Once upon a time, a baby was born named Rebecca Gayle Gaunch. This is the story of her very first day.
It was Sunday, March 14, 1999, two weeks before Rebecca's actual due date. I'd had several ultrasounds that estimated Becca's weight to be close to 8 pounds. After discussing our options with the OB/GYN, we decided that labor would be induced in hopes that she would be small enough that I could avoid a C-section (like I had with Garrett and Hannah). Scheduling a birth has advantages... especially when you're a planner like me. You see, Garrett's birthday is March 17th and Hannah's birthday is April 6th. I knew it'd be next to impossible to pull off birthday parties after she was born, so 24 hours before delivery, I was hosting a birthday party for about 40 people, complete with cake, and even a clown. I was going to make absolutely sure that Garrett and Hannah got their full amount of birthday fun- new baby sister or not! Garrett was turning 6 years old and Hannah was turning 5.
It was a cool and rainy morning as we set out to the hospital. It was surprisingly calm and quiet on the maternity floor... until they gave me the medication to induce labor. I'll spare you the details, but to say it got painful quick would be an understatement. After my new best friend, the anesthesiologist, came by with some pain medication, life was good again. Louie's sister, Angie and her husband, James (we call him Beave), came to be with us at the hospital.
If you know Louie at all, then you know he hates to just sit around and wait. Before long, he was into every drawer and cabinet in that labor room out of boredom and was driving me up a wall. So he and Beave decided to drive down the road to get "It's a Girl" suckers because the gift shop was out. As Louie put on his coat, the doctor walked into to see how labor was progressing. He grinned and Louie and told him to take off his coat.
Now keep in mind, Garrett and Hannah had been born via C-section. Picture an operating room, sterile gowns and a drape separating Louie from anything scary. This was a different story. He was totally overwhelmed. Thank goodness for Angie. She stayed in the room and coached me through all the pushing. Poor Louie just stood there with his mouth hanging open. (In his defense, he was an excellent coach with the other kids, but he'd been safely tucked behind a curtain). After only 20 minutes of hard labor, Rebecca Gayle Gaunch took her first breath.
And then there was only silence. I was really hurting and couldn't open my eyes but I whispered to Louie and Angie, "She's not crying". I immediately felt panicked that she wasn't breathing even though they reassured me that she was. They said her color was good and she was "pinking up" but still, no noise. (Side note- the previous year, I was pregnant and miscarried in my 3rd month. It was so sad. So all through my pregnancy with Becca, I'd been a little nervous that something might go wrong.) I know it was only seconds, but it seemed like an eternity until the nurse rubbed her fresh new skin with a towel and flicked her foot, making her cry her first tears. The sound of it almost made me laugh. Garrett's first cries was loud and short. Hannah's first cries were long and full of drama. Becca's first cry sounded like a kitten meowing. The nurse said Becca was simply laying in the bassinet looking around, perfectly content and remarked that I was going to have a very laid back baby girl.
Then I got to hold her. Louie and I looked at each other and said, "She looks like Garrett". She reminded us of Garrett as a newborn, but much more dainty. Still at 2 weeks before the due date, she was 7 pounds, 141/2 ounces and 20 inches long. One major difference with Rebecca than the other kids was that she had a bunch of dark hair. She also had a lovely complexion, though a bit jaundiced... she'd spend a night in the hospital the following week because of it.
Later, Garrett and Hannah came in to see her and hold her. They were so excited they couldn't stand it. To Garrett, she was a fragile little thing he didn't want to hurt. To Hannah, she was a real life baby doll and she was all hers. This may sound ridiculous, but by day's end, it was as though she had always been there- a perfect fit in our family and we don't know what we'd do
without her! She's 11 years old today. I cannot believe it!
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