The Call:It was 4:25am on Monday (February 16) morning and we woke up to a familiar tune playing playing from afar. Too early to be the alarm. Too tired to realize that is was in fact my phone ringing. I rolled out of bed, stumbled into the living room, scrambled for my phone on the coffee table and push *86. Just prior to hearing the voicemail, call waiting clicked in announcing incoming call: Dad. Then it dawned on me…it’s happening…baby Lewis is on her way. Sure enough, I clicked over to Dad informing me that Matt and Ami were in the hospital. Ami was 5cm dilated and rearing to go. I slammed the phone shut, threw on the lights, ripped my travel bag out of the closet and began to precariously through in clothes. Nick of course was less than thrilled to have all the commotion going on in the bedroom…until I educated him on the current status of my sister. He jumped out of bed and asked how he could assist me in my preparations. (We had agreed that both he and Charlotte would stay in Bellingham during the labor/post labor-at-home assistance.)
15 minutes later, I was in my car, screaming down I-5, gearing up for the 4 hour drive. Yes, I was a bit sleepy, but after all…how often does your sister have a baby??? At about the half way point, I decided it was time to caffeinate up…nothing a 4 shot Americano couldn’t do.
By 8am, I was on the home stretch. My parents were about an hour ahead of me in travel time, so they called me to inform me that they had just arrived. Then they called again to give me directions on the best parking garage to park in. Then they called again to scratch that parking garage and park in the lot next to the birthing center. Then they called again to check on my status. At that point I knew Ami had in fact delivered their baby girl. I couldn’t help but feel a pinge of sadness: I had missed the birth. I had been driving for 3 hours in the wee hours of the morning and missed the birth. A complete and utter selfish feeling. After my 2 seconds of selfishness, I confirmed with dad: “Hey dad…is she here…is the baby here?” His reply: “Yes Andi…you should see her hair…a full head of hair! But I don’t want to spoil it…you will see her soon!” At that point I was relieved; Ami had done the imaginable (in my mind)…had a baby and rather expedited.
My Arrival:
At 9:00am sharp I was running down the halls of the birthing center, looking for room 146. I was overwhelmed with so many feelings: “Oh my gosh! It happened! They have a baby! Here! Now! I’m an aunt! Ami is a mom! Everything is different now!” I knew I couldn’t go in there and scream or freak out or cry hysterically (all out of happiness of course)…I had to have at least have some composure at first. Finally, I found the room and when I walked in I saw a beautiful thing: My sister on the hospital bed, holding her hour-old baby with Matt hovering over her, both of them gazing at their miracle. I walked in all smiles and hurried over to hug (gently) and congratulate my sweet, dear sister. Then I saw Delya. Gorgeous, gorgeous little girl. She was still a little greasy, so to speak, from her journey and beautiful non-the-less. Dad was right…a head full of dark hair, plus a plump lower lip, small soft cheeks, invisible tiny neck, smooched nose and sleeping HARD. It was then that I got the story:
The Labor:
Around 1:30am Ami woke up suddenly with the realization that her underwear were abnormally wet. Since her due-date was still 15 days out, she decided to check her pregnancy guide which outlined the “symptoms” of going into labor and the contraction chart. After feeling some sharp pains, she told Matt “It’s time to pack…we’re going to the hospital.” In the car, on the way there, Matt began to time Ami’s contractions. They were gaining both frequency and intensity…not more than a few minutes apart. When they reached the Birthing Center at the hospital, they had to first check in at the admittance station. Ami knew full well that she was going into labor, but the nurses still had to confirm the fact before they let her into a room. Apparently, they have had a history of women thinking they are going into labor, so after getting to the hospital the nurses conclude that it is in fact just…gas or something else. Since this happens more often the not, they were taking their sweet time…all while Ami determined to get a room.
After about an hour and a half (who even knows what took so long), the nurses concluded that she was in fact 5cm dilated and would check them into a room. That’s when Matt made the call to dad, who then made the call to me.
The journey to their room was a tough one, as Ami had to stop every so often, grasp onto various objects to hold her up and breath through the contractions. Once in bed, the contractions came faster and faster. Ami was spending more time fighting the pain then resting in between. The nurses were buzzing all around, constantly coming in and out to check on Ami and get her room and body prepped for what was to come. She had yet seen a doctor. With the intensity growing and horrific pain, Ami decided it was time for an epidural. The anesthesiologist appeared and after administering the long needle into her spine, a beautiful “Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh” released from my sister. She had in fact reached 9 cm in that short time and the intensity of the contractions had overcome her.
Once able to catch her breath, the hospital let them be so they could rest and regain their strength before Ami needed to start to pushing.
About an hour later, the on-staff mid wife appeared and told Ami it was time to bring her baby girl into the world. She was at 10 cm and ready to go. Since I was still in my car, between Olympia and Vancouver at this point, I can’t give you all the details. What I can tell you is Ami said the Epidural eliminated the excruciating pain, but still allowed her to feel the pressure of Delya’s journey. That Matt was amazingly encouraging, supportive and helpful. At one point Delya’s heartbeat began to drop to the 80’s so they had to make the appropriate corrections to keep Ami relaxed and baby coming out. Then finally at 7:50am on February 16th, 2009 she arrived. Fifteen minutes later, my parents walked in. An hour later, I walked in.
