City Personals
When you are told you are going to be a parent for the first time, it is both exciting and scary at the same time. When you are told you are going to be a grandparent for the first time, those feelings come flooding back, only you are not so much scared for yourself, but for your own baby having a child.
You patiently wait the allotted time period before telling everyone the amazing news, generally past the first trimester stage. You then wait to find out if you are going to have a grandboy or a grandgirl. Either one would be pure perfection in your eyes, so that really is not a concern. Going through the last trimester of a pregnancy when it is your baby who is incubating a baby of her own...that is the true test of patience. You have flashbacks to your own pregnancy(ies); you can relate to the changes she is going through emotionally and physically. You empathize and try to offer just as much moral support as she needs without overstepping and being intrusive.
As the due date gets closer and closer, you start thinking “what else can I get that baby?” Clothes...she seems to have more than she will ever wear. Diapers...there is an overabundance of those already. Wipes...her Momma has a closet full of those because let’s face it, wipes are universal. Swaddles...whatever those are, she has plenty. It is then that you realize all a grandbaby needs is unconditional love, not necessarily materialistic things. Full disclosure, I did purchase my sweet little grandgirl the biggest bunny Retro Rooster had for her “first” Christmas.
The doctor appointments go from once a month to every other week to every week. The doctor tells your baby she will be induced six days early; your grandgirl’s progress in the womb has been good enough for her to make her grand entrance. Whew, you have a firm date now, no waiting for contractions to start and all of the other labor signs. You know for sure that your grandbaby is going to be born, and you mark it on the calendar, take off work, prepare yourself.
The inducing date comes. Your baby girl and husband get all checked into the hospital. A mere two years ago, you would have been able to be in the room (or at least a waiting room) to help ease the nervousness of your baby. Thanks to coronavirus, one person only allowed in the room. Time to tailgate!
You get to the hospital and try to find a decent parking spot. You run into a doctor and ask where labor and delivery is located. He proceeds to tell you two different ways to get to that department, in the hospital. Shock and awe set in, thinking you will actually be able to go in there and if nothing else, offer support, lozenges, a hand to crush, just whatever your baby needs. He asks if she has anyone in the room with her. Yes sir, her husband. Oh, it is only one person in the room. Darn, he had me excited for a half a minute.
We parked facing the hospital and had a great view of the room Caitlyn would deliver in, shortly I thought. They were in the corner. We sat for hours with Trace’s parents, Melanie and Marty from Cleveland. I have no idea what we looked like to “normal” people as we congregated right there, windows down, parked next to one another glaring up at the corner room. To the labor and delivery staff, it was something they had seen before. The weekend prior, there were over 20 family members for one baby doing the same thing.
This tailgate was different in that we did not have beer or booze. We were all running on pure excitement to see our new little grandgirl, even from the distance.
Worry set in when she was not here by late afternoon. Early evening came, no baby. Late night came, still no baby. Momma and I were working the next day, so we left the parking lot feeling defeated...no grandgirl.
Leaving your own baby in the hospital after she had literally labored all day is an awful feeling. Worrying if she is okay, if your grandgirl is distressed is positively gut wrenching.
Trace sent text updates throughout the wee hours of the morning. Momma and I would add some type of emotion to the messages and comment. No sleep for any of us in anticipation. The most beautiful text was “...Will be out soon.”
Beautiful little Delilah Jane Bray made her appearance Wednesday, May 19. Now the wait began before any of us could even see her beyond pictures. Nobody allowed inside the hospital period (good luck trying to go potty, that is a stern “no,” as well). They got word that they would be sent home at some point Friday. Let the planning begin to get your hands on that sweet little angel!
Friday came. We descended on their home like vultures on roadkill. The wait was excruciating. We made a trip to Kroger to get incidentals to burn some time. Finally, they pulled in the driveway.
You may think you are prepared to see the most beautiful, pure creature in this world but you cannot fully grasp it until you lay eyes on your grandgirl for the very first time. Delilah was and is the most incredible tiny human ever. Being a cynic, I checked her from head to toe looking for something, anything that would be different thinking in my head she cannot be this perfect at only two days old. Well I am here to testify that she is, in every way, perfect. Flawless.
I stayed the first two nights with them so they could get some rest themselves. There is no tired like hospital tired, much less having a long delivery. I knew they would both be emotionally and physically exhausted. I fully intended to be up every two hours or so to feed Delilah. She shocked me and only made little peeps when she had spat out her chichi (pacifier). I was halfway afraid I would not hear her; it has been nearly 20 years since I had “newborn duty.” I heard every movement, every sound she made without a problem.
Here is a little hint for all of you new grands out there - buy up all the pre-made two ounce bottles of formula you can find! I thought maybe that was just something they had at the hospital (20 years ago, it was just a hospital thing). I trekked to two separate places in DeSoto County and bought them out. Start stocking up now for when the time comes - total game changer!
I am one proud Grandmomma (I like Cricket for my name, but have kicked around Happy and Chick and a lot of other things she probably will never call me anyway) and an even more proud Momma. Caitlyn is one strong person and I am proud to say she did it!