It was only 8pm on January 7th when we were rushing to the hospital. We arrived to the hospital only to get turned away by the staff because she was not dilated enough to be admitted. We left the hospital and headed home to try and get some rest.
We were only home for two hours until the contractions started again and even more intense than the first time. Ariel only being a few centimeters dilated and in a lot of pain refused to leave the hospital. Ariel and I walked around the lobby in order to speed up Athena’s arrival. As minutes went by, the contractions started getting a lot worse and happening more frequently. After numerous circles and squats around the hospital lobby, Ariel finally asked the doctor to check one last time.
She wasn’t dilated enough.
As Ariel and I walked around, we eventually got tired and went back into the hospital room to rest. Another hour went by and the contractions worsened. The amount of pain Ariel was under is something I can’t even begin to imagine. Not being able to take it anymore, she finally asked the doctor for an epidural. Thirty minutes later, two doctors came in and administered the epidural. The time is now around two-thirty a.m. and Ariel was still in a lot of pain. A few minutes later Ariel was starting to feel the effects of the epidural. We talked for a little bit, cracked a few jokes at how only a few months ago Athena was a little jalapeño and took a nap because she was going to be here soon.
I woke up around 6 a.m. and messaged my manager and let him know I wasn’t going to come into work because of the possibility of Athena arriving soon. He gave me his blessings and let me know he was putting in my paternal leave request in.
From 6 a.m. to 8 a.m. time felt like it was moving at the speed of light. I texted Ariel’s dad, mom, and my parents to let them know Athena was on her way soon. Around 8:45, Dr. Hart, our obgyn, walked into the room. “We’re going to get this baby out at 9 a.m. on the dot” she said confidently. Dr. Hart got her scrubs on, put on gloves, asked a few interns and a student to enter the room.
It was 8:58 a.m. and time had slowed down, the next two minutes felt like an eternity. Ariel, half asleep, was instructed to push with every contraction.
9 a.m.
Time froze as out comes a perfect little girl. I fell in love instantly and my heart had grown twice its size. The little cry she let out was extremely beautiful and I’m so glad she did. I hate that she’s going to have me wrapped around her little finger but honestly, I feel like the luckiest person alive to have such a beautiful daughter.
Athena E. Montalvo was born a year ago, January 8th, 2016, at 9 a.m. on the dot.
Athena E. Montalvo, your mother and I love you very much. We can’t wait to see you grow, walk, and talk.