“BatJack”
Being a dad of 4 that ranged from 6-23 and having crossed the 50 yard line in life, seemed like a great place to stop production. But when the surprise announcement came in January of 2014 that there was to be a new bundle, it seemed like the most perfect event to round out our lives. Of course that was after the initial period of shock, disbelief and wonder. (You wouldn’t expect a father of 4 to say “how did that happen??”, but I did.
Then just several weeks later, we found that the surprise addition we had come to expect, wasn’t going to arrive after all. Several tests and confirmations proved that our little David was not going to make an appearance on earth. And life was shaken.
After a few weeks to adjust and come to terms, we had ‘the talk’. We weren’t planning on any more babies, I am older than dirt….we do look forward to having the ’empty nest’ thing to worry about, but now that was different. Not having the expectation made all that look perfectly normal. But just a few short weeks of knowing that a new baby was coming, changed the perspective quite a bit. So we decided that we’d give it 2014. If there was a baby, then great. If there was no baby, we’d officially close down shop and get ready to push the last child out of the house as soon as possible.
“Breezy”
We had a family trip planned for Disney in May, and let’s just say that the Disney Magic is all that it’s cracked up to be. It wasn’t long after that my wife had ‘that feeling’ and confirmed that another little was on the way.
This time the appointments were filled with fun, everything looking and acting just as expected. Before long we found out that the final chapter in our creation story was going to be a little boy, who would be called Jackson Cash. While there were precautions taken (due to ‘advanced maternal age’ at less than 40), each appointment confirmed that things were very normal and that Jack was right on schedule.
We arrived on our scheduled date, just as planned. After trying to convince the Dr. of several other dates that fit our timeline better, we stuck to her plan and showed up ready to deliver a new country music star to the world. The process is all very well orchestrated. Everyone has a place and there’s a place for everyone. My biggest challenge was figuring out how to get those scrub shoe covers over my Nike’s, but we managed to get it done. My wife had the hard work, and had to endure things that I would likely not be (able) willing to. My job was to wait till called, in a hallway, while she was being prepped and tied to a table for the big event.
Once they called me in, I was clearly in charge. Taking my station at her head, saying nice things and staying out of the way of everyone else. That was pretty much it. She was happy at that point, all the needles and unpleasant things were gone and she was feeling pretty good. The Dr. got started and I was able to watch a good portion. I’ve seen it before, but it just doesn’t get old…seeing all the things that should be ‘inside’ put on the ‘outside’ like on a work shelf. The Dr. is very diligent in her task, but taking the time to chat and joke about a variety of things. There are lots of folks there, including a mid-wife who just wanted to be there for support, and our new pediatrician, waiting to see the new arrival.
“JackHawks”
To say that the process went quickly would probably not be a fair assessment. There was a lot of work, a lot of movement, a lot of ‘putting things on the shelf’. But the best part was when the Dr. stopped in mid banter to say that the baby “had grabbed hold of her finger and wouldn’t let go”. She was basically having a hard time getting good leverage on him, as he had burrowed his way down and deep as far as he could go. So even though this was a c-section, she actually had to use the mighty-vac to dislodge him and get him out of there!
As she raised him up for momma to see…he was quite the site. A big boy…was the way the doc described him. He was right away put on his momma and began to nurse. Right there in front of God and a whole room of people, his first few minutes of life were marked with an immediate connection to his momma.
They did all the other usual stuff after a bit. Weighed him, measured him…cleaned him, and then back to momma. He stayed there all through the cleanup process. Stayed there while the shop was closed up for good. He only left her when they moved us to the room. And he has spent most of his nearly 5 months now, right in the same spot. With his momma. Getting everything he needs.
I might not have gotten to play a big part in the room, but I got to watch this little man come in and steal my wife’s heart away. He had her from hello, and she’s just as smitten today as she was then. So is he.
So am I.
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