The most amazing thing imaginable... - Page 3

Taco John · 09-03-2006, 05:40 AM

...my son.

Words are so shallow and coarse to describe the wellspring of emotion that I'm feeling tonight. The past 48 hours have been an emotional roller-coaster that went through some incredible twists, turns, and loop-the-loops, with the climax scaling heights I never imagined my emotions could go when I watched the hands of several doctors reaching into my wife's abdomen and pulling out the second most beautiful thing I've ever witnessed in my entire life... the first being my brave wife as she struggled to push out a 10 pound, three ounce bundle of joy out a birth canal that was maybe made for 8. I'm so entirely humbled by her poise as she labored in "hard" labor for three hours before the epidural was available to her.

It wasn't supposed to be like that, but we've found that "best laid plans" are nothing short of mere hopes when it comes to giving birth. Our plan was to endure the contractions until they started to "really" hurt, so that she wasn't bed ridden the entire time. But just as that started to happen, and we put in our call for relief, we found the medicine man was being called from one emergency to the next, leaving poor Erin to labor in quiet, moaning dignity. We discovered a reservoir in her that we both secretly knew was there, but didn't acknowledge until we saw it in action. I am so grateful that I have her.

Grace finally came in the form of a six-inch needle and magical clear liquid in a drip bag. Watching my wife's mood elevate from a woman being tested to the ends of her pain tolerance, to her chipper, chatty self was relief that I can't describe. While my role of stroking her head and talking her through the pain was appreciated, it still feels like a helpless role.

Once the epidural kicked in, contraction peaks that would have brought my wife to agony and tears turned into minor pressure distractions to be chatted through. We both got an opportunity for a brief nap, and took it. Waking two hours later, at 4pm, I received the news that my wife had almost fully dilated and the baby was at the -1 station (meaning that he was a little over an inch in). At 5pm, we started pushing. After an hour of pushing, the doctor came in to check on our progress. We we're disappointed to learn that our work had been for naught. He remained stuck in that station, and the doctor said she feared that we could be stuck in labor for hours at the cost of a lot of trauma to both of them. Her recommendation was cesarean birth.

The blur that time became after the second we agreed that we felt it would be best to cut my wife open and deliver the baby through her abdomen can hardly be described adequately. The room kicked into life as support people poured in to address our needs, present us forms, and prepare us for this major, though routine surgery. I was quickly dressed down in Tyvek scrubs and put on a hair net and we were whisked helplessly down the hall to the operating room at 6:00pm. Before entering the OR, they handed me a face mask, and asked me to wait in a small waiting room. Floods of emotions hit me as I thought of my poor, helpless wife, strapped to the table, quivering uncontrollably from her body's reactions to the intense strain being thrust on her body. I turned to prayer and meditation and found my own well of strength replenishing. A knowing washed over me that assured me that everything was going to be alright, and that I needed to simply just experience it fearless and alert.

When they called me into the room, I felt resolve that this would all be happily over with soon. Little did I know just how right I was, and just how soon "soon" was. I was called into the operating room at 6:25pm, and seated by the head of my wife, behind a blue curtain. The feelings of helplessness started to wash over me once again, as I stared into the doe eyes of my frightened wife and muttered hollow words of reassurance. It then dawned on me that I could stand and see over the blue curtain, and as I rose the feeling of helplessness dissipated, and the hollow words turned into the right words at the right time as I narrated reassuringly for my wife.

At 6:37pm of September 2nd, 2006, uncontrollable tears of joy swept over me as my son, Zachary James Lopez was pulled from his mother's cozy womb, and into the harsh light of the operating room. Piercing my soul as though it was the only sound in the room, his heart melting cry sent my spirit soaring to heights that fundamentally changed me forever. I am now "Daddy." The implications still stagger me, but I know that I have this in me. I was born for this.

Momma was sewn up and is doing fine. Her temperature spiked to 103, but once the trauma passed, she started to cool back down. Zachary was overheated too, and was born with a temperature of 99.5. Because they found meconium stool in the womb, they were concerned with infection for both mother and baby. As a precaution, they've taken his blood samples, and will run a culture, but because his temperature has dropped to normal levels, they feel that there's little to worry about. Likewise for the fact that momma's temperature is falling to normal levels, though slower than his did. At 3am, she was still running 99.5, though she's had no nausea and is in good spirits.

Now I'm left with a conundrum as I write this detailed recount as I re-live the experience through my thoughts and these collected words: do I stay awake at my wife's bedside as she sleeps with our pride and joy on her chest, and prolong the best day of my life? Or do I get the much needed rest that I deserve, racing to a new day to spend with my son and my precious wife?

God bless you all with experiences that test your soul, and provide such satisfying rewards.

Tomorrow comes in two hours. I can't wait!

/ps. Thank God for wireless access at hospitals...

Chief Pote · 09-03-2006, 10:30 AM

Congrats Taco, I can still remember those events like it was yesterday.

