Countdown part 8
Bo continues to sway with Nora.
Bo: Red…I love you so much…
Nora: Bo…I said my water just broke…
Bo: I thought that’s what you said…your water just broke…Nora (holds her arms down, takes a step back and stares at her) YOUR WATER JUST BROKE!!!
Bo rush toward the balcony doors, then turns back and looks at Nora then turns back to the doors before stopping and grabbing his phone out of his pocket.
Bo: (dialing the phone and talking to Nora) Ok…ok…I
got it covered….(to himself) come on, come on (to Nora) just…just…breath
or something honey…(in the phone) Hank!….Damn it! (to
Nora) his machine! (dialing the phone again and talking to Nora)
sit down and breath (in the phone) Tim! Yeah!! Its show time…I
need you to go to my house, get Matt….tell him to get the
bag and bring it to the hospital…tell him to make sure he
grabs the small bag too…it’s all hall in the door…door…hall…Tim….TIM!!!
(closing his phone) Damn signal!!
Nora: Bo…
Bo: I know Red…I’m gonna get you to the hospital in plenty of time….oh my God! You’re not having the baby here…are you? Maybe we should call nine one one…Red….
Nora: Bo…please…calm down! You’re going to have an aneurysm! (running her hand through her hair) I haven’t had a contraction yet…we need to call the doctor and then head to the hospital…but first you need to calm down…ok…(she walks over to him and cradles his head to her shoulder) its not going to do you, me or the baby any good if you are in the cardiac unit while I am in labor and delivery…I love you…but we can’t be psychotic about this…ok?
Bo: (taking a deep breath) ok…let’s go inside and use Renee’s phone and call the doctor…
Nora: That’s it..(she turns his head towards her and presses her lips to his) calm…
Before Bo knows it, Nora is pulling his hair as she is wracked by the first contraction.
Bo: Nora…Nora…honey let go of my hair!!!!
Nora: (breathing deeply in and out) ok…ok…ok…ok…
Bo: Let’s go….
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In the car on the way to the hospital, Bo tries his best to keep his mind on the road. Every time he glances at Nora, different memories of the pregnancy flash through his mind. When the baby first kicked and they sat on the couch all night placing fries and cookies on her stomach and laughing their heads off when the baby finally kicked it off; dancing to lullabies in the nursery, walking through the baby mart store in wonderment over how many different wipe warmers are actually on the market, planning the baby shower with Matt, Matt…dealing with him had been an up hill battle through most of the pregnancy…and in true Buchanan form, he was able to hide his deepest feelings, so Bo knew full well the next to last place Matt wanted to be tonight was at the birth of the baby…but that was going to have to take a back seat because this was the baby’s show.
Nora grabbed Bo’s hand and tried to breath rhythmically through the tightening pain.
Nora: This breathing is bull…
Bo: Come on…we’re almost at the hospital…and you knew after a week late this kid was going to come and come in a big way…we can do this baby! We can do it!
They pull into the hospital emergency area and Bo gets out to help Nora through the door.
Bo: Nurse!
Nurse: Sir…
Bo: My wife is in labor!
The nurse grabs a wheel chair and helps Nora sit down.
Nurse: Go move your car and we’ll in exam station three…
Bo: (bending and kissing Nora) I love you! Don’t do anything without me! (he hurries to move his car as Nora is wheeled into the exam room)
Nurse: Ok…first things first…your name…
Nora: Nora Buchanan….
Nurse: Oh! Your doctor called…
Nora: Is she here?
Nurse: No…she won’t be here until you are almost ready to deliver…now…obviously your water broke…so…let’s get you a gown to change into and then we’ll continue…I’m going to go out and find your husband, there’s some paper work for him to fill out…
Nora: Oh! We filled out all our paper work already…we just have to sign on the dotted line…
Nurse: Express admission has its benefits….go ahead and change and I’ll get your husband…
Nora: Thanks…
Two and a half hours later Nora has been placed in a private room.
Nora: I’m sorry…
Bo: For what?
Nora: For not having contractions….
Bo: (looking up from his magazine) oh…you can control that?
Nora: No…but I feel bad…you did so good getting me here….
Bo: And now I am doing so good waiting…you sure you’re not feeling even the slightest pain?
Nora: Not for the past two hours…
Nurse: (entering the room) Ok Mrs. Buchanan…I’ve spoken to the doctor and she said if we don’t get any contraction by morning, we are going to induce…
Bo: (to the nurse) Is it normal for this to happen? I mean…for the pains to just dry up?
