughing over his coffee break all day today!!! Thanks for the birthday wishes for Peter! He is going to love all these wishes!!!

      Much love!! xoxo

  7. "As We Speak" says

    I have got to thank @BocaFrau for directing me to your blog. Can’t tell you how much I enjoyed reading it. You, your husband, your mom and your dad are a great cast of characters…I could see the whole thing played out like a movie and, it was wonderful!

    OpinionsToGo

    • Kathy Radigan says

      Thank you so much for dropping by!! And thanks to BocaFrau for telling you about me!! What a great compliment! We sure are a cast of characters!!! Thanks for the very sweet words!! You made my day!!

  9. KERRY says

    What a fun, memorable and sweet post for your son’s birthday!! I hope you all had a wonderful day together 🙂

    • Kathy Radigan says

      Thanks so much!! I have read so many wonderful birth stories, it was fun to write his one down. I hope he likes it!! Thanks so much for the visit!

  11. Pamela says

    Love the story, I also wrote all my babies birth stories down in there baby books, so they can see when they are older. Time flies.. Love your blog.

    • Kathy Radigan says

      Pamela I think it’s so great that you wrote down all of your babies birth stories in their baby books! I have not, so I’m very glad I now have this blog. Thanks so much for the kind words and the visit! They are both really appreciated!

  13. Lisa Gradess Weinstein says

    Snif. Snif! Beautiful story! Isn’t it funny how we plan and plan and plan, and sometimes, well, things just don’t go according to plan! I love how you had the kids t-shirts ready for them to wear, and the week planned out, and baby Peter had other ideas! Give him a big happy birthday from me. Oh, and as for the colorful language – it was all I could do to not tell my husband where to stuff when he kept telling me to focus during the contractions, but I knew that I’d really hurt his feelings so I kept my foul mouth shut….more about that on my blog post on July 1st – Melissa’s birthday! Great post Kathy!!!

    • Kathy Radigan says

      Thanks so much Lisa!! I love the big brother and sister shirts too! It’s so cute to see the kids go to the hospital to see their new siblings all dressed up for the occasion!! Just melts my heart!! I can’t wait to read Melissa’s birth story! Thanks so much for the kind words and support friend!!

  14. thegirlfriendmom says

    I love when you say, that maybe you’d look into being a single parent. And these birthday stories are so sweet. I’d imagine that your kids will love to read them years from now. Many, many, years from now. xoxo

    • Kathy Radigan says

      I tell you, there are times when I really do want to shake that husband of mine!!! But, it’s more fun to write about it years later. When he was editing this story last night he started to laugh. I asked him what part he got to, and he said the part when you considered single parenthood. I knew then I did a good job!! Love to you my dear friend! xoxo

  15. Perspective Parenting says

    Oh I really enjoyed reading this!! Especially because my little guy’s birthday is this week too and we’ve been retelling birth stories and memories for days now. I, too, had an early c-section…and am a woman who likes a plan! Happy Birthday Peter!

  16. Addicted to Recipes says

    OK, I laughed out loud when I read that your husband was getting a cup of coffee while you were in labour. I can totally relate! Babies sure do have their own plans hey? Neither of my babies were delivered by my Doctor, the first was delivered by a nurse and the second was delivered by a Doctor who I disliked. Oh the funny stories and wonderful memories we have from having our babies.
    Happy Happy Birthday Peter!!

  18. Laura@Catharsis says

    Beautiful, Kathy! Just beautiful! Happy birthday to your special delivery indeed. We were also not ready for Evan’s birth. I think after the first baby, we all get a little lax, assuming baby won’t come until the official time and date. I am so happy for you and your family that you were blessed with an unexpected miracle. Much love to you!

  19. Cookie’s Mom says

    Kathy, what a wonderful story of Peter’s birth. It’s funny how much time we spend planning – how our children will be born, and our lives in general – only to learn that the universe has different plans for us. Happy birthday to your littlest – not so little anymore, but still your baby. 🙂

    • Kathy Radigan says

      Thanks so much! I know we plan and plan and then our babies really do decide on their own when they are going to make their arrival. I guess it’s good practice because once they arrive we really learn just how little control we have!! Thanks again!! xo

  20. Susan says

    These are my very favorite posts…I could read or watch {cue A Birth Story} stories like this all day long.
    I felt like I was there! Happy Birthday to your sweet boy.

    • Kathy Radigan says

      Sue thanks so much!! I love birth stories too! And I was a huge fan of A baby story and all the others that came after. It’s such a fun, wonderful exciting time and it’s so much fun to re-visit it! Thanks for the sweet birthday wishes! I can’t believe he is 7 already! xo

  21. Beck Gambill says

    Happy Birthday Peter! (Peter’s a great name, also the name of my little brother!) As usual you write with a wonderful balance of tenderness and humor!

    • Kathy Radigan says

      Beck thank you so much! I have always loved the name Peter. I named my Peter after my grandfather. It is a great name! Thanks so the sweet comments and the visit! xo

  24. Army of Moms says

    What a great story! My last child also decided to arrive before his scheduled C section time-On the 4th of July! When I arrived at the hospital I the middle of a shift change where half the shift didn’t show up, I knw that this would make a great story some day.
    Thanks for sharing and Happy Birthday!

