14 years ago, on December 31st 2001, Tami was experiencing some contractions, but nothing too consistent with eminent labor and delivery. We were expecting our third child (our third daughter). Tami had a pretty bad headache all day on the 31st and was feeling pretty tired. She was a bit sad and frustrated that there were so few strong contractions because she was “ready” to have the baby. With Tami’s headache ruling the day we were set for a quiet New Year’s Eve.
Around dinner time we discovered that our sister-in-law, Decina Paul was at work. It just so happened that she worked as a labor and delivery nurse at the hospital where we were set to deliver the baby. Decina and Tami talked on the phone that evening about her symptoms and Decina encouraged us to come in right away because she was sure “they” (meaning herself) would keep her and not send her home. Decina really wanted to be on shift when we delivered and she felt strongly that tonight would be the night!
Sure enough, the Dr (perhaps with a little help from Decina) kept Tami. As we were getting settled in our delivery room, the Dr and all of the hospital staff joked that we would either receive a “little text deduction” just before midnight or possibly have the first baby of the new year. From there the speculation grew as to whether or not we might even become the proud parents of Baby New Year 2002 for the city of Indianapolis!
Just before midnight Tami’s labor did intensify but we missed having the “little tax deduction.” Instead, at 7 minutes past midnight (12:07AM 2002) we became the proud parents of St. Vincent Hospital’s first baby of the New Year! Evalin Rose was born amid the fireworks, new year kisses, and the singing of Auld Lang Syne. Evalin’s birth had been Tami’s fastest and easiest delivery yet and we had hopes that it was all a sign as to how life would be with this new baby.
The main nurses station was located just outside of Tami’s delivery room. The nurses all piled in to congratulate us and to see the hospital’s Baby New Year ’02.
They quickly began calling all around the city to see if other hospitals had delivered their new year baby yet. Reports came in that we had “beat” hospital after hospital, until finally they found that a baby had been delivered at 12:01 via C-section. Everyone considered that “cheating” but we really didn’t care. We were just happy to have our healthy baby girl, Indy’s New Year Baby or not.
Coincidentally, the Indianapolis Star News decided to headline a story about slow population growth in Indiana and asked if they could photograph and print our New Year Baby as the cover photo. We agreed, and that placed Evalin on the front page of the Indianapolis Star Newspaper on January 3rd. Of course, we find it just a bit ironic that Evi became the poster child for “slow” population growth. 14 years later she’s now living in one of Indiana’s largest families!
“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!…”
~ Isaiah 43:18-19 ~