Our hospital bag is ready, contraction is now every 15 minutes.
"Sebastiannnnnnnnnnnn!" That signals him to hurry.
I am contracting again on our way to the parking. Hindi biro ang sakit - hindi ko na gugustuhing umulit.
We are now in the car when another contraction burst.
"Inhale exhale, Love. We will be in the hospital in less than 20 minutes."
The contractions are every 5 minutes apart when we arrived in the hospital. I am already at 9cm. Carmelo never left my side hanggang sa delivery room. Naghahalo ang sakit, kaba at tuwa na ilang sandali na lamang ay makikita na namin ang aming anak.
"Ready, Trish. Push!" Sabi ng doctor. With all the strength I have I squeeze Carmelo's hand.
"Good! One more Trish. 1 2 3 push!"
Para na akong mauubusan ng lakas. "One last push Trish. She is almost out. 1 2 3 one big push!"
"Uuuuuuugggggghhhhhhhhhhh"!
"The baby is out!" That is the best thing sa kabila ng sakit.
"Congratulations Mommy and Daddy."
Carmelo is just standing next to me holding my hand still. "Good job, Love. I love you." Nanunubig ang kanyang mga matang tumingin sa akin at hinalikan ang aking ulo.
When I first laid my eyes on our daughter is the greatest moment of my life. She is like an angel. It is still too early to say but kamukhang kamukha siya ng daddy niya.
"Hello little one, it is so nice to finally meet you. I am your Daddy." Ang kaninang nanunubig niyang mga mata ay balot na ng mga luha."You know what Love kung anong nararamdaman ko ngayon?" he asked.
I shake my head."Ano?"
"This is exactly like the moment I first saw you. Hindi ko alam na pwede pa pala ulit mangyari 'to. Ang magmahal ako ng isa pang babae bukod sayo. I love you both so much." He gave me kiss on my forehead.
"You've never changed,Carmelo.Ang corny mo pa din."said Pia. My bestfriend and my OB." Come here may inaanak let's clean you up. Tell your Daddy to save his cheesy lines for later kapag wala na si Ninang. Kinikilabutan ako e." Then she glances over us with her kinikilabutan face.
It was just a good 10 minutes and Carys is now back in my arms.
"There you go, Mommy." She places her back in my arms. "Good job, Trish. They'll move you to the recovery room habang nireready pa yung room niyo. Maiwan ko muna kayo dito para maituloy na netong si Carmelo ang kakornihan niya." She rolled her eyes to Carmelo bago siya umalis.
"Thank you, Ninang Pia at tsaka hindi ako corny! Magboyfriend ka na kasi." Pahabol na pagbibiro ni Carmelo.
"Thanks, P! I owe you one." Nilingon niya na lamang ako ng nakangiti at tuluyan na siyang lumabas.
****
Nadatnan na namin sa kwarto ang buong pamilya.
"Finally! Our apo." Unang apo si Carys dahil only child si Carmelo. Pangalawa naman sa side namin.
"She looks like you, Carmelo." Komento ni Mama
See kahit si Mama kita niya agad kung sino ang kamukha.
"Balae ang ibig sabihin niyan inlove na inlove si Tricia kay Carmelo." Komento naman ni Daddy
Matapos ang tawanan at kwentuhan finally we are alone in the hospital room.
Watching Carmelo with our daughter is a beautiful sight I want to see everyday. Ramdam at kitang kita ko kung gaano niya kamahal ang anak namin. I can see that he would do everything for her — for us. I know Carys will love him just like how I am with Papa.
Napakaswerte ko. I found someone just like Papa. Carmelo is amazing. He is smart. He is loving. He is a great provider. I wouldn't have it any other way.
"Love is anything wrong with Carys?" Puna ko ng parang nag iba ang timpla ng mukha niya.
"Parang heavy breathing siya, Love." He glances over me. "Love, here. Hold her and I will call Harry to check on her."
Harry is his bestfriend. He is our pedia.
We've been observing Carys habang hinihintay si Harry. We are not expert pag dating sa mga bata pero bilang mga doktor may mali nga sa paghinga ng anak namin.
"I turn around as soon as I got your call. Let me see her." It was just a good ten minutes at dumating siya agad.
I lean on Carmelo habang pinagmamasdan ang ginagawa ni Harry kay Carys.
