BIRTHDAY
729 Words
After a few hours, the contractions were getting closer. She was starting to get very uncomfortable. Just then her water broke.
“Mom, my water just broke," Kathy stated.
“Well grab your stuff sweetheart, it's time to get you to the hospital.”
“Mom, is it too late to change my mind?” she smiled.
“Sorry, but that opportunity passed a long time ago.”
They got to the hospital and checked in. Kathy was seated in a wheelchair and taken up to a birthing room. Josephine helped her into a gown. She saw the ring on Kathy's necklace. “Sweetheart, where did that ring come from?” Kathy teared up. “Don't cry honey.”
She wiped her face. “It was in Matt's jacket the day he died.”
“Oh Kathy, he was going to propose to you?” Josephine paused, “I'm so sorry he never got the chance. I would have been honored to be his mother-in-law.”
“Mom.”
“Yes?”
“Thank you.”
“For what?”
“Everything, raising me on your own, loving Matt like a son, supporting me through this pregnancy and moving out here.”
“Oh Kathy, you were my reminder of your dad. You look like him more so than me. You were my reason for going on after he was gone. There wasn't anything you did that I didn't support you on. This little boy will be yours.”
“I only hope I can be half the mom you are to my baby.” She hugged her mom.
It wasn't long before the contractions were almost on top of each other. The nurse went to get the doctor. Kathy was starting to feel pressure.
“Are you ready sweetheart?” Josephine asked.
“Nope, don't wanna do this,” she groaned.
Josephine smiled and said, “Well, you really don't have a choice in the matter.”
The doctor came into the room. “Let's see where you're at.” He did a quick measurement. “Well, Kathy, it looks like this little man wants out. Remember to breathe through pushing.” She took Josephine's hand. The time had come. The doctor instructed her, “Ok, push.”
Kathy squeezed her mom's hand. She pushed and tried to breathe. Her mom got behind her on the bed to help her support her while she pushed. “AHHH!” she cried out as she pushed.
“That's it,” her doctor said. “Rest for a minute.”
“You've got this sweetheart. But you gotta breathe.” She handed her phone to the nurse and asked, “Could you please take a picture of his birth?”
“Absolutely,” the nurse agreed.
“Ok, it's time to push again.” She pulled up on the handrails and pushed. “That's it, keep pushing,” the doctor said.
“Breathe baby girl.”
Before she could say another word, a baby cried out. They both started to cry. The doctor tied the cord off and asked Josephine if she wanted to cut it.
She said, “Absolutely.”
The nurse gave her the phone back and took the baby to get cleaned up. After he was cleaned up, she handed him to Kathy. “Here is your son.”
“Mom, he's so precious.” She held him to her breast. Josephine helped get him to the n****e. It wasn't long before he nuzzled it.
Josephine said, “He looks just like Matt.”
She cried and kissed the baby's head. “I guess it's only right that I name you Matthew John Donner II.”
Kathy had an easy labor and delivery. She was happy and grateful that he was a healthy baby boy. She listed Matt on the birth certificate as the father. She was so sad Matt wasn't here for this.
She was only in the hospital for two days. Josephine stayed for a few months after she was released to help with the baby while Kathy finished up the semester. She was happy she could spend that much time with them before she had to go home. She got to enjoy Matthew's first Thanksgiving and Christmas. She made sure she took tons of pictures during her stay. She left just after the new year.
- Writer
