Life of Mine

Nine

Nine years ago today, I was having contractions.  I was 3 days past my due date with Jada and I was ready to go!  My contractions were about 10 minutes apart and I was sure that I was going to be having my baby girl. 

I walked around the neighborhood to help with the contractions.  They had started around 9am.  Around 7pm, we went to the hospital.  Our families went too and we were all ready and excited to welcome the new baby to our family.  Chuck and I were about to become parents.  I don’t remember being scared or nervous at all, just excited. 

After checking me and monitoring me, they said that if things did not progress, they were going to send me home.  We walked the hallways and hoped and prayed for things to move along. It had been a long day.

Nope, they sent us home. 

I felt stupid and awful because our families had all driven all the way down to the hospital for us and we weren’t having our baby. 

Chuck and I went to Eat N Park to get something to eat.  I couldn’t really eat because of the contractions though.  We went home to try to get some rest and I think I can say that was the worst night to try to sleep.  I was so uncomfortable and contracting so how was I supposed to sleep?! 

Once I finally fell asleep, Chuck had smelled natural gas. We were living in an upstairs apartment at the time and we were scared that the neighbor may have fallen asleep with his stove on or something.  I could smell it so strongly.  We decided to go to my parents house to sleep.  All night I was in pain and it was awful.  When Chuck woke up, we decided to call the doctor because I had an appointment scheduled that day and my contractions were now five minutes apart.  They sent us to the hospital and there we were….in labor and ready to be admitted!!  This was now a full 25 hours after my contractions had begun!

I can’t tell you how excited and relieved I was!  Our families were once again there and waiting.  A little over six hours later, our Jada was born. 

I really am having such a hard time with the fact that that was nine years ago.  Our lives have changed so much in the last nine years.  Jada will always hold a special place in my heart.  She is our firstborn and our only daughter.  There is a bond and closeness between she and I that is just so special.  I do see a lot of myself in her, not just in her looks but in who and how she is.  She is just as anxious and caring as I am. 

When I got pregnant with her, we weren’t exactly ready for it.  We weren’t financially stable, we weren’t married and we weren’t planning for it.  However, it is the best thing that ever could have happened.  She showed us how to be a family, what really mattered most to us. 

Tomorrow is Jada’s actual birthday.  I am taking her and few of her friends out to lunch and then to a movie.  She is so excited for it.  It’s amazing to see my baby girl with her friends talking about boys and school and girly things.  She just seems so grown up. 

At 4:17pm tomorrow, I will be watching a movie but I will be thinking about that moment that changed our lives forever.  A moment I will always cherish.  Happy Birthday, Jaybird, we love you!