The birth of children are the most crisp memories in my head. I always think as I experience life, that there will be something so neat or awe-inspiring that I will never forget that moment...but then I do. The one difference is the day of the birth of my children and nieces and nephews. I can remember everything about those days...where I was, what I was doing, who I was with, what I was wearing, what the weather was like, and even what I was eating.
It's in the news how the spring like weather we have this week is in stark contrast to where we were last year. Today was the start of the 2011 Chicago Blizzard that dropped feet of snow upon our city, and the introduction of my wonderful niece and goddaughter.
What I remember about the day she was born (which is officially tomorrow...but it started today):
My middle sister went to the hospital to be induced...I came down with the case of the giggles in eager anticipation of meeting her new daughter.
When I got out of bed, I realized my throat was sore & was in partial denial from disappointment when I took a look and saw white spots.
I dropped the kids off at daycare, came home to work (no one was going downtown today), and called the doctor for an appointment. I figured I need to get on top of it, since things may be closed from the blizzard tomorrow (it would be just my luck).
Around 3:00 I got into the doctors office, they were unconvinced at first I had strep, but sure enough...did. This is when the snow starting to come down, I filled the prescription in the lobby pharmacy at my doctor's office. It took me about 30 minutes to drive 5 miles home.
Then, the snow kept falling, and falling, and falling, and falling, and falling. All night, I either kept texting my sister or my mom, who was camping in the maternity ward lobby with my dad and my sister's in laws.
Then, in the middle of the night, actually tomorrow...she was born! She was here! It was my dad who called & sent a text picture. We were all super excited, and I remember, my parents had to shovel their cars out of the parking lot and drive home. My mom told me they were driving in practically the middle of the 6 lane streets because the snow drifts were so high on the sides.
The day of her birthday the town was silent with nothing but the noise of kids and snowblowers. There were no cars on the streets and the snow magically muffles the sounds of city life. Kids were up & down the street with sleds, while parents were shoveling and snow blowing. My family was inside in their pjs...I had strep throat. Luckily, the kids didn't know what they were missing, but I remember looking out the front window kind of sad and guilty. Guilty from knowing my kids weren't outside and guilty from knowing I couldn't be at the hospital for my sister. The hospital's gift shop was even closed...so I couldn't even send flowers or balloons or anything...everything in the town was shut down.
Two days after she was born, the kids went outside & were shocked to see the snow up to their arm pits. I was finally able to get out, but was still in quarantine from my niece. It made me really sad that I couldn't go up to the hospital to see her and my sister. Especially since with all my stays in the hospital, my sister would always come and visit, delivering some type of goodie for me.
It was 3 or 4 days after, on a Saturday or Sunday that I was finally able to drop off the flowers, balloons and treat for my sister, who was living with her in laws. They had a snowman decorated all girly with a 'Welcome' sign for the baby. And I saw her...man, she was cute. She had this dark spikey hair...at one, she still does.
I love these memories. And while they are vivid in my head now, I really don't want to forget them. Which is why on the anniversary of these kids' births, I like to re-live in my head that day and the joy of new life that fills my heart. It never fails; every time someone special to my heart goes into labor, I giggle, get teary, and giggle some more...it's the best feeling in the world, and maybe that is why I remember these special days so fondly.
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