Whirlwind? Cool.

So the wee lad's been here 10 days, and had pooped on the couch, peed on the kitchen wall and make Layla laugh.

A lot.

No pictures to drop in right now (they're upstairs on the laptop), but I'll try to get to that tomorrow.

Things are going well, family-wise. Lawson's bilirubin was high, so they've had us doing light therapy on him. It was down around 14 on Saturday, but his pediatrician wants it under 12, so we're going back tomorrow to see where he is standing. Hopefully, he's in good shape. We shall see!
We head up to St. Louis on the 20th to meet with a specialist about his kidneys. It's nothing to get worried about, honestly, but because of the gestational diabetes, he has a small issue with size in the parts inside the kidney (pyelectasis). I say don't worry, because statistically, one in one hundred babies are diagnosed with it, and rarely does it turn into anything. Here's a great link for a user-friendly explanation. http://www.obfocus.com/high-risk/birthdefects/pyelectasis.htm

Mom is doing great. Her milk is coming in well. Almost too well: Our freezer looks like a dairy storage. :) He's eating well and his circumcision is healed already. Carrie is getting around great and although she has a nice bruise on her hip from a shot, she's in good spirits and looking as beautiful as always.

Layla is adjusting to her brother with great ease, honestly. She's such a literal and easygoing kid anyway, so I hoped the transition would be easy. She wants to help with everything now; she helped me give Lawson a bath tonight. She's wonderful, and seems to be continuing with the potty training, though she still struggles somewhat.

I had a very good interview with Element 74 on Tuesday evening. Seems like a very cool company to work for, and the three that I met with reminded me a lot of the SHOEBACCA crew, meaning they fed off of each other and seemed to follow a mutual love for the company. With (and I really hate this word but gotta use it) synergy like that, I think I could fit in well and be a great asset to the crew. I should know something in the next couple of weeks, as the owner is leaving for a 10-day trip. Hate the waiting game, but hope it's worth it!

I have resumes in with several other things as well; like Grandpa Towler said, "You can't catch fish with your bait in the boat," so I'm dropping as many worms as I can.

Back to the hunt and a little bit of sleep. Thanks for reading; I promise pictures soon (and yeah, they're on FB already).
D

Mama, I'm Comin' Home...

Thanks, Ozzy.

So it's July 5, around 11:14 am. Time has kind of gotten lost since we've been here, with some crazy sleep spurts and random visits from nurses and doctors.

But we're going home today. YAY.

I can't wait to get back to our house, so we have a real bed, room to breathe and a regular schedule again. Layla has been a real trooper through all of this, but Carrie's parents said last night she was crying and wanted Jellybean and mommy and daddy to come home. For nearly three years old, she sure is a level-headed kid.

We've had family and friends come and see us while we have been in the hospital, and thanks to you for that. It's a nice reprieve from watching the clock and chomping the bit.

We did get the results from Lawson's ultrasound today, and we are going to have to visit a nephrologist in St. Louis later this week. That's nephrologist, not necrologist, like I told Carrie when I was half asleep.

Lawson was a gestational diabetes baby, and there was some concern about his kidneys. He has had no problem wizzing since he was born, but there is a space in one of his kidneys that is smaller than it should be, so they want us to follow up with the STL doc to make sure we're kosher. It will suck to travel that quick with the boy, but it's a good excuse to drive a little out of the way for some Jersey Mike's. :)

That last sentence evoked a smile from Carrie.

They will have his picture up on the Southeast Hospital website, officially, and also the announcement and picture on the LED billboard at William and Kingshighway (above Quiznos). I think we've snapped enough pictures to create a 3D image of him.

The future isn't certain. After we get home, I'm polishing my resume and cover letter and applying for a service coordinator position with the Cape County Board for the Developmentally Disabled. Believe it or not, I studied to do this stuff in college and wanted to move forward with a psych degree, but other things took priority and distracted, and I moved away from that path. Perhaps this is an opportunity to get back on track.

