My eldest son is twenty-seven years old tonight. I remember the day he was born like it was yesterday. The day began as any other workday. I got myself out of my waterbed and as usual I stared in disbelief at the size of my overgrown uterus.
I was close to my due date but I wasn’t getting my hopes up that today may be the day. I had no idea if it was a boy or a girl and only knew how very much I loved that little person that had been occupying a space in my body for the last 39 weeks.
After rolling out of bed, I walked out of my room and down the hallway and stopped short of the bathroom when I felt a little trickle of “water” on my underwear. I was mortified that I had not made it to the bathroom. I thought I peed my pants. I rushed in, sat down and took my first morning pee. Nothing out of the ordinary, I thought to myself. I took off my clothes and was getting ready to jump into the shower when my phone rang. I ran naked down the hall to my bedroom and answered the phone. My Mom wanted to know how I was feeling. I told her I was fine and was just going to take a shower and go to work. That’s when it all began. I was midsentence when I heard a little pop and my water broke. It wasn’t what I expected but it startled me and I began to cry. I looked down at the floor and though, “Oh no I have to do this today”. My Mom told me to call the doctor, so I did. Off to the hospital I went, but not before I showered and shaved my legs.
I was petrified to deliver this baby, but I knew there wasn’t any alternative to this situation. I was going to have a baby. I was overwhelming yet so exciting. That’s how it all began on the first day of December 1987. My life changed from that day forward.
Tommy was born by a C-section after a very long day of labor. I pushed for over two and a half hours. His heart rate decelerated and they wisped me off to the OR to get him out. I gave it the old college try. I was bound and determined to make it happen so I continued to push all the way to the operating room and was still pushing until they knocked me out cold. I woke up to a beautiful baby boy.
He changed my life that day. He paved the way for his brother and sister. He taught me how to love unconditionally. He taught me how to trust my instincts. He taught me how protect him. He taught me the real meaning of love. He taught me how to be his teacher. He taught me how to be his nurse. Most importantly he taught me how to be a Mom.
I was putty in his hand from the moment I first saw him. He made me the person I am today. I miss my little boy.
Robin S. Ivany 