Now the question remains, where did you post your story first? CP or orange mane? Tell the truth we can check. If CP, you are apparently a closet Chiefs fan and only a donks poser.

kczoo · 09-03-2006, 10:38 AM

AWESOME! My first boy (Derek) comes in November! Thats just Awesome!

LocoChiefsFan · 09-03-2006, 11:20 AM

Congrats TJ. It's an awesome feeling.

**Reaper16** · 09-03-2006, 11:51 AM

Congratulations. That was a great read for a Sunday, too.

Dallas Chief · 09-03-2006, 11:53 AM

Congrats dude! Went through it myself three years ago on 11/24. The emotions you felt will be forever unmatched. Here's to Mrs. TJ!

Frazod · 09-03-2006, 12:05 PM

Congratulations, TJ!

I hope he grows up to be a Chiefs fan.

**Mr. Kotter** · 09-03-2006, 12:46 PM

Congrats, TJ.

Your best post. Ever. By far.

Sure-Oz · 09-03-2006, 12:53 PM

Congrats taco, i feel sorry for your kid, jk, im happy for you man!

Warrior5 · 09-03-2006, 12:53 PM

Congrats TJ! Glad to hear mom and child are doing well. 10 lbs! My first son was 10.7, but was C-section for obvious reasons.

Quote:

Originally Posted by KCFalcon59

Only bad thing is there is one more donkey fan in the world. Oh well.

Hey, if Luke could turn his father from the dark side, then TJ's son can turn him too.

**Rain Man** · 09-03-2006, 01:05 PM

Congrats, TJ. Good work. And, uh, give me less information next time.

BigVE · 09-03-2006, 01:07 PM

Congrats, I heard the kid looks NOTHING like you.

Great memories.

big nasty kcnut · 09-03-2006, 01:46 PM

Congrat taco ten pound wow. Thank goodness the little guy didn't get umbilical cord wrapped around him like it did me when i was born. Also like to know what your wife was saying once the drugs kicked in.

|Zach| · 09-03-2006, 04:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phobia

Outstanding. Sorry about the fat head thing.

Congratulations.

teedubya · 09-03-2006, 04:45 PM

Congratulations on reaching your 30,000th post.

teedubya · 09-03-2006, 04:45 PM

Oh, and the whole kid thing too... congrats on that. :-)

09-03-2006, 05:40 AM
Taco John Sapere Aude Join Date: Jun 2001 Casino cash: $567937	The most amazing thing imaginable... ...my son. Words are so shallow and coarse to describe the wellspring of emotion that I'm feeling tonight. The past 48 hours have been an emotional roller-coaster that went through some incredible twists, turns, and loop-the-loops, with the climax scaling heights I never imagined my emotions could go when I watched the hands of several doctors reaching into my wife's abdomen and pulling out the second most beautiful thing I've ever witnessed in my entire life... the first being my brave wife as she struggled to push out a 10 pound, three ounce bundle of joy out a birth canal that was maybe made for 8. I'm so entirely humbled by her poise as she labored in "hard" labor for three hours before the epidural was available to her. It wasn't supposed to be like that, but we've found that "best laid plans" are nothing short of mere hopes when it comes to giving birth. Our plan was to endure the contractions until they started to "really" hurt, so that she wasn't bed ridden the entire time. But just as that started to happen, and we put in our call for relief, we found the medicine man was being called from one emergency to the next, leaving poor Erin to labor in quiet, moaning dignity. We discovered a reservoir in her that we both secretly knew was there, but didn't acknowledge until we saw it in action. I am so grateful that I have her. Grace finally came in the form of a six-inch needle and magical clear liquid in a drip bag. Watching my wife's mood elevate from a woman being tested to the ends of her pain tolerance, to her chipper, chatty self was relief that I can't describe. While my role of stroking her head and talking her through the pain was appreciated, it still feels like a helpless role. Once the epidural kicked in, contraction peaks that would have brought my wife to agony and tears turned into minor pressure distractions to be chatted through. We both got an opportunity for a brief nap, and took it. Waking two hours later, at 4pm, I received the news that my wife had almost fully dilated and the baby was at the -1 station (meaning that he was a little over an inch in). At 5pm, we started pushing. After an hour of pushing, the doctor came in to check on our progress. We we're disappointed to learn that our work had been for naught. He remained stuck in that station, and the doctor said she feared that we could be stuck in labor for hours at the cost of a lot of trauma to both of them. Her recommendation was cesarean birth. The blur that time became after the second we agreed that we felt it would be best to cut my wife open and deliver the baby through her abdomen can hardly be described adequately. The room kicked into life as support people poured in to address our needs, present us forms, and prepare us for this major, though routine surgery. I was quickly dressed down in Tyvek scrubs and put on a hair net and we were whisked helplessly down the hall to the operating room at 6:00pm. Before entering the OR, they handed me a face mask, and asked me to wait in a small waiting room. Floods of emotions hit me as I thought of my poor, helpless wife, strapped to the table, quivering uncontrollably from her body's reactions to the intense strain being thrust on her body. I turned to prayer and meditation and found my own well of strength replenishing. A knowing washed over me that assured me that everything was going to be alright, and that I needed to simply just experience it fearless and alert. When they called me into the room, I felt resolve that this would all be happily over with soon. Little did I know just how right I was, and just how soon "soon" was. I was called into the operating room at 6:25pm, and seated by the head of my wife, behind a blue curtain. The feelings of helplessness started to wash over me once again, as I stared into the doe eyes of my frightened wife and muttered hollow words of reassurance. It then dawned on me that I could stand and see over the blue curtain, and as I rose the feeling of helplessness dissipated, and the hollow words turned into the right words at the right time as I narrated reassuringly for my wife. At 6:37pm of September 2nd, 2006, uncontrollable tears of joy swept over me as my son, Zachary James Lopez was pulled from his mother's cozy womb, and into the harsh light of the operating room. Piercing my soul as though it was the only sound in the room, his heart melting cry sent my spirit soaring to heights that fundamentally changed me forever. I am now "Daddy." The implications still stagger me, but I know that I have this in me. I was born for this. Momma was sewn up and is doing fine. Her temperature spiked to 103, but once the trauma passed, she started to cool back down. Zachary was overheated too, and was born with a temperature of 99.5. Because they found meconium stool in the womb, they were concerned with infection for both mother and baby. As a precaution, they've taken his blood samples, and will run a culture, but because his temperature has dropped to normal levels, they feel that there's little to worry about. Likewise for the fact that momma's temperature is falling to normal levels, though slower than his did. At 3am, she was still running 99.5, though she's had no nausea and is in good spirits. Now I'm left with a conundrum as I write this detailed recount as I re-live the experience through my thoughts and these collected words: do I stay awake at my wife's bedside as she sleeps with our pride and joy on her chest, and prolong the best day of my life? Or do I get the much needed rest that I deserve, racing to a new day to spend with my son and my precious wife? God bless you all with experiences that test your soul, and provide such satisfying rewards. Tomorrow comes in two hours. I can't wait! /ps. Thank God for wireless access at hospitals...
Posts: 79,733

