Self-made birthday breakfast of Gouda and mushroom omelet, berry-berry smoothie and toast with "Jack Jam"
Morgan's Smoothie Mustache
It can be hard to be the Birthday Boy's Brother...
Recovering enough to mix a circular confetti cake
Morning welcome banner
Birthday wishes from Grandpa Bob, Bumpa & Gramma, Mimi and Ralph, Uncle Dave...
I wish the happiest of Birthdays to Jack McCall on his 6th Birthday. Below are the words that I wrote in the days that followed Jack's arrival on August 3rd, 2002: The first hints that August 3rd, 2002 would mark the beginning of a miracle began shortly after 12:30 a.m. in the middle of another hot summer night. Slowly at first, but most definitively fifteen minutes later, Jack's bag of waters opened setting forth a great flurry of activity to prepare for the coming events. Nadine instinctively new what was happening as she began rapidly preparing our home for our eventual return. I wrestled with these early signs of labor trying to determine the most logical course of action for supporting Nadine and keeping on task; I had been thoroughly convinced that we were 3-4 weeks away from labor.
With the breaking of the waters, the next fifteen minutes became filled with activity, including quick phone calls to grandma Diane and to grandma and grandpa McCall, discussion of when to go to the hospital, concern about recognizing contractions, negotiation about packing priorities and a dawning realization that today would be the day for the birth of our child.
The first contraction arrived at 1:02 a.m. on Saturday morning, lasting a minute and ten seconds. By the time the second contraction hit at 1:05, we realized that we were having a baby today. As hearts raced and adrenaline coursed through our bodies we each bolted throughout the house preparing for going to have a baby. While Nadine filed pay stubs and I packed and unpacked the video camera four times, contractions were noted by shouts of "now" and "ok" across the house. Exact times and lengths of contractions were recorded:
"Did you say it stopped?"
"not yet" "it's starting again"
"Did the last one stop?"
"I don't know"
"Wow, they're 3 minutes apart"
"I'm not sure if that was one-oh wait yes it is, Ow! Come here! No, OK I'm alright"
More phone calls were exchanged: Tina, David (screening calls at 1:15 a.m.?), Tina, Diane, Barbara, Tina, Tina…and then no more calls, Nadine was getting serious. The bathroom had been cleaned, closets picked up, papers filed, outfits selected and instructions (to Bob) given. While I wrestled with the labor tub - it didn’t fit in either of the cars, in any configuration, in any position - Nadine shared her contractions with Tina on the phone and with me in person.
Diane squeezed in a call to announce her plans to arrive later in the morning at 11:30 a.m.
After 10 minutes of soft music while on hold on the EMERGENCY hotline for Virginia Women's Center, Labor and Delivery was contacted and the Nurse Midwife, Nadene Brunk, invited us in to the hospital. By the time Nadine finished showering at 2:30 a.m. contractions were gripping her body at regular one-minute intervals. Even with me providing firm pressure to her back, Nadine knew that labor was progressing at a fast pace. And when Nadine canceled her earlier request for me to shower, I knew how fast things were progressing - Nadine was getting ready to have a baby.
When Scott Halloran arrived with the family van at 2:45 a.m. to load the tub, everyone was ready to go to the hospital. Scott bravely managed to squeeze in a photo of Nadine having contractions in the garage.
At this point, it was almost unimaginable that 2 hours earlier, I was watching Sports Center and Nadine was sleeping peacefully. We were both relaxing contentedly, having devoured an outstanding Anniversary dinner at the Foundry Grill that evening, reflecting on the past 9 months and anticipating the birth - Should be about 3 weeks from Now?
The ride to the hospital lasted 10 minutes by the clock, but no occupant of the car would describe the ride as brief. Bob was reminded of a line given by a retiring state government employee after 7 years of service "If the doctor gave me 7 years to live, I'd want to spend them back on the job… because those were the longest 7 years of my life.
While Nadine tested the integrity of the car handles and armrests, I tried to accelerate on the straightaways and break on the curves, but coordination seemed to have slipped away with the realization that our son could be arriving in few hours.
