The Big Day - 5/24/09

Our due date was 5-26-09. Kendi had a doctor's visit on Friday, May 22nd. They ran some tests and told her they'd call her back on Friday night with the results. No news was good news. We heard nothing, so we assumed all was well.

Saturday morning I left to get a good bike ride in. Was hoping to get around 60 miles in because I hadn't ridden much since TOSRV. Weather was perfect. Kissed the wife goodbye and headed out. Finished my first laps through Kensington and Island Lake parks. Stopped at Island Lake to eat some cherries and a banana. Checked out my phone and saw that I had one voicemail message and had missed four calls. Uh-oh.

Called and the wife answered. Doctor had called Saturday morning with the test results, which showed her platelets were low again (something that had happened before in the pregnancy). They wanted her to go into the hospital for further testing. I told her it would be an hour before I even got to the car. She was perfectly calm.

Got home, showered, and we arrived at the hospital at around 12:30pm. Ran some more tests. Platelets still low. They admitted us around 3pm. House doctor said she was dilated 1cm around 6pm. More blood tests run around 9pm. Platelets higher but still not high enough for an epidural. The plan was to give her some medication to loosen the cervix around 11pm. Shortly after, contractions were coming, but Kendi didn't feel them.

Around 3am contractions were intense and she could really feel them. Last blood test came back around 6am...platelets had fallen again...so no epidural. They were planning on inducing her around 6am. They never had to because she was already 7cm dilated! Main doctor was called and he came right in. Things were happening so fast, they weren't able to give her any other drugs. Contractions were intense and Thomas was making his descent.

About 4-5 intense pushes later, and he arrived at 8:24am. NO DRUGS for Mom!!! Dad cut the cord, and Thomas Colin was here!!! 8lbs, 7oz, 21 inches long! Full head of hair!



To summarize the last 24hrs:

1) I couldn't be more proud of Kendi. No drugs, and with it all happening so quickly, she was an absolute Champion. She was calm, cool, and collected, nothing like on TV! The doctors and nurses were bragging about her the entire time we were there...they couldn't believe what a "trooper" she was through the whole thing.

2) Thomas Colin is perfect. Obviously his health is #1, and we got that. But in addition, he's very cute, has a full head of hair, and we see some of both of us in his features. He's truly perfect.

3) The above picture, out of the hundreds we've taken over the entire process, is my favorite by far.

4) I am now officially a Dad!!! Unbelievable!!

JT