Chapter 19
Two days later, Amy woke up in the middle of the night in pain. She wasn't sure if she was starting to have contractions or just extremely uncomfortable, so she decided not to wake Sheldon and headed to the bathroom. She made it to the hallway when she realized this was not just discomfort, she rested both hands on the wall trying to balance herself, while her pelvic and back muscles felt like they were being wrung out like a wet towel.
"Sheldon!" Amy called from the hallway. A sleepy face with disheveled hair appeared in the doorway.
"Sheldon, we need to go to the hospital, I am nearly positive that I am in labor." Amy breathed heavily.
"Okay, okay. Relax and breathe. I'll get your hospital bag and get dressed. Do you want to change your clothes?" Sheldon was panicking yet extremely organized at the same time.
"Yes, please lay something out on the bed and I'll come change as soon as I use the bathroom."
Sheldon ran his life on a strict schedule with routines and protocols, this was planned no differently. Within 15 minutes, they were packed up and headed off to the hospital.
"Aggghh. Sheldon, I can't do this. I can't. Ahhh." Amy sobbed in pain as she held the curve of her lower back.
"Breathe, Amy. Remember the books you read on labor, you need to control your breathing. Please don't panic. You can do this and it will be over before you know it. Try to relax." Sheldon soothed as they were approaching the hospital, luckily only minutes away from the apartment.
Since it was approaching 3 A.M., the hospital was quiet and Amy was able to get into her room quickly.
Dr. Murray knocked on the door about an hour after Amy settled into her birthing suite.
"Dr. Fowler, Dr. Cooper, I didn't think we'd being seeing each other this soon." He smiled. "Let's do a quick exam and see how far along you are."
"Almost 8 centimeters, the baby will be here soon." Dr. Murray looked up to Amy, who was face and hair were matted with sweat.
"Oh, thank God. I don't know how much more of this I can take." Amy panted as Sheldon tilted a cup of ice water to her mouth to drink.
"Dr. Fowler, have you considered the epidural? It will lessen the pain greatly, you will only feel pressure."
"No, I've made it this far, I can do it." Amy wasn't totally sure of herself but she did know the processes of the brain. Oxytocin is being released into her body as she was speaking to reduce anxiety, in turn reducing her pain.
"Amy, if you are in pain, take the epidural. That is what it is for." Sheldon tried to convince her.
"Sheldon, I don't want the epidural. I have an extensive working knowledge of the brain, nervous system, and the body's response. I don't need it." Amy argued. Sheldon couldn't refute that so he left it. If he had learned anything about relationships it was to choose your battles. This battle would count as his loss.
As if Dr. Murray could read Sheldon's thoughts he patted his back. "You forget who you are dealing with sometimes, eh? She'll be fine – epidural or no epidural." Dr. Murray smiled.
"I will be back in 45 minutes to do another exam. Dr. Fowler, Please press your call button if you need anything."
The door shut and it was just Amy and Sheldon.
"Oh God, here we go again." Amy sobbed as she felt another contraction coming on.
"Try getting on your hands and knees, I read that may reduce the pain." Sheldon said as he helped Amy flip over into the position.
"Mmmm, this is better but I still feel like someone is ripping my pelvis out."
"Well, you are about to give birth. Something the size of a watermelon is trying to come out of a quarter sized exit." Sheldon spoke matter-of-factly.
"Yes, I am well aware! Thank you for the reminder and lovely image painted in my brain." Amy shot back sarcastically.
"I am sorry, Amy. I am trying to be helpful. I am nervous too and I don't know if my hand is going to make it through this if you keep your death grip on it."
"Ten centimeters. You need to start pushing on your next contraction, Dr. Fowler." Dr. Murray was prepping himself for Issac's arrival as the room flooded with nurses.
"Alright, push. Push. Push." Dr. Murray commanded soothingly.
"Dr. Cooper you can see the baby's head, do you want to come see?"
"No thank you." Sheldon was concentrating on getting blood flow to his hand, which felt like the jaws of life had a hold of. "I am trying not to pass out." Sheldon huffed.
"Alright, push again Dr. Fowler, you are almost there."
"OH MY GOD! Ughhhhhh." Amy screamed as she pushed. Sheldon's hand was a goner, he was sure of it.
"One more time, Dr. Fowler, you are doing great." The nurse standing next to her encouraged. Amy pushed with all the strength she could possibly muster… the pressure and pain were gone and the room was filled with the crying of her baby boy.
The nurse laid a towel on Amy's chest and placed Issac there to meet his mother, before cleaning him up. Amy laid eyes on her son for the first time, a feeling that words would never be able to describe. Her eyes filled with tears, looked up to Sheldon who was also tearing up.
"He's beautiful." Amy whispered to Sheldon as she cradled Issac's tiny body.
Sheldon had no words. He could not speak, he just marveled at the sight of his son. He reached his hand down and stroked Issac's tiny hand, just as he was whisked away to be cleaned off, weighed, and measured.
