Welcome, Baby Bug

Six weeks ahead of schedule, the day after a wonderful Thanksgiving meal with extended family in Spokane, our son made his appearance.  Born on 11/24/2000, weighing 5 pounds 13 ounces and measuring 19 1/2 inches, we received an early gift.  The birth went wonderfully once I transitioned to believing that it would be okay to have the baby so early.  Since I showed up at the hospital at 7 cm, there was no question that he was coming.  We're not sure why he came early, though it may have been the big meal, the travel, or that he just didn't want to be born in California.

We were very unprepared.  Aside, of course, from being away from our home in San Jose, we had not yet bought any of the myriad things we needed except for a rocking chair.  It took us a while to name the baby because the spreadsheet of names we'd considered was in California too.  Though the hospital listed him as baby boy C____, he is B.  We are all healthy and doing well.

B spent a few days in the neonatal intensive care unit getting checked out.  Before they let him go he passed all sorts of tests from breathing to bilirubin to eating to negative cultures.  Because he was so much healthier than their usual patient and because they weren't set up for parents like us to be there round the clock, it was a very hard five days for all of us.  Fortunately, my family helped immensely, emotionally as well as practically, dealing with airline refunds to lending the cell phone and car for the hotel-hospital trips.  Once we came home to my parents house we were able to feel more like a family and once again all of our needs were met so we could do only what was necessary in getting to know our son, heal, and get some sleep.

We're back in San Jose now and C is back at work, though earlier than he would like.  I'm trying (and mostly failing) to convince myself that getting B fed, eating, and sleeping are sufficient for a day's work.  I've also been told that our only responsibility is to distribute pictures.  I have scanned the best of six rolls and you can check these out from our home page.  Of course Christmas is coming very quickly too.  There are simply too many things I would like to have the time to do.  It is always the same struggle I have, but I'd like to think I'm getting better at being satisfied with what gets done.

Pepper has gladly accepted B into the pack, though I am sure he doesn't realize all the tail-pulling, high chair-foraging, boy-companion implications yet.  He is interested but gentle, and has offered many licks on the head of welcome.

Mostly I am glad to be married to C.  Neither of us could do this alone, and we are so happy that we get to do it together.  We look forward to our first Christmas without our other families as our own little nuclear family together with the little one.  We have already received our best gift a little early.  The rest will fall into place.

I hope your holidays are full of joy and unexpected happiness as well.

Peace,
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