Chapter
7
Two hours later, Alexa's contractions were coming closer and closer
together. Brian knew that it would time for the baby to come very soon.
Alexa cried out in pain as her next one came.
"Bri," she gasped, "I think it's time."
"Ok," he said shrilly, "I'll call a nurse,
sweetie." His hand trembled as he reached for the call button. A nurse
came rushing in right after he called. Alexa was still in great pain. The nurse
ran out into the hall and grabbed a group of nurses, who helped Alexa onto a
gurney. Brian stood in the room, watching and panicking.
"Come on, Mr. Littrell," one of the nurses called, motioning
for him to follow her. He hurried out of the room and came alongside of his
wife. She was breathing hard. He took her hand and held it all the way to the
delivery room. There, her doctor was waiting, ready to deliver. The nurses
lifted her onto the bed. Brian stroked her hair and gripped her hand tightly.
"Okay, Alexa, on the count of three, I want you to push,"
said the doctor. Alexa nodded.
"1......2......3.. Push!" the doctor commanded. Alexa cried
out as she pushed and squeezed Brian's hand so hard he thought it might just
fall off. He himself was feeling just a little queasy.
"Keep pushing," the doctor said. Alexa pushed harder.
"There's the head!" the doctor called. "One more big push should
do it."
Alexa pushed again. Suddenly there was a loud cry. Alexa stopped
wailing. Her expression of pain turned to joy as she heard the healthy cries of
her newborn.
For Brian however, the room seemed to spin wildly. He heard distant cries
and voices speaking, and then everything went black.
***
When he opened his eyes, he saw a strange woman's face leaning over
him. "Brian? Brian?" she called. He blinked and tried to focus. He
realized she was one of the nurses.
"What happened?" he asked, sitting up. He felt light-headed
and dizzy and realized he was on a gurney.
"You fainted," she said with a little smile. "Don't
worry, this has happened many times before to brand new fathers."
"The baby," he cried, "Is it.."
"Your daughter is just fine," she replied.
"D...daughter?" he said.
"Yes."
"Wow," said Brian, breaking into a grin. "I'm a
father."
"Yes you are," she said. "And I think your wife would
like to see you now."
"How is she?" he asked.
"She's doing just great," the nurse answered. "I'll take
you to her now."
She helped him off the gurney and walked him down the hall to Room 418.
Alexa lay inside.
"Brian!" she cried happily when she saw him. "Oh
sweetheart, you scared me to death. Are you all right?"
"I'm fine," he said sheepishly, hugging her tightly. The
nurse left, closing the door behind her. "Where's the baby?"
"She's down in the nursery," she said. "They'll bring
her back up soon. The others all got here just after she was born. They haven't
seen her yet because they wanted to let me rest."
"Where are they?" Brian asked.
"In the little waiting room down the hall," she said.
"We'll have them bring back the baby soon, and then they can come in and
see her."
"What's her name going to be?" Brian asked.
"Well, I thought Brianne, after you."
"Really?"
"Yep. She's got your eyes."
"Wow. Well, if that's what you want it to be, it's fine with
me."
"Okay," Alexa said, "then that's it."
"Okay," he said. "What about a middle name?"
"You decide," Alexa replied.
"How about Elizabeth? I like that name," he suggested.
"I love it," she said. "Brianne Elizabeth Littrell. It's
beautiful." She smiled and they kissed each other lovingly. Then she
called up one of the nurses, the one who had been with Brian when he had
fainted.
"We've decided on a name," she told her. "Brianne
Elizabeth Littrell." The nurse smiled and printed it on Brianne's birth
certificate.
"Could you bring her in?" Brian asked. "I haven't seen
her yet."
"Of course," said the nurse, smiling at them both.
She returned a few minutes later, carrying Brianne, who was wrapped
snugly in a pale pink blanket. She handed the newborn to Alexa, who cradled her
tenderly. The nurse left the room, and Brian came closer to look at his
daughter. She was beautiful, tiny and perfect looking, with short wisps of hair
on her tiny head. She had a perfect little nose and mouth and ten little
fingers on her two tiny hands.
"Do you want to hold her?" Alexa asked. Brian nodded
hesitantly. He had never held a newborn baby before and was very wary. He
crawled onto the bed next to Alexa, and she carefully handed him Brianne. He
held her gingerly, afraid she would break if he held her too tightly.
"It's alright Bri. She won't break, you know," Alexa said, as
if she had just read his mind. He smiled nervously and looked down at Brianne,
sleeping in his arms. She looked like a little angel. He stroked her head,
gently, and she stirred. His eyes widened as her eyelids fluttered and her eyes
opened. He stared at her proudly. Her eyes were big and blue, and they stared
up at him.
"Hi sweetie," Brian whispered, his voice catching with
emotion, for he had never before felt the way he was feeling now. He tilted his
head down and gently kissed his baby daughter's forehead, feeling more pride
than he had ever had in his entire life.
***
