Tristan's Birth Story

We were scheduled to be induced on Monday, November 19. While lying in bed in the early hours of Saturday morning, Mommy’s water broke. We called BawBaw as he was going to stay with your big brother, Brendan, and told him to head on over. We told him not to rush around as Mommy was going to take a shower, as she figured we would have plenty of time before you made your debut. During shower-time, Mommy realized that contractions were coming on pretty fast and maybe we didn’t have as much time as we thought. By the time she was done getting dressed, her contractions were about 5 minutes apart…time to head to the hospital. We pulled up to the hospital at the same time as your NaNa and Aunt Jess. They joined us as we checked in, got suited up, and were settled in the room by 5 am. Mommy’s blood was taken for some tests around this time, and she asked about an epidural. We needed the results of the blood test before it could be administered. As we waited, the contractions got closer and stronger. At one point, the nurse came in and Mommy asked again for the epidural. “Still waiting on the blood work,” was the response. Aunt T was able to join us in the delivery room, and a few other family members waited in the waiting room: BawBaw and Brendan, Uncle Shane and Aunt Lilly, and PaPa Pelhank. By about 6:15 am the contractions were so close together that Mommy had about a minute to breathe between contractions when another would come.

That was when the anesthesiologist arrived to ease the pain. (Or so we thought). We were asked to clear the room, except for one…Daddy. NaNa asked if Daddy wanted anything, and he requested a juice. After the room was clear Mommy sat up to receive the epidural. As she was sitting on the edge of the table, you dropped into the birth canal. We had to stop the anesthesiologist before he could administer the epidural. Tristan was coming, whether we were ready or not. As quick as could be, the doctors and nurses were summoned. In all the commotion, NaNa had been trying to find Daddy’s juice. Still searching, she made a stop at the nurse’s station, which happened to be across from our room. Thank goodness she stopped there, or she would have missed the birth! She heard Mommy yelling at the anesthesiologist, trying to make him understand that you were in the birth canal. She looked into the room, saw what was happening, and ran down the hall to get Aunt T. They rushed in, to find the medical staff frantically trying to put on scrubs and assemble themselves in time to catch you. Mommy was told to push if she needed to (and boy, did she need to). She was pushing as the medical staff was chaotically organizing themselves and prepping the room for your arrival. Four pushes, and you were here. 6:56 am. Daddy and the doctor saw that you were a boy, and we knew your name would be Tristan. And even though we were kind of in shock at the speed with which you arrived, no one could deny that you are absolutely adorable: big pouty lips, nice round head, great color, lots of strawberry-blonde hair, and sweet dimples. Mommy would have a lot of healing to do after your birth, but none of that matters now that you are a part of our family.