Amanda and Lee arrived at the hospital at 6:30 a.m. the next morning because Amanda couldn't sleep. She was immediately started on Pitocin and stuck in bed. It wasn't long before the contractions started, preventing Amanda from any hope of getting extra sleep. There weren't even any false contractions. By eight, the contractions were getting stronger, but they were still bearable. Soon, she felt a warm gush, and she realized it was her water breaking.

After that, the contractions came hard and fast. By ten, the contractions had become quite painful, but she was only at 3 centimeters. Amanda was offered something for the pain, but ultimately decided on waiting for an epidural.

At 12 p.m., the contractions were about five minutes apart, but they were lasting two to three minutes, so there was no rest for Amanda in between. She tried to use the breathing techniques her and Lee had learned at Lamaze class, but it was no use. The contractions were so painful, Lee had to remind her just to breathe at all.

'He can kiss my you know what, if he thinks we're going to do this again.' She thought to herself. "It will be a long time before he touches me again," she said, under her breath.

"What did you say, Honey?" Lee asked.

Amanda temporarily lost her patience as another contraction hit. "I *said*, it will be a cold day in HELL, before you touch me again."

Lee chuckled and kissed her forehead. "I love you, too."

Finally, around 1:15 p.m., the nurses announced that Amanda was 3-4 centimeters and the baby had moved down so they started the epidural. After all the research, preparation and the fear of having an epidural, she found it was well worth it. When the time came, relief of pain was the only thing on Amanda's mind. The epidural began to take affect after only 5 minutes, and though there was still pain and discomfort, the difference was amazing. Amanda even managed to get a wink of sleep or two.

During the time they waited, Lee slipped out for a minute to call Billy and Francine, and let them know what was going on.

Lee came back into the room and took a seat next to Amanda on the bed. "Billy and Francine said they were on their way over. How are you feeling?" He asked taking her hands in his.

"Much better since I got that epidural. Gosh, I wish I had this when Philip and Jamie were born, this is great. I think I'm going to try and rest for a bit while I can."

"Okay," Lee smiled, "you go on and rest. I'll sit here and watch a little TV or read, okay?"

Things seemed to go slow after that. By three, Amanda was only 5-6 centimeters. It took until nearly five for her to reach ten. Dr. Evens came in and told Amanda she could start pushing and then left to go finish with another patient, assuring she would back soon to check on her.

After that, the nurses prepared Amanda. A nurse stood to one side of Amanda and her mother stood at the other side, while Lee stayed by her head. She pushed three times during the first contraction and Amanda could feel the baby's head moving down. During the second contraction she continued to push and Amanda could feel the head crowning. By the third contraction, she was starting to feel nauseated and on the second push she vomited all over her mother, Lee and, of course, herself. Luckily, it was only cranberry juice.

The nurses could see the baby's head, so they informed Amanda not to push on the next contraction and one left to get the doctor.

A few minutes later, the nurse came back, but without the doctor and acting a little nervous. Of course, this didn't help Lee at all, he was already aggravated because the doctor was not there yet.

As the next contraction started, Amanda tried to keep from pushing, but the baby's head came out with no effort at all from Amanda. With one more push, the baby was out and the nurse was cleaning him off and hollering for someone to get a doctor. Finally, a doctor came in, helped Lee cut the cord and handed Amanda her baby boy.

It was about that time that Dr. Evens walked in. She examined the baby, and examined Amanda, informing her she only had one little tear that wouldn't need stitches. "Good job," she said.

"Thanks," Amanda said, "wish you could've been here." Luckily, Lee was very engrossed with the baby. If not for that, he might've has his own words for Dr. Evens.

Matthew William Stetson weighed 8 pounds, 15 ounces and was 21 inches long. He had blondish, brown hair and Amanda was sure his eyes would turn out to be the same as his fathers.

"Oh, Amanda. He is just beautiful." Lee smiled, leaning down to give her a quick kiss on the lips.

"Would you like to hold your son, Daddy?"

"Oh, I don't know," he said with a shaky voice. "I might drop him or hurt him. I've never really held a baby before."

"Well, get used to it because you're helping out, Buster. I carried him for nine months. It's your turn." She handed him their son.

Dotty walked up to Lee, helping place the baby into his arms and showing him how to support the head. "Amanda, you sure make wonderful babies. I'll leave you two alone for a few minutes and go let the rest of the family know the baby has arrived."

"Thank you, Mother, for helping out in here," Amanda said.

"You're welcome, Dear. It's been a long time since I have seen a birth and to be part of my grandson's birth...it just thrills me to no end." She gave Amanda and Lee both a kiss on the cheek before she left. "Fatherhood agrees with you, Son." She took another quick peek at the baby and smiled, "He sure looks a lot like you did, Amanda, when you were born, and he has your looks too, Lee. Well, I'm off."

Five minutes later, there was a knock at the door and Philip peeked his head in, "Can we come in?"

"Sure," Amanda said.

The door swung open with Philip, Jamie, Dotty, Francine, Billy and Leatherneck. Everyone was eager to see the new addition to the Stetson-King family.

Francine went over to Amanda. "So what did you name him?"

"Matthew William," she said with a smile.

"Oh, that's nice, Amanda. William...did you name him after Billy?"

"Yes, since Billy is the one who pushed us together in the first place," Amanda said as she smiled at Billy.

The next half an hour was spent passing the baby around so everyone had a chance to hold him. The nurse came in soon after and asked everyone to leave because visiting hours were almost up and the patient needed her rest. After they all said their goodbyes, they left the happy couple alone with their son.

Lee placed Matthew back in his bassinet and then he walked over to Amanda. Sitting on the edge of her bed, he took her hand in his and brought it up to his lips kissing it gently. "Thank you, Amanda, for our son."

"No, Lee. There is nothing to thank me for. We did this together. He's perfect. We are going to have a wonderful life with our three sons." Suddenly, she yawned. "Oh, excuse me."

"You’re tired?" he asked.

"Yes, I think I'm going to try and rest for awhile, while Mattie is sleeping, okay?" she asked.

"Sure, you go right ahead. I'll just sit here and watch both of you sleep."

"You're tired, too, Lee." She scooted over a little in bed. "Lay with me."

Lee slipped his shoes off and climbed in the bed with her. "I love you so much, Manda," he said giving her a kiss on the cheek before he drifted off to sleep.

"I love you, too, Lee," she mumbled as she also drifted off to sleep.