Chapter 32

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Thirty-seven weeks and I was bigger than this house!  Three weeks left and I could hardly stand it anymore!  When was this baby coming out of me?  She's been using my bladder as a trampoline and practicing some sort of mixed martial arts.  Sleeping was becoming more and more uncomfortable no matter what position I tried.  The doctor still hadn't released me from bed rest.  I pleaded my case, but the doctor said maybe next week.

"Logan, I am going stir crazy!  I have to get out of this house.  It's starting to feel like I'm trapped," I said.

"I'm just trying to follow the doctor's orders and keep you and the baby safe," he replied.

"Maybe we can break the rules and just get out of here.  We could go to Martha's Vineyard.  I can relax outdoors, by the ocean and away from here!"

"Oh, Ace, you should know better than to ask me to break the rules, especially doctor's orders," Logan replied laughing, and kissing me on the cheek.  "If you want to get out of here, we'll go.  I just don't like the idea of being too far away in case Little Ace decides to make her arrival.  You're in the home stretch now, and she could come at any time."

"Then what do you have in mind?  It had better include getting me out of the house!" I said.

"How about we head into the city?  We can take a carriage ride through Central Park, go out for dinner....what do you say?"

"Sounds like a dream come true!  Fresh air!  Food!  Oh, and a carriage ride," I replied, smiling and laughing.

"Your wish is granted!" Logan said.

Forty weeks had come and gone.  Little Ace didn't seem like she was in any hurry to make her debut.  I can't blame her.  I'm sure she was all cozy in the enclosed hot tub known as my womb.  No hurry to poke her head into the cold, cruel world.  My weekly doctor appointments weren't showing any progress either.  It was becoming disheartening, but I had been sprung from my bed rest orders.  I didn't think she was every going to come out.  I've tried bumpy roads, spicy foods, long walks, and everything in between to no avail.  I guess it's for the best since we still hadn't settled on a name.  Nothing seemed quite right, or good enough for her.

"Ok, little girl!  I'm posting your eviction notice today, time....NOW!  You've overstayed your welcome and it's time for you to come out!" I said to my stomach.

"Ace, I don't think that's gonna work.  She's a Gilmore.  She takes orders from no one," Logan replied, laughing.

"I'm miserable and I need to be done with this pregnancy.  This is all your fault, you know!"

"How is this my fault?  I do believe I gave you a key to your own room.  Who said, Where's your room?"

"I have no recollection of your tale," I replied with a sly smile.

"I'm hurt," Logan said, feigning heartbreak.

"Stop being so soft, Huntzberger!"

"You've broke me, what I can say?" he replied, smirking.

"Broke you?  I doubt that.  Maybe you've just mellowed in your old age," I said with a wink.

"Old age?  Your insults have become weak, Ace!" Logan laughed.

"It's this whole baby brain thing.  She sucking the smarts right outta me!" I said, feeling a slight pain reminiscent of the ones I felt weeks ago.  It wasn't much of anything, but maybe, she had finally decided to listen to me.

"Are you ok?" Logan asked.

"Yeah, I think I just felt a contraction, but it was very light," I replied.

"Should we be timing them?"

"No, I don't think so.  Let's just try to get some sleep.  I'm exhausted," I said.

We headed toward the bedroom and got ready for bed.  Sleeping had become awkward, at best.  The special pillow didn't do much for me anymore.  I was huge and uncomfortable.  Little Ace thought that the middle of the night was the best time to practice her gymnastics routines.  Of course, just as I got comfortable, I had to pee.  As I crawled back into bed, I felt another very mild contraction.  I managed to fall asleep, but woke up at about four.  The contractions were a little stronger, but not very close together.  For the next hour, just as I dozed back off, I felt another one.  I didn't want to wake Logan, so I slowly made my way down to the living room.  I turned on the television and found some reruns.  I finally fell back asleep for a couple hours.  A contraction woke me up.  They were starting to get stronger, but still not terrible or close together.

"What are you doing down here?" Logan asked.

"I woke up and couldn't get back to sleep.  I didn't want to wake you, so I came down here and fell asleep on the couch watching reruns," I replied, wincing.

