Saturday, September 26, 2009

He Is Born




Owen Curtis Hartmann was born this afternoon at 4:35 p.m. of Lillian Rose Moon Hartmann and Jason Thomas Hartmann.

I left my camera in Lily's room when we left the hospital and these are the pictures I got off Mr. Moon's phone. There will be better pictures but really- these say it all.

A beautiful brawny boy- 9 lbs. 4 oz. - but hardly the ginormous child the ultrasound doctor claimed he'd be. And Lily pushed him out all on her own after over two nights and two days with no sleep and no relief until finally, stuck at 9.5 cm. for hours and hours, she relented this afternoon, got an epidural and pitocin with all my encouragement and then got the job finished up in less than an hour of pushing, which is amazing for a first baby.

And they said it couldn't be done.
They don't know my Lily.

Of course there is a long, long story but I, too, am exhausted. I didn't sleep that well on Wednesday night, went to the hospital on Thursday morning and haven't had more than an hour of real sleep since then.

I don't even know how I am feeling. I don't know who Owen looks like except himself. He has a bit of a fever and was having rapid respirations right after birth and so they have done blood work and placenta cultures and will start him on antibiotics but his color is pinky red, and when we left him and his mama and his daddy in their room tonight, he was nursing like a man born to the tit and was ready for a nap. He took every minute of that long, long labor in stride and he is strong and will be fine.

But oh, it was hard to leave him.

When I talked to him tonight and held him, he quieted down and looked at me.
"I love you," I crooned. "I am your best friend." (Which of my readers told me her mother said that to her baby?) "Your mama and daddy are your mama and daddy but I am your grandmother and your best friend. I am the crazy old chicken lady and I love you."
I think he knew what I was talking about.

He doesn't know it yet, but he was born into the best family anyone could imagine. Hank was there in the hospital the entire time and slept in the waiting room sitting up. Jessie was the sweet aunt, rubbing feet and getting water and walking laps with Lily and Jason, Hank and me, trying to get that baby to come. Tay-Tay brought Wattaburger. Whataburger? I'm too tired to care. Mr. Moon sat and waited and let Lily lean on him and kissed her and brought food and let ME lean on him and cry on him and was the man I leaned on when Lily was born. And May cried on the phone and wrote what will probably be Owen's best birth story even though she couldn't be there.

There were phone calls and visits and brownies and muffins and there was Lily. She walked, she labored, she cried, she laughed, cried some more, she rallied. She did not give in. She did not give out. I have been to many births and I have never seen ANYONE labor more strongly, bravely or gracefully. I swear that.

And when it came time to push him out, it was as if she'd pushed out ten babies. She was amazing. Tomorrow is her birthday. Twenty-four years ago tomorrow, I pushed HER out and how do you even imagine what it means to breathe with a daughter as she labors whose life you breathed into existence just five minutes ago?

And Jason was with her every step of the way, holding her hand, letting her lean on him, supporting her in every way possible. He danced through almost every contraction with her, quite literally as she swayed and moaned and hummed and sang Owen into place.

I feel like I have experienced the biggest honor of my life.
I feel like I have just met the man of my dreams.
He was born tonight and he is a beautiful baby.

And I am the luckiest woman in the world, writing this, trying to integrate this, loving him and the family whom he is so blessed to have blessed with his presence.

Welcome, Owen Curtis Hartmann. Now get all well real quick because we want to play with you and kiss those pretty lips and and fat little cheeks and hold your strong beautiful fingers and be in amazement at your long, lean legs which will run so fast and carry your so far, and your big baby feet that were longer than the form when they made your footprint.

Thank-you Lily and Jason. Thank-you, all the powers that be. Thank-you, all the grace and all the glory and all the light.

Owen is here.

37 comments:

  1. Congrats to you all! Owen is a beautiful boy and he'll be just fine. He will grow up knowing all that his mama went through to bring him into the world, and he'll love her all the more for it.
    I can now go to bed relieved, knowing all is well with you and yours!

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  2. Thank goodness he is here! What a beautiful baby and what a strong mamma. I hope he gets well very quickly and that Lilly bounces back just as fast. Congratulations to all of you!

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  3. I love knowing he's here, and I love you too.

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  4. Yay Lily! Congratulations and love to all. Beautiful Boy.

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  5. HUGE MASSIVE CONGRATS!!

