Dylan Joseph was born on Wednesday, September 12, 2007, 4:37 in the PM, at Kaiser South Sacramento Hospital. His mother went into labor the previous day, and was admitted to the hospital around 11:30PM on Tuesday night. After many hours of labor, and a Herculean effort on her part, it was decided that Dylan was not going to come out the 'regular' way, and a C-section was performed. Mother and Baby did well with the operation, and both are doing well nearly two weeks later.
Dylan weighed 7lbs 4oz and was 20 inches in length. He presented to the world a good covering of brown hair and the deepest of blue eyes, along with all fingers and toes, the appropriate number of ears and nose. Everything just right.
Mother and Baby were discharged on the evening of Friday, September 14, and all three of us headed home into this new uncharted territory. The two dogs, Peaches and Lucy, were allowed to be in the house, but the three cats (Ernest, Felix and Oscar) were banned to the garage - where they have stayed since. The cats have a tendency to get on everything with their dirty little paws, and we have not come to terms with how to get past that.
So our lives have been turned upside down, in every which way you can imagine. Our little family is perfect, and they are:
1) Mommy - this is her first baby and she has taken to being Mom like a duck to water! You'd never know this is her first. Dylan is a lucky little guy to have her taking care of him! She is breastfeeding Dylan and though it was a rocky start, things seem to have gotten a bit easier lately. Mommy is healing well from the operation, and there have been no known complications. But she just glows when she is with her son - ah, the beauty of the maternal instinct!
2) Poppy - this is my third baby, all boys. The two other ones are grown and capable. It has been so long since I've had a baby, though, this is very much like my first. What a thrill it is to have the chance to do this again! I am just pleased and excited about it, though a number of people have looked at me like I was crazy. Once Mommy and I decided to join lives, I asked her if she wanted to have kids, and she said "Yes." I told her I would do the parenthood thing again, no question about it. And so here we are!
3) Matthew (aka Dylan's oldest brother) - Matthew is my oldest son, 23 years (turns 24 in January). He is just out of the Navy and right now is living here with us. Matthew is working two jobs and that keeps him busy beyond belief. But he seems to be enchanted with his new baby brother and tolerant of the hectic schedule a newborn creates.
4) Jack (aka Dylan's younger older brother - now the middle child!) - Jack is not living with us; he is living in Louisville, KY, with his girlfriend. He's been back there nearly a year now, and is adjusting to life away from California. He's found a good job at Whole Foods and enjoys the work, as well as his co-workers. Jack turns 21 in a couple weeks here (10.09), and I will miss celebrating that birthday with him. While very proud of the life he is making for himself, and pleased with how well he is handling the huge move on his own, I miss him very much.
5) Peaches and Lucy - the dogs. Peaches is the Protector/Worrier. She spends her time worrying about and looking after Mommy, and now has the added duty of guarding Dylan. It is bound to wear her out! Lucy, well, she's just crazy! A chihuahua mix, she is high energy and cute. She is an obedient dog, and that keeps her (mostly) out of trouble.
6) Ernest, Felix and Oscar - the cats. Banned as I said earlier. Ernest is the best behaved out of the lot. I think his position in the household is pretty well assured. The other two - that remains to be seen. The black boys (Felix and Oscar) are brothers - bright, inquisitive and trouble-making - and are a pair that need to stay together. It will be hard to part with them if it comes to that - but it may.
7) Dylan - last but not least! He is showing his personality and character more and more, and we are falling even more and more in love with him! You wouldn't think it is possible, but it is. I know from my two older sons that that love just continues to grow and grow, and it is true with this new one too. He is darling and precious and a miracle. Parenthood is not a job - it is a life, and it now seems impossible that we lived any kind of life without little Dylan in it. I am very excited thinking about all the adventures and learning and life yet to be with this little guy!
All of us, save Jack, are living in what we call our baby house: 760 sq. ft, two bedrooms, one bath. We just remodeled the kitchen in preparation of Dylan's arrival, top to bottom, and that has made a huge difference living here. Jennifer and I talk of living someplace with more space for all of us. We shall see.
