Tag Archives: delivery

MOTHERHOOD IS BOTH THE GREATEST THING AND THE HARDEST THING

Once upon a time, not so very long ago, a child was born. Her parents had hoped and dreamed for a child. But, as the years went by, they began to lose hope. And then, out of the blue, after many years of trying to have a child, their prayers were answered.

The mother, whose name was Sandra, woke up one morning feeling sick to her stomach. Nausea continued for many weeks. She finally decided she should go to the doctor and find out what was wrong with her. It did not occur to her that she might be pregnant. Since she had given up, all hope long ago. She felt weak and tired, and depressed. The nurse took her temperature, weighed her, and asked if she had any other symptoms.

Sandra said,” Not really. I don’t know what is wrong with me. Can you help me, please?”

“Well, there is one more test I can do, and we will be able to get the results soon after. Please go into the ladies’ room and urinate on this stick and then bring it right back to me.

Sandra did as she was told and returned to the exam room with the stick in hand. The nurse walked in and took the stick, and said,” I’ll be back in a few minutes. Please sit down and take deep breaths and try to calm down. I think you will be feeling much better soon. “

Sandra laid back on the exam table and quickly fell into a deep sleep. She was so exhausted from not sleeping well for weeks. The nurse poked her head in the door and saw Sandra sleeping. She decided to let her sleep since the doctor was on his lunch break and wouldn’t be back for an hour.

About forty-five minutes passed by, and the nurse decided to check on Sandra and make sure all was well. She brought the test results into the exam room where Sandra was quietly sleeping and said, “Sandra, wake up Sandra, I have very good news for you.”

“ Sandra slowly opened her eyes. She didn’t remember where she was right away. She looked around and remembered she was at the doctor’s office. “You do. Am I going to be alright?”
“Yes, Sandra, you are going to be more than alright. In fact, I have great news you are going to have a baby. You are six weeks along. What do you think about that?”

Sandra was so shocked by what the nurse said that she responded,” Is this some sick joke or something? It’s not funny.”

“No, of course not. You are going to be a mother in about seven and a half months.”

Sandra was so happy that she started crying tears of happiness. The nurse came over and said, alright, try to calm down. I have some prescriptions for neonatal vitamins. Please try to take care of yourself and eat healthy foods, but don’t overeat. And you don’t want to gain too much weight. The doctor will be in to see you in a few minutes to talk to you. Then you will need to make an appointment to come back in six weeks. We want a healthy mom and baby.

After the nurse walked out of the room, Sandra couldn’t stop smiling. She had so longed for this day to happen and had all but given up on her long-awaited dream of becoming a mother. She had always loved children. She started babysitting when she was ten, and as an adult, she worked in schools as a teacher’s aide. Her face was starting to hurt from the broad smile on her face. Just then, the doctor came into her room and said, “It seems like congratulations are in order, Sandra. This must be a happy day for you.”

“Yes, yes, it is. I can hardly believe it. I can’t wait until this baby arrives. It seems like I have been waiting for a long, long time for this to happen.”

“Sandra, I want you to follow the letter and the diet the nurse gave you and take those prenatal vitamins every day. We want both you and the baby to thrive. I’ll see you in six weeks if you have any problems before then, please call the office immediately. I look forward to seeing you soon. Please take care.”

Over the next six weeks, Sandra found that her appetite increased quickly. Sometimes she woke up in the middle of the night, and her stomach was growling. When she returned to the doctor for her six-week check-up, she was astounded to find she had gained twelve pounds. The doctor was not pleased.

“Sandra, how are you feeling? Have you been experiencing nausea, vomiting, or any other symptoms you might want to share with me or concerns you may have?”

“Well, my stomach growls all day and night. It is really uncomfortable. I am always starving. Sometimes I get up in the middle of the night and eat something. I can’t help it. The hunger wakes me up.”

“Have you tried drinking water before you go to bed”

“Yes, but then I must go to the bathroom all night. I promise I’ll do better and try and keep my weight down. I’ll see you in six weeks, doctor.”

