Andrew's Words

I know I wrote my recollections of everything - but here is what Andrew sent to his Aunt and Uncle. I like his wording and thoughts of it all.

" Yes, Tucker decided he'd had enough and arrived 6 weeks early. He's 6 pounds (2.74k). They don't measure length here anymore - but he seems proportionally long enough to me. Given how early he is everyone is rather surprised how big he is. Even the Doctor, a wonderful Italian guy, was caught off guard when his head started to crown.

Jen is well. Tucker is a bit jaundice and as such is spending his time under what looks like a baby sized tanning bed catching some Vitamin D rays. His glucose levels are good/great = he's getting better at breastfeeding. To ensure he was getting enough calories the tried one round of formula - apparently he didn't like that as he threw it up all over me 30 minutes later. Good boy - that stuff is nasty.

So at this point it looks like Jen and Tucker will come home tomorrow (Sunday) but more likely Monday/Tuesday.

Big picture it's good that they have somewhere to stay. Not sure is Mom told you but we had just completed the move into the new place on Monday morning. We had been in a temp lodging/apartment while looking for a house to rent. Last week I was getting started at work. Jen was hunting for a place - in hindsight - all this activity could have helped Tucker along. Anyway - Monday night was the first night in the new place. Tuesday morning - after I'd gotten up and dressed for work - Jen mentions that she had been up during the night - that she'd had a bit of leaking. Wow - I was literally walking out the door for work when this announcement was made. (In the back of my mind I said "Well - hmmmm - why not wait until I get to work and have the doctors phone me from the hospotal?!?!?") So we got on the bus and went to the hospital. Thankfully it's only 4 stops away or about a 12 minute walk. It was 07:30 when we arrived at the ER. We were escorted to the Baby Department for a "check up". One thing led to another to another to yet another surprise and next thing you know Jen is trabsferred to the Delivery Ward and admitted! This was precautionary - they wanted Tucker to stay in for at leat another 48 hours so they can get a full round of antibiotics and steroids on board. So I go home after midnight - somewhat dazed. I get back at 08:00. A mid morning exam confirms that waters have broken and Jen is 1-2 dilated! What? Tucker's ont he way! Holy cow!

Now remember that we've only been here 10 days. We don't have a GP doctor - haven't take any baby classes - don't have any way to communicate with anyone. Given that we thought we'd have 6 weeks to get ready for Tucker we didn't have any baby stuff either - no nappies or wipes, anything! So I rush out to get supplies and a pay as you go phone. I'm rushing around like a crazy person. Talk about a day not going the way you thought it would when you woke up.

I get back and find that things are a bit nuts. Jen’s labor pains had up until that point been relatively mild. Apparently they came on in a huge way – 10 minutes of crying and screaming saw the “no drugs” birth plan go out the window and Jen got an epidural. While I was out shopping we’d somehow skipped from 3cm to Eleven! At 18:00 the Italian Doctor announces – in a perfectly stereotypical accent - “It is time for baby to come” and tells the mid-wives that Jen is begin pushing at 19:00. Pushing commenced on schedule and then was delayed mid push for 10 minutes to facilitate a mid-wife shift change (welcome to government run health care). Around 20:30 the doctor stops by to check in and says “Why isn’t baby here?”. At that point I see a bit of concern/frustration in his face. He takes off his sport coat – tucks in his tie – asks me to help me with a gown and pretty much says to the midwife – “Step back – I’ll show you how to deliver a baby!” This guy was great – totally personable and caring – but in charge! Tucker wasn’t going to get the better of him. Thirty minutes of pushing and encouragement went by in 30 seconds and Tucker arrived at 21:00. Jen was absolutely wonderful – wow – I can now semi-understand the “nothing hurts like childbirth” comment.

So Tucker is here. Such a beautiful tiny little guy. Lots of black hair and deep dark eyes - we've only seen them a few times."

I love my husband. He is a great Daddy.