09-03-2006, 10:30 AM	#31
Chief Pote Veteran Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Undercover..... Casino cash: $6932638	Congrats Taco, I can still remember those events like it was yesterday. Now the question remains, where did you post your story first? CP or orange mane? Tell the truth we can check. If CP, you are apparently a closet Chiefs fan and only a donks poser.
Posts: 3,643

09-03-2006, 10:38 AM	#32
kczoo Donkey Trainer Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Marshfield Casino cash: $9864900	AWESOME! My first boy (Derek) comes in November! Thats just Awesome!
Posts: 588

09-03-2006, 11:20 AM	#33
LocoChiefsFan Starter Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Kirksville, Missouri Casino cash: $10005213	Congrats TJ. It's an awesome feeling.
Posts: 884

09-03-2006, 11:53 AM	#35
Dallas Chief Veteran Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Jupiter, FL. Casino cash: $-1064727	Congrats dude! Went through it myself three years ago on 11/24. The emotions you felt will be forever unmatched. Here's to Mrs. TJ!
Posts: 3,854

09-03-2006, 12:05 PM	#36
Frazod Did you hear what I said? Join Date: Aug 2000 Casino cash: $-606615	Congratulations, TJ! I hope he grows up to be a Chiefs fan.
Posts: 121,715

09-03-2006, 12:46 PM	#37
Mr. Kotter The Dude Abides Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Dakota Country Casino cash: $3364285	Congrats, TJ. Your best post. Ever. By far. __________________ "I've always said I worry about legacy and winning rings more than making money at this moment...We see what's going on around the league, but at the same time, I'll never do anything that's going to hurt us from keeping the great players around me.”
Posts: 46,871

09-03-2006, 01:05 PM	#40
Rain Man Seize life. Be an ermine. Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: My house Casino cash: $-502449 VARSITY	Congrats, TJ. Good work. And, uh, give me less information next time. __________________ Active fan of the greatest team in NFL history.
Posts: 145,302

09-03-2006, 01:07 PM	#41
BigVE Veteran Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: centralKs Casino cash: $10005250	Congrats, I heard the kid looks NOTHING like you. Great memories. __________________ Meh.
Posts: 4,829

09-03-2006, 01:46 PM	#42
big nasty kcnut The pizza king of kansas Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Somewhere in the u.s.a. Casino cash: $-2049100	Congrat taco ten pound wow. Thank goodness the little guy didn't get umbilical cord wrapped around him like it did me when i was born. Also like to know what your wife was saying once the drugs kicked in. __________________ When it's grim, be the grim reaper and go get it. Adopt a chiefs Travis Kelce. You woke up the wrong mother****er!
Posts: 19,360

09-03-2006, 04:45 PM	#44
teedubya Most Valuable Poster Join Date: Oct 2003 Casino cash: $8993042	Congratulations on reaching your 30,000th post.
Posts: 36,830