Land of Lockhart: Simon Paul Lockhart: The Birth

Simon Paul Lockhart 10-26-2012

Better late than never, right? Three years ago I was full term with our third (likely over ten pound) baby. Simon was due on his sister's birthday. I was miserable and was hoping to have him early. But I was relieved when Amelia's birthday was over and Simon hadn't arrived. I was hoping to go early, but going late to avoid sharing a birthday with is sister was fine with me.

Throughout the month Chris had several assignments that kept him away from the house. He completed a gunnery, family day (the kids and I were able to attend the family day), NCO stuff, and tending to the arms room.

39 weeks with Simon.

I was warned that Chris had to go to the arms room early in the morning so I wasn't surprised at 5:00am when I woke up and he wasn't there. The contractions weren't painful but they were steady. My go to pregnancy remedy is get into the tub. Around 5:30 Chris was home, and I told him we needed to head to the hospital.

While Chris was getting Owen and Amelia dressed I gave my friend Moriah a call. Owen and her son were in the same preschool class, and she was willing to drop him off for us. I called my friend Erin to see if I could drop off Amelia since we would pass by her house on the way to the hospital. Both friends obliged and we continued to get ourselves into the van.

It was about 7:00 am and we had just dropped off Amelia when I gave the OB a call. The lady on the phone told us to take our time, a shower would be nice, and to come to the OB office not the ER because labor and delivery was pretty full. You see, we are in a military town and husbands had returned home about a year ago. Actually, there was a mom from Owen's class that went into labor the same day as me. Anyway, maybe I should have called before we left the house, but we were already on our way. Amelia came so quickly, I didn't think it was a good idea to go back home. We stopped to fill the car up with gas and went to the OB office, which was at the hospital.

At about 7:30 am I walked in and said my name and I had a contraction. They rushed me to an exam room, I think mostly not to worry the soon to be moms in their waiting room. The doctor that checked me determined that I was eight centimeters. The nurse said, "do not break her water." I think he was new and if not a student pretty fresh out of school. I was put into a wheel chair and rushed to the very full L&D. Not only was it a military season of having babies, but L&D was under construction.

Around 8:00am I was put in shared room with another lady who was having contractions monitored. I remember I had two nurses trying to have me admitted. So while I was handling contractions one lady was asking questions, while the other was doing bracelets and IVs. Mostly what I remember is a sea of faces. It was a tiny half of a room. The midwife had a student under her wing and so did the nurses. My husband was back against the wall, once they realized that he was by my side. Another midwife remembered me from an appointment and asked if she could watch. Sure, the more the merrier!

We forgot the camera again.

Fatherhood always looks good on him.

At one point I was told I could move to a delivery room. I said no, let's just have this baby. So we did. After breaking my water Simon was here in three easy pushes. After three and half hours of labor Simon arrived at 9:01am weighing 10 pounds 10 ounces and 21.5 inches long. The first thing Chris said when he saw Simon was "where are his cheeks!" The older two had very full faces, and by comparison Simon did not.

Really, he doesn't have cheeks compared to Owen and Amelia.

Simon has brought (and is still bringing) a new dynamic to our home. Pretty sure mine and Chris's sanctification is largely riding on this guy. He's trying and affectionate. Stubborn and caring. Demanding and imaginative. I'm honored that we have been entrusted with this spirited soul!