Ami successful and quite masterly brought Delya into the world in less than 7 hours of labor. We all chalked it up to the fact that my sister is:1. Always efficient with her time
2. Fit as a fiddle. In fact, her and Matt were at the YMCA the day before exercising…then after, spent a few hours working in the yard.
Delya’s First Day:
Once the Mag 6, plus 1, were all together, the hours to follow were wonderful. Ami and Matt recanting the story with their awe-struck faces. Delya sleeping hard and being passed around to us all. Ami beginning to feel her legs again and walking around like it was any other day. Nurses coming in and out to check on Ami and Delya. Pictures, pictures and more pictures. It was really quite an awesome experience to be a part of. I felt beyond privileged to be in the room, watching it all happen. I was reminded that there are a whole lot of things to learn, comprehend and implement when you have a newborn. Each nurse brought new wisdom and personal best-practices to the conversation.
I am sure having them as a resource was invaluable to Ami. At the same time, I also realized that very little rest occurs the day following the delivery while in the hospital. Delya was out like a light, but the constant checking in by the nurses was exhausting…and I didn’t even have a baby! A mixed blessing I am sure: Knowing that your baby is in good hands, while at the same time yearning to be left alone to rest. 
Since Matt and Ami were permitted to stay at the hospital for up to 48 hours after the birth, they hung out and tried to nap when they could. After Dad assembled the pack-and-play, he headed back to Steilacoom and Mom and I headed back to Matt and Ami’s home to get it prepped for their return the next day. Since the nursery was still in the process of being painted I finished that up. Mom did a lot of laundry…washing all the things that were still in a package that Delya would need for her first day home.
Later that night, Mom and I headed back to the hospital for one more check-in, baby holding session and to drop off a few requests that came from the new parents, including goods from Taco Bell and Dairy Queen.
Delya Comes Home:
The next morning, Mom and I arrived at the hospital at 9am. Matt had a few work obligations that morning (labor is the one impossible thing to schedule), so we happily jumped in and did what we could to assist Ami and Delya.
Even in just 24 hours, I was amazed to see how much Delya had changed. A baby who couldn’t get any more beautiful, had. She was blooming into a baby in the day to day life, away from an unborn baby crammed in her mom’s body. She was also a lot more alert. Opening her eyes and looking ever so often at the things around her. Though still learning, Delay was trying to eat regularly…every 2.5 to 3 hours. Ami met with two different lactation nurses to answer any questions that she had and to teach her effective techniques so Delya knew it was time for food. From my observation, that was without a doubt two extremely valuable and important conversations.
Once Matt returned, Mom and I headed back to their home so Matt and Ami could begin the check-out process. Delya had received “low to intermediate” results on her Juntas tests (normal for newborns they say) so another test was being ran for safe measure. They also needed a quick tutorial of how to use the car seat…something that was on their to-do list but were shorted on those last 2 weeks of preparations.
By 4pm, the three of them had arrived…this was now their home, their life, their family.
My most memorable experience of the entire trip was witnessing my sister when she first came home. I was in the kitchen prepping dinner and I looked up to see Ami looking Delya laying snugly in her car seat carrier. Ami began to do her silent, face crunched up cry. I didn’t know what to do…so many things were running through my head. After all, this is a really BIG moment for her…her baby is home now. I don’t think she saw me at first, so I gave her a few seconds her self. Then I walked over to her and put my hand on her back. She looked at me and said: “I had no idea that it was going to feel like this. It is real; she is mine.” I could see the love that she had for her baby girl. I saw a side of Ami I had never seen and sometimes wondered while we were growing up if I would ever see: The body language, facial expressions and tone of a mother.
Mom and I stayed until the next morning. I am still thinking through the whole experience. The early drive, seeing Matt and Ami pour over their daughter, my parents being so in love and happy with each other and for their kids, the things to have learned and to learn, the unexpectedness of life. Really it is all just so….riveting. Like a good movie, only different because you are living it…not just watching it.
Delya's "almost firsts:"
Diaper Change:
Weigh-in:
Bath time:
Tummy Lay:
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Soon there after, a short drive took us to a Greek restaurant in Freemont for delicious Gyros and red wine. Then to Steilacoom for a quick hello to the fam, a slice of cake and a warm bed. It was a great day.
As we approached the waterfall, we heard it before we saw it. Stretching at least 400 feet high, it came crushing down into a pool of cool water. Surrounded sharply steep cliffs, covered in mini ferns, it was really a sight to be seen. 
We stood below it, looking up in awe and getting drenched at the same time. A small price to pay to see such beauty. Though I had worn my bikini under my hiking attire, I declined the swimming opportunity. Believe it or not, I was a bit chili and jumping into a rocky pool of waterfall water, just didn't appeal to either of us. So we soaked it up for a bit longer and headed our way back down.
It is an uninterrupted time to chat endlessly about anything we feel like...since time is on our side. I like to watch him in his element too...so graceful on his feet and respectful of the earth. He takes the time to point out the small things in life that I too often blaze by: the tiny bugs building domes, the discreet pink flowers, the patterns on the leaves. Such a nature guru...much like my father...something I am very grateful to be influenced by.