The time flew by, and before she knew it was only two weeks before Sandra’s due date. It was difficult to sleep at night since her baby seemed so restless and tossed and turned all night while Sandra was trying to get sleep. And the baby didn’t calm down during the day; she could feel her baby pushing his legs against her ribs.

Sandra couldn’t wait for her baby to be born, and before she knew it, the nine months had slipped by. And one day, her contractions started, and Sandra called her husband at work and told him it was time. After they arrived at the hospital, Sandra was taken into the delivery room. There was a television on in the room, and the doctor watched the show up until she was ready to give birth.

The baby arrived, and Sandra was handed her baby to hold for a few minutes. Until she was taken to the neonatal room. After the obstetrician spoke to her husband for a while, he said he would return later to check on her. And Sandra tried to get some sleep but was suffering from afterpains from her uterus contractions.

A couple of hours later, a nurse came into the recovery room and said we are moving you into your room now. So you can spend some time nursing your baby and holding her. Right now, she is making so much noise that she is disturbing all the other babies. Then a second nurse came in holding Sandra’s newborn, and she was screaming at the top of her lungs. Her face was red as a beet. Sandra looked at the baby and then at the nurse and said, “Oh my,  she is really making a ruckus. Let me see if I can calm her down.

So, Sandra took her tiny, red-faced newborn baby and nursed her until she quieted down. As it turned out that nursing her baby was the only thing that quieted her down. Sandra decided to stay overnight at the hospital and leave first thing the next morning.

Sandra realized that having a baby was a gift, but it also was a somewhat overwhelming experience. And Sandra’s little girl was indeed challenging from day one forward.  Sandra never regretted her choice and took one day at a time. Each day was indeed a gift, but it was also a lifelong challenge.

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SURPRISE PACKAGE

I was taking a shower when I heard the front doorbell ringing over and over. Whoever was at the door was persistent, to say the least. And there was no way I was going to throw a towel on and run down to answer the door. More than likely it was the Jehovah’s witnesses again. This would make their third visit in the last month. And I had already informed them that I was just not interested. 

I finally gave in and throw on my robe and slippers and run down the steps to see who was at the door. It sure as hell better be important or I was going to give them a piece of my mind.

I arrive dripping wet with a towel wrapped around my still soapy hair and wearing my ratty chenille robe that I’ve had since I was twenty. As I got to the door I see a delivery person with his back to the door and heading towards his vehicle that was illegally parked on my front curb. I yell at the top of my voice, “Hey buddy, hey buddy I’ll take the package I was in the middle of taking a shower.”

He turns around and sprints up to me. “Sorry for ringing the bell so much but this is the third time I came out here to deliver this package and it requires a signature. So, it must be something important.”

“Well, I’m sorry but I’m rarely home during the week. I’m a sales rep and I spend most of my time on the road visiting customers. So, I feel your pain. Sometimes I drive several hours just to find my customer isn’t in the office. Even though I had scheduled an appointment to see them at a specific day and time.”

He sighs, and says, “if you could please just sign this and I’ll be on my way. I’m going to be getting finished late again and my wife is going to be really pissed at me for being late again.”

“Sure, I hope the rest of your day goes well.” I sign the form and grab the package and he double-timed it to his truck. I think what a boring job. But then I think about it and realize that my job isn’t all that thrilling or interesting. And we all gotta do what we gotta do.

As I’m stepping back inside my front door and my robe flies open and my neighbor, Jeffrey gets flashed. He waves at me with a big smile on his face. He probably thinks I did it on purpose. I will never be able to look him in the face again. I think dear god, I can see this is going to be the day from hell.

When I get into the living room I put the package on the coffee table and decide I better get myself in gear or I‘m really going to be in hot water for being late. And we’re having our semi-annual sales rep meeting. People have been fired for much less. I fly up the stairs and into the bathroom and rinse the shampoo out of my hair and towel off. I blow-dry my hair and threw my clothes on. I grab my shoes and jacket and briefcase and out the door to my car and I‘m on my way.

