Thursday we checked into the hospital where we would spend the night in preparations for an induction to begin at 5 a.m.
It was a largely sleepless night for me as I don't tend to sleep well if I have to stay in one position and unfortunately that was pretty much the case due to the fetal monitors, IV etc. But it allowed for precious time in prayer, meditating on the book of John and listening to T.S. Eliot read his Four Quartets.
Around 5 am they started the Pitocin and we finally got a mobile monitor which allowed us to go walking and prepare for all the positions which we hoped to utilize for working through contractions in the labor shortly to follow.
Most of the details of Friday morning are a blur after this moment, enjoying a little rest in the chair with my tasty ice chips.
The next few hours were comprised of very literal blood, sweat and tears for which there is (thankfully) no documentation ;)
Then - blessedly beyond all words - she was here. Her energetic burst into the world and first cries were mingled with the top notes of Kathleen Battles performance of Vorrei spiegarvi, oh Dio - quite appropriately the last song on my birthing playlist. Then the list started over and she spent her first hour listening to J.S. Bach's Sonatas and Partitas, surrounded by so much love.
