Brandon Thomas

We came up with the name Brandon from the movie The Crow.

It is a "dark" movie, but we liked the music and liked the main character played by Brandon Lee. (He was accidentally killed during the filming of this movie.) And Thomas was after Tom.

I continued to nanny throughout my pregnancy.

Tom would come to visit me when he got off of work.

He went from airplane mechanic to locomotive mechanic to forklift mechanic.

When I was about 8 months pregnant my doctor decided to leave the practice I went to. I was so upset! I really liked her. But before leaving she introduced me to a midwife she liked. We decided to go with the midwife.

She would still deliver me at the hospital.

Tom and I went to Lamaze classes at the hospital.

I was prepared to have our baby without pain medication.

On March 20th, 1995 we went to bed. It was pretty late. I was feeling something, but not sure if I was in labor. By 1:00 am I knew I was.

We called our doctor and were told to go to the hospital.

We did. I was checked and was only 1 cm dialated, but they still admitted me. I immediately called my parents. They lived over 5 hours away. I thought they might want to get packed and start driving. It was only about 2:30 am. They told me they would leave later in the morning. I don't think I was aware just how long labor can last the first time.

I was in labor for around 22 hours. At first, I was laughing with Tom and eating popsicles. Around 5:00 pm I was in so much pain. I remember my nurse had to come in to calm me down. So much for Lamaze - I asked for the epidural. I was in so much pain, my midwife ordered it for me right away.

I felt much better.

My parents made it to the hospital.

Around 10:00 pm I was told I was ready to push.

My parents and my oldest sister and my oldest brother were in the waiting room. They heard me scream for the next hour. I guess my brother came to the door and heard me screaming, then I stopped. He went to my parents and told them - that's when they knew I had given birth.

Our first baby. Beautiful blue eyes. Bald little head. Around 7 lbs.
Perfect little boy.
My family came to my room. Tom and I were so happy to introduce them to our son, Brandon Thomas.