Joshua's Birth

January 26, 1983 -- Joshua's Birth Day!
--First Born Son of Michael & Selma Eisenstat

I had the typical questions, hopes and dreams of new parents. Who would Joshua be? 

My Grandma Selma loved Joshua!

My first baby was due on February 3, 1983.  In the beginning of my pregnancy I was extra nervous because of a heart-breaking miscarriage the year before.  But thankfully this was a more normal pregnancy with fatigue, morning sickness and weight gain!  At the time I was working full-time as a secretary at an accounting firm.  On Wednesday, January 26, 1983 at 2:30 a.m. I woke up and felt some type of a pain.  Then 20 minutes later I felt another and then once again 20 minutes later.  Well, we started getting really excited.  I called my Mom and told her what was happening and she said it sounded similar to her labor pains.  Suddenly at 3:30 in the morning I felt very apprehensive and excited.  I stayed in bed to try to get some sleep in between the labor pains.  But that didn't happen since by about 4:00 they were 10 minutes apart and continued to stay that way until about 8:30 a.m. The pains increased to a range of 4 to 7 minutes apart and lasted almost one minute each.  We were patient for about an hour before finally calling the doctor.  I also then called my work to let them know I wouldn't be there that day (my last day of work was suppose to be January 31st).  At 9:30 a.m. we called Dr. Mount, but he said they sounded like false labor because they weren't very regular.  But right after I hung up the phone the pains became much worse.  So we called him back at 10:00 a.m. and he said for us to go to the hospital, and that he would meet us there.  We arrived at Burbank Community Hospital at 10:30 a.m.  It was extremely difficult being in a car and having labor pains.  It felt like we would never get there.  The nurses took me right up while Michael filled out the papers to admit me into the hospital.  The pains were getting worse, but the nurses were very gentle and understanding.  The nurse checked me and said I was at 5 centimeters, and that the baby would probably arrive at about 2:00 that afternoon.  But then I had a really bad labor pain, and asked for something for the pain, but the nurse said if she gave me something, then the baby would arrive before Dr. Mount arrived.  So I tried really hard to relax, but it became very difficult.  And then just 10 minutes after the nurse had said I was at 5 centimeters, she checked me again and I was fully dilated.  Everyone and everything was suddenly in fast motion as they prepared me for the Delivery Room.  My doctor still had not arrived and things were happening very quickly.  The doctor finally arrived, but it really was close, as the baby came very fast. 

At 11:40 (approximately) the water bag came out, and then the head and body.  The baby was actually born at 11:45 a.m..  The moment had finally arrived to find out if it was a boy or a girl.  Dr. Mount turned the baby toward me and said "It's a boy."  It was a beautiful moment to hear those precious words!  The doctor then put him on my stomach just a minute after he was born and then the nurses cleaned him.  My hands were still fastened down but I was able to give him a kiss.  There is hardly a word to describe the beautiful feeling as I became a mother.  The feeling of Joshua being born was indescribable.  It truly is a partnership with God.  I loved Joshua so much already and felt so very blessed and humbled to be his mother.  He had a dimple in his chin, just like me and my dad, and he was so handsome!!

I was so happy and excited to be a mother.  I had dreamed of this moment all of my life and I was now completely full of love and wonder at my beautiful and handsome newborn son.  He immediately captured my heart and the hearts of all of his family from the day he was born.  He was what you would consider a “normal” baby.  He kept us up at night a lot during the first few months, smiled after about six weeks, loved to be held and talked to, giggled and laughed.  He was already a bright light in my life and I loved him with all of my heart. 

As a young mother, it was so fun to watch him grow and to anticipate the future.  I had the typical questions, hopes and dreams of new parents.  Who would Joshua be?  Would he be handsome?  Would he be a good student in school?  Would he excel in sports?  Would he have good friends?  Where would he serve his mission?  Who would he marry?