    Thank you for putting into words what I imagine my mom thought of when I had my girls.

    Now, how do I get my girls to grow 20 years tomorrow so I can have my own grandbaby to love on?

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  6. Oh, Ms. Moon...

    As always, you are so eloquent. Congratulations to you and your family, and welcome, Owen!

    Lily is so beautiful with her smile.

    What a wonderful day.

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  7. Ah, I'm crying now and it's 11:52 pm.... I am so proud of all of you, but especially Ms Lily... My GOD that woman labored didn't she?! As I told May, I'm not sure I could do anything for 30+ hours... not even something pleasant, like sleeping!

    She is definitely my momma hero. Great job Lily. And great job to the whole team.

    Can't wait to see you all hold that little monkey! He's so damn cute!! Pearl is going to loose her mind!
    xoxo m

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  8. I can't believe you wrote all that considering how exhausted you must be. I have been sobbing all day. Oh, I love my family.

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  9. Aw shucks. I'm all warm inside. He's huge and beautiful and so are all of you (not huge, just beautiful!)! Congrats and get some sleep. I'm so happy for all of you.

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  10. p.s.
    I just reread the post you linked to about Lily and her birth, and I think it's funny that you wrote it on the 26th, which is now Owen's birthday! Could you even imagine last year at this time that we would have a whole new baby now? When Lily told me she was due in September I said "Lily! Are you trying to have a baby on your birthday?" I guess he wanted his own (his Owen) day.

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  11. Woo hoo! congrats to all! He's BEAUTIFUL!!

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  12. Such wonderful news! We're very happy for you all. Little Owen was all the talk of the Opera House tonight.

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  13. Oh my! he is so gorgeous, so pink, so lovable, and Lily is indeed the hero here - not taking anything away from anyone, but as one who went for 32 hours in dry labor I know a bit of what she has gone through. Go Lily! and you, you my dear are wearing more than your heart on your sleeve tonight. Rest a bit and go back to the Hospital and fill your eyes with the man of your dreams. I am sure Mr.Moon wouldn't mind.

    Hearty congratulations from both of us to all of you.

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  14. Congratulations to your family. What a fine son your daughter has brought into the world. Thank you for the tears of joy and the words of hope you share with your readers. Sleep well, and sweet dreams.

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  15. Ohhh happy tears!!
    Congratulations to you all! Welcome to the world lil Owen :o) x

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  16. Congratulations all of you! What a dream of a baby!

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  17. Yay! When first labors are long they make all the upcoming labors seem like a piece of cake ;) (wouldn't that be wonderful if it were true)

    Great Job Lily!

    Welcome to the world Owen.

    What a nice looking boy!

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  18. welcome, owen and bless your hearts, moon family.

    what a beautiful head he has.

    he shares his birthday with our brother, ms moon.

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  19. He is gorgeous. Blessings upon the family...

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  20. Wow, what an amazing story, congratulations to your family :) He's perfect.

    AND a very lucky kid to have a wonderful grandmother... fun and mental are fundamental!!

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  21. Oh Ms. Moon
    I'm laughing and crying and feel like my heart's gonna explode.
    Lily is gorgeous
    Owen is big and beautiful
    You are Ms. Moon, and I love you

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  22. Congratulations! He is beautiful! Lily is amazing.

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  23. well, well, well.

    congratulations to mama and papa, and everyone!

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  24. So much love around your family. He certainly is the luckiest boy. That was a long, hard labour. You have a very strong and brave daughter there! A Happy Birthday to Lily too. You made me cry when I read this... your words are beautiful. Sending love to you x

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  25. Absolutely, stunningly, beautiful....
    Now get some rest Ms. Moon, you've just embarked on the venture of a lifetime and will surely need your rest!

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  26. Amazing...
    Just amazing...

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  27. Congrats on the newest adidtion.
    Looks like a lovely healthy boy!

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  28. I was exhausted reading that, amazing, amazing job Lily! I'm so happy for you all!!

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  29. He is here and he is lovely. Congrats!

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  30. Beautiful Ms. Moon. :) Enjoy lovin' that little baby Owen. Congrats to your family, and I Lily sounds amazing for what she went through.

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  31. Wonderful! Welcome to our crazy beautiful world, Owen!

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  32. This is wonderful and he's adorable! Last night I dreamed about his being born.

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  33. I wish you were my mom ! Congratulations and enjoy this very special time.

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