At the hospital, Nadine attracted a few looks by insisting on pushing her wheelchair, over-stacked with bags, radios, camcorders and snacks, while Bob, essentially empty handed, opened doors and guarded Nadine. If the onlookers were mildly amused by this 3:15 a.m. scene, their stares did not reveal true emotion, but when Nadine would flex forward to 90 degrees and groan determinedly through her contractions, we all knew how ready she was for labor.
Upon arriving in Labor and Delivery, everyone had tasks to perform: Scott was off to find a cart to transport the tub to the room, Bob hurriedly unpacked all the luggage, Nadine took measure of the room and anticipated how and where she wanted to labor, the staff, upon observing Nadine's intensity, began rapidly preparing the room for a night of sweat and miracles. Within minutes of arrival, Nadine's contractions were so strong that the midwife was compelled to check her cervix: 7-8 cm dilated and fully effaced. Nadine had made great progress already.
As for the tub, well, it didn't make it out of the box. But, it did serve, at varying times, as food tray, display table for stuffed animals, support for linen, and the quintessential Bradley tool, used or not.
From 3:15 until 5:15 Nadine rode the waves of contractions with increasing intensity, some hard, some cramping and some unbearable. With every contraction Nadine acknowledged how hard labor was, and with every break she reassured that she would make it (natural pregnancy).
Nadine hung tough, like a prize fighter enduring heavy hits as the night wears on, in some ways getting stronger, in some ways getting more exhausted. She used every instinct and skill she knew: breathing, groaning, wailing, grimacing, relaxing, rocking, shifting positions, visualizing - you name, Nadine did it. I offered encouragement and support by massaging, pressing, coaching, encouraging, cheering, cooling and sometimes just standing by.
While the minutes had raced by earlier in the night, the pace now slowed to a crawl. 4:00 a.m. …4:01….4:03….4:03…..15 minutes lasted an hour.
Finally at 5:15 a.m. the tides changed, the word was given…it was time to push.
Discouragement and despair turned to fierce determination. Nadine could finally push with the uncomfortable contractions, working with her body instead bracing against it. The pushing seemed to offer some relief, at least some sense of control and participation. But, pushing also seemed a double-edged sword. It was as if Nadine was walking miles barefoot on hot stones and wanting to run to get past the painful stones. At first, running seems to help the pain, but as she runs, the stones turn hotter and flames lick her feet. Slowing down would only increase the flames, but soon running is exhausting and does nothing to ease the pain. The only hope is that eventually, by running long and hard enough, the stones will end.
With the help of her nurse Molly, Nadene, the midwife, and Bob, Nadine forged ahead with active labor as dawn approached. Progress was measured not in inches, but in centimeters and millimeters. Forward and back, forward and back, forward and back and finally just forward. Nadine strained on, maintaining focus and purpose. Her effort was so monumental she would later have bloodshot eyes and freckled skin from broken capillaries. Her composure, endurance, resiliency and effort were heroic. She delivered an unparalleled performance and in the end succeeded by pure will.
At 7:15a.m. the nurse midwife put on the "serious gloves". The sterile gloves, designed to assist with the delivery, were a quiet but telling sign that perhaps the end was near. The baby's head was now appearing with every push. Nadine bordered on complete exhaustion, but her effort never wavered. After a particularly grueling serious of contractions and pushing, the baby's head crowned and did not retreat between contractions. A few more pushes and his whole head was becoming visible. And a hand appeared pinned to the side of his head…Aha, the cause of much delay in progressing through the final phases of pushing. A few more inches, and the next hurdle was revealed. The umbilical cord was wrapped around both the baby's arm and neck, albeit loose enough for the midwife to slide two fingers between the cord and body.
"Oh good" she reassured, "it's not tight, he'll be fine".
The midwife gave the baby a skillful twist and he was turning to face the opposite direction, untangling the cord, the arm and his body all at once.
Two more pushes…..
…and Jack Parker McCall slid into the world headfirst with arm raised.
It was simply the most amazing thing I have ever seen in my life.
