January 31, 2002

Week 37

"Dave?" Randi said walking into the kitchen as he washed the dishes.

"Humm?" Dave turned to see Randi bundled up in a winter jacket, gloves, hat, and a scarf. "Going somewhere?"

"I'm going to the graveyard." She said, "I have to take the snow off of Aaron's Memorial."

"Do you want me to come?" Dave asked shutting the water off.

"No. I want to do this alone." She smiled slightly.

"All right. Give Aaron a kiss for me." Dave said softly. She nodded.

"I will." Randi said walking out into the hallway. She wobbled outside. Everyday was getting harder for Randi to do a lot. Walking was a tough task, but she had to see her son's memorial before she got bogged down with sleepless nights and dirty diapers.

Randi slowly made her way down the slippery sidewalk. A fresh sheet of snow had fallen over Chicago the night before. The snow plows had piles up huge mounds of snow on the sides. Randi found an opening in the snow banks and made her way across the street to the snow covered graveyard.

Randi stepped between the gravestones she had gotten to know so well after all these months. She practically knew every name on the cold slabs. She made her way to a small clearing. A snow covered stuffed teddy bear lets Randi know where she had to start digging.

Randi knelt down and started to sweep the snow off. Soon the flat Marble memorial was clean. Randi shook off the Brown teddy bear she and Randi bought him for Christmas. She ran her hand over the memorial.

"Good afternoon, Aaron my love." Randi said. "You should see the nursery. Daddy finished it, but you wouldn't you like it though because it's all pink and yellow...unless you like pink and yellow." she chuckled slightly. Randi sat there for ten minutes before the cold started getting to her. She slowly pulled herself up on the Pink Marble gravestone to her left. She always-used Gorden Harry Mintser's stone. As she stood up a sharp pain shot through her abdomen almost causing her to fall again. She felt a warm liquid run down her legs.

"Oh god." She whispered. Randi took in a deep breath as a contraction coursed through her for the second time. It was time. There was no doubt in her mind that it was time now. She reached into her pocket and pulled out her cell phone. She dialed the number to her house.

"Dave, its time...." Randi took in a shuddery breath, "To have the frigging Baby! What do you think??....YES!!!...I'm still with...ow...Aaron......okay." Randi hung up the phone and slumped to the ground. The pain was so much different than her previous false alarms. Within two minutes, she heard Dave running through the graveyard.

"Randi!!' he yelled dashing through the snow. He ran up to Randi and helped her up, "It's really time??"

"God yes..." Randi groaned.

"Okay, we'll be at county in ten minutes."

"O-Okay." Randi mumbled

Four hours later

Dave glanced at the clock. It was now six thirty in the evening. Randi was seven centimeters dilated. He paced back and forth as Randi tried to get some sleep. Abby chuckled as she checked her patients' heart rates.

"Dave, sit down. This is only the beginning." She said, "There's a long time left."

"Can't you give her a drug to speed it up?" Dave asked. He shook his head, "That's ridiculous."

"Dave, sit, hold her hand, give her ice ships. That's all you can do at this point." Abby said pushing Dave into a chair. He took in a deep breath. The big day had finally come.

"She's three weeks early. That wont be a problem right?" He asked. Abby shook her head.

"It shouldn't be." She said looking at Randi's chart. Everything will be all right. She's in good hands."

"I know." He said running his hand through his hair. He was going to be a father. Soon, he would be able t o hold his daughter in his arms.

Five hours later

11:42 pm

"Oh god." Randi groaned loudly. Dave swept back her sweaty hair. She breathed in heavily. "There's too much pressure. It hurts." She mumbled.

"Let me massage your back." He said. Randi nodded slowly and turned onto her sighed. Dave ran his hands down her tense her back and start massaging her lower back. She groaned loudly.

"This sucks." Randi mumbled.

"No I don't." Dave said, "We're going o have a daughter soon. We're not signing any papers that will relinquish our rights. She's ours to keep and raise." Randi smiled softly.

"I just wish it didn't hurt so much." She said breathing in deeply as a contraction made its way through her.

"I can get Abby to give you an Epi." Dave said. Randi shook her head.

"No...I want to do this naturally." She mumbled. Abby walked in and sat down in front of Randi.

"Why don't you lie on your back and I can see how you're doing." Abby smiled. Randi nodded slowly going back onto her back. It was very weird for Randi to get examined by Abby.

"How is she doing?" Dave asked.

"Oh about eight centimeters." Abby said taking off her plastic gloves and tossing them into the trash can. "I'm sure you can start pushing soon."

"How soon?" Randi asked. Abby gave her a sly smile.

"Soon."

Five hours later

February 1, 2002

4:37 am

"Oh fuck." Randi moaned gripping Dave's hand tightly. Nurses walked about the room preparing everyone for the upcoming birth. "I have to push, Dave."

"You can't yet." Dave said, "You have to wait for Janet."

