Happy 38 YEARS, Oma & Opa!

It's been a solid week in the Ballou pack. A fantastic dinner over at long time family friend's place (my first time having Filet in years  and MAN what have I been waiting for?! Delicious!). Thrusday night, after putting E in bed, Lisa & Auntie Sarah went to Bikram Yoga...it was Lisa's first time since pregnancy. She said it was hard, but really enjoyed herself (go Mommy!). Last night, we celebrated Oma and Opa's anniversary with a romantic dinner at...RED ROBIN (hey, it's kid friendly with no wait...and I'd kill for those onion rings). 

Sooo....Happy 38 YEARS, Oma & Opa. 

Without further ado, here's another episode of HOW E CAME TO BE...

E learned a new trick: Bubbles!

Last time, we'd just been rushed into Labor and Delivery and it must've been getting close to 2:15 A.M...

The Emergency nurse left us with the check-in nurse, who came to realize that we were first time parents and therefore, were probably overreacting in our rush. Though he might've gotten an inkling of the truth when Lisa had to stop signing paperwork in order to have a contraction - which were still piling on every 2 minutes or so. 

He led us to a closet - sorry, I mean "observation room" and gave Lisa the standard issue hospital gown. After she'd changed, an observation nurse came in. She asked Lisa if she'd felt the baby moving...

Lisa's face scrunched. "Not, really. Not even last night."

"Ok. Don't worry. That's often normal as the baby drops into position."

Lisa and I caught each other's worried gaze - as if we wouldn't be worried. I'm not sure I've ever been so nervous as they hooked up a belly monitor to check for the baby's heart...was beating just fine. With a quick sigh all my energy returned to my wife rolling on her side, grimacing. 

"Those contractions are really strong," said nurse obvious. "A doctor should be here any second to check you out."

More waiting. More contractions. More pain. No doctor. 

"I'm going to go get her," said the nurse - finally - as she charged out of the room. 

Eons (or possibly seconds) later, a young blond resident comes in with a light midwestern drawl. As the doctor readies for the exam, Lisa told her that our 36 week appointment was supposed to be that day, so we didn't know the baby's position or any of the standard blood work tests that most women find out during that visit. 

"Everything will be fine," the doctor began the check. "There's nothing to worry..." she trailed off. 

Lisa clenched my hand. "What?"

The doctor ends the exam and stands. "Do you feel like pushing?"

Another scrunched-Lisa face. "Ummm. Not really."

"Get her into a delivery room." The doctor looks back from the nurse to Lisa. "Because you're 10 centimeters dilated and the head has decended to the +2 position."

In a flash, another 4 nurses were in the room, pushing Lisa out, handing me our bag, and rushing us through the hall towards the delivery room. 

Another from the professional shoot,
this time with a milk bottle from Great- Grandma Anna's

TO BE CONTINUED....

Ok, I know that's a pretty low-down, rotten spot to place a cliffhanger...but that's what's cliffhangers are for. 

And if I just told you the whole story outright, you'd never come back. 

Oh, you would? Right, for the pictures of the lil'man. Gottcha.