it was a dark and stormy night.

finally. for anyone still reading. here is the play by play of how baby isaac was born. none of the names have been changed to protect innocent.

monday - august 19 - 5:30pm

we sit in dr. fort's office. amy's dilated to a 4. two more then a week ago this time. the belly's blood pressure is 150/100 and that's the topic of discussion. she's not in the red zone yet but it's getting there. he strips her membranes (again). and says it's up to us. the kid is healthy enough to come out. and her body is acting like it's ready, too. we can schedule an induction for later in the week, maybe thursday. or we can wait and let things run their course. either way, he says, she has to come in on wednesday for another quick blood pressure check. we look at each other. the belly's not ready yet. i'm in no big toot either. we'll wait.

6:30pm

we're having dinner. amy's in pain, probably from the membrane stripping. but, are those contractions? no, just crampy pains. we talk about the name. the belly doesn't want to commit one way or the other yet. she's not having this baby yet, she says.

8:30pm

wal-mart is as good a place as any to hang out, think, somewhat shop. the not-contractions are about 10 minutes apart but not horrible. they are worse, tho, then anything so far.

9:30pm

we sort of mosey around the house. timing the not-contractions. they are consistent. should we just go to the hospital? we don't want to be sent home, tho. at the same time, we don't want to mess up our birth plan - epidural - by waiting too long to go in.

10:30pm

i video tape the last time we leave the house as a two person family. we're heading to the hospital to see what we can see.

tuesday - august 20 - 12:00am

amy's in the cute little hospital gown and hooked up to myriad sensors. she doesn't even have socks, just burks. they were contractions after all! i gloat silently. and they are 3 - 4 minutes apart. we walk around for half an hour or so to see what changes. afterwards, the nurse check's her out - still a 4. she calls the doc to see what he'd like to do. in between contractions the belly says she's not in labor and we'll end up going home soon. during contractions she wonders who's on call with anesthesia.

1:00am

dr. fort orders blood work. her high blood pressure means she's at risk for several things and the tests should help with the decision. i make phone calls to excited relatives and friends. here we go! sans contractions the belly still thinks this is a false alarm and we'll be going home.

1:45am

the blood work came back showing she's pretty close to borderline on a couple fronts. so the doc says to give her something so she can sleep. in the morning - meaning when the sun comes back up - we'll start inducing labor. i ask, but the nurse won't give me any drugs. the doc's final words were, we're going to have a baby tomorrow.

we both freak out a bit. i'm excited to get to know this new person but am a little concerned because i can't put him back when i want to.

3:15am

even on drugs the belly won't sleep. they just make her feel like she's had a beer. i'm pretty certain she hasn't, tho. i'm not ready for one, yet, either. i'd certainly be able to sleep without it but the belly is nervous and needs to talk. we've waited so long for this.

5:30am

the doc stopped in. we'll start the labor inducing drugs soon. he's got another delivery to do first. neither one of us has slept much. we're both set for a very long day. i get the distinct privilege of calling my dad to let him know he's going to be a grandpa (again).

6:40am

like two bank robbers on the run her contractions move in wave from back to the front of the belly where they regroup and head south trying to beat the cops across the border. and she hasn't even started the induction drugs yet.

this time tomorrow i'll be holding my little boy. i freak (quietly).

8:05am

the drugs have been dripping for awhile now. the cervix gets checked for the first time since last night and it's a "good five". woohoo! things are starting to move! the doc tells amy she can have the epidural when ever she wants. but she says she doesn't need it just yet.

i decide to head home and take the dog to the vet where she'll have a simply wretched time till we're ready to get her later this week. i'll shower and grab some mcdonald's breakfast, too (but i'll have it finished before i even think of going back into the room with the belly. ice chips vs. sausage biscuit? no contest).

8:15am

i walk in the door at home to hear the phone ring. it's the belly. she now knows what a contraction feels like and does not like it one bit. they've paged anesthesia. i kick it into high gear. i want to be there to be as much support as i can.

9:15am

i'm back at the hospital and the epidural is in and switched to kill. the belly feels fine. the nurse checks her and she's dilated to a SEVEN! whoa! whoa! i thought this was going to take all day! the in-law's should be well on their way by now. they have a 3 hour drive to go and they don't want to miss it.

9:44am

her water has broken. she shakes. and she's dilated to an 8. the in-law's are still 90 miles away. my heart is pounding.

9:50am

the anesthesiologist check's on the belly. she's fine. since both he and the belly work in the hospital some folks in other parts of the building are asking how it's going with us. he says really good but starts a rumor that she has a huge tattoo of a skull with a snake coming out the eye right on her butt. i think this is great. in fact, maybe i'll get the belly a tattoo for her birthday.

11:10am

she's completely dilated and at a +1 station. she asks what an urge to push feels like. and the in-laws walk in the room.

11:30am

let the pushing begin.

12:30pm

the doctor steps in and gets suited up.

12:50pm

as i coach the wife i can see the head crowning. the monitors are all still hooked up and we hear the heart rate get lower and lower the farther down the birth canal the baby gets. i'm a little worried but don't want to stress amy out. she's worried but too focused to say anything. the doc is being pretty quiet which makes me more worried because he's a fairly outgoing type of guy.

after some more pushing he does an episiotomy.

1:01pm

isaac william glover is born. and he's fine. his one minute apgar is 7. his five minute is 9. and he cries and cries. and he's beautiful. absolutely beautiful. but kinda weird, too. who is this stranger? i feel small tinges of guilt that i'm not having love at first sight. but, it comes quickly enough i learn. and it comes hard.

so, that's that. i'll write more about other lovely things. and be sure to keep checking the slide show. i'll keep adding and changing pictures there, too.

is it warm in here?

i'm still working on the delivery day play by play i promised the other day. it'll have to be pretty stinking good after all this time talking it up. i'm a little nervous about it, actually.

i did just fine yesterday with the dogs and the kid in our first solo endeavor. we'll see when the next time is i get to do that.

so far so good. the boy has peed on both me and the wife. he got her during bath time. he got me during nap time. i didn't even know it till after we woke up. little stinker.

three dogs and a baby.

things are slowing down around here. the last of the family visitors will be heading home either today or tomorrow. it's been so great having everyone here. i'm also looking forward to having just some "us" time.

we'll see if i change my tune later today. my mom, my mom-in-law, and the mother of my son are going to lunch. i will be all alone. except for my son. and my dog. and my mom-in-law's wienee dog. and my mom-in-law's other weinee dog. we'll see how well i do.

and, honestly, i will give the blow by blow of how isaac came into the world. i really will. soon.