"Like fucking hell." Randi cursed. "I gotta push!" Abby sighed hearing the woman's cries.

"Okay, Randi. You can push for me but you have to wait for Dr. Coburn." Abby said.

"Just let me push please!' Randi whined. Abby nodded lifting up the sheet.

"Okay, on the count of three Randi push as hard as you can." Abby said. Dave took Randi's hand, "One...two...three." Randi pressed her chin onto her chest and pushed. The pressure and pain increased as she did it but it was something she had to do. "Beautiful, Randi."

"Shit." She moaned. Dave kissed her forehead.

"Sally, page Dr Coburn stat. Tell her Randi isn't going to hold off much longer." Abby said. The other nurse nodded and ran into the hallway.

"You hear that, Love? We'll have our daughter soon." He said.

"Mmmm hmmm." She mumbled in pain.

One Hour later

5:48 am

Dave's heart raced as he watched Janet put her gloves and mask on. The nurses were getting warming blankets ready. He bit his lip. He was going to be a father. Dave Malucci was going to be a father.

"Ready to have a baby?" Janet smiled sitting in front of Randi.

"Oh yes!" Randi and Dave both said in unison. Janet chuckled slightly with a soft nod. The pain was already intense for Randi. So much pressure she through her pelvic bone was going to split.

"Okay, Randi, on your next contraction push with all you've got." Janet said. Abby patted Randi's shoulder with encouragement. Randi nodded taking in a deep breath. With in a few seconds, Randi started to push for real. Everything started t burn as her intimate flesh started to tear.

"Oh shit!" She gritted. Dave bit his lip rubbing her back.

"You're doing great, Randi." He said as she exhaled.

"Oh fuck you." She moaned closing her eyes tightly, "I can't do this."

"Yes you can Randi." Janet said, "You're doing a beautiful job. Give me another push."

"I can't." She moaned loudly with frustration. This was more work and more pain than she had expected.

"You'll feel so much better once we get this baby out and you can hold her in your arms." Janet said, "let's go. Push." Randi took in a deep breath and started to push.

"Fuck...fuck." She moaned as she pushed, "I fucking hate you, Dave!!" Randi cried as she finished pushing.

"I love you." Dave said trying to stay calm. He kissed her forehead. Randi groaned loudly as she started to push again.

"Beautiful, Randi. Her head is out." Janet said, "want to look Dave?" He looked at her and nodded slowly. Dave's feet slowly moved him to the edge of the bed. His heart stopped. His daughter's head was sticking out. A few tears formed in his eyes.

"Sh-She has a lot of hair." Dave smiled looking at Randi.

"W-What color?" Randi mumbled.

"Light brown I think." He leaned over and kissed Randi.

"Okay, Randi. A few more pushes and you'll have a brand new baby girl." Abby said with a soft smile. Randi nodded. She wanted this baby more than anything.

"Okay, We'll push for ten seconds." Janet said. Randi took in a huge breath and pushed, "1...2...3.... 4...excellent, Randi...5...6...7...Her shoulder are almost out...8...9...10 and Breath."

"Oh god." Randi moaned.

"You did a great job, Baby." Dave whispered.

"One more push, Randi, and you'll have it." Janet said. Randi breathed in deeply. She was almost too tired to take in a deep breath. She nodded slowly, "Let's go...1...2...3..4 excellent...5...come on Randi, harder...6.... 7.... 8-" Randi cried out as she felt the baby being pulled from her. Dave kissed her forehead as a soft cry of a newborn rang out through the delivery room. "You have a beautiful baby girl." Randi looked down to see Janet holding up a crying baby girl...her crying baby girl.

"Sh-Shes beautiful." Randi started to sob. Dave cried with her.

"She l-looks just like you." He whispered kissing her. Janet placed the baby down onto Randi's chest. Randi kissed her wrinkled forehead. "W-we're a family." Dave said.

"I-I can't believe it." Randi whisper hoarsly. Abby walked up to them.

"I have to take her and get her all cleaned up and pretty." She smiled. Randi nodded slowly and watched Abby clean their daughter up. Dave's heart beat rapidly as she dressed her in a pink hat and blanket. Abby slowly walked over and placed the sniffling newborn on Randi's chest once again. "Have you decided on a name?"

"Yeah." Dave said. Randi looked at him and smiled softly before kissing her daughter's forehead.

"Ireland Grace." Randi said. The baby held tightly onto Dave's finger. Abby smiled softly.

"That's a fine name." She said. Randi yawned slightly as Ireland closed her eyes. Dave couldn't believe how wonderful his heart felt watching Ireland and Randi, his girls.

"Thank you, Randi." Dave said kissing Ireland and then his fiance. "You've given me such a wonderful thing."

"You've given me a family, Dave. I couldn't ask for anything more." Randi gave Dave a kiss. Dave smiled softly.

"We have a beautiful daughter." He said. She nodded with a soft smile. Both of their hearts swelled with happiness. They were a family. They were finally a family.