Amber slept a lot. Her bag was packed and in the trunk of my car. She and Stephanie had gone down the checklist of anything and everything they had gleaned from various web sites and books. She was as ready as she was going to get. She got intermittent, but weak contractions.
Her doctor had a long, formal name for them. She said it was her muscles practicing. The girls were practically living at our house. Faith was there during the day and one or more of them was there almost every night. On weekends it looked like an open house as people came and went.
One night, she woke me. “I think my water has broken.” Sure enough, the bed was soaked. I was glad we had put a waterproof cover over the mattress. It had been yet another item on the checklist. She went to get dressed. I woke Stephanie and told her we were leaving for the hospital. She said to keep her updated, that she wanted to be there before the birth.
I got dressed and helped Amber into the car. I checked the trunk just to make sure the bag was there. We arrived at the hospital and they moved her into one of their delivery rooms. It had a nice bed, soft lighting, an intimate, almost homy feel to it.
I called her parents to let them know and promised to update them. Stephanie had texted the others and I was getting calls and texts from all of them. Stephanie had shown up, saying she had called in a vacation day because she wouldn’t miss this for anything. She became the de facto photographer. I was Amber’s coach. We had gone through the classes together. Now it was time to practice what we had learned.
It was a long eight hours before we put Angelica in her mother’s arms. Amber was exhausted but intensely happy, almost radiant. I sat beside her and held her hand as Stephanie texted picture after picture to the others. They were now milling around outside the room, waiting for a chance to see Amber and her baby. Mom and baby were cleaned up and Angelica left to go to the nursery. The others were allowed in and crowded around. I backed out to let them get in close. The nurse shooed us out so Amber could rest for a while. They left to go to the nursery and take a peek. Stephanie held my hand and kept repeating that it was a miracle. She had been Amber’s sister for the day so she could be in the room. She had watched it all in rapt fascination. We were advised to go home and come back the next day. We all headed out, everyone giving me a hug before leaving. At home, Stephanie and I talked some more, then looked at her pictures on the LCD TV on the wall.
Amber’s parents arrived the next day. I met them at the airport. They knew who I was. Her mother was very gracious, her father less so. I took them to the hotel we had arranged for them, then took them to the hospital. Amber was up, feeding Angelica as we arrived. There was lots of oohing as the grandmother instinct kicked in. Grandfather was softening as he looked at this little bundle of joy.
Amber looked somewhat refreshed. She was excited and happy to see them. I left them alone and went to the waiting room to make a call. I had arranged Family Leave through work. I just wanted to check in and let them know what was going on. After a while, I drove her parents to my house, where we picked up Amber’s car for them to drive. They left to go back to the hotel for a little while. I stayed at home, looking at the images on the 60″ TV again. It was an incredible feeling to be a father.