Jack's first sign of life was a soft coo from his tiny mouth as he exercised his bladder. And then, a triumphant cry. Not a sad cry, a joyous cry, a transition from the inside world to the outside one. Amazing joy and happiness surrounded an exhausted mom and dad. As blood surged through the baby's body, pink replaced gray-blue. Jack was placed on Mom's bosom. A family was created, a wife became a Mom, A husband became a Dad…A baby boy was born. Tears were everywhere, happy tears. Mom and Dad and Jack embraced, for the moment, and forever.
With the breaking of the waters, the next fifteen minutes became filled with activity, including quick phone calls to grandma Diane and to grandma and grandpa McCall, discussion of when to go to the hospital, concern about recognizing contractions, negotiation about packing priorities and a dawning realization that today would be the day for the birth of our child.
The first contraction arrived at 1:02 a.m. on Saturday morning, lasting a minute and ten seconds. By the time the second contraction hit at 1:05, we realized that we were having a baby today. As hearts raced and adrenaline coursed through our bodies we each bolted throughout the house preparing for going to have a baby. While Nadine filed pay stubs and I packed and unpacked the video camera four times, contractions were noted by shouts of "now" and "ok" across the house. Exact times and lengths of contractions were recorded:
"Did you say it stopped?"
"not yet" "it's starting again"
"Did the last one stop?"
"I don't know"
"Wow, they're 3 minutes apart"
"I'm not sure if that was one-oh wait yes it is, Ow! Come here! No, OK I'm alright"
More phone calls were exchanged: Tina, David (screening calls at 1:15 a.m.?), Tina, Diane, Barbara, Tina, Tina…and then no more calls, Nadine was getting serious. The bathroom had been cleaned, closets picked up, papers filed, outfits selected and instructions (to Bob) given. While I wrestled with the labor tub - it didn’t fit in either of the cars, in any configuration, in any position - Nadine shared her contractions with Tina on the phone and with me in person.
Diane squeezed in a call to announce her plans to arrive later in the morning at 11:30 a.m.
After 10 minutes of soft music while on hold on the EMERGENCY hotline for Virginia Women's Center, Labor and Delivery was contacted and the Nurse Midwife, Nadene Brunk, invited us in to the hospital. By the time Nadine finished showering at 2:30 a.m. contractions were gripping her body at regular one-minute intervals. Even with me providing firm pressure to her back, Nadine knew that labor was progressing at a fast pace. And when Nadine canceled her earlier request for me to shower, I knew how fast things were progressing - Nadine was getting ready to have a baby.
When Scott Halloran arrived with the family van at 2:45 a.m. to load the tub, everyone was ready to go to the hospital. Scott bravely managed to squeeze in a photo of Nadine having contractions in the garage.
At this point, it was almost unimaginable that 2 hours earlier, I was watching Sports Center and Nadine was sleeping peacefully. We were both relaxing contentedly, having devoured an outstanding Anniversary dinner at the Foundry Grill that evening, reflecting on the past 9 months and anticipating the birth - Should be about 3 weeks from Now?
The ride to the hospital lasted 10 minutes by the clock, but no occupant of the car would describe the ride as brief. Bob was reminded of a line given by a retiring state government employee after 7 years of service "If the doctor gave me 7 years to live, I'd want to spend them back on the job… because those were the longest 7 years of my life.
While Nadine tested the integrity of the car handles and armrests, I tried to accelerate on the straightaways and break on the curves, but coordination seemed to have slipped away with the realization that our son could be arriving in few hours.
At the hospital, Nadine attracted a few looks by insisting on pushing her wheelchair, over-stacked with bags, radios, camcorders and snacks, while Bob, essentially empty handed, opened doors and guarded Nadine. If the onlookers were mildly amused by this 3:15 a.m. scene, their stares did not reveal true emotion, but when Nadine would flex forward to 90 degrees and groan determinedly through her contractions, we all knew how ready she was for labor.
