Introducing…

LOOK AT WHAT WE DID! I know that @savannahjessie and I have shared our struggles on this journey previously (Here’s Some News), but this is all about the payoff. I don’t get emotional often, but it was tough to keep the waterworks at bay because I was so proud of @savannahjessie and everything she endured and so happy to meet my SON!

What We Did, a Birth Story

It was a very long day. By the time we got to the hospital the contractions were one on top of the other. Cervidil was used to start labor, but dilation hadn’t happened yet so we couldn’t be admitted. That meant hours in triage watching @savannahjessie experiencing contraction after contraction with no break in between to recover.  COVID protocols prevented our Doula (Balancing Birth to Baby) from being there and a bushel of babies were delivered that evening. The nursing shortage made getting attention a little challenging. Still our Nurses were great and did their best to keep @savannahjessie as comfortable as possible. We got a crash course in birth plans not always going as planned.

When someone finally did check, because of the intense urge to push, it came as a shock to learn that @savannahjessie had dilated. She had done 6cm in less than hour as a matter of fact. Queue the mad scramble drill to get to a room and get this baby out. This is where @savannahjessie proved to be an absolute boss. After enduring the 8 hours of stacked contractions, we got to our room with the clock ticking. JJ wanted to make an entrance, the Doctor was still getting dressed and within 12 minutes Sav brought our baby boy into the World. Unmedicated! I even got to cut the umbilical cord and have a walkthrough of the placenta.

To prepare, we’ve done courses and classes (including the Belle Method) prior to tonight to get ready. @savannahjessie also read an incredible amount to get ready by reading consuming everything she could. Most of it went out the window in the flurry of activity that surrounded us. We did learn some valuable tidbits and I want to share. Make sure you advocate for yourself. Learn whatever you can about what’s being offered. Ask questions and most importantly, don’t get pushed into anything.

Pantheon of Famous JJ’s

Upon his arrival, JJ Crawford joined, JJ Watt (Arizona Cardinals), JJ Abrams (Director) and JJ McClure (Burt Reynolds in the Cannonball Run) in the hallowed fraternity of JJ-dom. I mean he’s the most famous JJ that I know. JJ is the cutest, but I might be biased. He currently enjoys long naps, skin-to-skin, drinking only the finest breast milk and providing a cornucopia of soiled diapers. Overall he seems like a solid little dude.

Being a Dad

I have been waiting for this moment my whole life. It’s going to be wild and I’m so excited to experience this with @savannahjessie and JJ.  To have been a part of the delivery and watch JJ come into the World will forever be one of the top moments in my life. I got to cut the umbilical cord, see and learn about the placenta and watch this little dude as he experiences the world around him. The only sadness I have is that my streak of 16,653 consecutive days (45 years, 7 months and 3 days) of not changing a diaper officially came to an end.

To wrap up, I want to say thank you to those who have passed on congratulations and well wishes. While we figure out a routine that works for us (and find time for sleep), our responses have been delayed. If we haven’t gotten back to you, don’t worry, we will at some point and we appreciate your messages.

Beez