FELICITY JANE, Part Four

We hit Syracuse by about 5:30pm. I knew I wasn't ready to go to the hospital. I texted my sister-in-law to let her know we'd be stopping by her place for a bit. As always, she was glad to have us. In fact, she ended up feeding us dinner! Delicious Corn Chowder w/Ham & Corn Muffins. Yes, I was ravenous and yes, I remember that warm corn muffin like it was yesterday.
After dinner, we went down into Shey's 'man cave' to check out the new sound system and 3D television. At this point, I was starting to tune out the conversations going on around me. I headed back upstairs to be by myself for a bit. It was then I realized exactly what I was doing. LABORING at HOME. Because I was a VBAC and because this wasn't my regular hospital, the docs asked that I avoid doing one thing: labor at home. Oops! As much as I would have loved the comfort and care of family during those next couple hours, I knew it was wrong. Not wanting to go back on my word, I called down to Eric. "Hey, honey. We better go."
Shey helped me into my boots and Gina hugged my neck. I bet they even prayed for me. We were off. 11 minutes flat to the Crouse parking garage. The contractions were getting harder to walk through and everything started to seem LOUD. Glad we left when we did. God's peace ruled my heart.
The poor old man working security saw me coming. "Oh, Lord have mercy! Go on, just go through. I'll tell the 8th floor you comin'. Don't stop! Just go, darlin'. Go. Go. Go." I laughed and tried to convince him I was fine. "Lord, have mercy, girl. You ain't fine. You havin' a baby. Go on now. Stop talkin' and get. in. that. elevator."
By the time we walked out of the elevator and onto the 8th floor, I was becoming very curious. Would I labor for hours and hours to come or would I deliver rather soon?
The nurses and ladies at check-in started running around and screeching as soon as they heard this was my tenth. I looked at one lady going crazy and said, "Trust me. My baby isn't going to fall out." She paused for a second, considered what I said, and said, "Nope, I don't trust you. Get in a room. Any room! This room right here (pointing to the first room she saw)."
I changed and collapsed onto the bed. SERIOUSLY TIRED ALREADY! I noticed the time- 8:02. I wondered if I would get to meet my baby this day, the 20th of December. The next couple hours consisted of lots of laughter. Lots of shushing people and pain and breathing, too. But lots of laughing and joking. With the nurses. With my husband. And even via texts from friends. It was a bit like live tweeting, really. "8 cm now"and "ok, I'm 10" and then "ready to push". Those are some really good friends, I tell you.
Felicity Jane Criscitello was born at 10:02pm on 12-20-12. Love those even numbers! And as soon as she was out I had the urge to break out and GO HOME. She would meet her siblings exactly 24 hours later. Great recovery, as is typical with me as long as I am not cut open.
Docs were great. Nurses were great. Eric was great. Friends & family were great. Felicity was great. And as always, God held & protected me the entire time.