Sheldon leaned down a kissed Amy's forehead. "You did it. I told you to have a little faith in yourself. I am so proud of you. He is perfect."
"I love you." Amy sobbed and clung to Sheldon.
"8 lbs. 4 oz., 22 inches long." One of the nurses called out.
"He really is perfect." Amy smiled and kissed Sheldon.
Two days later, Amy and Sheldon were finally released and headed home with their little bundle. Amy insisted on sitting in the backseat with Issac as Sheldon drove back to the apartment for the first time as a family. Amy stared at the tiny replica of Sheldon, tracing his skin lightly with her index finger. His eyes, his nose, his lips, his little patch of hair, all an exact duplicate of Sheldon.
They knew the whole gang was waiting at their apartment, waiting to meet the baby. Sheldon wasn't exactly thrilled about this, as there would be so many germs around Issac, but Penny was insistent on meeting her nephew and everyone else jumped on the band wagon.
Headed up the stairs, Sheldon carried Issac in his car seat. "You do know that I am against all of our friends being in our apartment right now." Sheldon looked down to Amy.
"Yes, I know but Penny insisted. They won't stay very long, they just want to meet him."
"I mean, can you blame them? Look at that little face, just like his daddy's." Amy scrunched her nose and cooed in a baby like tone.
"He really does look exactly like me." Sheldon smiled proudly as he opened the door to the apartment.
"Surprise!" Everyone chorused in a hushed tone, as to not alarm the baby.
"Surprise? We both knew you all were here already." Sheldon chastised.
"Let me see! Let me see!" Penny ran over to Issac's car seat which Sheldon carefully set on the couch. "Ohhh, you guys, he is a little angel." Penny cooed.
"Dear God, he looks just like Sheldon." Howard piped in as he leaned over to get his first glimpse of Issac.
"Haha. I know. He really does." Amy smiled.
The guys had made their way over into the kitchen while the girls hovered over the baby.
"He's so sweet, Amy." Bernadette gave Amy a hug.
"Can I hold him?" Penny pleaded.
Sheldon ears perked up from the kitchen, catching Penny's question.
"Wait, wait, wait. Before this goes any further, yes you may hold him, but you need to go wash your hands, from your elbows down and drape this blanket over you." Sheldon ordered.
"Seriously?" Penny looked up to Amy who just nodded to Penny.
"You know better than to argue with him, although the blanket is a bit much." Amy shot a look over to Sheldon.
"Fine, no blanket, but make sure you wash thoroughly." Sheldon retreated.
"Yes Sheldon, be right back. Bernadette, come on, you need to wash up too." Penny skipped excitedly to the bathroom.
Amy carefully unbuckled Issac from his seat and cradled him in her arms, swaying her hips slowly, planting a small kiss to his forehead. He wiggled slightly and cooed, adjusting in his mother's arms.
Penny and Bernie watched her as they headed back into the living room and the guys were taking notice as well.
"She's a natural, huh?" Sheldon stated proudly.
"She really is. But, I wouldn't have expected any less." Leonard added.
Penny and Bernadette walked slowly up to Amy.
"My turn." Penny whispered and Amy began to hand Issac over to her.
"Make sure you support his head and be gentle with those Nebraskan man hands of yours." Sheldon called from the kitchen and Leonard shot him a look.
"Sheldon, relax, she is fine." Amy called back to him.
Penny cradled Issac and rocked him slowly whispering incoherent nothings to him. "Leonard, come here. Look, he likes me." Penny said as Issac's lips turned up slightly. "Aww, I want a baby." Penny looked up to Leonard who looked like he was about to faint.
"Bazinga. This will do, for now." Penny laughed and kissed the baby's forehead.
"Stop hogging my baby and stealing my word." Sheldon said as he walked over to take Issac from Penny.
Sheldon walked over to his spot and sat down, holding Issac close to his chest.
"Alright guys, we are all going to go and give you some privacy. Thank you for letting us come over and congratulations." Penny said as the gang headed out the door.
Amy headed over and sat next to Sheldon, resting her head on his shoulder and looking into the face of her little angel.
"Thank you." Sheldon spat out randomly after several moments.
"For what?"
"For Issac, for being patient with me all of these years, for dealing with my quirks, and for never giving up on me. I owe all of this to you. I would never have had love or a family without you. Thank you." Sheldon said, never unlocking his eyes from the tiny body pressed against his chest.
"Well, you are welcome. But you don't give yourself enough credit, because I wouldn't have love or a family without you either."
At that moment Issac began to cry. "I think he needs his diaper changed." Sheldon said and Amy automatically reached over to take Issac.
"No, I want to do it." Sheldon smiled and carried Issac to his room.
Amy sat back on the couch and grinned. She couldn't believe both of these precious men were all hers, forever.
A/N: That's all folks. I really hope you enjoyed this. Thank you so much for all of your favorites and reviews! It is greatly appreciated! I am working on another story that may be up soon, unrelated to this one. Stay tuned…