Nurse: Well…the baby is the one running the show…some times walking helps…if you want to maybe walk up and down the hall…feel free…
Bo: Thanks…(the nurse leaves) I’m hungry…(looking at his watch) I haven’t eaten since two…I’m going to take a walk to the cafeteria…
Nora: Has Matt come yet?
Bo: I tod him to stay home with Asa and Renee…Nigel will bring them if the baby comes tonight…I’m gonna go get a sandwich…want anything?
Nora: This baby to come…
Bo: (looking at her as she sits miserable in the bed) I know…it will…I love you…
Nora flips on the TV and begins to talk to herself, to her baby…
Nora: Hey now…I know you maybe a little afraid to come out…but I really think it would be a great idea….you know…I mean…I am so anxious to meet you and so is your daddy…I promise I’ll keep him from singing the frog song…I promise…come on baby (she caresses her stomach) come on baby…give mommy a little kick (Nora watches the monitor, nothing) alright…be difficult…I can handle difficult…you forget…you have a big brother who wrote the book on difficult!
After a few minutes, Bo returns with a Styrofoam box. He sits on the chair next to Nora and pops the box open. Nora tries to watch the TV and ignore Bo and his eating. For a few minutes, she does a pretty good job; then she just can’t take it anymore.
Nora: What are you eating?
Bo: Gyro…wanna bite?
Nora: Bo…it smells horrifying…really, its making me sick…
Bo: Sorry…I’ll go eat in the hall…
Nora: No…stay, just don’t breath on me…ok?
Bo: Yeah…why don’t you try and get some sleep…
Nora: Yeah…
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Morning comes and Nora wakes to see her big belly still protruding from under the sheet. She looks to see Bo asleep in the chair, the remnants of his box dinner on the table.
Nora: Bo…(she tries to reach him) Bo…honey…
Bo: (startled awake) Is the baby here? Is it??
Nora: No…not yet…sorry you had to sleep on that chair…
Bo: It’s ok…did the nurse come in yet?
Nora: No…
Just then the nurse comes in.
Nurse: Good morning!
Nora: Hi.
Nurse: Not the happy response I’d expect from a soon to be mommy (the nurse pins a bag to the IV holder and slides the little needle into the feeder tube that is in Nora’s arm)
Nora: Is that….
Nurse: (touching the bag) This is the magic baby making formula…technically known as Pitocin…this is going to induce your labor…
Nora: Really?!!!
Nurse: Yes…really…(to Bo)daddy…I would suggest you take care of any business you need to within the next two hours because mommy here is going to need you…
Nora: Two hours? Really?
Nurse: Really…now…if you need anything…you hit this button and I’ll be right here…
Nora: Thank you…
Nora straightens the blanket over her belly and starts to read a book she brought with. Bo walks over towards the bed and takes her hand. And stares. And stands. And stares some more.
Nora: Bo…trust me…you’ll know when it starts…you don’t need to stand here and stare at me…its probably more of a deterrent…you should have Nigel bring Matt up here…
Bo: Sorry…I’ll just…ah…sit over here (walking to the chair across the room) and read (he looks around and picks up the paper) my newspaper…(under his breath) and wait…(to Nora) Nigel’s going to get him (looking at his watch) actually, he should be getting him now…
Bo clears his throat and holds up the paper in front of his face.
Bo: (mumbling under his breath) I cannot believe this baby….nine months isn’t long enough…and its gonna play games….
Nora: Bo…
He looks over the top of his paper
Nora: I can hear you…
Bo: Sorry…
They settle back into the mundane waiting. Nora looks at the clock.
Nora: Fifteen minutes…
Bo: (from behind the paper) fifteen and a half…
Nora: Thanks…
The room door opens. Matt walks in.
Matt: (handing Nora some flowers) No baby yet?
Nora: No baby…
Matt: I’m going to go down and get something to eat…I’ll be back in a while…
Half an hour later…
Nora: BO!!!!!!
Bo drops the paper to the floor and runs to the bed.
Nora: BO!!! (grabbing the bed sheet) PAIN!!!!!
Bo: (taking her hand) Ok…ah…ah…breath…breath….
Nora: NOT HELPING!!! (squeezing his hand)
Bo: Ok…ok….um…um….
Nora: (breathing) stopping…it’s stopping…(exhaling deeply) whew…that was intense…
Bo: (dumbfounded) um…good job?
Nora: Good job? Bo…you’re supposed to be my coach…not stand here screaming breath…
Bo: Well…what do you want me to do?
Nora: I don’t know…
Bo: Well, I don’t either! Its not like I was here the last time…
Nora: That was…. PAIN!!!! (grabbing his hand) PAIN!!!!
