Baby William

Baby William is ONE MONTH old today!

On December 28th the kids and I headed to Colorado to be there when our newest family member was born.  My sister, Lindsee, was being induced with her first baby that evening.

Thursday, Dec. 28th, 2017

We left town about 7:15 am that morning.  Our first stop was in McPherson for some breakfast at McDonald's and a driver switch.  Back on the road and the next stop was in western Kansas for some gas and late lunch.  A few more driver switches later and we arrived at Lindsee and EP's house at about 5:30 pm Colorado time.

 Ready or not, let's go be parents..... One hour till induction time!

 Meanwhile back at the hotel that night... the waiting game begins....

 Thank goodness for a hotel with a pool and hot tub (or hot pool, like Silas and Phoebe call it)!

Friday, Dec. 29th

The next morning, we all got up and around and headed to the hospital.  There were some contractions, but minimal dilation.  So we made a plan for some fun in Denver to pass a lot of the time that day.

Pictured above in Lindsee's hospital room, left to right, Sarah, Popee, Phoebe, Nanee, Patti, EP, Silas, and Jim.

Our first fun stop was the Butterfly Pavilion.

 Phoebe and I each held Rosie, the Tarantula!

 There were some horseshoe crabs to touch.  Inside the Butterfly gardens there are hundreds of Butterflies of all kinds flying all around.  We watched new Butterflies being released into the garden.

 Silas really wanted a Butterfly to land on him.  We saw a few people with Butterflies on them.  One man was walking around the garden with one on his head.

 The next stop for a late lunch and fun was Casa Bonita.  It has been years since I have been here, and our kids have never been before.  (This use to be one of the fun stops on our Spring Break snow skiing trips every year with lots of teacher friends and families.  Good memories.)  The kids didn't really know what to expect.  It is hard to imagine a huge waterfall inside a building.

 Our table was right next to the bottom of the waterfall.  Perfect for watching the live shows and cliff diving.

 The kids, especially Silas, liked raising the flag for the waiter to come back to our table.  And, we all enjoyed the yummy Sopapillas.

 After eating we walked around and explored the restaurant for awhile.  We watched a pinata get busted and walked through the scary cave, (which is now a lot scarier than I remember from before.  I think scarier images and Halloween items have been added.)  Below, inside Casa Bonita, on the left is down at the bottom of the waterfall, and right is walking on a bridge back behind the waterfall.

 We went back to the hospital for a bit after eating.  Still no action there, so some of us went back to the hotel for more swimming.  Silas found these goggles and got them on by himself...(picture on left by himself...picture on right with my help).  Both hilarious pictures of him!

Saturday, Dec. 30th

We thought for sure that this would be the day to meet the baby...going on over 32 hours of labor as of this point....

Below, heading up to the New Life Center of the hospital, still hoping that today will be the BIRTH day.

We found Lindsee smiling...and still waiting.... Some more contractions and a little bit more dilated... 

EP was still smiling too, but starting to look tired.  They both were getting the realization and introduction to the new norm of lots less sleep.

Below, after starting the pitocin into Lindsee's I.V.  she began the diet of water, broth, juice, and popsicles. 

Jim took Silas on a walk and to the vending machine for some Mike and Ike candies.  The girls and I hung out in Lindsee's room with her for awhile.

 Time was creeping by.  Everyone was getting tired and just wanted some contraction action to start.  Hospitals can be VERY boring places to hang out.  Our kids did a great job of being patient and entertaining themselves and each other with games, movies, coloring books, and reading.

 Back at the hotel that evening we ate dinner.  The kids went swimming again, and we waited for a call or text from EP with labor or baby news.... We all were just sure it would happen that night...by midnight...so most of us slept in our clothes...ready to hop out of bed at a call/text's notice...but alas, we were all wrong on our predictions.

Sunday, Dec. 31st

The next morning at breakfast we were ALL ready to just get the show on the road.  Lindsee's pain would be all of our gain.  She was now going on over 58 hours of labor.  We asked the hotel clerk to take our "STILL WAITING" picture before we all went back over to the hospital to WAIT there.

