Chapter 25
1 month later and 2 week later--New Year's Day, 2014--around 8:00 p.m.
Christmas had come and gone---it had been a wonderful time, though--the family had flown up from Alaska on December 11th, and
would be staying there about a month and a half. That was good news for Margaret--seeing as she really couldn't do much by
herself anymore, what with her now being 8 months pregnant and all.
Later on that day, they were all just sitting around in the livingroom, chatting. Everyone was either sitting in a chair, or on
the couch, except for Andrew, who sat with Joshua, who was playing on the floor. No one there--especially Andrew and
Margaret themselves--could believe that he was almost 2 years old already.
They all sat watching him for a few minutes, before Margaret spoke up--"You know, Andrew and I really do appreciate you guys
flying all the way up here and helping out with stuff around here, especially now, what with me being as big as I am, and not really
being able to do much by myself" she said, placing a hand on her now very large belly.
"Not a problem at all, dear" Annie replied. "We're more than happy to do it. After all, we want to be close by whenever this
little girl decides to make her entrance.
"Well, she's due in just 17 more days, and according to the doctor, she's right on schedule" Andrew said, referring to their last
doctors appointment earlier in the month. By now, he was sitting up on the arm of the couch, next to Margaret.
"Right now, though, we don't really care when she arrives, just as long as she's healthy, right honey?" Margaret asked, looking
up at Andrew.
"Absolutely" he replied. leaning down and kissing her, and then her belly.
"Yeah, that's all you can really ask for" Grace added. Joe nodded in agreement.
Around that time, Margaret and Andrew decided that it was time for Joshua to go to bed--after all, he was starting to look a little
tired. Everybody else kissed him goodnight, before Andrew carried him into his room, and laid him down in his bed. He then kissed
him goodnight, turned out the light, and closed the door, before walking back into the living, and sitting down on the couch next to
Margaret.
They talked for about another hour, before all deciding that it was time for them to go to bed, as well. They all kissed goodnight, before
heading off to their designated rooms.
They all slept peacefully that night, and for the next 16 nights after that---until.....
January 18th, 2014--fairly early morning (Margaret's due date)
12:30 p.m.
Everybody had just finished, and enjoyed, a nice, leisurely lunch. The boys and Gammy were sitting in the living room talking, and
Margaret was standing in the kitchen, talking with Grace, who was finishing cleaning up.
"Hey, Margaret. You know, I was thinking--how about if Joe and Annie and I take Joshua for a couple hours--maybe to the park or
something. That way, you and Andrew can have at least a little bit of time to yourselves before the baby comes."
"Wow, that would be wonderful. Thanks!" Margaret replied, hugging Grace.
Just then, Andrew walked in. "Hey, honey" he said, kissing her, before, as usual lately, leaning over and kissing her belly."What's
up in here?"
"Well, you mom, as well as your dad and Gammy, are going to take Joshua out for a couple hours--maybe to the park, or something--
just to give us a little bit more alone time before the baby."
"That's great--he'll love that!"
After everything had been cleaned up, everyone headed back into the living room, and talked for a little while longer. Pretty soon, though,
Grace looked over at the clock.
"Well, we should probably get going" she said.
"All right, I'll go get Joshua" Andrew said, getting up off the couch, and walking down the hall, A few minutes later, he returned, holding
Joshua on his right hip.
"Okay buddy, here's Grandma" he said, kissing him on the cheek, before placing him in Grace's waiting arms.
"We'll be back soon. And if anything happens, call us. You mom and I will both have our cell phones on us" Joe said.
"Thanks--we will. Have fun."he said, both he and Margaret waving as they walked out and shut the door behind them.
-------------
About 1 --1:30 p.m.
Andrew and Margaret were sitting on the couch, watching TV, and just enjoying their time alone. All of a sudden, a pain shot through
her, and she touched her belly, and leaned over.
"Andrew noticed this immediately. "Are you okay, honey?" he asked, looking concerned.
It took her a few seconds to respond. "Yeah, it was just the baby kicking again. "I'm" but before she could finish her sentence, another pain
shot through her, again causing her to lean over, and then---wetness.
"Okay, well, that was definitely more than just the baby kicking. Andrew, honey, my water just broke."