Anyway, if any of you want to come visit this week, just call, text or message. If you don't have my cell, it is 573-TWO7zero 798 eight. Love to ya, and we feel it from ya!

Picture time!

Now that the Dust has Settled

Breathing. I think I almost forgot how that works, once I saw my son's face for the first time. I watched him emerge from Carrie, the doctor cleared his airways and he made his first, strong cries. I remembered so much instantly from when Layla was born. I felt like we were back in Dallas, 3 years younger and scared to death, seperated by hundreds of miles from our support structure. Carrie's parents were there for us then, and this time, everyone was here.

Mom, dad, Jamie and Dori, David, Cindy and Layla were all here. After his birth and measurements were taken, they got Carrie cleaned up and presentable and wrapped Lawson in his little blue and white hospital blanket and handed him to me.

* * *

Before Carrie began the long stretch of pushing and straining, cycling over and over until he was delivered, I sat down on the doc's spinning stool and rolled up to Carrie's side. I held her hand, bowed my head and prayed. I prayed to God for her safety, and for Lawson's. I prayed harder than I have in a long time. And I felt Him touch me. I felt his hand on my shoulder. I saw my Grandma Minnie, my Grandpa Towler, Gary Wayne and even Truman, watching down from Heaven, assuring me that everything would be fine. My eyes filled with tears, and as I sat up from my prayer I felt the tears break down my face. Though tired, stressed and pressed to the limit through all of the trials of this year, this moment, I was at peace.

I stood by Carrie's side throughout the process, holding her left knee with my other hand behind her back, helping her push up as much as I could, watching with anticipation for that moment when Lawson's head would crown. Once I saw that fuzzy head start to emerge, I knew it wasn't going to be long.

Mom and baby are doing great. Carrie is finally getting some rest, after some more intensive clean up and proper padding. Childbirth ain't purty, kids, but she's a champ. Seriously; she would have been totally fine in the days where the country was young and expanding Westward. Just bring an epidural on the time machine.

Vital stats and pics on the next blog. Thanks to EVERYONE for all of the prayers, well-wishes and cheerful thoughts. You are loved, and we're awefully blessed!

Getting Close

So I just got back from dinner, and as I entered the hospital, Carrie texted me to tell me that she has a little bit of cervix left, and she's at 9 cm. While I was at dinner, Dr. Cugini (her OB) came in and checked her out. She went to have a quick dinner with her husband, and then she's coming back to get this show on the road!

Are we ready? Yes. I have my Vicks, and Carrie has her epidural. Are we ready? Not at all. Freaking out over the obvious things, like the job situation, but we will make it work.

She's been in good spirits. I'm sure that anxiety will press as family gets here (no offense; LOVE y'all) and things get more hectic, but at this point, she's focused, not in pain, and ready to do what she has to do to bring Lawson into this world.

Above all, at this point, I'm glad we're here. I've regretted the move back to Missouri for a host of reasons since we did it, but there have been positives. This one shines above all others. To be able to be surrounded by those who love us and help us and are here with us. Thank God for every one of you.

9 Hours and Counting...

Carrie's around 6cm now. I've been advised by her that if I wish to eat dinner, now would be a good time to do it.

She's taking things in stride, though I can tell it's wearing her out. They put her on oxygen, mainly as a precaution and to supplement. Lawson's heart rate drops when she has a contraction, so they think he's being compressed somewhat.

To alleviate that somewhat, they had her on her knees, lifting her back up and down. I left the room to get a coffee while the nurse was checking her, and came back in to doggie-style pushups. Good times.

So far, no concerns regarding the heart rate. The guess is that his head may be a little close, or the cord may be coming across his chest. Carrie is the ONLY patient here in labor, so she's definitely got the full attention of the staff. That's a good thing. :)

I'm off to dinner. Trying to think of something she doesn't like to eat so I don't feel guilty. LJS?

4:15pm update...

So the epidural is in place, and starting to work its magic.



