First Field Trip

It's been a busy time as one might expect with a newborn in the house! It took about a week just for my wife and I to feel like regular people again, although she still has all the aches and pains of a c-section recovery. The boy has been great though as he only gets us up once in the night to feed and have his diaper checked. What's been the most helpful has been his consistency and, while that may very well change, we feel generally rested and recovered from the hospital stay.

We have taken the little one for a few quick trips over the weekend to Target on Saturday and to the maternal grandparents house on Sunday. However, today was his first real field trip! We stopped by my wife's workplace to show him off at an office picnic where he was a big hit. Then we headed to Toys R Us and Babies R Us to pick him up some clothes because most of what we bought him was too big! Given the fact that my wife had gestational diabetes, we naturally figured he'd be around 8 pounds. But, he's definitely a little man for the moment at least!

Our last stop was Pizzeria Uno and I must say that he was a champ. He ate and burped very well and slept most of the time. He also went without a diaper check for about 5 hours and didn't complain at all. I know it remains to be seen if he'll stay calm and consistent in the weeks ahead, but he really has been an angel. Oh he belts out those high pitched cries and is fussy around mealtimes, but we couldn't have wished for a more content baby.


So, after a quick stop at school to return some VERY overdue interlibrary loans (yes, I've been a delinquent borrower!), we are chilling at home watching the Red Sox game. We're all pretty spent and the boy was a bit fussy during his feeding, but he's already done so well today that I couldn't complain if I tried. Sometimes I sit with him at night and look down, having to take it in that he's really my son, that we really created this little life. How thankful am I for my family? I don't think there are enough words in all the universe quite frankly.

And, speaking of the Red Sox, they just came back in the top of the 9th to tie the game! Anyone who knows us is aware of our love of the Sox and we have been trying to bring the boy up to speed. I have said repeatedly that I'd be ok if he doesn't grow up to be a Red Sox fan or even if he doesn't like baseball, but it is something that I think we'll all be able to share as he grows up. The World Series last year was a time I'll never forget and, actually, wasn't it just about 9 months ago? Hmm, it seems like something else was going on around that time, but what could it be? :)

The Week That Was

Well, it's official: I'm a dad! Our little man arrived at 5:01 am on July 10th and I just can't stop staring at our little man. Both sets of grandparents were at the hospital for the birth and helped us bring him home this past Wednesday. It was a very long and tough labor (sorry to all you moms and dads who hate to hear stories like this) that started on a Friday night and ended with a c-section in the wee hours of the morning the following Sunday. My wife pushed for over 4 hours and was an absolute trooper, enduring 3 epidurals and giving everything she had to give and more.

In the end, the boywas posterior and just couldn't make it through the birth canal. After they took my wife into the operating room I had to wait for what seemed like hours, thinking about what could happen to them in that room. Fortunately, my father saw her being wheeled down the corridor and, along with my mom a bit later, talked me through my waiting and worrying. I don't think I had ever been happier to see them in my life! But, before long, I was in the cold environment of the operating room.

I must admit that I did get a little queasy when I first sat down, but I hadn't eaten anything for hours and I had to balance myself on a stool like you find in many doctor's offices. It's high off the ground, not very stable, and moves with the slightest nudge. After a pep talk and some orange juice from the nurses, I went back in and saw my beautiful baby boy lying in the warmer: 6 pounds 11 ounces and 21 inches long. I followed the nurses who took him to the NICU, with a short stop in front of the waiting room to see the grandparents. As they moved him in, I realized that I had just left my wife alone in the operating room!

Needless to say I felt guilty about doing that and for telling her to push so forcefully, but one of the first things she said was how wonderful I had been during labor. That, and my newly born son, made me the proudest husband and father anywhere on the planet...and no one can tell me any different. Due to the c-section, my wife had to stay in the hospital for a few days which gave us a great opportunity to get to know the little man, but also to have a nurse take him down to the nursery so we could get some sleep. I stayed with her every night until the last one when she insisted I get some sleep in our own bed. It was agony for me to leave them that night, but the uninterrupted rest has come in handy!

So, as I write this my beautiful boy is up in his crib and my beautiful wife is in the recliner, both fast asleep. The boy has been so well behaved and seems to want to take in everything around him. We sent out an email to everyone about his arrival and the good wishes are still coming! It's really the first day it's just been the three of us as my parents headed home this morning and I've begun to realize the awesome responsibility we've assumed. He changes every day and no two days have been even remotely alike. I want to thank everybody who has wished us well and supported us through everything we have endured over the past few years. Both sets of grandparents have already done more and been appreciated in ways they may never fully know. Our gratitude goes out to them each and every day. But, above all, I want to thank my wife for helping to bring our son into this world. I love you both so very much.

On the Horizon

Today is the first day of July, the weather is cooling off, and I'm living fancy free! It's been a busy two weeks since my last post and the amount of news to report is getting thick. So, I'll do my best to cut to the chase. Brady may be here in just over a week! Yay! After an appointment with our OB, my wife has been scheduled to be induced on Saturday July 9th. We see Dr. C. again next week, so the arrangements could change, but she's on at the hospital that weekend and wants to do the birth herself!

Suffice it to say that we're absolutely thrilled beyond belief! My wife had been planning to play "Let's Make a Deal" with Dr. C, but she brought it up before she could say a word. The baby is 37 weeks as of yesterday, so he's had proper baking time and we were told that after 38 weeks the VERY LOW mortality rate for babies with gestational diabetes does start to go up. While we had been worried about him being too big, the estimated weight is 6 pounds 4 ounces, coincidently the same weight I was when I was born!

So, my wife is on maternity leave as of today but doesn't think the reality of not going to work will hit until next week. And speaking of reality, how do you think we'll feel on Friday night when we head into the hospital? I'd love to hear some predictions. I must admit that when I started this blog I expected a few responses to my posts, but other than my parents we haven't had much activity. So, if you are out there as faithful readers, please let yourselves be heard! While those who post previously had to sign up with Blogger, you can now post anonymously if you wish. Now you have no excuse!

Today we have another non-stress test to make sure the baby's heart rate and movement are good, but after feeling him last night I don't think we'll have long to wait! He was bouncing around in his tight space and I could feel body parts! It was a really weird sensation I must say, but the ultimate feeling will be holding my son for the first time and I have absolutely no idea how I'll feel at that moment. I'm told it's like no other feeling in the world...better than a first kiss, getting married, or any other event in our short time on this Earth. And I don't doubt that for one second...I love you little man!