His was supposed to be my easiest birth. After all, at 36 weeks, I was 4 cms dilated and 80% effaced. The doctor raised her eyebrow at me and said, "Don't make any plans this weekend. I won't either and we will almost certainly see each other before Monday!" With a pat on my leg, she stood and left.
We repeated this scenario the next week. And the next and the next and the next. At 40 weeks, she shrugged and said, "Babies come on their own time. Your first three births weren't late, I have no reason to believe this one will. Just relax and he'll come soon." I cried and begged for an induction, for I was so tired of being pregnant. It didn't help that I was absolutely enormous with what was predicted to be a 10 pound baby. "No medical reason!" she chirped. "We only induce for medical reasons!" And I knew that. I really didn't want an epidural - I am a big fan of natural deliveries and knew that if I waited, it'd work out. I was so, so tired of being pregnant.
At 42 weeks, the doctor changed her tune. She gave me a weekend to get stuff lined up and get myself into the hospital, where I proceeded to have an induction that took 5 hours from start to finish. My blonde, blue eyed roly poly 7 pound baby was born a bit over two weeks late on a sunny Monday afternoon, while Louis Armstrong's "What a Wonderful World" played. From the beginning he was calm and alert, rarely crying, almost always happy. He melted right into the family and the transition was seamless.
He's now a friendly, happy, outgoing kid who is completely and totally unorganized and unfazed about anything. He has many things that could bring him down - anaphylactic food allergies, a learning disability, asthma, small for his age - but he bounces back beautifully. He loves to "do" things, to create and be hands on all the time. Today he took his birthday money to Wal-Mart and bought the Darth Vader Tie Fighter and came home and built the entire thing himself. He loves to read and loves to goof around with Legos. In fact, the worst moment of his year occurred when he went to dinner with my mom and took his little Lego guys - and LEFT a dozen of them in the restaurant. (Those things aren't cheap to replace, either!) He's a sweet, funny kid who always comes up with a smarty pants answer and can be counted on for a dry wit and an absolutely smack on impersonation of Elvis. He hates math. HATES IT. He trains Muay Thai and it never fails to crack me up that he smiles as he spars - it's kind of intimidating.
Happy 10th birthday, Gabriel! Welcome to Double Digit Land! I hope the next ten years pass as trouble free as the first ten!
Happy Birthday, Gabriel! (Love the name Gabriel...)
I had a similar experience with my #4 almost 12 years ago. He was due 'now' (the 26th, actually) but didn't come until we kicked him out on Nov 7th with a full induction that lasted 51 hours.
Oh, the agony....
Posted by: Lisa @ All That and a Box of Rocks | October 24, 2009 at 11:38 PM
Happy Birthday, Gabriel!!
Posted by: lucy | October 24, 2009 at 11:55 PM
Happy Birthday, Gabriel...I hope you had a wonderful day with your family!
Posted by: Mama Cas | October 25, 2009 at 12:11 AM
Hey Gabriel...happy birthday to you! May it be a wonderful year full of many fun things (and lots of Legos!) :-)
Posted by: Liz in Seattle | October 25, 2009 at 01:08 AM
Gabriel, Happy 10th Birthday. You were born to my favorites song. That's why my blog is called Skyesofblue!
Posted by: Debby Pucci | October 25, 2009 at 01:53 AM
And a wonderful happy birthday to Gabriel!
Posted by: Nicki | October 25, 2009 at 03:04 AM
Happy day Gabe! It just kicked in that 2 of your kids share birthdays with 2 of us. Now that is cool!
Posted by: Headless Mom | October 25, 2009 at 11:23 AM
happy 10th!
Posted by: kyooty | October 25, 2009 at 11:37 AM
Happy birthday to Gabe. 10 is a cool age.
Dude, my last one was 10 days late. was ready to reach in ad pull him out. Doctors who don't like to induce can suck it.
Posted by: Issa | October 25, 2009 at 11:56 AM
Happy birthday, Gabe! What a nice bunch of kids you have, Carmen :)
Posted by: Megan | October 25, 2009 at 12:44 PM
Happy Birthday Gabriel! Enjoy your day! Wonderful and heartfelt tribute Carmen.
Posted by: Addy | October 25, 2009 at 04:35 PM
Happy Birthing Day Carmen! I can't believe I've 'known' you for 10 years now! wow where did the time go? And an awesome 10yo boy to boot!
Posted by: amy | October 25, 2009 at 07:28 PM