Hello, Wyatt

It's a surreal experience, having a baby. You anticipate the arrival, not fully knowing what to expect. Hair? Eye color? Boy or girl? Seven pounds? Maybe six or eight. Who knows?

You anticipate the change in your life. This thing is going to be 100% dependent on you. It will need you to feed it, carry it, clothe it, bathe it, change diapers. It's no small commitment. It can even be a little overwhelming and you may often wonder what you have gotten yourself into.

You are filled with a plethora of faltering emotions. These emotions seem to be magnified when you don't know the baby's gender. Their culmination resulting in feelings that are much the opposite when the baby is born and you get to say hello to your new little one.

When the baby finally arrives, usually after about nine months, it seems extraordinarily normal. You forget about all your anticipation and worry over the last three-fourths of a year. You feel calm, self-assured, happy.

Two days ago, these are the feelings Shayla and I felt. After a long nine months, we finally got to say hello.

We left for the hospital a little before 6 am, Thursday morning. When we arrived, we waited. Shayla was scheduled to be induced, so I guess the hospital staff felt there was no need to rush. They didn't. It took about an hour for them to just locate a pillow.

When things finally got moving, it was late morning. Shayla was hooked up to Pitocin and was given an epidural. Then we waited. And waited. Around two or three, Shayla's contractions started getting stronger and she began to feel quite a bit of pain. The anesthesiologist was called in, adjustments were made to the epidural, and slowly the pain subsided. The nurse came in with more frequency to check on things, and at about 4:30, she called for the doctor. She said this baby would most likely be here before 5:00.

Fifteen minutes later, a baby boy came into our lives. We said hello.

I had the doctor cut the umbilical cord. For some reason, cutting a slimy, fleshy, blood-filled purple-blue tube carries no appeal to me. I cut Max's cord when he was born. That was enough.

The nurse immediately placed our baby boy in Shayla's arms. She held him there a couple minutes while things were cleaned up. He was then moved to the warming table where he was wiped down and temperature, weight, and measurements were taken. He checked out with an A+. Everything was great.

An hour later, our baby was moved to the nursery and we waited for Shayla's mom and sister to arrive with Max and Isla. When they arrived, we were immediately moved up to a room in pediatrics, since the all the rooms in Maternity were full. It was apparently a busy day for babies.

After waiting a couple hours, Max and Isla's little brother was finally released from the nursery and came to say hello. It was awesome watching them meet their new brother for the first time. Max was extremely excited to have a brother, and Isla was excited just to have a baby. They were both very happy and smiles stretched across their little faces.

I left the hospital with Shayla's mom, leaving Shayla and the baby there while I went home to put our kids to bed and get some sleep myself. The next day Max, Isla, and Karen came with me to the hospital to see our new baby and visit with Shayla. Both Max and Isla had a hard time containing their excitement, so after holding the baby briefly we went and hung out in the small playroom while we waited for Shayla's mom. A short while later we were on our way back home. Shayla had been told she would probably have to wait until the next day before being released from the hospital.

I went back to spend some time with Shayla later that afternoon, watching TV and helping her with whatever she needed (which wasn't much). After dinner, I left for home.

The next day, Saturday, I arrived at the hospital shortly after 11 am, hoping to take Shayla and our baby home. When I got to Shayla's room she was slightly irritated. Our little boy hadn't been circumcised yet, and we couldn't leave until an hour after that was done. The nurse also had a hard time getting in contact with the doctor who was scheduled to come in and perform the circ, which added to Shayla's frustration. Shayla had also been promised a post-delivery massage, she never got it. The masseuse had left the hospital for the day, without even checking to see if there was anyone she had missed.

We waited and waited. Finally, the nurse came in and said she had gotten in touch with the circ doctor, and that she wouldn't be able to make it in for two or three hours. Shayla was getting pretty anxious to leave. She had actually asked to have the circumcision performed the day before, but like the masseuse, the doctor left before checking to see if there was anyone that had been missed.

It seemed as if miscommunication was rampant between the doctors and hospital staff. We called Shayla's doctor ourselves, a couple times. Finally, we were told the circ doctor wouldn't be in until 4 pm. Shayla cried. She was ready to go home. She felt fine, our baby was healthy, but we seemed to be caught in the middle of an inefficient system.

I later found out that we were in the pediatric ward, instead of the maternity ward, a fact which had never been mentioned to us previously. This was the main cause of our problems. Apparently pediatrics is used as an overflow for maternity when needed, which isn't very often. It has only been used as an overflow for about three months. Obviously, they still have some issues to work out.

Shortly after 4:00, our doctor arrived. Our baby was wheeled away with no idea of the pain he was about to face. We had to wait about thirty or 45 minutes for him to be released, and as quickly as we could, we left the hospital.

Aside from the miscommunication, we are grateful there were no complications. The delivery went well and our baby is healthy. Our anxious and nervous emotions gave way to calmness and happiness.

We are glad he's here. It's been a long wait. And we are glad we can finally say,

Hello, Wyatt.

Two minutes before leaving for the hospital.

It was bright and sunny for most of the day,

but a strong thunder storm rolled in at about the same time Wyatt was born.

Wyatt's first picture.

7 lbs 15 oz
20.5 inches
Born at 4:45 pm

Getting measured.

Waiting for Wyatt.

Brothers.

Isla and her brother.

Max and his brother.

Meeting Grandma Losee.

Ready to go! On our way out of the hospital.

Finally home.

Wyatt.