She's probably texting away to one of you, or perhaps updating stuff on her Facebook. Amazing, this technology that lets us keep you all up to speed without 200 annoying phone calls :-).

They just did a check on her cervix, and she's 4.5 - 5 cm now. Could still be delivering around 7pm. We will find out soon, I hope.

No More George Jones Songs in My Titles

So the Potosin is up to 14 mL/hr, and they came and broke her water about 10 minutes ago. She's definitely feeling the change in things, as shown by the "oooooh" faces and the squirming.


Looks like we're getting close to epidural time.

She's still keeping a tough face. The nurse was guestimating around 7pm for a delivery time, but she's wincing on that now. Carrie's ranking her pain about a 7.5 on a ten scale.


My gum lost it's flavor. That's my big issue thus far.


She's holding out as long as she can on the epidural, to keep things moving along. She's doing great so far. I love this woman.

Uterus Ache, Comin' to the Inside...

Just got back from lunch (cafeteria is closed on the weekend), and the contractions are a bit closer, but nothing to write home about. Just to write blog about.

She's swapped from newspaper to cell phone (talking about Carrie, not a puppy). As of 1:00pm, she's trying to take a nap, so I'm typing quietly. Hopefully, she can rest up for the big game.

Pride in the Back Stretch...

What; me worry?

The contactions are getting a little closer together, but she's taking it in stride... so far. I have to remember that with Layla, we started things a lot earlier. Relatively, this is way early in the game.

"Huddle House has macaroni and cheese wedges. It's like they took macaroni and cheese, breaded it and fried it. It actually sounds pretty good," Carrie says. Naw, no pregnancy cravings, doctor; why do you ask?

And the Race is On...

We're here at Southeast Hospital, and in our room (255). Things are going smoothly so far, with Carrie strapped into the fetal heart rate monitor and bloodwork done. They have a tube running for the something, and another for something else, and a nurse is here now to get the IV started. Carrie has sneaky veins, as they have discovered, so it's taking a little bit to get the IV in. She has a few holes in her now. For whatever reason, she says it hurts less when she is watching. I guess that's how the wedding worked, too. ;)

The first nurse said we're shooting for 7pm, which would be swell. Typically, vaginal births stay in for two days, so we'll be here on the 4th. When we got here this morning, we asked if they had a room that had a window view towards Arena Park so we could see the fireworks. Yeah, we're a little shallow, but hey, if you're paying for a suite and there's no hot tub, at least get a room with a view, right? That, and I've always loved the 4th and have been hyped about the timeliness of the birth for a while (since, oh, I dunno; Thanksgiving...).

Layla might be rousing now. It's close to 10am, and Carrie's dad, David, is at our house waiting for her to wake. They're spending the day over at their house, and I'm sure Layla will play the time away. The plan is to bring her up tonight after Lawson is born, so she can meet her baby brother. No sense in freaking her out with Mommy in tubes and monitors everywhere.

Still trying to find a vein for the IV. Damn you, sneaky veins.

No real data on how dialated she was coming in this morning, but Thursday she was around 2-3cm, so chances are she was close to that. Once the Potosin kicks in, the ole' cervix should start cooperating.

I'm set up in my media center/man-man corner, with a Sunday paper, camera, video camera, laptop and phone. I conceded the remote control to Carrie (the TV is over my head anyway). More updates to come!

24 hours...

We head to Southeast Hospital tomorrow at 0900 to get the wheels spinning on the birth of my son, our son. I am excited, Carrie is getting the butterflies I think. I can't imagine what's going through her head, realistically. It's like preparing for surgery, essentially, and mentally, that's pretty taxing.

I have a gig tonight in Bloomfield, and it's going to be hotter than hell. I have to get the bar into the garage, move our bed to that room and put together his crib. That's the minimal stuff for the rest of the day before I have to head south.

So, with that in mind, I better get back to work. I will be posting a lot of updates tomorrow here and on Facebook, so stay tuned for the saga of the Lawson.
D