Back at the hospital while waiting, there was a lot more coloring, movie watching, and games played that day.

Popee and Nanee had on their special grandparents clothes, because they knew that the baby would come sometime that day, or at least that's what they hoped.

Nanee's said, "Grandma's Love and Hugs Last Forever" and Popee's said, "Never Fear Grandpa Is Here!"  I even got him to do a little Popee - the Super Hero - pose for me!

Meanwhile in Lindsee's room throughout the day we talked to her, tried to distract her, looked at crazy things in her hospital room, like the yellow peanut ball, the monitors, her IV drip, and her ankles.

And, back in the waiting room we played MORE games.

 Around 4 pm that day, Sarah and I decided to go back and visit/check on Lindsee again in her room.  She was exhausted and frustrated.  Sarah waited in the hallway while I talked to her and tried to distract her for about 15 minutes.  The doctor was supposed to come back in around 4:30 to check her and let her know what the plan was... So about 4:30 Sarah and I headed back out to the waiting room to wait some more.  No text messages came from EP about what the doctor had said or if she had even come to Lindsee's room yet or not, so Mom, Patti, and I walked back to Lindsee's room to get an update.  Lindsee's room door was closed and the baby delivery cart that had been outside the door was gone.  We figured this was a good sign.  We heard voices inside the room, and a nurse came out, told us it would be soon, got some supplies, and went back into the room.  I jokingly, but half serious, said to Mom and Patti, "I wonder if she means soon like 2 minutes soon?  or 20 minutes soon?  or 2 more days soon???"  Patti, Mom, and I were frozen outside the door.  Should we go back to the waiting room or continue standing outside the door....no one's legs could move.  Our ears were on high alert.  We heard voices and noises coming from the room, but couldn't make out the words.  Seconds and minutes slowly ticked by as we stood fixated on the door that hid Lindsee, EP, and the team of delivery nurses and doctor.  Then we heard it...a baby's cry.  The sweetest noise that waiting parents, grandparents, and family can ever hear.  Patti jumped for joy like she had just scored the winning touchdown in the superbowl,  Mom stood there with tears of joy running down her cheeks.  And, I couldn't quit smiling as I swallowed the lump in my throat.  What a happy joyous moment.  Thank you God, for the sweet miracle of birth.

 Mom, Patti, and I happily walked, or maybe skipped, back out to the waiting room and told the exciting news, play by play, to Dad, Jim, Sarah, Phoebe, and Silas.  Then there was more hugging, and happy tears from grandparents while we waited for EP's text or call of the baby's arrival.  (Remember, they didn't know we were standing outside the room when he was born and heard his first cries right along with them!)  And, actually a few more of us went back and stood outside the door just to get a quick listen for a few more of those sweet new baby cries....

When we finally got to go back and see the new little family, the Grandmas were the first to get the up close look at new baby William.  Lindsee was good and happy, just very tired.

What a sweet little face and hands!

Phoebe was in love from her first look at him.  She could not wait to hold her new cousin.

Look at those Grandpas!  Holding him like pros!

Phoebe and Silas both held him that night too.

Welcome to this big world baby William Michael!  We are all so glad you finally arrived healthy and safe.  A New Year's Eve baby! (Over 69 hours of labor for Lindsee)

Born:  5:10 pm

Weight:  6 lbs 14 oz

Length:  19 inches

Monday, Jan. 1st, 2018

We visited Lindsee, EP, and baby William one more time Monday morning before starting our long drive back to Kansas.

We had a few gifts and cards for Lindsee and EP to open for baby William.

Sarah took a turn holding him.  She did great!

 Phoebe held him and didn't want to let go of him.  She also decided that she does not just want to be a doctor when she grows up, she now wants to be a baby doctor, a Pediatrician.

Below, a happy Popee and Nanee, with their FOUR grandchildren

Thank you for letting us be a part of the Colorado trip Dad and Mom.  It was great to get to spend time with you and Lindsee, and to be there for William's birth.  He is precious and is a great addition to our family.  We can't wait to watch him grow-up, play with him, and love him.