"I am suspecting pneumonia. Trish, kukuhanin muna siya ng nurse for x-ray, okay? Wag kang mag alala ako ang bahala sa inaanak ko. Take a rest. I think P is doing her rounds now."
****
Just after an hour Harry is back. "Here is the result of her xray."
Carmelo open the envelope he handed. Naghihintay lamang ako sa kung anong sasabihin niya. Tingin pa lamang ni Carmelo after niyang mabasa ang resulta I know something is wrong. He then handed me over the result.
"Tama nga ang kutob ko. She has pneumonia. We will have to keep her in the NICU for seven days atleast. So here's what going to happen. Naka oxygen siya for now just until her oxygen gets back to normal. You can go there to feed and carry her. We will also start her antibiotics tonight. I know you know how it works. I'll check with P kung kailan kayo madidischarge but kailangan muna natin iwan si Baby dito. Trish, I promise you that I will take good care of her, okay? Just rest so you can recuperate. Hmm? "
Good Lord, ilang oras ko pa lamang siyang naipapanganak antibiotics agad. But I know naman that she is in good hands.
"Thanks, Man."
"No prob. So maiwan ko na muna kayo dito. I'll tell the nurse to assist you papuntang NICU." Tumingin pa siya sa kanyang relo. "I think it's time to feed her. Trish, don't stress yourself out. I will be around to check on her from time to time I promise."
"Thanks, Harry." Ang tangi ko na lamang nasabi.
"You okay Love?" Carmelo sits on the bed next to me.
I gave him a weak smile. "Yes, Love. She is brave and I know she will be okay." I just have to assure him para hindi na rin siya mag alala pero kapag ina ka na pala talaga mas gugustuhin mo na ikaw na lamang ang may sakit.
****
I was discharged on the second day. The worst part is leaving Carys at the hospital. These past few days has been rough for us. We had to go back and forth to the hospital. We were allowed to stay from 8am-5pm because I had to feed her. From 5pm hanggang makabalik kami kinabukasan sa bote siya dumedede.
That nightmare ends today. Carys is finally back in my arms.
I unbuckled her from her car seat while Carmelo grabs the rest of her things.
"Welcome home!" Nagulat kami that everyone is here. Today is a work day for everyone kaya hindi na kami nag expect.
Si Mama agad ang unang sumalubong para makarga ang apo niya. "You brave little one you are home now."
"Kumusta naman ang bagong mga magulang?" Ang bati naman ni Ate Aiks. I haven't seen her since I gave birth.
"Hindi na ako uulit Ate, hindi mo naman sinabi na ganun pala ka sakit." She smiled at my remarks.
It was good to have them over kahit mabilis lamang. Mama was the last to leave. After sending her off I immediately went to the nursery room kung nasaan si Carmelo.
What a sight to see when I opened the door. Nanatili ako sa may pintuan so I could not interrup the father daughter bonding I am seeing. Carmelo is sitting beside the crib talking to Carys.
"I love you and your Mom. I will do everything to protect both of you". She kisses Carys on her forehead.
I can see how much love he has for our daughter. He's kissing her forehead over and over until I hear a sob.
Carmelo is crying. That is when I decided to get in.
I sit beside him and lay my head on his shoulder. "Why are you crying, Love?"
Pinunasan niya muna an kanyang mga luha bago siyang humarap sa akin. "Nasabi ko na ba sayo na ikaw at ang anak natin ang pinakamagandang nangyari sa buhay ko?"
I nodded. "Yes, Love. Napakaraming beses na. At ang swerte namin sayo ng anak mo. You are a great husband and I know you'll be a great father too."
Inalalayan niya ako so I can sit on his lap. My arms arond his neck habang hawak hawak niya ang aking bewang.
"Isa na lang ang kulang para masabi kong kumpleto na ako".
I give him a confuse look. "Ano?"
"Ang makasal tayo sa simbahan. Trish, sabi nila third time is a charm. So, ngayon sa harap naman ng anak natin tatanungin ulit kita." Mula sa pagkakandong ko sakanya ay inilipat niya ako sa upuan at saka siyang lumuhod.
"Trish, let us make it legal. Yung walang divorce.
Will you marry me again?"
Hindi naman niya kailangan pa akong tanungin ulit." Kahit saan at kahit kailan. Magpapakasal ako sayo ng paulit - ulit, Love."