On January 28 I went in for my 38 week doctor visit. My body was progressing toward labor, but we had scheduled an induction for February 10 one day after my due date because that would fit our schedule the best. (Go ahead and laugh quietly.) On January 30 we went to church and the sermon was from Acts and it included Acts 16:14 "One of those listening was a woman from the city of Thyatira named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth. She was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message." This verse is where we found the name Lydia just 6 weeks earlier.
After church I decided to go pick up some ingredients to make cookies for the basketball and volleyball offices. I did this from time to time to bring a little cheer to friends in the athletic department. After baking about 6 dozen cookies, my kitchen was a mess! I looked at the pile of dishes in and around the sink and want to run to bed. However, something inside me said, "Get the dishes done just in case something comes up tomorrow." I did those dishes and went to bed feeling like I had accomplished a great feat since I REALLY don't like washing dishes.
Monday, January 31 started off like a normal Monday in the Washington household. Tyrone took Jeremiah to school then went to work. He let me know later that morning he had left his cell phone at home. Maiesha and I left around 10:00, as usual, for campus. My Monday class met at 11:00 so we had plenty of time to deliver our cookies and visit on the way to class. Tyrone picked Maiesha up after his class right before mine began. After I was finished, I picked her up from him, again as usual, and we stopped back in the basketball office to say hello before walking home.
As we walked down the hallway to exit the building, I felt something that prompted me to visit the bathroom. I thought to myself, "Did my water just break?", but I dismissed it and told Maiesha we should get home for lunch. When we were nearly home (it was a 5-8 minute walk) the same "disturbance" happened again. I called Tyrone in his office to catch him, before he went to guest lecture in a classroom I did not know the location of, to let him know what I thought could be going on. He was very nonchalant about it so I said I would keep him posted. I proceeded to fix lunch for Maiesha and myself and we ate. I had to visit the bathroom more frequently now and I was pretty sure my water did in fact break and I would need to speak to a medical person. Unfortunately my doctor's office closes from 12-1 each day for lunch so I would have to wait a few more minutes.
I started packing a bag and then made contact with a nurse at the doctor's office. She recommended I get to the hospital soon and that driving myself was not a good idea. Then I called Jeremiah's elementary school to let them know of my predicament and that I would most likely have to get him from school a little early. The administrative assistant told me I would have to come into the school to get him. I laughed considering I was not able to freely walk around the house an longer let alone walk into an elementary school. I called a good friend Rebekah and asked how quickly she could get to my house. She asked how soon I needed her to be there and I said, "Oh, about 5 minutes ago." She told me she would be there and I told her Maiesha and I would be in the van and she could drive. Poor Rebekah sprinted the 1/4 mile to our house, jumped in the driver's seat, and we left for Jeremiah's school.
As we parked in front of Jeremiah's school, Rebekah realized she forgot her wallet and I was not fit to walk. She took my license into the school as though that would somehow be proof of who she was. Fortunately, Jeremiah ran to hug her when he arrived in the office so the school felt comfortable allow him to leave with her. They both ran out to the van and off we drove to the hospital which was only about 8 minutes away. I arrived in the Labor/Delivery ward at 2:03 alone while Rebekah parked the van and brought the kids upstairs to hangout with me.
While all of that was going on, Darla and Pam, the basketball and Exercise Science Administrative Assistants respectively, both wonderful friends and great ladies, were on a mission to find Tyrone back on campus and get him to the hospital. They all arrived in my delivery room by 3:00 after I was officially checked in and it was confirmed that my water was, in fact, broken.
Lydia was born at 9:46p.m. after a short labor and even shorter delivery. She was 6lb 12oz and 20 inches long. She was perfect and was successful in thwarting our plans of a February 10 induction.
I am so grateful for all the support we recieved from our dear friends that day. It was one of those "fly by the seat of your pants" days, but nothing was left undone because of the love and caring of friends. Our children were taken care of and were able to sleep in their own beds that night. The out pouring of gifts, visitors, meals, and helping hands was truely a testament to God's provision in our lives.
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