The Call

Monday, January 30, 2006 We got the call that Katie was in labor after we had supper at Macaroni Grill (we come all this way and eat there?). We were to check out of the hotel we were currently in the next morning so we packed all our stuff in the car in case we did not make it back. What fit in the back of the car when we first got there now took up the back seat and my passenger side floor space as well. We spent the whole night at the hospital where we met Katie's mom. We did get a little sleep. I think Adam got four hours and I had about 2. We mostly felt concern for Katie as she was having a hard time with such a long labor.

Through out the night I just stared at the monitors and occasionally dozed to the sound of the baby's heart beat. We had the lights out but one time during the night I woke up and looked at Katie and she gave this little smile and wave. It is hard to explain but since we arrived here we have been more focused on Katie than the baby. It was like we channeled so much of our energy into her that we would almost forget that there would be a baby at the end.

Then next morning we stayed in the waiting room mostly waiting for the birth. It was awkward at times with some of the family. On top of that we had to reserve our feelings for another 24 hours. I wish I could describe the feelings we had. In some ways I have been waiting for the ball to drop. Things have gone so well through this whole process and I just couldn't believe that it would end just like we wanted.

After the baby was born we caught a glimpse of her as she was wheeled out to the nursery. Katie's sister Hillary attended her and stayed with the baby. It very emotional out in the hall. Her sister's were crying out of sadness though they new it was what Katie wanted. We tried to stay in the corner and not look like vulchers waiting to take the baby away. Once we got in to see Katie we weren't sure how things were going. We got her ice and cokes and I gave her a purple stuffed hippo (she loves purple and hippos) that I found in the gift shop. She had forgotten hers and I think she has had that animal with her since we gave it. She asked us if we had seen the baby and told us she had signed papers giving us permission to go in the nursery. The Nursery Natzi wouldn't let anyone in though. Some nurses are not supportive of adoption and even the ones that are can be weird. The sort of act like all adoptive parents are pushy. We went a good while without catching a glimpse. When no one else was around I said to Katie "do you still feel good about this?". She said "Yes, I do". Sigh...a little hope.

Once Katie was moved to a room, we got to see the baby for the first time. It was a perfect moment now that I think back, but at the time it was hard to fully enjoy. Katie's family left and we were left with just her for a while in a finally quite room. She would talk to the baby and refer to us as mommy and daddy. This seems promising. I held the baby and Katie and I both cried for a while. She said that she was worried about how she would feel after the baby was born but it was easier than she thought it would be. We had become so close with her and even her mom and sister. Adam spent his time winning over her mom and we had the nurses practicing southern accents by the afternoon. It still didn't mean she was definately ours.