Joshua Sungming

He timed it perfectly - for me anyway. Angie was a bit exhausted after being in labor with constant contractions since Wednesday night. But Friday morning, on his due date, I got the call from Angie that she was on her way to the hospital. I was in Raleigh for the morning and due to fly home that afternoon. It was perfect timing for me since I would only be in town for 48 hrs.

When I landed in Pittsburgh that afternoon, I went immediately to Magee. Angie was only 2 cm and was comfortable on her epidural drip. I arrived around 4:30 and hung out until about 8 PM. I thought about going home, but by that time, Angie had progressed to 8 cm and I didn't think it would be much longer....

Around 9:45 they had Angie try pushing. The only problem was that while she could push, she had no idea when to push as she couldn't feel the contractions. So they let the epidural run out and an hour later, Angie would feel the contractions and began to push with them. I had left the room and Matt stayed with her. I waited across the hall for about 30 minutes.

When her nurse appeared (and the L&D nurse was wonderful!!!) I got up and stood by the door to ask how Angie was doing. Matt appeared and asked if I'd liked to come in to be with Angie. He said that since we'd been best friends for so long, she felt okay with me being there. I was so honored to be asked, and to be with her at such a special and intimate time. I helped hold her legs while she pushed and give ice-chips and encourage her to keep going. The poor girl was exhausted and pushed for 3 hrs! What a champ!!

It was now about 1:45 AM (having missed having Joshua on her due date) and the doctor felt that a c-section was her best option. She felt that Josh was "stuck" under Angela's pelvic bone and too large to pass. Angela consented to the c-section and they tried to prep her. But by now, the contractions were so strong and without the epidural (and without being able to push) she was miserable. The epidural button was doing nothing for her, and the anesthesiologist hadn't yet returned to administer the block for the surgery. It was so hard to watch my best friend be in such agony and such exhaustion.

About 45 minutes later, Matt came back to the L&D room to say that Joshua Sungming was born at 2:05 AM and was doing beautifully! Angie was great but exhausted. Josh was 8lbs, 8ozs and 22 inches long. They brought him into the room with Angie and I got to hold him. What an angel!!! What a miracle!!

I got to visit Angela and Matt and Josh the next day with Dave. Angie sounded much better and alert, and Joshua was doing great! I gave her a gift, and part of the gift was the blue blanket I had been knitting for Josh. The pictures are below - he is such a pleasant baby! Not much crying, and just as soft and sweet as can be. I'm already in love!!!