The rest of the day goes by in a blink of an eye with one meeting after another. And by the time I arrive home I‘m exhausted and decide the package can wait until Saturday when I‘m off from work.

It was a rough week, but somehow I made it through. I got home late on Friday and fall into bed at 9:30 PM. The following morning I woke up with the nagging feeling that I had forgotten something important. I can’t put my finger on it. And then while taking my shower it comes to me. The package, the package I forgot all about it. After I towel off I throw my clothes on that I wear when I’m going to work in my garden. I double-timed it down the steps.

I grab the package and shake it. It sounds like something small is in there and fabric or clothes are muffling the sound of whatever else is in there. I try guessing what it is. I look at the return address. It’s from my parent’s lawyers. My parents passed away suddenly last year when they were involved in a multiple-vehicle accident on the New Jersey turnpike.

As soon as I realize it must have belonged to my parents I start to cry and choke up. The sudden loss of my parents was devastating. I don’t think I’ll ever get over it. My parents were only in their early sixties and had just retired and were looking forward to many more years together. And now I had no living relatives left in the world. I never married and didn’t have any children. Every morning since I found out about my parent’s deaths I wake up and think how I’m an orphan and I don’t have single-loved ones in the world.

I sit there for ten minutes until I gather the courage to open up the box and look at the contents. I can’t imagine what it could be since their lawyer had said their estate was settled. I wondered why he didn’t call me and let me know there was some kind of outstanding business. And then I remember he had called me at home and on my cell and left me several messages asking me to return his call. I ignored the calls because I didn’t want to reopen that wound again. I couldn’t bear any further bad news.

I stare at the box and shake it again. And then I gather my courage and tear off the brown paper and open the box. I hold my breath and take out a letter which surprisingly bares my name in my mother’s handwriting. It says, Dear Angela if you are reading this letter it means that I am no longer living. I want you to know how much I love you and always have.

I should have told you about this a long, long time ago. When I was quite young about nineteen years old I fell pregnant. This was before I met your father. My parents were extremely strict and I was afraid to tell them I was going to have a baby. The father of the child was someone I met after I graduated from high school. He was drafted into the military. This was during the Viet Nam War. He was only twenty-two years old. I didn’t find out I was pregnant until after he left. I was devastated by his death. I didn’t know what to do. My parents figured out I was pregnant but it was too late to get an abortion. So, my parents took me to a place where young pregnant girls stayed until their babies were born and then they were put up for adoption.

I was told I would not be allowed to see my baby again. I had a difficult delivery and was heavily sedated during the birth by cesarean. I tried to move on after that since I really wasn’t given the choice of keeping the baby. About five years later I met your father and a year later we had you. I never told your father that I had a baby and gave him up for adoption. I was ashamed of getting pregnant and of giving the baby away.

After we had you I tried not to think of my first child. But he was in the back of my mind my whole life. I never really got over it. About five years ago I hired someone to find out where my son was living. It took about six months but I finally found that he was living in Philadelphia only about forty-five minutes from where we lived. I still didn’t tell your father. I know I should have told you both. But, what can I say I was a coward. I didn’t want you to think badly of me.

I left this letter with our lawyer and told him to give it to you if anything ever happened to me and I passed away. I have enclosed the address of your brother, who was named Joseph. His parents’ names are Helen and Robert McElliot. Your brother is six years older than you. I hope you will contact your brother and have the opportunity to get to know him. Since you have no other family. I know you will probably be angry with me, but I hope someday you will forgive me. All my love, Mom.

I read the letter over and over. I was having a difficult time comprehending the fact that my mother had this secret all of her adult life and never told anyone except her parents. Who also kept the secret. It was incomprehensible. I didn’t know if I was angry at my mother or not. I wish she had told me long ago. But she didn’t and the past can not be undone. But I knew one thing for sure. I was going to find my brother and contact him. I hoped with all my heart that he will want to meet me.

