The first 48

First of all, thanks everyone for your thoughts and prayers, they are definitely felt.

So the whole birth story is yet to come. It was long, Amy worked her butt off and I couldn't have been more proud of her. I'll post that story in the coming days once we're home.

For now, it's 11 p.m. Friday, I just got home for the last night without Jack and Amy so I'll talk a bit about the first couple days and post some more pics.

First of all, Amy has been absolutely AMAZING through everything! Labor, birth, feeding. She is truly an amazing woman and I could not be luckier that God blessed me with her. Keep praying that nursing continues to go well, that's our biggest prayer request.

Thursday Jack got to meet grandma and grandpa on both sides, Aunt Yvonne, and some of the VanBemmelens, who are like family to Amy and I (some of you may remember we lived with them while building our house). Jack started nursing like a champ! He's doing so great, on his first real feed he went for more than 15 minutes and he's gone more than 20 on every one since.

Amy got some sleep, as did I thanks to my wonderful wife who kicked me out of the hospital in the afternoon to go home and get a nap. She had to call and wake me 4 hours later. Amy then got some sleep last night between feedings, which was great for her.

He's been a bit spitty in his first couple days, which has made feeding a bit more challenging and given us a few good scares when he's gagged and spit up in his bassinet.

Today we had visits from a few close friends, including the three amazing women that helped us during the labor (more on that with the birth story). I changed my first diapers, honed my swaddling technique, learned how to burp him and basically just hung out with Jack and Amy all day, it was great. We had time to ourselves as a family and then a few visits to break things up.

The hospital staff has been amazing, always there for us and so nice. Jack's in great hands when he's in the nursery. Right now Amy is hopefully sleeping (on her belly, women that have had babies can understand how excited she was to do that) while Jack hangs with his friends in the nursery.

So, that's basically it for now. Here's some pics from his second day. Our favorite pic so far will hve to wait until I can get to my computer with Photoshop so I can crop it properly.

This was Jack about 9 Friday night when he was supposed to be eating. He was soo tired, he just would not wake up! He finally did about 25 minutes later and got a full belly.

More evidence he can sleep anytime, anywhere. Either that or he's showing his disdain for how the World Series ended tonight (moment of silence for the '06 Tigers, what a great ride it was!).

Mom putting him to sleep after and afternoon feeding.

Jack and his club. He had a hep-lock put on at birth for antibiotics and had to wear it for the first 48 hours (again, more on that with the birth story). If all goes well, that comes off at 4 a.m. Saturday morning. We'll be home tomorrow afternoon sometime. More then.

Due date, 11 p.m., no Jack

Well it's pretty safe to assume at this point that our due date will come and go with no baby. However, down 4-0 in the 8th it's more likely we'll have a baby than the Tigers will win tonight the way they've been hitting.

That's not to say that today has not seen it's share of developments.

Amy's had far and away her most intense contractions tonight, some a close as 10 minutes apart, but probably averaging 15 or so. Tonight's been the first night she's had to work her way through the contractions, though. Keep praying for strength for her.

So still we wait for God's timing, we know it will be perfect when it does come. Can't wait to meet Jack!

The night that almost was

Well we had a little excitement last night. We both went to bed about 11:30 p.m. About 3 a.m. I wake up and Amy is pretty restless, she's having a contraction. A pretty strong one at that.

From 3 a.m. until about 8 a.m. she had them pretty regularly about 20 minutes apart - sometimes less - by far the most activity we had seen yet. And they were pretty strong, too. So at 8 a.m. we figured this is it, labor has started. I was planning on not going to work, and we assumed we'd be having a baby today.

We tried to go back to sleep, me with more success than Amy. But by 9 a.m., she hadn't had one since before 8 a.m. So I got up, ate breakfast, and still nothing much. So here I sit at work, while Amy I presume is at home still sleeping. Close, but no cigar.

So it seems like things continue to move along, inching us closer and closer. Perhaps Jack is waiting until Game 3 of the World Series starts tonight. Pine tar anyone?

And then there was two...

Sunday night, 10:18 p.m. No baby.

We're watching the Tigers (up 3-0 in the 6th) and just kind of waiting on Jack.

Amy's done work for a bit now, Friday was her last day so she'll be able to sleep and get plenty of rest to prepare. Things do appear to be moving in the right direction. She's been having at least two contractions an hour all day today, and similarly but slightly less frequent yesterday.

We're pretty ready here at the house. It's clean (thanks Amy) and most of our pre-baby projects are done (at least the ones that are Jack-related, the honey-do list still exists). So we wait.

I'll try to update on a daily basis from now on until we go to the hospital. So if you notice a couple days go by, you can probably bet we're having a baby.

That is all.

4 days away...

It's getting really close right now. Amy had some trouble falling asleep last night but we had some laughs when she got frustrated and yelled at inanimate objects like sheets, pillows, etc. (and before you start to yell at me about being an insensitive husband, read that again, it says "we" had some laughs). Sometimes she's pretty funny when she's like that. Many times it helps her to get to sleep when we laugh like that.

Update on the previos post, I found the hat. Lot's of talk about bandwagon fans lately, that's not me. I've been to many games at Comerica, even when they were horrible. I just really thought that hat looked pretty cool.

Not much else new. Can't wait until Jackson gets here. Keep praying for Amy to get rest so she's ready for labor. If we have time, I might put up a quick post when things start happening, however I'm sure you'll understand if that's not my #1 priority.

Go Tigers!

Eight days and counting

Due date is in 8 days, 28 minutes. Nights like this, when I sit on the couch watching TV while messing around on the laptop are soon coming to an end.

Amy's cold got a bit better today, flared up a bit tonight. Speaking of, why is it that colds get worse at night? We have varying theories here but I'd rather hear what others have to say.

Anyhow, not much new happened today. After the Tiger's won the pennant last night I hurried to the mall just in time to get ALCS Champions t-shirts for Amy and I before the stores closed. Wore mine today at church for announcements. Got a big cheer from everyone, well I guess the shirt got the cheer, I just happened to be wearing it. Still looking for one of the hats they were wearing.
Not a very busy week coming up, two EMU Volleyball games to announce (I do arena PA for EMU volleyball matches) and our small group on Tuesday, that's about it.

Remembering 1984

As the Tigers have made this run to the World Series, I've been thinking back to 1984, the last time the Tigers won the Series.

My brother and I decked out the mantel of our fireplace with Tigers shirts, pennants, and newspapers. But there's one thing I remember more than anything else. We watched Game 5 while we ate dinner (games used to start before 9 p.m. back then), and Chet Lemon made that running catch in left field sometime later, the Tigers were world champions.

I was 10 at the time, so popping champagne wasn't an option. But dad wanted to do something, so he piled me, mom and my brother into the car and off we went to Baskin Robbins on Garfield for some celebratory ice cream. I remember pulling out of the driveway and making our way down Terra Bella as dad honked the horn over and over, as if we were part of the celebration.

I hope sometime Jackson and I can share a memory like that. Maybe, with the Lions.

Sorry, I think being an expectant father has caused me some mental problems. We all know the Lions will never win anything (another lesson my dad taught me long ago).

Go Tigers!