Play by Play

We're at the hospital, patiently waiting on Elizabeth to make her grand entrance.  Becky's tried her best to rest through the night.  The entire experience from Friday to today has been surreal.  I'll catch you up from the doctor Friday to Monday morning as best I can, but you'll have to wait on Becky's entries for any real literary quality.

We were told Friday to check in to the hospital on Sunday at 5:30 so the process of inducing Becky could begin.  Although you know the baby's inevitably coming at some point, you're never really prepared.  Well, here was our opportunity to prepare ourselves through the weekend.  I got a text from Becky at 9:40am Friday while in a meeting.  After turning "white as a sheet" according to an associate, I excused myself to grab some water and just take it in.  Becky and I had little opporunity to talk throughout the day due to our work schedules, but I did get enough of the details to understand that her body's capability of providing the baby with what she needed and room to boogie was limited and fading.

Friday night, we made a list of everything that had to get done.  Laundry, dishes, take out the trash, take care of the dogs, water the plants, finish packing, etc.  We enjoyed dinner at the house and went to bed before 10pm, just mentally and physically from exhausted from the week and the news of the day.  The puppies knew something was up as they wouldn't leave our sides. 

Saturday morning, we started on the list.  After annihilating some Waffle House, Becky took the dogs to the park and then cleaned the entire house.  I went to work to tie up some loose ends before taking next week off, and the relief I felt when I left Saturday with no significant loose ends enables me to enjoy this week with little worries.  Becky went to get a pedicure while I enjoyed watching Tech curb stomp UVA.  After Becky took a nap, we went to a nice restaurant near the house and got some good food.  Becky had the chicken parmesan with a salad.  I enjoyed a rare steak with grits and cabbage.  We were fortunate enough to be back in bed by 10pm, but we were too stuffed to enjoy the chocolate cake that highlights the menu. 

Sunday morning, we woke up with an unfamiliar level of anxiety.  I went and got Becky some Bojangles, and I ate my leftover steak and grits.  The list was complete.  We were dressed.  The bag was packed.  We just sat there - waiting, waiting, waiting.  Becky was a little restless, so she went to do some high end shopping at Target.  I analyzed fantasy football decisions to the finest of details.  Leaving for the hospital 4:45 couldn't get here soon enough.  About 3pm, Becky started timing her contractions that had started Saturday night.  They were about 30 seconds long and 11 minutes apart.  On the way to the hospital, they were 40 seconds long and less than 7 minutes apart.  By the time we got checked in, they were less than 5 minutes apart.

After getting set up and reviewing the plan laid out Friday, it was decided that parts of the inducement may not be as required as we thought.  A little after 8pm, she got an epidural and things have progressed nicely since.  I got some fried chicken, mac n cheese, and collards (paired with a vintage August 2012 Sweetwater 420) from the cafateria to enjoy while I watched the Lions game.  Although we got little sleep, we did get some rest through the beeping, the blood pressure machine and the interruptions every 30 minutes.  This morning, I got a shower and some breakfast.  Becky got some ice chips.  Overall, it's been a decent experience for me. 

Becky's tough.  She's physically tough, she's mentally tough.  She'll be a great mother.  I know I couldn't be in her place right now.

We'll update you after everything's finished.

My prayer for you Sweet Elizabeth is that you have your great grandmothers' kindness, grace, and dignity, your grandfathers' persistence, your grandmothers' compassion, your mother's sweet smile, intelligence, and ambition, and that you take it easy on me - I'm going to need all the help I can get.