Four. I have four children. Sometimes I sit and watch them all when we’re home and I think, “How did I get here?” And also, “My God it’s so loud, why does it seem like there are 27 of them?”

I look at big Zach and our nearly 15 year relationship flashes through my mind. So many years together and, yet, it doesn’t seem like many at all. I can still picture us as 24-year-olds running rampant through center city without much of a care, except for each other. It felt like that time of our life would last forever.

Fast forward 14 years, August 21, 2025, driving into Lankenau Hospital to be induced for the fourth time. We had dinner with my parents and Zach’s parents at our house. We said good bye to our bigs and headed out to welcome a new little one.

This had become routine for us. We laughed and listened to music on the way. Music that we liked since we didn’t have any little voices demanding requests. There was no fear or hesitancy. It all felt natural. We were once again in a position that felt meant to be.

After we parked, we of course forgot which way we were supposed to go in. We went to the front doors, which were locked. After standing around bickering about which way we went three years before, we spotted a person coming out. We ended up sneaking in the door they exited. We took the long way to get to the maternity ward. I can see us now as I write, walking the long hallway, me waddling and sweating. Zach saying, “Wait, is it this way, or is it one over?” No matter where we go, Zach is always within one block or one hallway of the right direction. We eventually found the right spot after he decided to listen to me. We checked in and settled in for a long night.

Neither of us had any nerves, well, I can’t speak for Zach, but judging by how easily he fell asleep I assumed he wasn’t nervous. They hooked me up to the monitors. They began administering medicine around 10:30/11pm and my body began to slowly respond.

My Mom was texting me for updates through the night. She is always a nervous wreck when I or any of my in-laws have gone in to have babies. When you are a former nurse and are married to a doctor, even the simplest of medical procedures can cause worry. When you know the worst that can happen in many situations, worry can be hard to settle. My parents were both convinced since it was my 4th go around that the baby would come fast and furious. I assured them my body seemed to be taking its time to react, but their nerves overcame them. They called me around 4 am. They were on their way. I have said this on numerous occasions, I do not know what I would do without my parents. Whether it be physical help or emotional support, I would not be able to process/carry/survive major life events without their compassion/guidance/ears to listen. Yes, I have Zach and I am beyond grateful for what we can do together, but to have the extra cheerleaders and people with a wealth of experience under their belts who are more than willing to share advice, it’s invaluable. What is life experience for if not to learn from and share what you have learned with those you love most? 

So 5am, I was sitting comfortably, I had an epidural coursing through, I had gotten some sleep, baby’s vitals were fine. My Mom came in around that time to sit with us. My Dad had left to go to work. Not sure how he was able to considering he had no sleep. The rest of the morning was easy. We talked and laughed. I moved side to side to get more comfortable. I had ZERO pain. Each time I have done this, the epidural wore off on my right side. I always had sharp contractions for the last hour or two in my hip. I don’t know what was different about this time, but it was the best epidural I ever had. I was loving life all through labor. Only thing that would have made it better is if I was allowed to drink a coke. 

Around 1pm, a person came in to discuss hypertension post delivery and how to properly take my pressures at home. I was leaning on my right side talking to the woman. It was the worst timing to be discussing after care. I was in active labor. I’m nodding my head along wondering when this lady would stop talking and I looked at the foot of my bed. My Mom was sitting straight up in a chair, her chin at her chest, fast asleep. I started cracking up while this lady was discussing the dangers of high blood pressure. 

“Oh,” she said. “Look at her, she is in the perfect position to have a pressure taken, but she’s passed out.” 

My Mom came to and apologized. 

The woman said, “I see this isn’t the best time to be discussing this!” She gave me her card and went on her way.

I rearranged to sit more upright and felt some light pressure in my lower back.

My Mom said, “You should ring the nurse then. She said to call if you feel any pressure.”

The nurse came in and I explained what I felt. “It’s not even painful, it’s just like a heavy feeling in my back and pelvis.” She called the doctor in to check me.

The doctor hardly even glanced when she said, “Yup, a baby is coming.” She could see the head.

My Mom (fully awake at this point) stood and shouted, “NOW! Oh my God, the baby is coming now??”

Zach got into position on my left side. “Here we go,” he said.

They prepped the “runway” as it were. The medical team surrounded me. I took a look around the room at all the faces. A team of women. I never felt so empowered.

“Well, any last minute guesses?” My doctor looked at us.

“We think it’s a boy,” Zach and I answered in unison. 

“Okay, Kate, next contraction deep breath and big push.”

Within three pushes, on August 22nd at 1:30pm, I watched as another little human flew out of my body. It’s the most surreal, science fiction-esque, otherworldly experience a human being can go through and I got to do it four times. So damn cool.

“A girl! It’s a girl!” The room erupted in applause. 

Oh my God, we had ourselves another girl. The whole pregnancy I had been convinced it would be another boy since I had two in a row. Not that a boy would have been disappointing, but wow, who gets this lucky to have two of each.

They placed her on my chest. There’s nothing quite like holding a freshly delivered baby, no matter how many times it happens. All the pain and exhaustion of pregnancy and childbirth melts away as soon as the heavenly little person touches your skin. You can finally put a face to the personality you’ve come to know and love so deeply. And this person knows you to your core as well. She moved her eyes when she heard Zach’s voice. She took right to breastfeeding. She knew exactly what to do.

The nurses took her across the room to clean her up and get her vitals. Zach stood over her in amazement at yet another creation our loved made.

“So, what’s her name?” My doctor asked as she cleaned me up. 

 “What do you think, Zach? Kathryn?”

“Yes! Kathryn!” Zach exclaimed.

“Oh, that’s so nice,” my Mom said. “Kathryn Jeanne?”

“No,” I said. “Kathryn Denise!”

“Oh my God,” my Mom shouted. “Are you sure?”Her eyes welled with tears. She was shocked.

“Of course I’m sure! We decided this a while ago. If it was a girl, she would be Kathryn Denise.”

“Oh my God! This is my sixteenth grandchild,” she told all the nurses and the doctor. Her hands shook as she cried. “Finally, one gets my name! It only took sixteen!” Everyone laughed and clapped. 

Once we were settled in a room, we had a few visitors and ended our day with some actual rest. The next couple days were for lack of a better word, easy. Katie knew just what to do and so did I. The nursery was open again which was nice. When we had Zachary the nursery was closed because of Covid and with Peter it wasn’t open either. We took advantage of sending Katie to the nursery for a few hours each night and we were able to sleep. We went in on a Thursday night and we were home by Sunday morning to begin life as a family of 6.