Happy Birthday Justin

Justin is six years old today.  I remember the day he was born well.  I was having such a hard time carrying him, he was so darn big, even though my doctor seemed oblivious to it.  I knew he must be big, because I could barely walk.  I was scheduled for my weekly check up that afternoon.  So, that morning, Greg, Matthew and I went on a walk to see if I could speed things along, even though it was still nine days before my due date.  I went to the appointment alone, taking Matthew, who was two, was pure torture for him.  So, the doctor checked me and said, "you're in labor".  I hadn't felt a thing, so I was a little surprised, although I think I mostly felt relieved. His office was in the hospital building, so he had me call Greg, and sent me down the hall to the maternity ward.  So, I get there, and talk to the check in lady, they ask me about contractions, and I said I haven't felt any.  They looked at me like I was crazy and asked why I was there.  I think they called down to my doctor's office.  They finally put me on a monitor, and sure enough, they registered contractions. Although at that point in a pregnancy I'm sure that you're having some contractions anyway. Honestly, I often have wondered if the doctor suddenly realized how big the baby must be, and just decided to induce.  They started the IV with Potocin, and pretty soon I started to feel real contractions.  Greg finally showed up, I was starting to wonder where the heck he was.  He had to wait for my sister to come stay with Matthew, plus he decided he better eat some dinner.  Lucky guy, I was starving and only allowed popsicles.  So, all this started around 5 pm.  I remember watching "A Few Good Men" while we were waiting.  I turned down the offer of a epidural.  I hadn't had one with Matthew, by God, I wasn't going to have one this time either.  That turned out to be a blessing in disguise. I did have the pain meds put in my IV though.  Finally, near the end, I got really irritable, I didn't want Greg touching me, any noise set me on edge.  At one point the nurse brought in a warming bed for the baby, and it kept beeping.  Greg was told to make it stop. That is the only delivery where I remember being really irritable like that.  Finally it was time to push.  It didn't take long, thank God, because Matthew took three hours of pushing, and  I thought I was going to die by the end.  Justin was born at 11:31.  He weighed 10 lbs 4 oz and was 21 and 1/2 inches long.  I think I did a double take when the nurse said 10 lbs.  She told me it was a good thing I hadn't had the epidural, because I probably wouldn't have been able to push him out, and would have ended up having a c-section.  I remember going past the nursery on our way to my room, and he looked so big compared to the other babies.  Matthew came the next morning to meet his little brother.  He didn't have much interest in him though.  I don't think he was ever too happy he suddenly had to share mom and dad.  As we drove home from the hospital, I noticed all the trees had started leafing out.  It was our first spring in Texas, so it was kind of neat.  All my tulips and daffodils were in bloom at the house, so I always know spring will come around Justin's birthday.  Now six years later, he such a creative, bright personality.  I'm so thankful he was sent to us.