Where were you? I was at work, and 8 months pregnant with G*****.
A coworker came to my desk and said did you hear what happened. I went to the breakroom and we were all in shock at what we saw before our eyes. Our receptionist, a small African American lady, very religious, very composed, and very misunderstood by many of our coworkers, came into the room, looked at the scene and burst into tears. We had to isolate her to calm her down and she prayed. I think we all prayed that day. I immediately returned to my desk and called home to see if J**** had seen the news. He was working third shift at that time. He said that he had. I then called my mother and asked her if all was okay with her and my 16 month old daughter. All was well, they too were in shock.
I kept working and monitoring the news. Around the lunch hour, I began feeling very weak and very nauseated. I went to my boss who looked at me and told me I did not look well. I told him, I didn't ask him, "I'm going to get my baby, go home to my husband, and hold them all." Unfortunately 3,000 or so people that day did not get to do the same.
On the ride home, the road was empty. The rolling acreage and the horse farms seemed surreal as the images of the attack were fresh in my head. Thoughts that we are in Kentucky, what would they consider to attack in my home state: Fort Knox; a major army arsenal very near here; there's an international airport in Louisville; I work for the government. You begin to think of people you work with that are of Arabic descent and wonder. Yes, it is stereotyping, but this is what terrorism will do to you. I saw a military convoy and wondered where they could be headed. It was a long drive that day to feel safe with my baby in my arms.
When it was time for J**** to leave for work, I begged him to please stay home tonight. He reassured me that all with us would be well, we are safe, the terrorists would strike only large targets. I told him honey, I understand that, but I don't feel well, something isn't right. He told me that his coworker had his cell phone with him and he had his beeper if I needed him for anything.
F**** and I went to bed shortly after he left but I still did not feel well. I puttered around and called my mom and told her Mama, I don't feel right would you please come and stay with me. She asked me what is wrong? I told her, Mama I think that I am in labor. G***** wasn't due until October 1, Mama told me to go to bed. So, I called my Mother-in-law and told her the same thing. She and her husband immediately left and came to our home. A while later Mama showed up.
To make a long story short, I was in labor.
We tried to contact J**** but because of the massive use of phone systems his beeper wouldn't work and his coworker's cell wouldn't work. I called my niece and she went looking for him at the job site. J**** had left for a lunch break and she found the security guard, who told J**** that his wife was in labor. Immediately he came home.
Mama took F**** home with her.
When J**** got home my labor wasn't active enough to go to the hospital. We all laid down for some rest. I couldn't sleep, got up and went to the bathroom and noticed something odd. I woke my mother-in-law, we called the hospital and prepared to leave. As we were headed for the door, my water broke. My lovely Mother-in-law grabbed the nearest thing to stop the water from destroying the carpet, her husband's jacket. Paw just shook his head. He followed us and got to the door, patted his shirt pocket and said, "Woman, where's my cigarettes?" They had been in that jacket. Needless to say, they stopped on the way to the hospital and bought him some cigarettes.
At the hospital in the delivery room the nurse turned on the television. We watched the coverage of the day's events. Her son lived near the towers and she had not heard from him. She was worried.
On September 12 after the smoke had cleared I pushed. On all ultrasounds taken we could never tell if she was a girl or a boy. All were convinced she was a he. I pushed some more and then the midwife yelled, "STOP." The cord was wrapped tightly around her neck. She told J**** "Sorry son, you won't be cutting this cord." She immediately began to push G***** back into the birth canal to lessen the tension on the cord. As soon as she could get her fingers between the cord and my baby's throat she cut the cord and yelled "PUSH, PUSH HARD." Out she came, and the midwife announced "you have a baby girl." A bruised, battle scarred baby girl.
I didn't get to hold her, they took her straight to the cleanup table and began measuring, weighing and cleaning her up. Next thing I know the nurses are arguing and one nurse grabs a blanket, swaddles my baby, and tells the other nurse, "Screw the rules, I'm taking her to the nursery now." Out ran the nurse with my baby, the other nurses followed, the midwife ran out, my husband ran, everyone left me and my mother alone in the room. I looked at Mama and said, "what happened to my baby." Mama patted me and said, "I don't know baby, but they will take care of her." A minute or two later the midwife returned and told me that I wasn't done, I needed to push again to finish the birth process.
After I was finished she told me that G*****'s temperature dropped dramatically and they had to take her to the nursery to warm her and give her oxygen. J**** came back in the room upset because they wouldn't let him see her or follow them into the room.
Because of the anesthesia I couldn't move, I told him, please go and watch out for our baby. G***** was born at 1:20pm I didn't get to see her until around 6:00 when they finally let her daddy know that all is well.
J**** came to the delivery room, yes, I was still in that room with my mama beside of me. J**** picked me up and placed me in a wheelchair and said, come on, no matter what, we are going to see our baby. She was and still is beautiful.
5 years ago on this fateful day, I went into active labor at 11:30 pm and bore one of the three joys in my life. She is amazing and she had a rough start. 20 inches, 7 pounds 9 ounces, blonde hair, and blue eyes. I remember this day with sadness and joy. I remember the terrorist attack. I remember the love and care J**** showed me during this time.
While recuperating in the days following the attacks and her birth, I heard a news story about a record number of births in the US were recorded. Evidently the magnitude of the event caused many of us to go into early labor. I am amazed that with all the death and destruction, the Lord gave us the gift of new life in abundance during this time of grief.
I pray for her and this country every night and I remember. Both this country and my little girl had close calls on that day. I believe my little girl is stronger, I believe this country is stronger.
God bless my little girl and this wonderful country.
2 comments:
Its now the 12th here so I'd like to wish your precious little one a "Happy Birthday".
I know it was terrible but I believe that every time someone leaves this life a new life replaces them. Thank God for all the new little lives that cried out for their Mother's on that day.
XX
I remember one of the saddest things I felt about the attacks were the wives and girlfriends who were pregnant, with the little one having no opportunity to see their fathers.
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