The rest of the day I kept picking up the phone and then putting it down. I couldn’t decide whether I should contact him by phone or just show up in person. But then I realized that I could probably find him on the internet. And then maybe I could get a better idea of what was the best way to get in touch with him. And sure enough, I found him and he only lived about forty-five minutes from my house. He was married and had a young child. I couldn’t believe it I had a brother, a niece or nephew, and a sister-in-law. I have a family. I wasn’t alone in the world anymore. This turned out to be the best day of my life.

And then I started wondering if he knew he was adopted. If he did, would he even want to meet me? I decided there was only one way to find out, and that was to get in touch with him. I found out he worked at a business that just so happened to be one of my company’s buyers. I decided that I was going to call his company and set up an appointment with Joseph McElliot as soon as possible.

I made an appointment for this coming Friday morning at 11:00 AM. I could hardly sleep the whole week. I couldn’t think about anything else. I wake up in the middle of the night and never get back to sleep. I took the whole day off. I waited outside his office until his office manager called me in. “Come right in, won’t you? Mr. McElliot this is Ms. Angela Brown.

“Hello, Ms. Brown what can I do for you?’

“Well, first I have to tell you that I came here under false pretenses. I do work for the company but I came here for personal reasons. I would like to show you some documents first and then I’ll explain why I’m here.“ I hand him the letter and documents my mother had given me.

Mr. McElliot looks over the documents. And then he sits back in his seat and takes a deep breath. “Well, this is certainly somewhat of a shock. I thought about searching for my birth parents for years. But I never did it. My parents, that is my adoptive parents were wonderful people. I’m sorry I didn’t pursue it now. I should have. Now I’ll never meet my birth mother. On the other hand, I was an only child since my adoptive parents weren’t able to have children of their own. And now I find out the wonderful news that I have a sister.”

Angela sighs in relief, she had been holding her breath the whole time he looked over her mother’s letter and the documents she had left Angela. “Really, oh I’m so happy to hear that. I don’t have any family left now since my parents passed away. Our mother was such a caring and loving person. I wish you had gotten to know her. You know you bear a striking resemblance to her. Would you mind if I gave you a hug? This is one of the most amazing days of my life. I’d love to take you out for lunch or dinner sometime soon. “

“I think that I’ll give my wife a call and tell her all about this. And you should come to dinner at my house and meet my wife and child. Because now you’re a member of my family and you’ll always be welcome there. What do you say?”

“I say unequivocally, yes, yes, yes.” And then the siblings give each other a warm embrace. And Robert says,”why are you crying, Angela? Surely this is a happy event?”

“Yes, one of the happiest. I will never forget it.”

“I hope that we‘ll create many happy memories in the future. Life has a way of coming up and surprising us when we least expect it, doesn’t it?”
“Yes, it surely does, Robert. It really does.”

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Love Your Neighbors As You Love Your Enemies As They Are Probably One In The Same

Here it is Monday morning again. The weeks seem to fly by. I’m a writer by trade. I have to produce a weekly story for an online fiction writing site. The problem is that I’m also a procrastinator. And I often wait until the last minute to start writing. Sometimes I have difficulty coming up with an original idea right away. And as the years go by, my ideas seem to flow more slowly each week.

And this week is no different. I sat at my desk for over three hours, and not a single idea came to mind. It’s eleven-thirty, and I have nothing. My mind is a complete blank. I start to panic. And at that moment, I happen to glance out my office window. And I see one of my neighbors coming out of his garage with his dog on a leash. It looks like he is about to take him for a walk. And then a delivery truck pulls up to his curb and parks. The driver emerges from the truck with a relatively large package in tow. The dog barks at him, and the closer the delivery guy comes, the louder the dog barks.

My neighbor, whose name is Jake tries to calm his dog down. He accidentally loses his grip on the dog leash, and the dog lunges at the UPS guy, and he drops the rather large package. I hear noises indicating that something fragile is in the package. And then Jake trips on the curb and falls flat on his face. Jake’s dog growls at the UPS guy, lunges at his leg, and bites down hard. As if he’s biting down on a raw steak or something. The UPS guy screams out expletives so loud that I can hear every word he says. The dog takes off down the street like a bat out of hell. The UPS guy is a close second. He looks mad as hell, and I fear for the dog’s life.

