Home... Sweet Home

I thought I was going to end this blog but I realized it is a great way to share our new experiences with Jamin Andrew, our newborn, and Daniel James our 3 year old.

It's great to be back home from the hospital. Heather recovered quickly, thank God, and she is feeling pretty good. It is nice that family steps in to play a part. Aunt Robin came over with all the boys to make dinner and Mama and Papa came over to spend time with Heather while I had to work. These little details are the glue that makes life work well and allows me to see God working around us.



"Little Jamin" is Daniel's name for his brother. He just loves him. I am impressed at his nurturing with Jamin. He wants to "pet" him and kiss him and read to him. He likes to hold him and love on him. It is very amazing to see his little heart in action.Having a new born in the house changes things emotionally. We are all much calmer and relaxed than we were a week ago, but we are also more fatigued and looking for reasons to to relax together. It is a very refreshing change.

I went on a cleaning spree as soon as I had time away from the hospital. I had starting a cleaning process last week but it was Daniel's birthday and we had a herd of youngins running around. By the time we got settled back in the house, I was wiping down everything and putting clothes away, going through stuff, organizing toys, cleaning the dishes, wiping the cabinets... It was some freak cleaning spree. I think it is a genetic response to having a new baby. I have heard moms call it nesting. I guess, I am just a little late as usual... I waited until the baby got home :) I seem to work better under pressure.

Thanks for stopping by to read and look at pictures and possibly videos soon. We'll see if I keep posting, if only just for a family diary. God bless you and yours and always remember, God is in control and you can do all things through Christ, who gives us strength.

The waiting doesn't seem so long now...

After we hoped that the muscle testing was accurate, we soon realized that it wasn't able to pin point concerning the labor and delivery. Regardless of such things, we soon became comfortable. Mama and Heather hoped that I would take some time and go over to the house where all the family was. I had lunch and crashed for about 30 minutes, made myself get up and came back to the hospital. Hoping for some action, we went walking more, had some thanksgiving food and eventually were all laying around just hoping. I actually fell asleep from 9pm - 2:30am. I was wakened by a poking in my ribs, a moaning sound and mama saying "can you help us out here?"

While I slept, Heather's labor increased. She finally hit a wall at about 2am and things progressed rapidly. The midwife didn't even make it in time. The nurse on duty wasn't so sure that when Heather said she felt close, that she knew what she was talking about. They weren't able to call in time and a stand by doctor was called up to assist. This woman of mine is absolutely phenomenal. Using no drugs, which they say is rare among anglos, she had a quick natural birth. Honestly, she pushed about 5-6 times and voila. Out pops a lovely little cutie. I must admit, the 45 minutes or so that she was in intense labor was not a site for the squeamish and I am so thankful to have been born a man.

After the process, we got the little guy all cleaned up, signed off to deny Hep B and got him all swaddled up. This kid has a perfect body temp, great skin tone and color. He just is beautiful and so is his mom. I am in awe of God's creation and workmanship again. Becoming a father a second time, is just as amazing as the first time.

We are now cozy and settled in to our new room and waiting for our departure time, hopefully before sunset. Things are great. Heather is up moving around and is ready to order some breakfast.... and as a matter of fact, I am too.

Thanks for reading. I hope this little blog made you smile and brought you encouragement.

The waiting game...

We have just been hanging around the Phoenix Baptist Hospital. There is not a lot going on but positive changes are happening. The question of inducing has come up but Heather is confident that her body will create the proper function to allow this little man to be born very soon. A lesson we have learned is that; just because your water breaks doesn't mean you should go to the hospital, even if you have had an experience where it was once a good idea. Now we are all sitting around with Miracle on 34th St. playing on the tube.

Some events that have occurred today were sad and very eye opening. It seems as if one of our neighbors have lost their newborn upon delivery. This is very unfortunate and I can't imagine what I would say to them if I had a chance to. I also can't imagine the complication in my own heart and mind of losing our child today. Knowing this is a possibility anytime, I have to accept that God is in control and even though I would dread the reality, things happen to us in life that we can't control. My heart would be torn and because of this, my prayers are with them tonight, especially on this thanksgiving day.

On a lighter and happier note. Heather's best friend Angela also went into the hospital today. Thank the good Lord, she delivered a healthy baby boy. How amazing that these two best friends would go into labor on the same day. We are hoping to have ourselves a fresh, healthy little baby boy before midnight, so they might share the same birthday. What fun!

Well, if you are following along today, please keep us in your prayers and especially for the family here that have lost their little girl. May God bless them and help them along, that they might have peace.

Will post again in a while, probably not again until jr. arrives.

Gobble.. Gobble..

Mommy's hanging tough with the acupuncture, we just got the needles all out. We've tried some muscle testing techniques to possibly "predict" the onset of labor and a possible delivery time. This is all just for fun primarily and to see if we can get accurate with it by amazing chance. The tests are saying we will have a baby within 3 hours :) We sure hope so. It is 9:30 am.

Heather is just relaxing. We are all ready to get going here. Patience is a good thing right now and we will use what we have. It is a good day to have a baby. It's Thanksgiving plus my nephew Zane was born on this day too. There are so many friends chiming in to give some love on facebook and through texts. What an interesting way to use so much social media and technology. May as well put it to use, even though I am being made fun of for blogging this birth :) In ten years they will say, "that was a good idea."

I am going to use my massage skills to help mommy relax. I think we could all use a massage at this point but I'll try not to be selfish.

Will follow up with new info in a bit, now go eat some turkey....

Well, it is Thanksgiving day 2010, that makes it the 25th of November. Last night before dinner at about 5:30, my wife announced to me, "Don't freak out or anything but I think my water is breaking.", "Oh, alright." We've done this before, so naturally this is going to go exactly the same as before. So far this is a totally new experience?

When our first son was born, the water broke at 6:30 pm... the child was born at 12:30 am. Pretty fast. This time we are just waiting around for things to happen. Contractions are fewer and farther between and it has been over 14 hours now. So we are taking evasive action... Acupuncture to the rescue!

Mama, (grandma) is a Naturopathic Dr and we are utilizing her wisdom and ancient healing secrets. We have midwives instead of doctors this time around. We didn't do a home birth for specific reasons but maybe we'll get into that at another time. We are at Phoenix Baptist Hospital and things are going nicely. The nurses are great, kind and compassionate. It is a good experience. Now, let's get this baby out.

My wife, Heather is just amazing. No drugs, no nothing just straight up "mommy power". I will be keeping a log on this blog until the birth. For now the Acupuncture seems to be doing it's thing. Movement is up and mommy is stimulated... and mentally she is ready for delivery. It's 8:25 am... we'll keep you posted.

To be continued...