Thursday, April 22, 2010
A Visit from Grandma
Friday, April 9, 2010
Pictures From Baby Michael's First Week
Here are some highlights from our baby boy's first week. This is a picture of his first Costco outing, happily snuggled in the Baby Bjorn while a proud papa smiles on.
This is a rare shot of little Michael with his eyes open. It's kind of hard to tell from the photo, but he has dark blue eyes. The only other person in the family with blue eyes is his Grandpa Hendricks, so I don't know if they'll stay that way.
Here are Dad and baby getting to know one another the first day. 
And here's proof that I did indeed squeeze out a 9 lber. I'm still sort of in shock that he once fit inside of me.
Here he is at his very first party. A baby shower in his honor.
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Stay tuned. We plan on taking lots more pictures
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
The Magic Happened - Michael Stephen Arrived!
Of course, nothing can be simple with us. That is part of what makes our lives so unpredictable and exciting. The birth of our son was no exception. I think we need to share the birth story. . .
Week of March 29
Based on what we thought was labor progress, we asked Mom to come out a few weeks earlier as we wanted her here for the actual birth. She was originally scheduled to come out on April 16 as our due date was April 20.
Well, Mom was here for the entire week. We waited. Christine worked both at her day job and her night job at the hospital where we were scheduled to deliver. When we were all together, we stared at her belly, trying to will the baby to come. As with all things you watch. . . nothing happened.
Mom decided to schedule a return trip for April 17 and left on a plane back to OKC on Saturday, April 4. We bid her farewell and went about having a nice weekend - taking walks and talking about what it would be like when we brought the baby home.
Sunday, April 5
Easter Sunday was very nice. I surprised Christine with an Easter basket that I put together (it's what I do). We spent the day having a nice brunch and then just relaxing with each other. Christine was feeling some pressure, but did not think she was in active labor. She decided to go to work at the hospital and left about 6:30PM.
We checked in a few times over the evening and she indicated all was well. She still felt a little pressure, but thought she was able to work. I took that as my cue to have a little dinner and enjoy a couple of Pabst Blue Ribbons with my neighbor.
We get to about 10:00PM and I received a text (yes a text) from my wife saying that she was having some mild to moderate contractions and she though she should come home. I took that as a cue that I needed to panic. . . and wait for her to arrive. You see, my wife, Christine, was in active labor and decided she would drive herself home. . . from the hospital where she works. . . and the hospital where she was to have our baby.
Well, Christine arrived at about 10:30 and I was ready with all of my stopwatches and contraptions to help her and to time the contractions. When we were already at 11:10 and the contractions were lasting thirty seconds each and were spaced less than 1.5 minutes apart, we decided we should make our way to the hospital.
Christine put on her dress and heels while I made sure I was wearing clean underwear (very important to me at that moment). We sped as fast as we could back to the hospital and arrived at the front entrance at 11:40PM. We did not have time to park the car, so we just left it with the hazard lights on at the front. With no wheelchair waiting, we made our way up to the third floor and then walked, yes walked, what felt like 18 miles from the postpartum entrance to the unit all the way to the labor and delivery section. Again, Christine was in active labor. . . in heels and a dress.
We went right into L&D room 3 and some nurses who know Christine well were helping us gt everything together. We made it into the room at 11:57PM. When they checked Christine after getting her heels off, she was very clearly ready to go.
Our doctor was not available, so the nurses grabbed a doc who was in the middle of another delivery to come on into the room. We got Christine on the delivery bed at 12:04AM. After three pushes and 17 minutes, our son, Michael Stephen was born at 9 lbs, 3 0zs, 21.5 inches long. Of course, he was and is beautiful. I took a photo of him on the scale to prove his size. . . and to send to NFL scouts who may be looking for a star linebacker.
He was ready to nurse almost immediately. The birth was perfect. The baby is perfect. My wife is perfect. Really, everything was perfect, with the exception of some slightly uncomfortable beds.
Over the next 40 hours in the hospital, Michael slept with his parents, greeted visitors, did everything he was supposed to do, and he even scoffed at the circumcision. He seems to only cry when he is annoyed.
This was an amazing entry into the world. Welcome, son.
Week of March 29
Based on what we thought was labor progress, we asked Mom to come out a few weeks earlier as we wanted her here for the actual birth. She was originally scheduled to come out on April 16 as our due date was April 20.
Well, Mom was here for the entire week. We waited. Christine worked both at her day job and her night job at the hospital where we were scheduled to deliver. When we were all together, we stared at her belly, trying to will the baby to come. As with all things you watch. . . nothing happened.
Mom decided to schedule a return trip for April 17 and left on a plane back to OKC on Saturday, April 4. We bid her farewell and went about having a nice weekend - taking walks and talking about what it would be like when we brought the baby home.
Sunday, April 5
Easter Sunday was very nice. I surprised Christine with an Easter basket that I put together (it's what I do). We spent the day having a nice brunch and then just relaxing with each other. Christine was feeling some pressure, but did not think she was in active labor. She decided to go to work at the hospital and left about 6:30PM.
We checked in a few times over the evening and she indicated all was well. She still felt a little pressure, but thought she was able to work. I took that as my cue to have a little dinner and enjoy a couple of Pabst Blue Ribbons with my neighbor.
We get to about 10:00PM and I received a text (yes a text) from my wife saying that she was having some mild to moderate contractions and she though she should come home. I took that as a cue that I needed to panic. . . and wait for her to arrive. You see, my wife, Christine, was in active labor and decided she would drive herself home. . . from the hospital where she works. . . and the hospital where she was to have our baby.
Well, Christine arrived at about 10:30 and I was ready with all of my stopwatches and contraptions to help her and to time the contractions. When we were already at 11:10 and the contractions were lasting thirty seconds each and were spaced less than 1.5 minutes apart, we decided we should make our way to the hospital.
Christine put on her dress and heels while I made sure I was wearing clean underwear (very important to me at that moment). We sped as fast as we could back to the hospital and arrived at the front entrance at 11:40PM. We did not have time to park the car, so we just left it with the hazard lights on at the front. With no wheelchair waiting, we made our way up to the third floor and then walked, yes walked, what felt like 18 miles from the postpartum entrance to the unit all the way to the labor and delivery section. Again, Christine was in active labor. . . in heels and a dress.
We went right into L&D room 3 and some nurses who know Christine well were helping us gt everything together. We made it into the room at 11:57PM. When they checked Christine after getting her heels off, she was very clearly ready to go.
Our doctor was not available, so the nurses grabbed a doc who was in the middle of another delivery to come on into the room. We got Christine on the delivery bed at 12:04AM. After three pushes and 17 minutes, our son, Michael Stephen was born at 9 lbs, 3 0zs, 21.5 inches long. Of course, he was and is beautiful. I took a photo of him on the scale to prove his size. . . and to send to NFL scouts who may be looking for a star linebacker.
He was ready to nurse almost immediately. The birth was perfect. The baby is perfect. My wife is perfect. Really, everything was perfect, with the exception of some slightly uncomfortable beds.
Over the next 40 hours in the hospital, Michael slept with his parents, greeted visitors, did everything he was supposed to do, and he even scoffed at the circumcision. He seems to only cry when he is annoyed.
This was an amazing entry into the world. Welcome, son.
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