Are You Kidding Me?

Monday morning meant another visit to my OB/GYN. As my doctor was in surgery all that day, I was seen by one of the other doctors in the office. Since it was just a weekly check-up, it was no big deal. When the exam was over, the doctor looked through my chart and asked if I had the date for my Cesarean Section scheduled. "Yes," I said. "It will be Friday, May the 1st. It's always been May the 1st." To that she replied, "Allow me to go check on that for you." At first I wondered why she felt the need to do so. I quickly shrugged my shoulders and thought nothing else of it as I got myself re-dressed. When the doctor came back a few minutes later, she said, "You're not gonna believe this, but I checked with Dr Austin's nurse and you are scheduled to have your baby on April the 29th." Are you kidding me? It's always been May the 1st!

I have had my mind and calendar set for May the 1st almost since I conceived and figured out my due date. You see, May the 1st is special to me, and has meaning. I was baptized a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in 1983 on May the 1st. It's also May Day. I also don't have a child with a May birthday. It's also the day I got the chicken pox, consequently noticed by my poor mom at my baptism ceremony. But that's another story for another day.

Needless to say, I have been mentally prepared to give birth on the first day of May for many months.

There is another reason why I have to have my baby in May. Months ago I told Richard that since this was to be our last baby, he ought to show up at the hospital with a gift for me. To this he muttered, "I didn't know I was required to get you one." Are you kidding me? But this is also another story for another day. He proceeded to ask, "Like what?" Well, I figured that since this would be the fifth time I would be sliced open, I deserved a mother's ring with a birthstone for each of my five children. And since I spelled it out to him exactly what I wanted, he jumped right on it and ordered me a ring with an October birthstone for Dallin, an August birthstone for Elijah, an April birthstone for Mimi, a February birthstone for Felicity, and a May birthstone for Bree. The ring has already been made and picked up, though it's the exact style and design I told Richard I didn't want. Are you kidding me? (And that is also another story for another day!)

As many of you have guessed, the ring is custom-made and completely non-returnable / non-refundable. I wanted my emerald, and I got it so I've got to have Bree in May, dang it all! As a young mother who is constantly outnumbered, I am used to not getting what I want. However, not having my baby on the day I wanted would not be likened unto not getting my haircut on the day I wanted.

I went to speak with Dr Austin's nurse, Gayle, myself. She showed me for herself that I was indeed scheduled for surgery on Wednesday the 29th of April. She also said it had been on the books for months. Are you kidding me? But as I spoke to her, even she could remember the significance of May the 1st. So reschedule me, okay? No problem, right? Gayle said she couldn't do that because May the 1st was already booked for Dr Austin. Are you kidding me?

Gayle could tell that I was upset, and offered to speak to Dr Austin when he came out of surgery that afternoon if he'd be willing to deliver my baby at 5:00p.m. on my desired date. Are you kidding me? What doctor would want to do an elective Cesarean Section at 5:00p.m. on a Friday night? After all, he is a husband and a father. Gayle scrawled down my phone number and promised to call me in a few hours.

When I saw on the caller ID that it was Gayle ringing in, I was so nervous despite the fact I had been trying to think positive thoughts since I'd left my doctor's office (a difficult thing for a "glass is half-empty" girl like me). Gayle said she had spoken to Dr Austin and even he remembered May the 1st and couldn't explain how I had been incorrectly scheduled. She also said that he would be happy to do my surgery the first Friday night in May? Are you kidding me? This is great! I love my doctor. He's the best.

Richard had already planned to take Friday the 1st of May off, and that will remain the same. What will change is that we won't be required to get to the hospital at 4:00a.m. to check in for surgery. We can instead spend the day at home with Felicity playing and resting before going to the hospital at 3:00p.m. with Tera. Yep, Dr Austin said that Tera could be in the operating room to witness Bree's birth.

Some times things work out better than you had originally planned. Some times the Lord is looking out for us. Are you kidding me? I'm sure He always is. But this time I noticed and have openly thanked my Father in Heaven.

Love, Cara