"Is something wrong, Ace?  Are you having contractions?"

"Nothing is wrong, but I've been having mild contractions.  They aren't very close, so I didn't want to worry you," I stated, feeling a wet warmth down my leg.  The shock was visible.

"I think we'd better get you to the hospital, Ace.  It seems your water just broke," Logan said, ushering me toward the door.

The ride was short and the time between contractions shrank.  I felt a bit of deja vu heading into the hospital.  Logan wheeled me up to the room they had ready for us.  Logan called on the way to let them know we were coming.  I managed to call Mom, who'd call other people for us.  She had a list of names and numbers.  Things went very smooth getting me prepared for everything.  I couldn't believe this was happening.  Logan stayed close, and held my hand as the contractions increased in severity.  I started to freak out a little bit.  How could I even think that I could handle something like this?  Pushing a human being out of me?  I couldn't possibly do this!  Another contraction, and this was worse than the last!

"I think this baby is going to have to find another way out because she's definitely not exiting down there," I said, gritting through the pain.

"Are you ok, Ace?  Is there anything you want, or need?  Like some drugs?"

"I thought I wanted to do this, but this pain is getting worse and I don't think I want that.  Give me the drugs!  NOW!"

Logan buzzed for the nurse.  She came about five minutes later.

"What can we do for you, Rory?" she asked.

"I want, no, I NEED drugs!"

"Would you like a pain killer or an epidural?"

"Go big, or go home.  Give me the epidural!"

"Give me a few minutes, and we'll get your set up," she said and left the room.

The contractions kept coming, a little faster and a little more intense.  A couple of contractions later, the anesthesiologist came in to get me set up for the epidural.  I can say it was not comfortable to lean forward and endure the contractions.  A few minutes later, I felt immense relief, but I also couldn't feel my legs.  It was a trade-off I could live with.  The nurse came back in to check on my progress.  I was getting close, but not quite there yet.  I was able to relax a bit since the epidural was working its magic.  I felt myself drifting off.  I'm not sure how long I was out, but I awoke to some pressure building where I felt the pain of contractions before.

"The nurse is here, and she wants to check your progress.  She said your contractions are getting closer," Logan said.

"How long was I out?  I can't believe I fell asleep during labor," I replied.

"You're at a ten.  I'll go get the doctor so you can have this baby," she said with a smile.

"I'm gonna have this baby?  She's coming out?" I asked.

"You're doing great, Ace!"

"I'm here, Rory!  Oh, good!  You haven't had baby Lorelai yet!" Mom said, bursting into my room, shocking me back to reality.

"MOM!  I'm so glad you're here!  And we haven't picked a name yet!"

The doctor came into the room and made sure I was ready.

"Can you feel any of your contractions?" he asked.

"I feel some pressure, but it's definitely not the pain I felt before," I replied.

"Ok, when you feel the pressure, I want you to push," he directed.

I felt the pressure build and the nurse nodded to the doctor.

"Push!"

I pushed as hard as I could.  Mom was on one side of me and Logan on the other.  The pressure subsided for a moment.  I barely took a breath when I felt the pressure again.  I gritted my teeth and began pushing again.

"You are doing great," Logan encouraged.

Every time the pressure built, I pushed.  I pushed for what felt like three hours, and in reality it was more like one.  Mom had a cool, wet cloth on my forehead to help cool me off.  It was a small relief, as I was starting to feel more and more the longer I pushed.

"Ok, the baby's head is crowning.  I think a couple more big pushes should do it.  Take a deep breath and push," he instructed.

I pushed when I felt the pressure turn to pain.  I pushed with everything I had, and started to feel a little light-headed.  I took a couple of good breaths before I pushed again, harder than I'd had ever pushed.  This baby needed to get OUT!

"Keep pushing, Rory, the baby is almost out!" he said.

I kept pushing and the pressure finally released.  I tried to catch my breath.

"She's here!  Congratulations on your new baby girl!"

"She's here?" I asked, breathlessly.  I felt relief, and then things started fading.  I could barely hear the doctor shouting orders.

"She's fading.....lost.....blood.....surgery...."

I heard nothing more, and everything went black.







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