Copperhead Road

Epilogue

I told Josh that we were stopping at four because I didn't want another boy. We didn't want to know the gender of baby number five. Now here we are with the nursery set up like usual and counting the minutes apart for the contractions. I told Josh that I was going to get my tubes tied if he thought about getting me pregnant a sixth time.

He came home one day and handed me a piece of paper stating that he had gone to the extent of getting a vasectomy to ensure no more kids. It's reversible though. If we change our minds. Mind you, he did this right after I hit the mid mark of the pregnancy.

When I was close enough to go to the hospital, he had the bag ready and his mom watching our four boys. The oldest is thirteen, second is ten, third is nine, and fourth is six. This is going to be our true baby in the family. Josh was also the last one to stop having kids.

When we got there, only Josh was allowed in the birthing room. I was so close I could almost feel the head crowning even though my water had yet to break. They were going to refuse letting me in since my water had not broken yet, but since my contractions were nearly two minutes apart, they were forced to.

"Just break my freaking water so we can deliver this baby." I muttered laying on the bed. Josh kisses the back of my hand. "Our baby will be here soon my queen. Remember the last two baby broke the water as they were crowning or the head was out." He said. I nodded.

"It feels like the baby is crowning." I said. He got curious and checked. "You are. The baby is crowning." He said. He stepped out and yelled down the hall. Then came back to my side. The doctor checked me out first. "The bag needs to break before we start pushing." He said.

"The last two times the bag refused to break until the head was either out or almost out. I am about to start pushing because I want this baby out now." I told him. He had his team come in. I was already lightly pushing. Josh held my hand the whole time. When the doctor looked again, I saw his face and knew the baby was coming faster than he liked. "Head is almost out." He said.

"Good. Then the rest can come out." I said. I gave a large push without counting. I heard a popping sound. "Water just broke as the baby is coming out and it's a girl." The doctor said. Josh and I both looked confused. The wail was what let me know our baby was fine. I took care of myself while they were taking care of the baby. I had no epidural and didn't need it after the first baby.

I immediately got one of the postpartum pads and back in a clean bed. When I finally got to hold our baby, I had to make sure that it was a girl. "Your family's luck with just boys ran out Josh." I told him. He still looked confused. "What girl name were we wanting?" I asked him. He shook his head. "No f*cking way." He said as he chuckled. "I'm not lying about this babe." I told him.

"We'll wait until we let the family get to see her that it's a girl." He said. I smiled. He kissed my forehead as our daughter latched on to nurse. "I'll watch her while you get some rest." He said when she finished. She didn't cry as her father took her. He already was doing skin to skin with her while I slept.

I was nudged awake by Josh who was trying to set her on me. "She's hungry again baby. I changed her diaper and made sure she was clean." He said. As long as everything checks off on our baby, we will get to leave in the morning.