She is here

Hey laowinners!

It has been a grueling, trying, and really rough time.

Vivi started having contractions big time around 12:00 on March 12th, and I decided that might be the time to go to the hospital. There were also other signs that proved that birth was at hand (but I will spare you the details).

Her mother insisted that we didn't need to go to the hospital, but her contractions were so painful and serious, that she was sure the baby was coming. I rushed her down to the car, threw the bags in the back, and guess what?

The car wouldn't start.

Awesome.

If you had watched daily milk 4, you would remember that we had had battery troubles before, and of all times, it decided to act up again during the birth of my daughter.

I borrowed my mother in law's car, and we proceeded to go to the hospital. 

After waiting in lines (yes, even emergency rooms have lines), we finally got her last health checks done, and the doctor confirmed that the baby would come out soon.

Again, her mother in law pushed for her to go home and wait until the baby was basically peeking out, but I refused, and booked a VIP room on the 7th floor.

Now mind you, VIP room is not what you think. We are not made of money. It simply means that the room is not full of 20 other women giving birth.

Upon seeing the room, I was pretty impressed with how clean it was, but it was pretty bare bones.

Vivi's hospital bed, for example, had a hand crank to raise and lower it. It had no padding, and was simply a slab of metal with a sheet over it. This certainly did not make her feel comfortable. 

 I had a futon with a metal bar running down the middle of it, and let me tell you, that was not too comfy either.

Prozzie finally showed up, and we began counting contractions.

Her mother and father were no where to be seen. 

When I called them, to see if they wanted to be there for Vivi, they simply said "No, that is fine. Tell us when the baby comes out."

Baffled, we proceeded to wait for the contractions to come consistently, and finally it was confirmed to be time.

I will tell you something.

In the beginning, you fall in love with your wife out of romance.

Then you turn into best friends.

Then, under adversity, and suffering, you fall in love all over again.

It was so bad, and heartbreaking to see my wife after her water broke, being forced to walk down an empty hallway at 4 AM, surrounded by the bloody screams of women in labor. The doctor called me a half an hour later, and I signed and paid for the epidural (expensive, and most women didn't choose to do!)

Men, women, and children were all passed out on the cold metal chairs outside, waiting for the new arrivals.

My wife, pale, and teary, looked so vulnerable, and I could do nothing.

I wasn't allowed in the delivery room, and when the nurse told me to leave the doorway, I could only wait for the good news.

At 6:33, they wheeled her out. I signed the papers. Saw my daughter, and for the first time in years, I had tears in my eyes.

She was beautiful.

*Check http://www.facebook.com/laowhy86 for more pictures*