I am so glad to finally be writing this and to finally have my son in my arms. By now it is well established that my third pregnancy was not expected nor anything that I could have prepared for. I had horrible morning sickness and was super exhausted all the time. It was totally different than what I felt with Michael and Ava. So, I don't know why I expected his birth to be any less of a surprise.
Both Michael and Ava had the same type of delivery experience. My water broke, contractions started and a short time later, I had a beautiful baby. Not the case with Austin. I was 37 weeks pregnant and I felt that with each passing day, he was never going to arrive. He was measuring big for his "age" and so we expected him any minute. Well, finally on the morning of August 30th, he decided he was ready to meet me.
I began to have contractions and started timing them with my phone. This was new to me since I didn't have to worry about timing with the first two, I was definitely in labor with them, no question. When the app on my phone popped up a warning that said I was having contractions so close together that I needed to go to the hospital I thought okay, time to wake up Derin. I called my doctor, and of course its after hours so I get an answering service. The sweet and slightly deaf person on the other end of the phone was asking me all of these questions and I couldn't answer. All I could do was try to breathe through the contractions, so when she said my name was Stephanie and she had my birthdate wrong, I didn't have the strenght to correct her. Luckily, my doctor is a rock star and she knew who it was and she told me to head over to the hospital.
When I finally arrived after packing up two children, they began to put in an IV and prep me for delivery. I thought they were just going to check me because afterall, my water didn't break like it did with the first two. My doctor laughed at me and said there was no way she was sending me home. My baby was going to be born that day.
So we were all set for delivery and it was now a waiting game. Something that I wasn't used to. Usually my family can barely make it to the hospital and this time, they had time on their hands. Not to disappoint, Austin made his arrival in his own special way. The only thing similar about the delivery is that all three of my babies were born at 37 weeks. And yes, the epidural failed and I could not imagine anything more painful but in a matter of seconds all worry and pain were gone because I was holding my third baby, my new baby boy. Austin Ryan DePalermo: 7lbs, 7oz, 19 1/2 inches long, August 30th at 3:04 p.m.
Michael and Ava came in to meet their new brother and both of them were so very sweet and loving. Seeing all of three of them together makes my heart grow just a little more. How is it possible that I have the capacity to love them this much? And what's more is that this love grows more each day! The family came in and Michael announced his name. "Everybody, this is my baby brother Austin"! I cannot believe we were able to keep his name a secret, but we pulled it off and I love it. My family is complete now and I am satisfied. I thought that two children was all that I needed but God knew better and I could not be any happier. So welcome sweet son, you are loved beyond your wildest dreams.
