Chapter 29
A/N A child is born
Welcome to the world Elizabeth Suzanne Adams, the chapter most of you have been waiting for.
Benjamin was running about the house gathering their things and trying to remain calm. He was usually the level headed of the two, but her water breaking had flipped a switch in him. He finally put the baby bag in the car and was heading back in to gather Suzanne. He got her in the car and spun the tires pulling out of the driveway.
Suzanne laid her hand on his arm. For some reason, a calmness had come over her and she wanted to settle Benjamin down also. They didn't need to have an accident rushing to the hospital. She chuckled when she saw his white knuckles gripping the wheel.
"Benjamin, calm down. Everything is going to be okay. I am fine," she said just as a contraction hit her. She gripped his arm, cutting off his circulation. She was breathing, or trying to, through the contraction, but they were getting harder and closer together.
Benjamin pulled into the emergency area and jumped out. He rounded the car and opened her door, helping her out. He put his arm around her and assisted her inside. She was immediately wheeled up to the maternity ward. Once she was settled in her room, he parked the car and retrieved the bags.
Suzanne was hooked up to all kinds of machines when he walked back in. It was overwhelming. He had decided riding up in the elevator that he needed to settle down and really be the calm one for her.
"Benjamin, you need to call our parents and let them know we are here. My Mom will kill me if she is not here when this baby is born. Plus your parents will have to fly down, we will need to give them as much notice as possible," she told him. Her contractions were coming about every 5-6 minutes.
Benjamin found a phone and made all the calls. He stopped by and picked up a cup of coffee. He figured it would be a long night.
Suzanne's contractions were getting closer and Dr. Mathis had finally arrived. "Looks like we are going to have a little girl tonight Adams."
"I am just going to take a quick check and see how far along we are. Hmmm, looks like you are at an 8, will be a little bit but not too long. I am going to go change and make sure everyone is set up," he said.
Benjamin was holding her hand and running a cool cloth over her face and neck. The contractions were taking a lot out of her and she was starting to get exhausted. He hoped it would not be hard on her to deliver the baby. He hated it when she was in pain and would do anything to take it away.
Ellen and Joe arrived and ran into the room. Ellen went to her side and grabbed her hand. "How are you doing, baby girl?"
"I am so tired and this pain is killing me. Daddy make it go away," she begged him.
Joe laughed and she gave him a death glare. Benjamin had the good sense to turn around so she didn't see him laughing at her statement. He had lived with her hormone changes the last 9 months and after a few mistakes had learned not to react as someone normally would in those situations. She had a quick temper and would often almost rip a layer of hide from him when he reacted wrong.
A contraction hit and distracted her from her anger. Ellen held her hand through it and urged her to breathe through it. Giving birth was not easy and having been through it twice Ellen was sympathetic to her pain.
Dr. Mathis walked back in the door whistling a tune. He had learned over time that laughter would often help relieve the tension in the room. "Okay let's see where we are at." He walked to the end of the bed and sat down on a stool. He raised the sheet and began to examine her. "Alright we are fully dilated and it looks like we are ready to push.
Benjamin and Joe exited the room, but Ellen stayed. The men would wait in the waiting room. Benjamin patted his pocket. He had bought the obligatory cigars a few days ago and wanted to make sure he had remembered to pick them up in their frantic exit from home. He found them and blew out a nervous breath.
It seemed like hours to Suzanne and she thought the baby was never going to come. The pain racked her body and she just wanted it to end.
"Suzanne, I need a good push when the next contraction hits," he said.
"I can't do this, it is too hard," she said, panting.
Ellen squeezed her hand and said, "Yes you can. You are the strongest person I know. This little one is lucky to have you for a Mom and I know you are ready to see her. So let's bare down and get this show on the road."
Suzanne nodded and smiled up at her Mom, just as a contraction hit. She bared down and pushed with all her might.
"The head is out, but hold on let me get the cord out of the way. Alright, one more good push," Dr. Mathis said.
A strong contraction hit and Suzanne pushed hard. She then felt a different pain.
"Here she is, a beautiful baby girl," Dr. Mathis said as he handed the baby to the nurse by his side.
Suzanne was holding her breath waiting to hear her baby cry. Suddenly a loud wail sounded from the other side of the room. Suzanne let out the breath and tears started streaming down her face.
"We have a healthy 7 lbs 6 ounce and 20 inches long baby girl," the pediatrician announced.
They bundled up the baby and walked her over to her Mom. They pulled back her gown and the baby blanket and laid the baby on Suzanne's chest. Skin to skin contact was the best thing for the baby.
