The birth of my Niece ....

[Graehstone]

I owe a little girl named Rebecca Nicole Leavitt a great big debt of gratitude for many reasons and for many things, one of them for being born the day after my 7th wedding anniversary, making that particular date a little easier to remember.
December 12, 2004, just 6 days after her daddy left to war and three days before his 21st birthday at 7:38pm weighing 6lbs 14oz, she’d decided to come and take a peek at what all the hoopla out there was all about. But I am getting ahead of myself, there’s still lots to tell before this most blessed of all events.
Sunday morning 7:30ish we get a call and with both Katrin and I still in bed and not quite willing to return to the land of the living, we knew what it would be about. We get calls every Sunday morning as Katrins grandmother calls every week from Germany to see how her favorite granddaughter is doing and to pass along the family gossip, which is a balsam for the both of them and always looked forward too, but this time the call was a little on the early side. This time we knew who it would be and why before Katrin even picked up the phone.
Before going to bed the previous night I had told Katrin, “Tomorrow we are going to have a baby,” and she just looked at me with that all knowing female smile that says, “Uh huh, sure, right, MEN” and we both fell asleep.
As the phone rings for the second time we look at each other and smile. She because she had just realized that she would become an aunt again this day and I because I knew I had been right, again. The split second before the fourth ring, my prediction was confirmed, “It was Lish, Kelly’s friend, Kelly has gone into labor” I was told by Katrin after she returns to the bedroom and I sheepishly ask, “Uh, who was that?”
Katrin in a flash is off to the kitchen to get the coffee going and the waffles in the toaster and the birds uncovered and fed, and, and … you know … morning stuff … all at warp speed. Ah the exuberance of youth.
By the time I am out of bed and semi dressed all is pretty much ready to go and waiting on me to get my butt in gear. I log on to tell my “on-line” family what is happening, just a short note, and after having completed my morning toiletries we are off to the hospital. It actually took me longer than I had anticipated and I am by no means a slow poke when it comes to zipping down the freeway, but we made it in an hour. At the front gate to Camp Pendleton I asked the young men in their spiffy uniforms where the babies get delivered, and upon receiving a blank stare, Katrin chimed in “The hospital”, well things went click and the light bulb lit up only to dim again as he stammered, “I think it’s just 10, 11 or 12 miles or so down that road there”, Ok I thought to myself, no biggie, so he doesn’t know, I’ll find it, after all Camp Pendleton can’t be that large.
I only got lost once, well …. “We” only got lost once, I was driving and Katrin was giving directions and reading street signs, so it was her fault. I had known that Camp Pendleton was big but had no idea just how big till I had to travel what seemed like a small eternity to get to the flipping hospital; they even had their own lake for crying out loud.
Once there, we rushed to the first entrance that we saw with the little sign pointing the way that said “Visitors”, wrong entrance but … oh well. Inside, the first person I saw was a gentleman in a white uniform sorting boxes of things behind the pharmacy counter, “Knock, knock, Could you be so kind as to tell me where the babies come out in this place” I asked. And with flushed face he looks up from his task and answers me “From their mothers”, short, sweet and to the point of brutal honesty, I had asked for that one and gotten it. Ya gotta love the military.
Second floor and down the hall we eventually got to the delivery area after a very short ride in the elevator, and this has got to be the fastest elevator I had ever the pleasure (or horror, depending on your point of view) to ride in. I ended up taking the elevator twice to the 8th floor later on only to have it take me all the way to the ground floor just so I could feel the blood rushing to my head. The going up part wasn’t so much fun.
At the desk we inquired as to the whereabouts of a Kelly Leavitt and were directed to her room only to find that the baby hadn’t been born yet, I was ready to yell “Put it back in, I need to take pictures first” but was spared the pop upside the back of my head by Katrin. And as it turned out I had plenty of opportunity to take plenty of pictures. Lish was already there doing her level best at being the mother hen looking out for her chick, and that alone was one of the many wonders of this day, as they had only met 2 months prior and became best of friends.
Kelly was lying there all trussed up in her “Property of the US Navy” gown and wired to all kinds of machinery which monitored everything from heartbeat, blood pressure and contraction strength to E-bay and e-mail settings, and all the while glowing from the inside out. Her water had broken earlier in the morning, much earlier than we had thought, and the contractions coming too slowly. There was talk of a possible C-section if the contractions did not become more regular and/or stronger, but in the end it was all up to Becky as to the when she would decide to grace us with her first day of life in the “outside” world.
More friends trickled in during the course of the day and left again only to return later to be there and give support. It was a fairly uneventful wait as far as these things go and that in itself was a blessing. We watched TV, told stories, read the books we had brought just in case, and raided the gift shop for teddies in bunny suits, chocolate bars, soda pop and the occasional “elevator rush” and waited.
All eyes, those that were not shut in slumber, glued to the monitor, checking the readouts to see when and how strong the contractions were coming and going, how long they lasted and hazarding guesses as to when the blessed event would finally take place. The nurse who came in at regular intervals to check Kelly’s blood sugar content and what not was truly a God-send as she was very gentle and supportive and made us all feel as if she were part of the family, which at that time she surely was.
The contractions were becoming more and more regular and at the same time more and more painful, to the point that Kelly decided to take the offer of an epidural she had received earlier from the attending Dr. who, by the way, was yet another Angel sent to us this day. Her humor and positive attitude, quick wit and small hands made all the difference in the world to Kelly and our selves.
The anesthesiologist came in with her cart and everyone was asked to leave the room, I was asked to stay and hold my little sisters hand. Sitting there on the side of the bed, her feet dangling and not able to quite reach the floor she faced me as the needle entered her spine. Our heads touching and our hands holding each others I was reminded of the time I too had gotten “The Needle” into my spine so long ago for other reasons, and it brought back memories of great pain and blessed relief. She took it like a trooper as tears rolled down both our cheeks and the medicine made its way into her system and she slowly began to relax.
The contractions continued to become stronger and more regular and more frequent as we all sat and waited. My little sister was going to have a baby.
My little sister was not only going to make me an uncle, but she had also given me another brother, one to be proud of. I am not saying that I am not proud of my sibling, nor that I do not love him, I do, he and his family are in my prayers, but they have not been in my life for a very long time. So this “new” brother is very special and dear to me as is my little sister and my niece Becky, the first I have ever gotten to meet.
The contractions were now … bearable, as far as these things can become bearable, and we were on our way to “Stardom”. Lights flashing from cameras at all angles and from all directions, little Rebecca Nicole made her debut.
Earlier in the day, while we all waited, Brandon had been able to call, only to be on the line for a short time, only enough to say his “I love you’s”, before the connection was lost. I could see him sitting there so far away on his ship fighting the good fight and slowly loosing it as the reality of it all dawned on him … so very young and yet so very strong, not to mention handsome, my new little brother, as he too must be wiping the tears of frustration from his eyes at not being able to be here and the tears of joy at the thought of his daughter being born, his Legacy, his shot at immortality. I see him sitting there his young chest bursting with pride and his heart overflowing with love for his young wife as she delivers his child, not alone, but without him there.
Katrin and I give as much emotional support as we are able to during this time and I am sure that it helped and is appreciated, but … it can’t come close to that which she so desperately needs at this time.
Lish is on the right leg and Katrin on her left as Kelly strains to bring forth her child. The head of my little niece has been visible for some time now and it is only a matter of minutes and one final push before she sees the light of day.
7:36, just two minutes before Becky’s arrival, the phone in the room rings and is ignored by everyone, as they are all busy helping give birth to a miracle. I stand closest to the phone and feel a lightning bolt shoot down my spine. I had been in pain all day, but this one was different, this one came with a feeling that I really, as hard as I might try, couldn’t explain. I pick up the phone knowing who was on the other end of the line even before the first words were spoken.
There really is a God you know, and today he did some of his finest work.
The rushed hello’s and the “hold on little brother” as I hand the phone to Katrin, she is closest to the action, for her to tell him he was, as she spoke, becoming a daddy, she holds the receiver close enough for him to hear his daughters first cry of triumph in this new world as I cut the cord releasing her from the womb and heralding her into life.
One his end could be heard, “Oh my God, oh my God” and sobbing as Katrin hands the phone to Kelly and they are reunited once more in a rush of emotion that filled the room and touched everyone present.
The phone call, again, was cut short, but it mattered not. He had been there for the birth of his child. The timing could not have been better, had Hollywood written the script.
I was blessed this day with many things, and I shall be forever grateful for having had the honor of being there for the birth of my little niece and seeing the emergence of a new family. A family blessed with parents and grandparents that love them and aunts and uncles that do the same. This has been a birth that has touched the lives of many, more than they can imagine.
Little Rebecca Nicole has reached out and grabbed hold of my heart with such a ferocity it boggles my mind and scares me silly. She is a true beauty and a miracle.
Welcome to the World little one.

