I love each of my children with a fierceness that even I am amazed with at times. I strive to be there for each of my children, equally and when they need me. This has been quite a task these last few days. Brinson, my 10 year old son, has a science fair project due today. Chelsea, my 21 year old daughter, is in the hospital right now and hopefully we will have a new addition to the family very soon. Cache, my 8 year old son, has a Halloween party tomorrow. Halloween is his most favorite Holiday and, of course, the one that he chooses first to bring treats for. I am a Mom to all three of these wonderful children.
Night before last, Chelsea called me and told me that she was going to the hospital to begin the process of giving birth. I am fortunate in the fact that we have a wonderful relationship and she would like me to be there when the baby is born. She asked if I could be the one to take her to the hospital, as her husband works out of state and was on his way, but would not be back in time to get her to the hospital by the time she needed to be there. I, of course, said "yes!"
I loaded Chelsea up into the car, loaded her bags up into the car, loaded my grandson up into the car and took him to his other grandma's house to stay until the new baby would come home to play with him and headed off to the hospital some 30 minutes away. Upon arrival, I called my 10 year to let him and his brother know that I had gone with their sister to the hospital to hopefully welcome their new nephew into the world. I could suddenly feel the tension on the phone. I was instantly being yelled at and the tears began to fall. Brinson seemed lost now that I was not going to be available to help him with his science fair project. I explained to him that his dad was going to be there to help him and that I was confident that they would be able to do the steps necessary to get his project completed. This went over like lead. I was suddenly talking to no one. The phone was silent and I had been hung up on. My heart was now being torn in two different directions.
I called my husband, Kirt, at work and told him what was going on and that he would need to help Brinson with his project, as it was due the next day. I could hear the confusion in the silence on the phone. I explained the detailed steps to get the job done and I heard the, "OK", and then, "I love you...," and then we hung up.
I called Brinson back to provide what comfort I could, but it was no use. I was the one chosen to help. I was the one that was supposed to be there when the heat from the toaster made the balloon created out of the dry cleaning bag was to lift to the skies. I was the one that knew how to download the Flip. I was the one...I was the one.
We got Chelsea situated into her room and I nestled in to wait for Guy and the baby. Guy showed up and took his place beside my daughter, his wife, and then I was asked to please stay.
Of course, I was staying! It was a special opportunity to be able to see one of my grandchildren enter the world! I have always been the one to give birth and now it was my turn to see the miracle from a different view point and I was incredibly excited!
My cell phone rang, it was my husband.
"I don't know how to work the Flip..." This was the first thing I heard when I said hello.
Silence ensued for a few moments and then... "I don't know how to do this and I don't know what we are supposed to do. What is Brinson doing?" he asked, anger coating his tone.
I tried to explain what our son was supposed to do. I told him about the papers that explained everything. I told him to read the papers and get an idea of what was supposed to happen. He said, "OK", once more and then the phone was silent.
I hung up the phone as the nurses came in and explained the steps that were going to take place to get things moving and get this baby to greet the world. Cool!
My phone rang once more...
"Mom..."
"What?" I asked.
"The poster board is not big enough to go around the toaster..." and then there was silence. I had been hung up on again.
I called my sister.
"Where are you?" I asked.
"At the grocery store," was the reply.
"Can you do me a HUGE favor?" I asked, feeling guilty for asking.
"Sure! What do you need?"
That was a loaded question. I explained that I was with Chelsea and that Brinson was in the middle of his science fair project and he needed another piece of poster board. I went on to explain what the project was and the way it was supposed to work. I asked her if she could pick up a piece of poster board and go out to my house and help with the chaos that was everywhere. She quickly agreed and began driving to my house from hers, some 30 minutes away.
I called Brinson once more, "Aunt Sheila will be there to help you in a just a little while, she is coming over to help," I told him.
"We got it!" was his response. "We used the cover to the floor tablet that Cache writes on...." Anger is still lingering in the depths of his voice as the words seethe out of his mouth.
"OK," I say. "Sheila will still come out to check on you to see that you are OK," I told him.
"Never mind! We are already done!" was his quick response and then I was speaking to silence once more.
