When I finally pulled into the parking lot of the hospital, my heart was beating a hundred miles a minute…. Since 7:00 this morning when I got the call, (California time), I had literally been running ever since. I ran into my house to grab my half-packed suitcase, car seat, & diaper bag (still in my sweaty gym clothes and jumped into my brother’s car less than 10 minutes later to head to SFO, and actually booked my flight on the way (so glad we live 5 minutes away). We pulled up to the curb and they would not let me do curbside check because my ticket was not showing in system yet (I had literally booked it 5 minutes before), so raced to the check in desk dragging my suitcase, car seat, and diaper bag (only to find there was a delay in my ticket and after some frantic tears they got it figured out). I then ran to the security line, taking off my shoes as I walked and called one of my best girlfriends to let her know the baby was on the way! Of course my gate was on the other side of the airport, so I was off and running again! I called my parents on the way to the gate and told them what a crazy lady I must have looked like!!!! I got to the gate just as they were boarding and got on the flight. When the flight arrived, I immediately went to get my bags and then went to rent my car. From there, it was full speed ahead (but within the speed limit of course-no time for speeding ticket) to the hospital. I ran into the hospital, found out where I needed to go and went up the elevator. I honestly remember seeing him from down the hallway laying in the crib. I had tears before I even walked through the door. The birth mom was asleep when I walked in, but the birth father stood up, gave me a hug, and told me to go and meet my son. THERE HE WAS….my sweet Riley Patrick (the story on his name is for another post). I held him in my arms and whispered, “I love you my sweet baby boy. Thank you for choosing me to be your momma. You are my dream come true”. The picture above is the selfie I took moments after we met to send to my family. It truly was love at first sight!
The birth parents had told the hospital that I would be coming and we were lucky enough to be the ONLY people on the floor. Riley was the only baby born at the small hospital that weekend, which ended being such a blessing. I was immediately taken to my own room with Riley and the amazing nurses had me lay down right away and begin skin to skin contact. They told me that I could stay in the room as long as no other women came in to deliver. I was not an official patient but I cannot even begin to describe what a gift this was. I thought I would be sleeping in a chair or on a couch until the baby was discharged, and now I had my own room with a shower (because yes I still had not showered since my workout that morning). They left Riley and I alone and he slept quietly on my chest. I could not imagine feeling any happier. After awhile, they came to take him for some tests and I asked if I could go out to my car and get a change of clothes. The nurses were incredible and even brought me a sandwich and a random fruit cup they had left (I had not eaten since that morning before the gym, and to be honest wasn’t even hungry until I started eating). They wheeled him back in and he slept peacefully next to me. I did not sleep at all that night—I was either holding him or staring at him sleeping. My dad was flying out first thing the next morning, and I could not wait for Riley to meet his grandpa!