I could hear Caleb in the hall telling some nurse a joke. What was it with him? He’d been cracking one joke after another until I finally told him, “Not funny! Go!” I’d been reduced to single syllable sentences. Could he not tell I was in PAIN? And where was he now? I was feeling the urge to push and no one was around. I was ready to yell his name when he appeared. A contraction hit and I said, “Nurse! Push!” He ran out of the room yelling, “Nurse!”
The nurse came sauntering in (it seemed), totally unconcerned because the last time she’d checked me I was at 5 centimeters. But she took one look and went out the door saying, “Call the doctor!” It was 4 a.m. Within fifteen minutes, the doctor walked into my room swooping in like he was catching a football and said, “Ready, catch!” What was it with men? “Just get this baby out of me already!” I thought...but thankfully didn’t say.
At 4:32 a.m., Henry William Steadman entered the world with a loud cry. He weighed 8 lbs. 6 oz. and was 20” long. And he had a head full of dark hair and long fingers—all ten of them. After he was born, Caleb took him to the nursery to bathe him. Later Caleb told me, “It’s like I was the Pied Piper with your family and mine following Henry & I down the hall—with cameras flashing.” When they came back to the room, we examined every inch of him. Each of our parents took turns holding him and getting photos made with him before they left to get some sleep. Mom came and kissed me and said, “You did an amazing job, Merry, and your baby is beautiful. Get some sleep! We’ll let you sleep in before we come back.”
The room was set up as a motel room and Caleb was allowed to spend the night. We reluctantly let Henry go to the nursery so we could get some uninterrupted sleep. Our friends had all told us we wouldn’t regret letting Henry go to the nursery—so we took them at their word.
Word was out and visitors started coming. Our siblings came by and Caleb’s nieces and nephews. They all got to hold him. Caleb and I had the farmer family’s philosophy that germs built up immunities. We weren’t worried about others holding him. We tried to sleep in-between visitors. I was exhausted and in quite a bit of pain. Caleb would even take visitors into the hall to visit or take them to the nursery if Henry was there to give me a break.
But at one point in the early evening , Caleb and I were both on the bed napping and Henry was in the bassinet when I heard a knock at the door. I said, “Come in!” But I was not prepared for what I saw. There were George and Miss Shirley—standing there holding hands. I think my mouth fell open and Caleb was already up and said, “George! Miss Shirley! Come meet little Henry.” They both held him, oohed and ahhed over him, and then George looked at Caleb and said, “Preacher, we’ve got a favor to ask. Would you marry us? We know God’s brought us together and we don’t see any reason to wait.” I squealed and clapped my hands and they both came and gave me a hug. They told us their kids had grown up together and were in full support of their marriage. They wanted to get married in a month—after we’d had time to adjust to a new baby.
We were home and my heart was full. My baby was perfect—God had given me abundantly above all I could ask or think. I fell asleep smiling over the fact that George & Miss Shirley were getting married.
I woke up in the wee hours of the morning and saw Caleb rocking Henry. I laid very still so I could hear what he was saying, “ Henry, I bless you to grow in the knowledge and understanding of our Lord Jesus Christ. I bless you to come to Him at an early age. I bless you to become a strong man of integrity and great character. I bless you to be selfless and to love others deeply. I bless you to become a benevolent ruler and a zealous protector. I bless you to be spiritually fruitful and full of grace. I bless you, my son. I love you, Henry.” He kissed him. The rocker creaked as tears flowed down my cheeks. Yes...my heart was full.
THE END.
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