"Andrew's eyes widened. He, very quickly, jumped up off the couch. "Is everything packed? How far apart are the contractions?" he asked,
already starting to run around nervously.
"Honey, relax. Yes, everything is packed and ready, and, as for the contractions, they're still pretty infrequent--about 10 minutes apart" she
said, still being able to to talk normally.
"All right then--"he said "as long as you're okay. I'm going to call an ambulance--just in case we aren't able to make it to the hospital in time."
He leaned over and kissed her, before grabbing the cordless phone, and walking into another room. About 5 minutes later, he walked back out.
"They should be here in about 30 minutes."
She nodded, and he sat back down on the floor with her, holding her hand, and just being there with her, helping as best he could.
---------------------------
Another 30 minutes--2:00 p.m.
Margaret had only been in labor for 30 minutes, but it seemed like forever. This labor seemed a little different from the first.
Just then, another contraction hit her. After that one had passed, she looked at the clock, and noticed something--the one
before that had been just 5 minutes before.
"Oh man, this kid must really want out." she thought, before another one hit her.
"Andrew,..."she said "the contractions...they're coming...every...5 minutes" she said, starting to breath a little harder.
"All right, honey--just relax, and keep breathing slowly. Everything is going to be fine" he said, holding onto her hand, before
leaning in and giving her a little kiss on the forehead.
----------------------------
Another 30 minutes later--2:30 p.m.
Margaret was still sitting on the floor--Andrew still next to her, and still holding her hand, as she continued breathing slowly. She had
only been in labor for an hour now, but to her, it seemed so much longer. She looked at the clock--it had now been over 30 minutes, in
fact, about 1 hour since the ambulance was supposed to have arrived, and it still wasn't there.
All of a sudden, another contraction hit her, and then, she felt something move down.
"Andrew, we...can't...wait...for the...ambulance...anymore" she said, breathing harder. "This...baby...is coming...NOW!"
Once again, his eyes widened. He definitely hadn't prepared himself for this. He thought that they would have had time for the
paramedics to get there, and, in time, deliver the baby, and then transport them from there to the hospital. It was at that moment
he realized that that wasn't going to happen--and that he was going to have to deliver the baby himself.
He was snapped out of his little daydream by the sound of Margeret yelling "I really need to push!", as she spread her legs apart.
"All right, honey, now, as soon as you have another contraction, I want you to give me a good, strong push."
All she could do was nod. Just then, another contraction hit, and she, doing what she had been told, gave a good, strong push..
"That's good--okay now--when you feel another one, give me another push" Andrew said, still a little shocked at how this was playing
out.
Another contraction came, and again, she pushed, screaming loudly as she felt the baby's head crowning.
"Good job, baby--one more push, and the head will be out."
Another contraction--another push---more screaming, and finally, just like that, the worst was over.
"Okay, the head's out. Now, one more push, and we'll have our baby" Andrew said.
At that moment, another one hit, and she pushed with all her remaining strength. And then, just when she thought she couldn't do
it anymore, she felt something slide out, and then---crying.
"It's a girl" Andrew said, starting to cry, while carefully placing the baby on Margaret's stomach. Like Andrew before her, as soon as
she saw their daughter for the first time, she too started to cry--from utter happiness, of course.
Andrew then moved from where he had been, right over next to Margaret.
"You did it, honey! I'm so proud of you. She's beautiful." he said, leaning his forehead against hers, and kissing it--both of them now
crying as he did so.
"Welcome to the world, Grace Elizabeth Paxton" Margaret managed to choke out. She looked at Andrew and smiled at him--he then
smiled back at her, tears still falling down both their faces, before they each leaned in, one at a time, and placed a gentle kiss on the
top of her head.
Just then, the paramedics finally arrived. At that point, it had been about 5 minutes since the birth. They cut the cord, and wrapped the
baby up in a small blanket, and then checked out both mom and baby. Afterwards, they loaded them up into the ambulance--Andrew at
her side the whole time--and headed off to the hospital.
Just as they were about to pull into the parking lot, and around to the emergency entrance, Andrew remembered what his dad had said
before they had left for the park that morning--"..And if anything happens, call us."
Well, something definitely had happened--something that, when he would call and tell them about once they got settled in at the hospital,
he knew would take them all completely by surprise.