Suzanne looked down at her baby with tears streaming down her face. "She is so beautiful. She has Benjamin's nose and my chin. Look at all of those blond curls."
"I am just finishing up down here and then we can let Dad in. You had some tearing when she came through the birth canal, so I am just putting some stitches in. You will be a little sore for a few days," Dr. Mathis told her.
The Doctors and nurses cleaned up Suzanne and the baby and made them comfortable. Once they were done, the men were cleared to come in.
Benjamin was anxiously pacing the waiting room. Joe was trying to keep him calm, but nothing was working. They both whipped around when the door was opened. Dr. Mathis entered the room and told Benjamin he had a healthy baby girl and he could go meet her.
Benjamin tried to calm himself before he walked in, but excitement got the better of him and he burst in the room. He stopped when he entered the room. The most beautiful sight his eyes had ever seen was before him. Suzanne was sitting up in bed holding their baby.
Suzanne held out her hand to him. "Benjamin, come meet your daughter."
Benjamin took her and held her in his arms. He had read everything he could get his hands on and he was still not prepared for the love he immediately felt when he took his daughter in his arms for the first time. Eric had told him it would happen, but he had scoffed at him when he said it.
He looked down at her and immediately saw Suzanne in her. She was like a mini version of her Mom. He could not tear his eyes from her. He gently stroked her cheek and looked down on her face. Tears were pouring from his eyes and one dropped onto her forehead. He wiped it off and laughed. He looked up and caught Suzanne looking at him with tears in her eyes also. Pure joy radiated from her. He thought his heart would burst with happiness.
"She is so beautiful, I was not prepared for how quickly she would fill my heart. Thank you my beautiful for giving me my second love," he told her with love in his eyes.
He walked over and sat down on the bed beside her. He handed her the baby. "Welcome to the family, Elizabeth Suzanne Adams," he said to her.
Suzanne reached down and placed a kiss on top of her head. A nurse walked in and told her it was time to feed Elizabeth. They had decided breastfeeding was best. All the experts said it was best for the baby and helped the mothers also.
Three days passed and Suzanne and Elizabeth were ready to be discharged and sent home. Benjamin loaded everything in the car and walked back in to get his family. Suzanne held Elizabeth in the back seat and Benjamin drove. He had never driven so slow and carefully in his life. He had precious cargo in the backseat and was determined to get them home safely.
His parents had not been able to fly in until now and his Mom was wearing the carpet out waiting on them to arrive. She heard the car drive into the garage and sprinted out to meet them.
Suzanne handed her the baby and Emma's face was lit up with joy. William joined them to help get everything out of the car. Once they were all inside the house William took his turn holding his new granddaughter. He too was overcome with joy and had a hard time composing himself.
Between the 2 of them she was passed back and forth until it was feeding time. Suzanne took her to the nursery and everyone else settled in the living room.
A month passed by, Benjamin and Suzanne were finally starting to settle in as a family of three. They struggled in the beginning trying to balance everything and lack of sleep was starting to get to both of them. Ellen showed up after talking to her daughter and hearing how overwhelmed they both were, took over and sent them both to bed to get some real sleep.
A week later his sister Joan surprised them with a visit. She was not able to attend their wedding, but wanted to meet her new niece. She was sitting on the couch with Elizabeth in her arms. "Benjamin, she is beautiful. She looks like a carbon copy of Suzanne. I am so happy for both of you. I will try and be around more, so I can appropriately spoil her," she said laughing.
Joan stayed a week, but had bought out half the baby stores in Charlottesville before she left.
Both of them were very grateful and realized that they needed more of a structured routine or they would burn themselves out. Ellen helped and they were getting it down.
Elizabeth was growing and definitely looking more like her Mom. Ellen could not believe the resemblance between the two. Ellen had pulled out some baby pictures of Suzanne and put some in frames for them.
Benjamin was so in love with his little girl. He was amazed when she smiled at him the first time. He would spend hours holding her and talking to her. Suzanne had told him that he had an uncanny knack of being able to settle her down with just his voice. She was definitely becoming a Daddy's girl and Suzanne could not be happier.
Suzanne would take her to the office with her when she went back to work and Isiah was doing an excellent job of spoiling her also. She ran up to the farm house and when she returned Isiah was laying on the couch in their office with little Lizzie asleep on his chest. This brought a smile and tears to her eyes. She grabbed her camera and took a picture. She knew that Elizabeth would appreciate the picture when she got older. Isiah was extremely important to her and she hoped he would be around long enough to be just as important to her daughter.