We're home!

What a few days!

Friday morning.. Wait, back up a bit.. Thursday night, Leslie started complaining of some pretty good contractions. I called into the hospital, they told her to take a benadryl, rest, drink water, and see if they stop. They said it MAY have had something to do with Leslie holding Emily in her lap for a few hours in the school gym with NO AIR CONDITIONING. You think?

So, Friday morning, Leslie wakes up at about 5 and gets out of bed. That was a little odd to me, so I asked her what was up. She replied, "I'm just awake, so I figured I'd get out of bed." Still weird (usually, the tv comes on or something..), but I ignored it.

So, when I got out of bed shortly after, I walk into the living room, and see her on her computer (another weird one.. Not strange by itself, but it's not 'like' her to do these things), so I asked her again what was wrong. Her reply was, "I don't want to keep having to go into the hospital just for them to tell me to go back home. Don't worry about it, I'm fine." Ah hah, apparently things are not all well.. So I ask her a little about her contractions, and her response was "fine," but her face said NOT FINE.

So, what do I do? The thing she probably wanted me doing least, calling up the hospital. I'm fine with my OCD, neurosis, whatever you want to call it, but she's still trying to adjust (7 years not enough I guess). Anyway, the nurse tells me that if they are 5 or 6 minutes apart (hers were 7) or GOOD contractions (which they were), to come on in.

So, she decides she'll take a shower, then we'll head in. So what do I do then? I know you think you know the answer, but this one I veer from my norm quite a bit. I tell her I'm going to work. The face she gave me wasn't a great one, but I had a TON of paperwork that I felt HAD to be done by me, so I figured I'd give it a good effort.. I told her I'd be back soon, and RUSHED to school.

About 20 minutes after I got there, my cell phone rang, and it was her, asking me, "so WHEN are you coming?" Good enough for me. I ran into my bosses office, told her how sorry I was to dump all my work on her for the day, but that I had to take Leslie in to the hospital. She had no problem with it, and wondered why I had shown up in the first place (probably because I'm dumb.. but that's just my interpretation).

So, we rush into the hospital, then wait FOREVER for triage to see us. Finally the nurse walks up, and addresses me first. "You didn't tell me this was a c section on the phone. We don't like women having contractions for c sections.." Oops. I respond, "Well, we can just start over if you want.. hee hee.." She wasn't amused.

Leslie got strapped in to her usual stuff (baby monitor, contraction monitor, etc). Nurse looked for a second, told her she was going to call Anderson. Few minutes later, she informed us she was in labor. Then a few minutes after that, she told us, "Let's have this baby today!"

So, I alerted the pentagon, and every other human I could think of. Chebon and Dad showed up and helped out before we went into surgery. Best part was getting Mom, who was in Minnesota for my cousin's wedding, who wanted NOTHING ELSE but to just wait until she got back to have the baby.. oh well..

So, when I finally got her on the phone, I began by telling her, "if you start wigging out, I'm going to hang up on you." She replied by wigging out, but I managed to get her through it :)

So, then it was time! Leslie went back, and I put on my stuff waiting outside. After about 10 minutes I was SURE something was wrong, so I began feeling woozy and light headed. After Chebon shook me back into shape, they called me into the room. I ran in there, and saw Leslie on the table. She seemed much more calm this time around, and told me she wasn't feeling sick like with Emily. I mustered up the courage to actually look this time as Benjamin was being born, and it was wonderful. I could try to explain how it was, but you know there's no way, so I won't try.

Then I was ushered out to be with him while he was cleaned up. While in that room, Dr. Anderson came in to tell me she was "concerned" with Leslie. She told me Leslie felt "weird" but there weren't any real reasons why she should feel so. Again, start blacking out, then start weeping like a kid. Anderson's reply was, "Peter, get it together. You take care of 8th graders, I take care of your wife. I'll tell YOU when it's time to worry." Okay okay, so I washed up, tried to compose myself.

Leslie came out in the bed shortly after, seemed better, so I was a little more calm. Just in time for the hearing test for Benjamin, which he failed the first time. Cue Nausea, light headed, nutso. Sure enough, he passed fine later, although I still think he's deaf. I'm just waiting for the right moment to drop something REALLY LOUD to make sure he reacts... I'm sure Leslie will LOVE that. But, you know me, gotta be sure :)

So, before I get too tired typing all of this, the next few days were blood pressure ups and downs, Benjamin sleeping all day and awake all night, etc etc. All is well now, everybody is in bed here at home.

What a few days. I wondered what I would feel like with Emily, and it clicked immediately how much I could love her. I wondered how I could feel the same with two, because I can't love Emily any less, and sure enough, it's possible to love them both. Everybody says it, but it never makes sense until you're there. I'm there.