Turning Back Time

 Rich left yesterday for Atlanta to attend a National Guard conference where he is giving a presentation. The house tonight was quiet..too quiet and I had just settled in to bed to get some rest - about 3 1/2 hours ago. My cell phone rang to the sweet sweet voice of my husband to end our day together with a few words. Settling back in to rest, m phone rings again...this time its my son calling to tell me his wife is in labor.

Change of plans. Now I'm at the hospital and Rich is driving home from Atlanta. My son is laying next to his wife, rubbing her back, as the dose of pain meds takes Johanna under for some needed sleep before its too late. It feels so surreal to know that my son will soon become a father and that I have a granddaughter waiting to meet the World.

It was almost 27 years ago in Fayetteville, NC that my son was born. We lived in a little ratty trailer park outside of Ft. Bragg, NC. It was late July - or was it early August? - when my parents and I packed up my meager belongings and drove me to NC to join my (then) husband who was fresh out of jump school. It was mid-September before too long and husband had to go to the field for a few days. My mom came to stay with me even though I was 2 weeks away from my due date. 4 days into husband away in the field I woke up not feeling well. Mom took me to the doctor, who checked me out and sent me straight to the hospital because I was in labor. A phone call or two later we had found the right person to talk to at his unit to get a message to husband that the baby was on the way. We waited...and waited...labor kept going. Soon it was time and it was just my mom and I.

I was ready to push...there is a commotion going on in the hall way and I hear "He's here". Through a small window I see things being thrown. Husband rushes in..painted a zillion shades of green and brown, with a hospital gown draped over his BDUs. Husband stops his run..next to the doctor who is in the 'catch' position. Josh is born right then.

Sometime in the wee hours Josh will be waiting for Evie to be born. I am so happy to be here to see her first breath.

I will be a Grandmama soon!