As I said at the end of the previous post, Destiny and I packed up after the Jubilee Fest and headed for Ephrata Hospital in Lancaster County. Dick stayed behind to do Austin duty (what a chore, haha!), since Anthony and Lori each had events going on. Between the four of us, Sunday was like a major intersection of events that we had to maneuver through without losing anybody, haha!
As Destiny and I left State College, I noticed that the beauty of Autumn is upon us already!
When we got to the Ephrata Hospital at 7 PM, I found out that, unbelievably, Jenn's labor process was still pretty much "stuck" at 2cm, despite some drugs to get things going. Apparently little Sammy's heart did not like that drug, so they had to keep its use at a minimum. Before Frank arrived at the hospital to pick up Destiny, she had a chance to see Jenn and give her a pair of earrings she had made for her at the Jubilee Fest in the afternoon. I promised I would text her a picture of the baby as soon as I could.
So we settled in for the long haul! Bless Sam and Jenn. This was the beginning of the second night of lost sleep for them! (Well, for me too, haha!) I tried napping on a tiny couch in the maternity waiting room, but it gave me a crick in my back, and by the time they wheeled the second recliner into Jenn's room for me, my crazy back felt better sitting erectly or standing! At some point after midnight her contractions became a lot harder, but she was still just 2 cm. and exhausted, so they gave her an epidural. Things slowed down and Jenn even fell asleep. The midwife said she wasn't ready to "call the dogs in yet", which I assumed meant resort to a C-Section, so I took up Sam's offer and went to their house a few miles away to catch get some sleep. He promised he'd call me when things were moving ahead.
I had no problem conking out immediately on their living room sofa when I got there at 3 AM, even with Lily, their black cat, pouncing around wondering who in the world was this strange woman in her house. I woke up with a start at 6:45 and thought, "What??? Still no call from Sam?" I got up and started washing up and changing clothes, etc. At 7:10, when I was almost finished I got this text message from Sam:
As it turned out, while Jenn slept, the contractions were effectively doing their job, and when they checked her again she was dilated 9 cm and everything was go! He was born at 6:54 AM, weighed in at 7 lb. 14 oz., measured 21 inches long, and was officially named Samuel Arecio Ireola. He was immediately interested in looking around!! Look at him checking out his dad!!
Look at them! Who would even guess the long haul they had just come through? Looks like Sammy is waving for Grandma's camera!
Sam and Sammy. Melt my heart!
No problem getting him to figure out how to suck. They said that on most of the ultrasounds he had been sucking his thumb!
"Good morning, Little Sammy. I'm your grandma!" He proceeded to acknowledge my introduction by peeing on me! They hadn't put a diaper on him yet! At least we knew that part worked!
Later Jenn's parents arrived from the Harrisburg area. Here he is with Grandma Karen.....
...and Grandpa Mark.
When I left around 3:00 in the afternoon, Jenn and Sam had each just been initiated into the joys of changing those first poopy diapers! I hated to leave, and I am having trouble disengaging myself. I keep thinking about them and wondering how everything is going. But I have much to accomplish in a few days here at home, and it's easy to keep in touch. I just keep looking and looking at these pictures and wanting to smother him with hugs and kisses. When I left the hospital yesterday, I went to Dick's parents for a nap, ate dinner there, then visited a short while with my stepmother, and then drove home.
2 comments:
The pictures are precious! Little Sammy is blessed to be so surrounded with love!
What an angel baby! Such a wonderful gift to your family! I know they are ecstatic!
Oh, Jean, aren't new babies just the best? You are a few ahead of me, and don't know if I'll ever catch up, but I am blessed with my one! God has blessed us both.
Looking forward to seeing more pics soon!
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