  25. Kirsten says

    OK Now that I look like a dummy ( granted if anyone even noticed my first post.. LOL ) I honesty thought at first you had another baby, apparently I got side tracked and never read the end of the blog entry till just now… LOL ooops ! Well that is what happens when I was out of commission for so long.
    When you get the chance come on over to say HI … hope to catch up with you real soon…
    Kirsten
    http://www.theemtmommy.com

    • Kathy Radigan says

      It would be nice to have another baby!!! But then I really would be in a loony bin!!! so glad to hear from you! Hope all is going well for you!! Much love!!

  26. Fritter says

    I love your storytelling ability- what a great tribute to your son. All of the little details you have so ready to rattle off- perfect! I did not have that whole experience, so reading yours helps me to imagine what it was like. Really like your site- and now I must dig further to investigate this dishwasher!

  27. Sarah says

    As always a wonderful read. 🙂 Its fun to remember these parts of life. 🙂 I am amazed you lasted the 40 min drive to the hospital!! Yikes! After the water broke and all. And I have to LAUGH at your husband. 😉 Just so calm. haha I would contemplate the thoughts you had as well. lol Ahh the memories of having children. 🙂 I wrote a post about this somewhat for tomorrow. I think birth was on my mind. 😉

    • Kathy Radigan says

      I can’t wait to read your birth story. They are fun to write and to read! I don’t know how I made it either, and I’m pretty impressed our marriage survived it! Lol! It’s probably good he was so calm because if he had freaked out I would have really lost it! Thanks so much for your visit and sweet words! xoxo

  28. Hilary says

    What a wonderful post… it is amazing.. I always feel like these posts took place yesterday (they are so vivid)

    I hope peter had an amazing birthday!

    • Kathy Radigan says

      The memories feel so vivid when I’m writing them. In my mind they really did just take place yesterday! That’s probably the first sign of insanity! Lol! He did have an amazing birthday! He is very happy he is 7 now, as one of his classmates said, “7 means we are big kids” Yikes! xo

  30. Kristina says

    It’s amazing how well we can remember the details of these special days! Love the idea of the “It’s a Boy” pencils for your kids’ classes – very cute. And I can totally understand why you’d choose Norah Jones to take with you – she is my absolute favourite – I always relax and enter a sort of dream world when I hear her voice:)
    Thanks for sharing,
    Kristina

    • Kathy Radigan says

      Kristina it’s funny how all the details still live in our heads. I loved the idea of the pencils too, my cousin did it when her daughter was born and it worked out so nicely! Thanks so much for the visit! xoxo

    • Kathy Radigan says

      Thanks so much! I’m really glad I have these since I have been horrible about the baby books. Now when they complain I can say, but you have a whole blog of your stories!! Thanks so much for dropping by!

  32. Stacey Donaldson says

    Happy Birthday Peter and Happy Anniversary to you, after all it’s the anniversary of the very first day you and Peter met 🙂

    Great post, made me smile.

    • Kathy Radigan says

      I never thought about the fact that it’s an anniversary for mom & child, and mom & family. What a great way to look at it!! Thanks so much for dropping by! xo

    • Kathy Radigan says

      Thanks so much Courtney. These are my favorite ones to write, maybe because I get to re-live them all over! Thanks so much for the visit and very sweet words! xo

  35. mrsmomx6 says

    Good patient status! LOL…atta girl, you rocked it and I loved this story. Call the doctor then wake me up…what a hoot!

    Luv ya
    Sharon

  36. Nate Shenk says

    I love how I’m not anywhere near your blog’s target market, or demographic, but no matter what you write about I always get enthralled completely. I agree with what everyone else has already said: great story and I love the name Peter! It was my vote for my youngest brother, but my parents went with Robert. Loved this story, K-Rad!

    • Kathy Radigan says

      Thanks so much my dear friend! I always appreciate the fact that you visit my site, you are good egg!! Thanks for the visit and sweet comments! Tom wanted me to name Peter, Mark, but I overruled him!

  37. The Pepperrific Life says

    I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry or do both as I read this post. It was touching and funny at the same time. I really enjoyed reading it :).

    Happy birthday, Peter. You have such a witty and strong-willed mom.

    • Kathy Radigan says

      Courtney my husband edits me each week and he started really laughing, I asked him what part he was laughing at and he said, when you considered life as a single parent! Thanks so much!!! xo

  39. Melissa says

    I love birth stories! So true how babies make their own plan. (My son was three weeks early.) I also laughed out loud at the “single parenthood” line! HAHA! I remember having the same thought. 🙂 Happy birthday to your darling little one, who is not so little anymore.

  40. Andrea says

    What a beautiful story and funny at the same time…single parenthood, good thing there wasn’t a deadly weapon handy 🙂 Although, I’m sure your bare hands would have done the job just fine sister. And I see that we have a common denominator in blog designers as well. Ro designed my just a few weeks ago.

  41. Robbie K says

    i love love love birth stories! I was on bed rest with my 2nd and can relate to having a crush on my doctor..not for his hotness 9he’s old enough to by my dad) but b/c of his bedside manner!

  43. Jennifer A. Hall says

    Sue from Cookie’s Chronicles linked you up to Best of the Blogosphere and I’m so glad she did! Love birth stories. I swear they never get old.

    Love the name of your blog, too!

Much thanks to Joseph Radigan, who besides being a great husband and father, also uses his talents to gently and ever so tactfully edit my blog. Joe is a business editor at Thomson Reuters in NY.
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