Bo: (looking at the monitor) ok…going up…up...up...up…peaking…peaking…down…down…five…four…three…two…and done….deep breathe….
Nora: Thank you…that was good…can you do that…that helped…
Bo: Sure…sure…
Bo starts to walk to the chair.
Nora: Where are you going?
Bo: I’m going to bring the chair over there…
Nora: Ok…BO!! BO!!!
Bo: (grabbing her hand and watching the monitor) Ok…ok…here we go…up…up…up…peak (leaning in towards her face) peak…down…down…five…four…three…two…one…breath…great…we did it…I’m gonna grab the chair…
Nora: (clutching his hand) Don’t leave me…
Bo: Honey…I’m just going to get the chair (pointing across the room)
Nora: But what if a pain comes…
Bo: Nora…I can’t stand here all day…I want to get the chair…that’s all…the longer you hold my hand, the less time I have to get the chair…(slipping his hand out of hers) ok…now…let me get he chair…
Nora: Ok…(taking a deep breath) hurry…
Nora watches Bo. She feels silly; the chair is only about seven feet away. Sure enough though…
Nora: OH!!! PAIN!!! BO!!!
Bo: (dragging the chair and grabbing her hand) Ok…up…up…up…still up…up…peak...peak...down…down…down…and five…four…three…two…one…. breathe…that was a longer one…. could you tell?
Nora: Yeah (breathless) yeah…hey…do you think the pains are supposed to be coming this fast?
Bo: I don’t know…maybe we should ask….
Nora hits the call button. The nurse comes and checks the IV and assures them that everything is fine. They get the routine down of counting out the labor and within three hours the nurse calls Nora’s doctor. The nurse reappears in the room. Nora is in heavy labor as the nurse performs a routine check.
Matthew has decided he can’t bear to watch his mother in this much pain so he has opts to sit in the labor and delivery lounge and watch television.
Nurse: That’s it…count and breath…any urge to push yet?
Nora: (puff) no…(puff) not yet…. (puff puff puff)
Nurse: Ok…we are dilated to nine…your doctor should be here any minute and I suspect in a few minutes, you’ll be pushing…remember to wait for us…
Nora: (puff puff) oh sure…top of (puff puff) my list…
The doctor enters the room and looks at the chart and then goes to check Nora
Doctor: How we doing?
Nora: I have to get this baby out!!
Doctor: That’s why we’re here…
Nora: No…(puff puff) NOW!!!!
Doctor: (from between her legs) I see that!!! (looks at Bo) You ready to become a daddy?
Bo: All my life…
Doctor: Good, cuz its your only choice…ok Nora…next contraction…give me a great big push….ready?
Nora: (bearing down) PUSHING!!!…PAIN!!!…. BO!!!!!!!!
Bo: I’m here…. push…push honey….
Nora: I AM!!!!!!
Doctor: Bo…you wanna watch…. here comes the head…keep pushing Nora….
Nora: PUSHING!!!!!!
Bo moves towards the foot of the bed.
Doctor: One more…. and its a
Bo & Doctor: girl!!!!
The doctor smiles and winks at Bo.
Doctor: It’s a girl…
Nora: A girl!!! (crying and reaching for Bo's hand) you waited…. you knew and you waited…
Bo: (moving back towards the head of the bed and kissing Nora’s temple through his tears) I knew…I knew…. a girl…I love you so very, very much Red…a girl…
Nora: (pulling his face downward towards her lips) I love you….(kissing him) a girl…where’s Matt? Where’s Matthew….
Matthew is standing in the door…
Matt: (leaning against the door frame with his arms crossed) So…she’s finally here….
Nora: (wiping tears from her eyes and laughing) She’s finally here…
Matt: 'Bout time (walking into the room and to the warming bed as the nurses prep the baby) Sure took you long enough…(he looks at his sister as she squirms and yawns) you better not make this a habit…being late for everything…
He walks over to the bed were his parent are nuzzling. He leans in and hugs them both. They each wrap an arm around him. All three huddle together.
Bo: (still crying) Its finally over…we made it guys…we made it…
Doctor: (turning towards the family with the baby in her arms) Would you like to meet your daughter?
She places the tiny baby in Nora’s arms.
Nora: (crying) Our daughter…
Bo: (pulling back the blanket and peaking over the baby’s head) hey baby…hey there…I’m daddy…this is mommy and this scary looking guy (tussling Matt's hair) is your big brother…
The baby opens her eyes and looks directly at Matthew.
Matt: (touching her tiny hand) So…what’s your name little lady?
To be continued….
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