Day 7- A Song That Reminds Me of An Event- This Woman's Work

Hopefully all of you will not be disappointed in me for saying this.  I cheated some on this Challenge.  I have been considering for a long time to do it, imagining what songs I would select.  When I got right down to executing it though, I had to print out the list and work ahead some selecting songs for the different categories.  I guess I do not think fast enough on my feet (or seat at the moment) to just wing it.  I apologize.  The problem is, I still have several holes to fill in and today was one of them.  I had taken a narrow view of today's challenge and was trying to find a song that happened at an event that was worth sharing. 

All I could come up with was "Hands Across America" from 1986.  For the young'uns that were not even born yet, that was a song that went with a big movement to raise money to feed the hungry.  The goal was to gather enough support and people to create a human chain from New York to California.  It was a big thing back then.  However, I looked up the video and I could not bring myself to use it.  It really was kind of hokey.  So I went back to the drawing board, and decided to try broader interpretation and BOOM!  I had my song.

My daughter Megan was born October 19, 1991.  She was late! 

She does get it honest though.  I too am punctually challenged.  I am thinking it is genetic.  As I was saying, the due date had come and gone, and still no baby.  I am sure it goes without saying, Susie was getting a little impatient to finish being pregnant, but each time we went in to check, the doctor kept saying everything is fine, we will just keep an out and let the baby come in her own time.  On the 18th we had another one of these appointments and after fifteen minutes of monitoring, all was normal and we were prepared to be put off again, when the the heart beat slowed for a very brief moment.  That was all it took.  They scheduled us to come in for the labor to be induced.  We had plenty of time though.  The plan was for us to arrive that evening around 6pm and get checked in, settled in, and then they would induce in the morning.  Sounds great!  We called our parents and let them know the plan so they could be there the next morning, went and grabbed a few things and returned to the hospital. 

After checking, they of course, checked things out again.  I noticed that the exam was a different than all the others we had experienced.  We asked about that, and were told "We just broke her water.  We are not real busy tonight so we decided to go ahead and induce now."  REALLY!!?!??!!!!?!!!?  So much for the plan.  So things got rolling pretty quickly at that point.  We re-telephoned everyone again to let them know and then  the contractions started coming.  My job was to watch the cool little machine and let Susie know when the numbers started to rise (indicating a contraction) and then go back down as they abated.  This was fine at first, but as things got more intense, I think Susie stopped believing me and the nifty machine, and told me so on several occasions quite pointedly.  I was just trying to help.  It went on for a long while with no progress and then finally,  after about 5 hours of this she an epidural.  They didn't offer me one. 

Not long after, we heard a strange noise from "down there".  Susie told me to look and see what was going on.  Now, it is not a good idea when someone is doing all of the hard work of having a baby and you are the support and coach to, tell that person "no", I am not a complete idiot.  So I lifted the sheet and...... Have you ever had a dog that was sick to it's stomach and their natural instincts take over and they just start eating grass uncontrollably?  It makes them feel better.  Well, I had a similar reaction to what I observed.  I dropped the sheet, backed slowly away from the bed toward the door, and all that I knew at that point was I desperately needed some bread to eat.  I just had to get some bread. 

To be fair, the stress of the situation and the large amounts of caffeine had my stomach already on edge, but that sight took me over the edge.  I struggled to keep my stomach under control.  I knew it would be uncool throw up when she was doing all of the work.  Susie was dumbfounded when I told her that I had to leave the room and go in search of bread.  She swore I was going to miss the arrival, but I guess I was green enough, that she let me go.  (By the way, she LOVES to tell this story now...she thinks it is hilarious).  I hurried down to the cafeteria, bought 2 slices of plain dry bread, and hightailed it back to the room.  In the elevator, I heard them page me, and we I got back, the epidural had worn off enough that it was time for Megan to make her grand entrance."  She was a healthy, if a little slimy, beautiful baby girl! 

I remember this song from a Kevin Bacon movie, She's Having A Baby.  We watched it several times during the pregnancy, and I still pull it out occasionally to reminisce about that time in my life.  For me though, it escaped the small screen and became quite real that day as Susie and I welcomed Megan into this world. 


This video clip is actually from the movie...sound is good though.  Kevin Bacon was sooooo young then...geeesh.