The nurse entered the room to go over the forms to be signed, the procedures in place so that babies are not stolen from the hospital, and general information that is just good to know. She finished up and left the room.
I sheepishly call my sister. "Where are you now?" I ask.
"I am at the edge of town, on my way out to your house," she tells me. I explain that the project is done and ask her if she can check in anyway. She agrees and we hang up.
My phone rings again. "Is there a baby yet?" my husband asks.
"Not yet, but maybe tonight," I tell him. He goes on to say that the project is done and that the Flip is downloaded. He asks when I might be home. I tell him that I am not sure, it depends on what happens. He says that he will see me later and we hang up.
There is cold air blowing down on the three of us from the ceiling above as we sit and wait for the baby to decide if he is ready or not. The nurses have tried several times to correct the air situation, but to no avail. Guy heads to Wal-Mart to pick up a couple of blankets and pillows to make he and myself more comfortable as we sit in the frigid room awaiting the birth of his second son. The air blowing down on us from the ceiling is cold and the chairs are uncomfortable. The night lingers into day and there is still no baby. It was a restless, sleepless night.
It is 7:15 a.m. now and I call home. Kirt answers the phone..."Are the boys up?" I ask.
"Yes," he replies. "We are headed to Blair's for a lunch for Brinson," he tells me.
"Brinson has a field trip?" I ask, surprised that I wasn't aware of this.
"Yes, I guess so..." he responds.
"OK," I say. "I love you and I will talk to you later." We hang up.
The nurse from the day before is on shift now and the night nurses are no longer visiting the room. She enters with news that Chelsea and Guy have a couple of choices to make. They can either go home and come back when the baby is ready, or they can stay in the hospital and the Dr. will put her on a pitocin drip through an IV to see if that gets things going. They decide to stay.
I feel the need to get back to my life at home~ my job, my other kids and my husband. It feels as if an eternity has gone by. I say my "good-byes" and I leave the room. I drive to my house, take a shower and go to work. I am exhausted.
I check in with Chelsea to find out what is happening. Nothing yet. I go and get my boys after work and get mauled by hugs and kisses. They truly miss me when I am away. We go to McDonald's and pick up their special dinner because their mom is on a total guilt trip. We get home and they get on the Wii. I sit down at my jewelry bench and create this...
I call Chels... still nothing.
It is late and I am completely exhausted. I go to bed and I sleep like a baby until the ripe ole' hour of 6:00 a.m.
I rise and get the boys up. I take a toaster, a computer, poster board, dry cleaning bags and two boys to school. We unload. I go to work and call Chelsea. Still nothing, but they are putting her back on pitocin, but at a higher drip so maybe things will get going.
I get an e-mail from Cache's teacher.
Janet,
I had told Cache to let you know that his ham rolls would be a perfect treat for the party, then realized that just maybe an 8 year old boy may not have remembered to tell mom. So, would you be able to bring treats to the Halloween party?
Julie
Of course, I said "Yes...", but I still have my Chelly Bell in the hospital trying to give birth to my grandson and I get to be a part of it. Guess what I am doing on my lunch hour...
Kirt may be taking ham rolls to school in the morning for Cache's party. (Am I a bad mom?)
Brinson has his science fair tonight from 5:30 to 6:00 p.m. I hope that Chelsea holds out until after I have the ham rolls made and I get to the science fair. My only wish is that I could be in two places at once when I need to be. No one ever said that being a mom would be easy. I can tell you that it is fulfilling and full of rewards, but it is trying at times. Especially times like these.
I will hopefully be creating jewelry again soon. I need to get back to my regular routine before one of my children literally EXPLODES right in front of me. My husband needs me back too...this is not his forte. He does OK, but he cracks under pressure.
God gives everyone a mom for a reason. Keep yours in your prayers and know how hard she works to provide herself wherever she is needed. Let this serve as a reminder to cut her some slack if she needs it too. Motherhood is a precious thing and sharing her time can be quite a difficult task under certain circumstances.
I would not trade my life for the world, I just hope that my kids may learn to understand...
Hoping that the new little one is here and mom and baby are healthy. You are Super Mom!!
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