Our Life

Thank you for all the emails and IM’s about Chris’s post. Her doctor did not choose to induce. Due to her not having any other indications of labor, like Braxton Hix contractions, she felt it was not the time. The attempt could fail.

“You think you are uncomfortable now? try being in the hospital for 3 days in induced labor, and then having to go home after it didn’t work…”

On a lighter note, the baby is now head down… So, on the time-line of birth, we are approaching the endpoint.

Weird. Just weird.

I was working on Sunday. Been trying to save up Vacation days, so I didn’t request it off. I call Dad, to tell him I love him, thank him for all the wisdom he has shared and the values instilled within me… and he bursts my self-absorbed state with “so, what about you? Happy Father’s day to you too…”

Whoa. (blink, blink)

It was a though that ripped me out of “work” and into an introspective state that I still can’t yet wrap my head around. I am going to be a father. Granted, it’s still not official. Anything can happen. Until we are safe at home plate, baby safe in our arms, I don’t want to think about it. If all things go well, it’s going to happen. This realization and tactile reminder of what “Life” really means reminds me of the 5th Element “Time not important. Only Life important.”

A co-worker is also about to extend their family. They are due just before we are, so I get to have some insight into what is about to happen in ours by talking with him. We have been catching up every Wednesday on how the pregnancy’s are going, how the wives are feeling, etc. He asked me the other day “So, are you ready?” “Nope…” “Good.. then you are. You realize you are not, and so you are ready. If you said you WERE ready, I would be a little worried. You just can’t plan for it, it just has to happen.” Thank you, Thomas. I appreciate our talks, and your advice.

My boss, who’s son was born about 6 months ago, was telling me of visiting some friends of his who just had a baby. His friend was nervous, didn’t feel confident about all the things one needs to do with a newborn. How to hold them, comfort them, etc. He was showing his friend how to do these things and then thought to himself “Wow… 6 months ago, I was this man. Now, I have answers and advice!” You could see this had an impact on him, as he was smiling ear to ear recounting the story, feeling proud that he could help a new father find his feet in his new role. I look forward to that grin on my face, as well. Thank you, Mike.

An other co-worker one evening, gets a call. His voice turned sweet, like a teenager talking with their crush: “Yea babe. Sure, I can do that. I’ll pick some up on the way home. Awww right. Love ya sweety.” He looked at me, and answered my questioning look: “My daughter… She wants me to pick up some mint leaves so she can make mommy some mint tea for breakfast tomorrow.” I don’t even talk to my loving wife like that. Will my daughter change me that much? I look forward to being that in love with our child. Thank you, Rick.

One of the Managers at work has been checking in with me periodically to see how we are doing. He has passed on this pearl of wisdom to me: “The Next Best Thing”. He warned that you must have a plan going into the hospital.  Your job, as the husband, is to make sure she has what she needs to be comfortable, and happy. If that is ice chips, get them. If its to have the room @ 60 degrees, get a coat and “crank-er-down!” If it is unattainable, get the Next Best Thing. Plan, that any plan you have will not be the Plan that is followed. There will be 3 plans: “the way you planned it”, “the way you expect it” and, “the way it happens”. Roll with it, it will be one of the most memorable times in your lives. Thank you Tony.

My Brother-in-law is a source of personal inspiration to me. We are similar in humor, and outlook on life. He has 3 wonderful kids with my wife’s sister. He retells of laughing at his children when they do something crazy: like the bermuda triangle that exists in their kitchen for one of their boys. Seems no matter what his son is doing, he falls when passing through this zone in the kitchen. He laughs at this. He reminds me that being a father does not mean all-seriousness. There is joy in laughing with, and at, your kids. Thank you, Eric.

It makes me think and appreciate that people around you can be a source of inspiration, and guidance. You just need to be open to the experience. It makes me appreciate that I turned out a good person, with the loving guidance from my parents. I hope that we can do as good a job with our kids. Thank you, Dad.

Happy Father’s day to all of you. I will soon be amongst you.

So far pregnancy has been pretty easy and uneventful. We’ve had some scares, but those scares have been quickly resolved on there own. UNTIL NOW!! I have come to the point where all women who were pregnant before me warned I would end up, tired, and over being pregnant!! I can’t sit to long, can’t stand to long, can’t stay happy or mad to long, and forget looking in a mirror! I have developed signs of preeclampsia, in laymen’s terms, I can swell like nothing you’ve ever seen! IT’s truely a sight to behold!
Tuesday night I went to dinner with my siblings for Pizza and trivia. My doctor had warned me, avoid sodium at all costs. I drank water all day and all night to get rid of the excess sodium. This did not work! I woke the next day having gained 11 pounds, in ONE day! My face so swollen it looked as though I was having an allergic reaction. Unable to see from the puffy eyes, and unable to close my mouth due to my gigantic bottom lip, I had to apply cold compresses for about an hour to be able to go to work. Where everyone asked if I was ok, because my swollen face looked like I had been crying.
Needless to say I’m really a sight right now. We have a doctors appointment tomorrow where we’ll find out if I have preeclampsia, and if so the only cure is to have a baby. Which will mean we’ll be induced early. Not sure how I feel about that, but at least we’ll know where we are. I’ll post the results later.

Yep, I’m a little bit older. June 9 I turned 31. For the young’ins reading this.. yes, that’s old. Have your fun pointing that out. There will be somone younger than you pointing out your are old when you get here too… Its how karma works. For the older readers, yes, this is still the prime of my life. May I recognize that before it passes!

I spent the day with a buddy of mine (Hi Chuck!) digging posts for the fence in the back yard. We discovered the back part of the property will not support fence posts… its sand that is water logged from the creek not 10 yards away. So the dogs won’t get as much space to run around as we’d like. Thats ok, they will survive.

That afternoon we all went to our friend house that were having a birthday cookout, as her birthday is the 7th (Hi Lori!). We two Gemini’s get along. The food was great, and so was the company.  Got to see some former co-workers I haven’t seen in almost 5 years (Hi Patric and John!). We then got to see how uncoordinated geeks can be by playing some Wii.

This day also marks Chris and I’s 11th anniversary. We met on my birthday in a friend’s yard. It feels like a while ago, but not that far. Love ya babe.