He's Here...Finally! Brayden's Spectacular Arrival

Sorry, this may be lengthy or it could be broken into several posts...
depends on how I feel as I let loose on the past few days' happenings.

I am exhausted but not nearly as much as my daughter.

Brayden came into this world with an emergency c-section
on Wednesday, March 27.  His heart rate had dropped to
the 20's and teens for, what seemed to be tens of minutes
and most likely was.  A c-section was called for STAT to
save his life.  My daughter was freighted, scared, panicked.

They rushed her from the labor and delivery room in what
was a real life drama but looked every bit the TV drama ER.

I told her not to worry, her hubby and I would be with her
shortly, right??? as I looked at the team of doctors and nurses.
"No." was the one-word, curt response that came quickly.

This triggered an instant panic in my daughter and as they
ran down the hall with her towards the OR, I tried to assure her
it would be okay and we'd be right outside the door... actually,
I had no idea where we'd be.  I was trying my best to remain
strong for her and her husband as he, too, began to crumble
under the pressure of being told it was a life or death situation
for Brayden.

I assured him it would be okay, we were in the right place for
any emergency that may arise and he had to remain strong and
confident for my daughter.

You see, I know my daughter best.  I know she needed someone
to be at her side.  To hold her hand, to assure her it would be okay,
to support this freightened little girl/grown woman.  The problem for
me was, I was just as scared and nervous for her and the baby as she
and her husband were but someone had to remain calm and supportive
and I was the only one left to fill that role.  So I did.

I last saw my daughter at 1:20pm on Wednesday and to jump ahead a bit
did not get to see her again until 8pm that night.  Why?  Well that is emergency
#2 of the day but I'll get to that after emergency #1 of the day... I kinda like
to do things sequentially so I can put some order to this chaos.

Details we were told afterwards shows the timeline of Brayden's arrival as...
1:20pm Rae is wheeled to OR.
What seemed like an eternity but must only have been mere minutes, a nurse
comes back to the L&D room with scrubs for Kevin to don and says, she'll
return shortly to bring him back
Again, what seemed like an eternity, a nurse returns and says, Ready? Let's go.
And Kevin disappears down the hall to the OR.
I am told I have to vacate the L&D room because they need it for another mom.
I am banished to the Family Waiting Room outside the locked doors of the area.
As I sit in this area, I see one, two, four, six and more people running towards the
locked area and doors swing open to admit them.  They are all headed towards
that same hall. And I have no news...

To Be Continued...

The world has lost a wonderful, gentle man...

...and the entire community joins in the mourning.

Flag is flying at half mast in honor of this humble man.

Dad Mal, as my siblings and I affectionately have 

called him for years, left us mere earthlings and

joined God in heaven on Sunday morning.

He has a special place in my heart.

I considered him my second father.

He always asked my about my son and

always told me he had him in his daily prayers,

always.

I am sad.

I know I am being selfish because

Dad Mal is in a far better place and happy as a lark.

I am sad for many reasons, however, 

I feel like I have lost my champion, 

the one person who, no matter what,

kept my troubled son in his prayers.

I certainly hope, 

when he went knocking on the pearly gates

and saw St. Peter, that

he took his intentions along with him

and personally delivered them to

God and God listened and understood.

He was loved by all who knew him,

from the old dawgs at the VFW,

to the young whipper snappers in the town politics,

to the youngsters at the grade school,

this 85 year young man lived a full, active and

complete life.

Married for over 61 years to Ma Mal, 

they had 8 children.

Our families are as close to being family without 

being blood relatives and my family will miss 

him dearly.

Rest In Peace Dad Mal, 

You will always be alive as 

long as I live as I carry you 

inside my heart.

May the road rise up to meet you, 
may the wind be ever at your back. 
May the sun shine warm upon your face 
and the rain fall softly on your fields. 
And until we meet again, 
May God hold you in the hollow of his hand.

Happy 81st Mom and Happy International Women's Day!

Looking forward to taking mom out tonight to celebrate

her 81 years young birthday!

Invited all my siblings since she's not just MY mom... 

but that's me... all inclusive so no one feels left out!

Wish everyone thought that way!

&

Pick Me Up...Now!

I need a pick me up right about now.

Don't know why this is but

could someone pick me up?

How about you?

Could you pick me up?

:)