Hello all, this is "the boy" with a guest blog, coming to you straight from the hospital. My beautiful wife, wendy, is currently recovering from the arrival of our newest family member, "the little one".
Our good friend, Sarah Oliphant, said it would be the most profound love you will ever feel. That's an understatement.
His birth was a long process that ended in a tumultuous flurry of activity. Wendy labored for a good long while until the little one showed signs he was having trouble getting out. She pushed for as long as she could. And even when nothing was left in the tank, lips a pale shade of blue, my resilient girlfriend dug down and pushed even harder. The team was worried. Something was keeping the little one from getting through. The decision was made by our steadfast physician, "Dr. Magnificent", to go ahead with "O.R…….now". The team moved swiftly. I was hurriedly ushered to another room to put on my surgical scrubs. I guess I had no choice in that decision. "Bring a camera," they said urgently as they wheeled her by in a gurney. I was told to sit and wait until summoned. Minutes tick by. I see "Dr. Magnificent's" partner, rush by as she too was being call to duty. "Two doctors?", I say to myself. I start to get nervous. I didn't realize then that two doctors were required for this procedure. Finally, a nurse comes to get me. "Get Ready," she said.
The doors to the O.R. fly open and I see 10 people in scrubs at various stations. I'm told to sit behind the surgical screen, covering my wife's lower half. Her arms are splayed out and she is groggy. "Get your camera out," says the anesthesiologist…."do it now". Everyone is direct when they address you. I can see why. There is so much going on in my head, that I need to be told in the most simplest terms, what to do. The two doctors are giving instructions in a terse, feverish manner. It's lingo I don't understand. I can see them wrestling with something, pulling vigoroulsy to and fro. Wendy's body is slightly jerked back and forth. A nurse across the room sees my wide eyes and describes what is happening.
"Get ready….daddy…." she says. I hear a slight whoosh. "A handsome young gentlemen," Dr. Magnificent says. A nurse comes from behind the screen and shows me this silent, blue, little being. "OH MY GOD!!", I exclaim. It was love at first sight. They quickly take him to a station, where 4 nurses work on him frantically, cleaning and measuring and probing, etc. I hear a cry and they all exclaim favorably. A job well done. He cries a bit more. It's a wonderful sound. I'm trying really hard from crying myself. I look over at Wendy and say, "he's beautiful…." They hand me my son, wrapped in a tight swaddle. "Show mommy," they tell me. I show my wife her newborn and she smiles weakly. She's really groggy at this point. I notice she is having trouble breathing. She starts to hyper-ventilate. "Can't……br….breathe…..cough..cough." The anesthesiologist places an oxygen mask over her.
"Come with me daddy," says a nurse suddenly. "Go with your son." They whisk me and my son out of the O.R. to the nursery. I'm worried about Wendy. I don't want to leave her. But they need me out of the way to do their jobs. As I walk out, I catch a glimpse of the other side of the screen. The blood is bright red.
As we approach the nursery, I see Wendy's step-mom on the other side. She is beaming. I also see the strangers around her beaming. They do more tests and tell me he's a fine young man. Everything is healthy and normal. After a little bit, I'm told I can go see Wendy in the Recovery Room. She is pale and weak, but smiling. I kiss her and tell her about our son. She drifts off to sleep. Our step-mom beckons me to the glass. "They are washing your son." I watch them meticulously and tenderly wash him. It's beautiful. He's so calm. He makes no sound as the nurse shampoos and rinses his dark hair. I can't get enough of this. He's beautiful.
