I Can Hear the Chimes

Sarah's more difficult pregnancy was to close with a C-section scheduled for the 31st of August at 2:45 in the PM. Ethan and Riles were going to Grammie and Grandpah's. All was in order - and that is all just strange to me. (In -Vetro Fertilization pregnancies are so planned controlled and monitored it is crazy) However, we were bumped allowing some other ladies the oportunity to deliver who were deemed to have a greater need. We were bumped long enough to start soaking in what was actually happening. You know, you can squeeze your eyes shut plug your ears, or bury your head in the sand, and it does not do much good when you are sitting in the lions den. Sarah was wheeled back into the operating room about a quarter after 5. I was allowed to wait until the spinal was in, and all involved in the surgical team were in place. Good for me, because who needs that?
The operating room is a mind blowing place. I feel a strange melding of contradicting thought. There is a lot of cutting, and some blood, with life on the line. Yet the atmosphere projected by nearly all present was more like an afternoon tea in the country.These people work in a high stakes environment. Mistakes are not forgiven lightly. And seeing your wife's lower half turned inside out, securely fastened to a gurney, with her arms interestingly spread like she is on the cross (or even like she is Braveheart)- and you are talking with her as if we were sitting down to an afternoon social gathering is a bit surreal. Everyone acting as if this is just a nice little get together.
Keelie came out at around 1730 on the 31st, weighing 7lbs. 8oz, and measuring 20inches. I was wondering where the doctors found a cat as mad as all that. She was making a funny hissy, meow type noise. And I am glad there were all these medical professionals around, with relaxed, pleased, demeanor. Were I the one delivering, I would have written the whole thing off as a failure. Not to mention I find it hard to believe that I would have been able to slice Sarah's abdomen open. Not looking at the whole cutting issue, I was just not all that secure with Keelie's color, sound, and actions. So, that is why we are paying Sacred Heart the big bucks. It also reinforces the sentiment that I am pleased to be alive in this time period, and not in the: "here bite on this leather" for pain period.

Ethan and Rileigh were excited to see their new sister. They observed her from the window in the nursery until Sarah was given back to us at around 1930. I think Ethan was the most animated. They both stop and stare when they see her. But I think it sobers Riles more than Ethan. They both eagerly take their turns holding her. And Riles gives instructions as to what Ethan is and is not allowed to do when holding Keelie. Quite humorous and par for the course.

Before we were hospital bound:

Rileigh was listening to my ipod. "I'm listening to Daddies music!" "Hey! I can't hear myself talking! Lah lah lah lah!"

Ethan imploded at the pool, over one of the other kids squirt gun. Two kids came to the pool, apparently friends. They had three squirt guns between the two of them. The two were shooting each other as I once did when I was younger. Now that I am a parent, this style of: "I'm the good guy you're the bad guy" "No you're the bad guy, I'm the good guy", and dramatic dying, then instant resurrection et al, is less than desirable behavior. Anyway, the two had put one of the squirt guns on a table, and were fine with one gun apiece. I think Ethan looked up to these two. After some time of playting the same area, I suppose Ethan thought he was chums with the boys. I don't think these two recognized Ethan as anything other than "part of the play field". Well, Ethan decides that he is allowed to borrow the extra squirt gun. I told him to leave the gun there, because he did not have permission from the owners. This lead to a river of tears. Ethan was destroyed, awash in despair. So he sat in a chair on the side of the pool all systems shut down, life as we know it was over. ....until the breeze changed a bit and he was back in the water chasing a toypedo. I want to solve this behavioral abnormality quick fast and in a hurry, and I am not sure if he was corrected in this instance. I can only hope that our slight course corrections are enough.