it couldn't have been more perfect.
we started out pretty nervous. when we had jack just a short two years ago, he came on his own, so there were contractions the whole car ride to the hospital. this time, i slept as well as a pregnant lady could and woke up to drive to the hospital, no pain, no consistent contractions at all. we said our morning prayers hoping to calm some nerves. when we were checked in i had the same night nurse i had with jack. i wish she could have stayed, i only had her for an hour, she was the best! the nurses switched shifts and i waited for the okay to get the epidural. once that was ready family started to arrive.
my mama (granny) brought some beautiful baby roses to our room. we all visited for a while in the room, then richard took everyone down to the cafeteria to grab an early lunch. my mom stayed behind with me. i was flipping through the tv channels and i had mentioned the one channel was a little chapel. my mom exclaimed "ohhh katie that's downstairs!" i realized i knew the priest that was doing benediction, so she texted my sister dana to go and stop him before he leaves so he could come and give us a blessing. while we waited we joined in praying the rosary with the people in the chapel. just a few short minutes later father ignatius came in the room. he heard my confession, annointed me, and gave us Holy Communion. he said the most beautiful blessing for the baby and blessed all the instruments in the room. you could feel the graces in that delivery room. it was incredible. i just felt such peace. after he left, the family came back in and we visited some more. i had some really good contractions that i could feel through my epidural telling me time was getting closer. meanwhile i had left the tv on the channel that viewed the chapel. there was occasional singing but the camera was zoomed in on the monstrance for holy hour. the nurse came in and commented how weird that was, i explained to her what it was for us as catholics and she responded with " oh wow okay well that is cool then ."
dana and granny were able to stay in the delivery room with us. things started moving quickly, the nurse had me do a few practice pushes. i was so nervous remembering how painful jack's delivery was. i feel like i didnt try too hard to push with you, samuel, just out of fear. she had me laying down and pushing and told me it might take a while. i told her how weird it was to be laying down and asked if i could sit up. she said okay just a little. once the bed was positioned right it wasn't long before she was ready to lay it back down. samuel, you were well on your way, all on your own. she told me not to do a thing. the doctor hadn't even arrived and here you were after just a few "practice" pushes.
the three nurses in the room frantically placed you on me.
it was such an amazing moment! this was way too easy!
daddy couldn't have been more excited to get his hands on his samuel.
we made sure the first visitor in was big brother jack.
he was then followed by gramps :)
papaw, uncle albie, and nana
aunt dana and just a few of your new favorite cousins!
nadia, evy and sienna :)
i'm so sad i didn't get a picture with abbie. when they moved me over to post pardum she brought this lucky mama my favorite jimmy johns sandwich and other goodies! we were so lucky to have such special family and friends there with us on that day.
that next morning, i received a call from my mom. remember how in the delivery room i had the tv on the chapel channel, which was focused on the monstrance? well she reminded me how bishop fulton sheen (samuel's name sake) had made a promise that he would make a holy hour every day for the rest of his life. His sole desire from then on was to bring the world to the burning Heart of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament.
the angels and saints are so close, not only did my delivery feel like i was being carried by sheer grace, but now God had touched us again reminding us of bishop sheen's love for the blessed sacrament. all i could say was "wow."
that afternoon daddy went and got big brother jack and brought him up for a visit. he was so excited to be back with us. it was too much for this emotional mama to watch.
he even left that night happy as can be to go home with daddy.
the next day granny and bailey came to our house to watch jack and have a dinner ready for us.
daddy came back up to the hospital to pick us up.
it was so great to come home!
we enjoyed our time with daddy off of work and settling in as a new family of four.
you sweet samuel are the perfect addition to our family :)
