The medicine that the doctor gave me allowed me to fall asleep for a few hours while I waited for Wes and the calvary to make their way to Fargo. I did talk with Tiff for a while and she told me everything she could about the newborn stage. Sadie was born at 37 weeks, so it made me feel a lot better knowing that it was only a week difference and Sadie is perfect in every way. When Wes got here, Tiff excused herself and gave us some privacy.

“How are you doing, darling?” Wes leaned over the bed to give me a big hug and kiss.

“I’m doing okay. Tiff made me feel a bit better about everything. I know there can be a huge difference in 36 and 37 weeks, but I think he’s going to be okay.

“Scoot over,” he pushes at my leg.

“Huh?”

“You heard me.” I scoot over to the side of the hospital bed and Wes crawls in behind me, wrapping his arm around my belly and kissing my neck.

“I don’t think you’re supposed to be on here.”

“I don’t care. I want to be close to you so you can feel my comfort.”

“I do feel better when I’m in your arms.”

“That’s what I thought.” We lay there for about fifteen minutes before the nurses come in and say that I need to get prepped for a c-section. The idea of surgery really scares me, but after weighing the pros and cons of a vaginal birth, everybody on my medical team agreed that being in charge as much as possible was going to be best. Dr. Gregory explained that the medications used to induce labor could cause some stress to the baby, something we certainly didn’t want.

Wes goes into the bathroom and gets changed into his scrubs while the nurse begins me on some medications to prep for the c-section. When he emerges from the bathroom I burst out laughing. The nurse has a good laugh too. They are about three inches too short and way too tight around his arms.

“See this is why I didn’t go to medical school, they don’t make scrubs in my size.’

I reach out and gently rub my hand over his bulging biceps. “I’m sure it had nothing to do with all those crappy science and math scores Mama tells me about.”

“Listen, I kept my grades up enough to play football.” Wes sits down next to me and takes my hand. The nurse gives us a moment of privacy while she checks on Dr. Gregory and the operating room. “Holden called Hannah, she’s on her way. Do you need us to get a hold of anybody else?”

I shake my head, “No, I think that’s all.” I let out a small sigh and he kisses my hand.

“Everything is going to be just fine baby. And when you’re done, our baby boy is going to be here. Isn’t that worth all of this?”

“Of course, Wes. It was so much easier to become Annabelle’s mom though.”

“Yeah, but you missed all the good stuff like poop up the back.”

I wiggle my eyebrows at him. “Good! That means you can be in charge of that stuff since you’re the expert.”

There is a knock at the door and Dr. Gregory opens it wearing his scrubs too. “Okay, mom and dad, the room is ready for you.”

Wes stands up and leans over the bed giving me one more long kiss. “I love you, darling.”

“I love you too, babe.” I slip my engagement ring off and put it in his hand and close his fingers over it. “Hold onto that for me, okay? I don’t want it to just be put in a bag somewhere.”

“I got it, babe, don’t you worry.”

Dr. Gregory puts his hand on Wes’s shoulder, “Dad, you’re going to stay here for right now while we get her prepped, once she’s ready to go my nurse will come to get you, okay?”

“Alright. I guess I’ll see you in a bit baby.” Wes gives me one more kiss and hug. “Love you.”

“I love you, too.:

I’m wheeled down the long hallway into the staging area for surgeries. They change me into a different gown and the anesthesiologist comes in to put in my spinal block. It doesn’t take long before it takes effect and I’m numb throughout most of my body.

Once I’m properly medicated and prepped, they take me into the operating room that is sterile-looking and kind of scary. The nurses all seem like this is so normal for them, so I’m trying to stay calm. I wish that Wes was with me, but I know they need to get everything prepped first. A curtain is placed, blocking my view of my stomach. I can tell they are doing something on the other side, but I can’t see or feel.

Eventually, Wes is walked in by one of the nurses and he is instructed on where he can sit. Thankfully, that spot is right next to my head. He kisses my head through his mask and puts his hand on my shoulder. “Holy shit this is getting real, isn’t it?”

“Not sure it can be much more real,” I say looking up at the large curtain draped over my body.

Dr. Gregory walks in and is met by his nurses getting all his gloves, masks and gown on. He stops to speak to us first. “So once I get started it shouldn’t take us long. The station over there is where he will go to get a full check-up from our pediatrician. I don’t expect it, but in the event that he needs additional care, they are going to wheel him down to the NICU right away. Wes, you will be able to follow them. I know you love Holly, but she’ll agree that it is best that you stay with your son.”

I nod my head at Wes and he nods back, agreeing.

“That is not what I expect though, but I’m going to tell you anyway. I haven’t kept anything from you this whole time. If he doesn’t need immediate care, they will bring him over for you to see, okay mom?”

“Okay, let’s hope for that.”

“I agree,” Wes says.

“Okay, it is go time!” Dr. Gregory begins the procedure and although I can’t feel anything, pain or otherwise, I can feel the movement of my body as they are working down there. I’m glad that I can’t see what is happening because I’m not one of those people that could watch the medical shows or anything. Wes is quiet, his leg is bouncing up and down, but he is trying to look so brave for me. He just keeps stroking my hair and I keep my attention on him.

Dr Gregory peeks over the curtain for a moment, “You’re going to feel a lot of pressure, Holly, and then he’s going to be here.”

Sure enough, it feels like a tug of war is happening and I’m not sure who is winning, but then all of a sudden the pressure is released and then we hear it.

“WAHHHHHHHH!”

The sweet, sweet cry of a newborn baby.

“His lungs work, mom and dad!”

He is grabbed by the pediatrician and taken directly over to the exam area. Wes gives me a kiss and then rushes over to our baby, pulling out his phone to take some pictures. Dr. Gregory is getting me all closed up and I can hear the baby wailing away over there.

“That’s a really good sign, mom. Do you have a name picked out yet?” Dr. Gregory asks while he’s working on me.

“Kind of, maybe, sort of.”

Dr. Gregory laughs and goes back to work. Wes walks back over to me with a swaddled-up baby in his arms. “Oh, oh Wes he’s beautiful. Is this a dream?”

“No dream baby, this is our little boy. Look how chubby his cheeks are. You did good mom.”

I kiss our baby on his forehead before Wes takes him back to the bassinet with the pediatrician. As much as I want to hold him and cuddle with him, I know that my recovery is important as well. They’ve all assured me that he will have all the care in the world while I recover.

I am rolled into the recovery room and the pain meds make me very loopy and tired. The doctors wanted the baby to go to the NICU for a full check-up and Wes was going to go with him. I don’t remember much for the next few hours because I was in and out of it sleeping. They brought him in so he could attempt to nurse for the first time. It was difficult, but he was able to be on both sides for a bit of time.

I fell back asleep shortly after that and ended up having a very clear dream. In the dream, my mom and dad were there and they told me they were so happy for their new grandson and that’s when I heard it. His name, the perfect name, given to him by my parents.