An Arrival
The next day began the same. The rising sun woke the couple and Kurt announced he was going to the kitchen and ask Katia for some juice.
"I suppose we should get dressed Maria."
"I need to use the bathroom before I can get dressed."
When she went to stand, her hands covered her large belly. "Georg, something's happening."
"What's happening?"
"I feel pressure between my legs."
"Sit on the bed while I get dressed." He didn't want to alarm her but he knew she was close to giving birth.
After he dressed, he went into the hall. He saw Liesl.
"Please go stay with your mom while I ask Franz to bring the car under the portico."
They both hurried to their destination. Liesl arrived in the suite to see her mom sitting on the side of the bed holding her belly.
"Are you going to have the baby today?"
"Yes, I just hope we make it to the Birthing Center in time."
In another few seconds Georg and Franz both arrived. "Maria, we're going to carry you to the elevator and then to the car. We've done this before." Georg didn't explain.
The men clasped hands to form a seat and immediately carried Maria down the hall to the elevator. The elevator moved slowly.
"Are you okay?"
"Yes."
As usual Stefan and Phillip were already awake. Stefan opened the car door; then Georg and Franz placed Maria on the seat. She was able to draw her legs into the car. By now Georg was in the driver's seat, he sped away towards town.
All the children were now awake and were in shock. "Grandma Isabel, is mommy going to have the baby today?"
"Yes Gretl she is."
Brigitta followed with another question. "Does it always happen so fast?"
"No, not at all; it usually takes a few hours. I'm going to call both of your schools and tell them you won't be there today. They will excuse your absence because your mom is going to give birth today."
"Thank you, I doubt any of us could have concentrated on school work."
Meanwhile, Georg had come to a screeching stop by the Birthing Center. A custodian was bringing out the trash; he immediately put the bags down and opened the center's door and yelled. "Need help out here."
The center's two nurses on duty came out and helped Georg carry Maria from the car to a birthing room. One of them recognized them.
"I know you visited the center recently. Is there anything we need to know?'"
"No, I've always been in good health."
Georg added. "This is our first baby."
"It may be your wife's first baby but her labor is more like it's her second or third."
Georg stepped out while the nurses help Maria out of her nightgown and into a birthing gown. He did hear.
"I have a lot of pressure between my legs."
"You're close to delivering this baby. Now step up on the stool and sit on the edge of the bed and then scoot back."
And Georg heard. "You can come in now and kneel behind your wife. You may want to take your shoes off."
Since Georg had done this before, he knew exactly what to do. He whispered. "It won't be too much longer sweetheart; I'll be with you all the way."
"Maria, I need you to place your feet far apart. A small piece of the bed folds down so I can deliver this baby. With each tightening of your baby sac I want you to push; the baby will move down a bit each time. Then relax until it happens again."
Maria had pushed several times; now she felt an excruciating need to push. "It won't be much longer Maria; one more push will deliver the baby's head."
She pushed a hard as she could and then felt instant relief. The nurse was now prepared to let Maria give one more push to complete the birth.
"Push again Maria and your baby will be born."
Suddenly, a cry of joy was heard. The baby had been born. "It's a boy, a big boy."
The nurse worked quickly to complete the delivery. And now the baby was raised so they had a good look at him.
Georg commented. "He sounds just like my younger son did when he was born."
The nurse placed him under heat lamps as she wiped him off with rags. Then he was wrapped in warm blankets and given to Georg to hold while Maria was attended to.
Before they left the center, the nurses helped Maria learn how to hold him and let him nurse.
"He did better than most newborns. He's not getting any milk yet. It should begin to come in tomorrow. Be sure and rotate breasts. Do you have help at home?"
"She does. Isabel knows all about newborns. She was with my first wife for the birth of our last five children. And I know our two oldest girls will help too."
"Give me time to complete the paperwork and you'll be ready to go home."
"Georg, everyone is going to be so surprised when we return so soon. I never told you I was born on a train."
"We're you really?"
"Yes, my mother had stayed with her family but my father needed to return to Vienna. The train's conductor assisted her to give birth to me. I'm so glad Isabel encouraged me to buy everything our baby needs last week.
The baby was dressed in a cotton shirt and a clean diaper. Then he was wrapped in a clean blanket and carried by one of the nurses while the other and Georg assisted Maria to the car.
After Maria was comfortably seated, the nurse placed the baby in Maria's arms. "Remember you can call us at any time if you have questions."
Georg added. "Maria and I thank you for your excellent care."
"It was our pleasure to assist your wife."
Georg drove away at a much slower speed than when they had arrived.
Franz heard the noise of a car in the foyer. I wonder who came to visit. He was speechless when he stepped out the door.
"Yes, Franz we're home with my third son. I need to take the baby from Maria so she can get out."
"Let me alert the others you're home."
He shouted into the house. "Georg and Maria are home."
There was a mass exit from the house; some used the foyer, others the front door. Exclamations were heard. "So soon! I can't believe it! And so many more similar exclamations were heard from the others.
Isabel came forward. "I'll hold the baby while Georg helps you out of the car."
Katia ran to the master suite to be sure everything was ready for both of them. She did need to put a protective pad for Maria to sit on. And she brought the cradle closer to the bed.
Maria was able to walk inside. Isabel followed with the baby. Once again they used the elevator. Georg didn't need to carry her. He did have his arm firmly around her waist as they walked together.
Isabel had to wait for the elevator to return before it took her up with the baby. The children had run up the stairs; they were all anxious to learn if they had a brother or a sister.
"Children, let me go in first."
She heard. "I need to use the bathroom first."
"Georg, I'll help her. You can tell the children they can visit soon."
After placing the baby in the cradle, Isabel helped Maria to the bathroom. "You will find you need to use the bathroom frequently for the next several hours. Your body needs to get rid of the extra fluid needed while you were pregnant. You can get up as long as someone is here with you. I also placed a box of pads in there."
"Thank you. Please tell Georg and the children they can come in now."
"Let me give you the baby first."
As soon as the doorknob moved Georg spoke. "Please enter quietly."
By now the door was wide-open, the children were quiet. They saw Maria holding a big bundle.
"Gather around the bed and you can have your first look at your big brother."
"We really have a brother mommy?"
"Yes, come closer Gretl and you can see his face."
"He's asleep."
"Can we see him too?"
"Of course you can."
"When will he wake up?"
"I don't know exactly; maybe when he gets hungry."
"Does he have a name?"
"Your mom and I are still deciding. I do know he won't be a junior. I told your mom their parents never used their real name, they were called junior."
"Children, your mom needs to feed the baby and will also need to use the bathroom again."
"And I need to call in to report my absence."
Georg and the children left the bedroom together. The older children were still in shock that the baby had been born so soon.
When Georg called to report his absence, he heard. Stay home with Maria and your new son a few days.