Upon arriving in Labor and Delivery, everyone had tasks to perform: Scott was off to find a cart to transport the tub to the room, Bob hurriedly unpacked all the luggage, Nadine took measure of the room and anticipated how and where she wanted to labor, the staff, upon observing Nadine's intensity, began rapidly preparing the room for a night of sweat and miracles. Within minutes of arrival, Nadine's contractions were so strong that the midwife was compelled to check her cervix: 7-8 cm dilated and fully effaced. Nadine had made great progress already.
As for the tub, well, it didn't make it out of the box. But, it did serve, at varying times, as food tray, display table for stuffed animals, support for linen, and the quintessential Bradley tool, used or not.
From 3:15 until 5:15 Nadine rode the waves of contractions with increasing intensity, some hard, some cramping and some unbearable. With every contraction Nadine acknowledged how hard labor was, and with every break she reassured that she would make it (natural pregnancy).
Nadine hung tough, like a prize fighter enduring heavy hits as the night wears on, in some ways getting stronger, in some ways getting more exhausted. She used every instinct and skill she knew: breathing, groaning, wailing, grimacing, relaxing, rocking, shifting positions, visualizing - you name, Nadine did it. I offered encouragement and support by massaging, pressing, coaching, encouraging, cheering, cooling and sometimes just standing by.
While the minutes had raced by earlier in the night, the pace now slowed to a crawl. 4:00 a.m. …4:01….4:03….4:03…..15 minutes lasted an hour.
Finally at 5:15 a.m. the tides changed, the word was given…it was time to push.
Discouragement and despair turned to fierce determination. Nadine could finally push with the uncomfortable contractions, working with her body instead bracing against it. The pushing seemed to offer some relief, at least some sense of control and participation. But, pushing also seemed a double-edged sword. It was as if Nadine was walking miles barefoot on hot stones and wanting to run to get past the painful stones. At first, running seems to help the pain, but as she runs, the stones turn hotter and flames lick her feet. Slowing down would only increase the flames, but soon running is exhausting and does nothing to ease the pain. The only hope is that eventually, by running long and hard enough, the stones will end.
With the help of her nurse Molly, Nadene, the midwife, and Bob, Nadine forged ahead with active labor as dawn approached. Progress was measured not in inches, but in centimeters and millimeters. Forward and back, forward and back, forward and back and finally just forward. Nadine strained on, maintaining focus and purpose. Her effort was so monumental she would later have bloodshot eyes and freckled skin from broken capillaries. Her composure, endurance, resiliency and effort were heroic. She delivered an unparalleled performance and in the end succeeded by pure will.
At 7:15a.m. the nurse midwife put on the "serious gloves". The sterile gloves, designed to assist with the delivery, were a quiet but telling sign that perhaps the end was near. The baby's head was now appearing with every push. Nadine bordered on complete exhaustion, but her effort never wavered. After a particularly grueling serious of contractions and pushing, the baby's head crowned and did not retreat between contractions. A few more pushes and his whole head was becoming visible. And a hand appeared pinned to the side of his head…Aha, the cause of much delay in progressing through the final phases of pushing. A few more inches, and the next hurdle was revealed. The umbilical cord was wrapped around both the baby's arm and neck, albeit loose enough for the midwife to slide two fingers between the cord and body.
"Oh good" she reassured, "it's not tight, he'll be fine".
The midwife gave the baby a skillful twist and he was turning to face the opposite direction, untangling the cord, the arm and his body all at once.
Two more pushes…..
…and Jack Parker McCall slid into the world headfirst with arm raised.
It was simply the most amazing thing I have ever seen in my life.
Jack's first sign of life was a soft coo from his tiny mouth as he exercised his bladder. And then, a triumphant cry. Not a sad cry, a joyous cry, a transition from the inside world to the outside one. Amazing joy and happiness surrounded an exhausted mom and dad. As blood surged through the baby's body, pink replaced gray-blue. Jack was placed on Mom's bosom. A family was created, a wife became a Mom, A husband became a Dad…A baby boy was born. Tears were everywhere, happy tears. Mom and Dad and Jack embraced, for the moment, and forever.
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