I was 27 years old, it was the week of our daughter's birth and her mother had been experiencing wierd contractions...contractions they call brackston hicks...meaning real contractions but not that she is about to go into labor. ofcourse...I know that NOW...back then...at 3:00 am on October 31st, I didn't. so we get into a cab i had called, who was a local livery cab company whom i knew for a few years. i'm clutching the mother-to-be's overnight bag in one hand and while she was squeezing the bedittle out of my poor pinky in the other.
WE get to the hospital and they tell us "you're not in labor yet, you need to go back home when its at least 7 minutes apart...so we get a regular yellow cab back to queens.
November 1st: 10:00am i get a call at the office that she's having strong contractions...so i run out of the office...get to queens and pick up the mom-to-be who is obviously in pain and we catch that same cabby to the hospital...we get to the hospital...my pinky is once again being twisted by the mom-to-be while she is yelling at the poor nervous cabby to just "skip the **efing" red lights...which he did for two of them. get to the hospital..."sir, she is not in labor yet, please go back home, come back at 7 minutes..."
November 2nd...more contractions..look at the timer. nope. not yet. somehow we made it through the night without going to the hospital.
November 3rd: D-Day? back at the hospital. i'm hoping to god this is it. my pinky and my wallet really can't take it anymore. this back and forth has cost us $130. i'm tired. haven't slept in days. am bearded since i haven't shaved. i think i bathed a day or two ago. let alone, hmm, did i change clothes...everything is a blur. this pinky is looking awfully swollen. and i can only imagine what the mommy to be was going through.
November 3rd-4th: 3 hours go by; 6 hours; 8 hours; 10 hours; 20 hours; 24 hours; okay finally. this is it. she was one hour shy of docs having to turn it into a c-section as she was tiring and fatigued; exhausted. "john, i can't do this. i can't. i'm so tired. i can't!!". my instincts kicked into gear. "yes you can. come on. you can do this! you're almost there. come on; don't give up now! i believe in you!" so she grabbed onto my pinky and pushed on through.
November 4th, 11:58 p.m. my daughter, that 10 and a half year old princess with expensive taste came into this world. and my world..well it was changed forever. you really don't see life the same way..ever again...i held her in my hands...so small..omg..i'm going to break her is the first thing i thought. she held on to my finger..and well my tears started flowing like it was going out of style. there is no way you can't not cry when holding your child in your hands like that for the first time. i'm looking at my daughter thinking wow...so this is you....i'm your dad....and i smiled the biggest smile i've ever smiled. this was the best day of my life. November 4th, 11:58 p.m.
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