Uncle Graehstone


http://groups.msn.com/GraehsStuff/becky.msnw

[Tiki]

Congats, Uncle Graeh! Can you post us some cigars? Preferably chocolate ones! 8)

[Lynjupiter]

Congrats to you, Katrin, the new Mommy and Daddy. Welcome to the world
Rebecca Nicole Leavitt. May you live in peace and prosperity and die a very old lady.

Thank you for sharing Graeh. The ending brought tears to my eyes. What a wonderful and heart touching story!
Lynda

[jessicaboyer89]

There is nothing more precious than a newborn...she is really sweet Graeh and the pictures remind me of the birth of my nephew. Congratulations!! You sound like the proudest uncle I've come across yet!

[Tivona]

OMG!!!!!!!!!!! U had me in tears! You are an excellent writer and told the story beautifuly. What a touching story, I hope your lil sis has a wonderful time with the new baby, Rebecca Nicole, and I hope that her daddy will be able to return in as little time as posssible to share in the joy of his new family.

[Candice]

Congratulations on becoming an Uncle! :D

[SavvyMoon]

Congratulations to the New Parents, proud Uncle and Auntie,
and the entire family! :)

Many Blessings and continued Health, Happiness and Joy for all!

[Lisa B]

CONGRATULATIONS....

[KimInCT]

Congrats Graeh! What a wonderful story...thanks for making me bawl..lol...almost couldn't finish it!

She's a gorgeous little baby! All that hair!

Enjoy her...she won't be little for long.

Kim

[hickster68]

She is absolutely GEORGOUS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I was in tears while reading your story .
Congratulation uncle .