It seemed like people just kept flooding into our room, but still no doctor. I know that any one of the nurses on that floor can and probably have delivered their own share of babies, but there is just something comforting about having a real doctor in the room. It wasn't one minute later and in walked Dr. Moore, a young good looking guy with a calm and easy going voice. I'm sure the nurses got him up to speed with all of their stats, numbers and tla's (three letter acronyms). He checked Melissa to see how dilated she was and began to ask a little bit more about our previous birth. The nurses hurried about. Some setting up an i.v. Some setting up the table where Oliver would soon lay. Others were busy just waiting to assist with the birth...getting certain supplies ready for Dr. Moore to request them. Despite everything we knew about Melissa's history he encouraged us that Oliver was right there and that we really needed to try to see if Melissa could just push him out. One part of me was thinking, "if only you were there in the room last time, you might feel differently" but another part of me was thinking, "what if?" What if this could work? His words were so calm and assuring and I think we both thought, "let's give it a whirl and see what happens." Things went badly last time and they were able to make it all work out, so each step along the way things got a little easier to say yes to. We waited for the next set of contractions to come and just like last time, Melissa kept her eyes shut tight the whole time. She pushed a few times and the the mood inside the room felt good. Just like last time, the baby was moving, but needed a little extra help getting out, so again, with a calm voice, Dr. Moore explained that Oliver was right there, but that with the assistance of a vacuum pump we might be able to get Oliver out quicker. This was also very familiar. These steps were taken with Charlotte as her heart rate began to drop and they kind of used the vacuum as a last resort to get her out before the emergency c-section. We agreed to the same for Oliver. Again, what harm will it do? If things go badly, they will make it work out somehow. So we waited for the next contraction. Dr. Moore positioned the pump on Oliver's head and a couple pushes later, there he was.
Last time I was so in shock I think I wasn't really able to cheer Melissa along, but this time it was different. There was just a different feeling in the room. One of promise and positivity and so this time I cheered Melissa along as she pushed with all of her might. Anyone who knows me really well knows that I can cry at weddings and sometimes even if I see a baby being born on tv I can get a little misty. I can be an emotional guy at certain times and I will never be able to explain the feeling I had inside when Oliver popped out. It is the only true "love at first sight." The rest was pretty normal, except this time Melissa and I got to share the moment together. We always joke that we're not exactly sure if Charlotte is ours because neither of us saw her come out. I won't be able to make that joke about Oliver because I got to be right there the whole time.
The nurses were busy taking care of Oliver and cleaning him up and I was able to kiss Melissa on her forehead and hold her hand and tell her what a great job she did. There is something so special about a baby being born and I'm so glad that we got to do things this way. We got to have the natural birth that we've always wanted and the fun part was that we never dreamed it would ever be a possibility. Melissa and I had been praying for a safe c-section and we prayed over and over about the procedure and all of the details. Apparently we were just praying for the wrong thing and God had bigger and better plans in store for us, but I can't say I'm not surprised because that has been God's m.o. in our lives for as long as I can remember.
Tomorrow, Oliver will be two weeks old and I already can't imagine life without him. He is the most laid back baby. My mom says he gets that from me. We plan to have more children so hopefully I'll get to write something like this again, but in the mean time I've never been more excited to be a husband, a daddy and child of my heavenly father.
-jay