I can no longer see what is going on with UPS guy and the dog. I run to the front door, open it, and look from right to left. I don’t see either of them right away until I hear UPS guy still yelling profanities at the top of his lungs. Then I spy the dog running into our neighbor’s back yard across the street. I see Jake limping across the street and calling out Tuc a the top of his lungs. That’s the dog’s name, Tennessee Tuc. Now the dog, the UPS driver, and Jake are in the neighbors’ yard across the street.

This is the most excitement I’ve seen in our neighborhood in the five years. That’s how long we have lived here. And nothing, absolutely nothing happens here. It is a small development with twenty houses. One street runs through the development, and three streets end in cull-d-sacs. We rarely see anyone. Everyone has a garage, and they go in and out through their garages. If you’re lucky, you will catch one of the neighbors riding their lawnmowers and cutting their grass during the Spring and Summer. Otherwise, our neighborhood seems deserted. I’m not exaggerating. The neighbors do not talk to one another. Occasionally they will wave, but that is a rare occasion.

The next thing I see is a horse running across the street into our front yard. I guess you might be wondering where a horse came from. Well, believe it or not, there’s a horse farm behind our development. One day one of the horses opened the gate and took a walk across the street. And apparently, and decided to use our yard as a toilet. When I went outside, I found a large pile of horse shit. I walk across the street to the owner’s house and tell him, “one of your horses is in our yard. He doesn’t have a harness on him, so I couldn’t bring him home. He came over and took the horse home. Apparently, the horse’s name was Tina. Can you believe it?

Now, I’m having difficulty hearing or seeing what is going on. Since Jake and the dog and UPS guy are at the horse farm, the horses are becoming upset by the commotion. Tuc is barking, and Jake’s yelling for Tuc, and the UPS guy is screaming like a banshee because he is still mad as hell. Barring any common sense, I cross the street to investigate what is going on at the horse farm. Yeah, I don’t know their name either because I only saw the husband going in and out of his barn. And I never saw his wife at all. Can you believe it?

So, now I’m standing at a distance from the action, but not so far away that I can’t see and hear everything coming down. I feel like I’m watching a movie or something. I have no shame. And there is no end to how nosy I am capable of being. Well, we all have our faults. And this is mine.

Tuc is lunging at the UPS guy who has had about enough of the crap that he’s going to take. He starts picking up random rocks from the farmer’s backyard and propelling them at Tuc. At least I thought they were rocks until I got close enough to smell them. And I realize he’s pitching horse dung at Tuck and Jake. For some reason, I find this to be hysterical, and I start laughing so hard that I almost swallow my tongue.

That is when they all turned in my direction and became aware that I was watching them. Apparently, they don’t think this is an occasion for laughter. Because the next thing I know both Jake and UPS guy are picking up and propelling horse shit at me. I yell out, “Hey, what the hell did I do?”

And I get slammed two more times. And then we all look at each other and start laughing. Jake calls his dog over to him and grabs his collar. And then he turns towards the UPS guy and says, “I’m sorry about my dog biting you. Are you alright? Would you like to come back to my house and we can take a look at your bite? Maybe you would like to sit down and have a cup of coffee or something? You know my wife, Sharon, just made some awesome cornbread yesterday. Maybe you like to have some?”

And that is when I got a good look at Jake’s noggin and saw that he had acquired a huge red lump on his forehead from the header he took on his sidewalk. I had to clap my hand over my mouth because I had the strange and misguided idea that this was somehow really funny. I’m sure Jake wouldn’t agree.

I say, “Hey, I’m sorry for laughing. How about you all come over to my house and we can relax for a bit and calm down? And that is how I made my first couple of friends in the neighborhood. And I decided from now on I’m going to start making a more concerted effort to get to know my neighbors. And hopefully, I wouldn’t have to wait for another brawl to take place before I meet them.

It turns out we all had some things in common. Who would have thought? Not me. So, please take my advice, and don’t wait until people start throwing horse dung at you before introducing yourself to them. Life is too short.

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