OH HAPPY DAY

Laurel and Tucker

The new family George, Laurel and Tucker

Tucker James Laurel & George
Tucker and George


George holding Tucker shortly after birth

We got the call at 10:30 am Monday January 5th, 2008. George and Laurel on their way to the hospital. Their time had come. Laurel had been to the doctor, it was time to induce labor. Her body was ready. We waited for news. A call from George in mid afternoon with an update and sincere empathy for Laurel who was uncomfortably in labor. In the evening, while on the Internet Michelle and I connected. It was perfect. We were both anxiously awaiting the latest tid bit of news as to how things were going. George's brothers, Jason and Ben, were on their way to the hospital to offer moral support and companionship to their youngest brother. Then a burst of activity around 8pm, cervix dilating nicely, things looked favorable, anticipation that they were going to have a baby within the hour. One hour passed, Michelle and I ticking messages and conversations back and forth. Tending to household duties while listening for phone calls, text messages and keeping up with the Internet magic. All the while Laurel very hard at work laboring...and laboring....and laboring. Then the text message...."she's pushing now"! Oh the excitement and anticipation were so energizing. One more hour...no word. Laurel working very hard still. One more hour...now a tad bit of concern dampens the excitement, and the silence was hard as Laurel labored and labored and labored. Michelle and I felt such empathy for her. We knew and remembered our own laboring experiences. It is now January 6th, 2008. Everyone is exhausted. Jason, Ben, Michelle and I....and we weren't doing the hard work at hand. Then George went to talk with his brothers. Baby stalled in birth canal. Options had been discussed and the decision was made to go ahead with a C-Section. It would be at least 1 1/2 more hours before the baby would be born. George called me and Jason and Ben called their respective wives. Oh my what a night. Off to bed we all went while George donned surgical scrubs to accompany Laurel into the surgical suite for the C Section.

Shortly after 3:30am January 6, 2008 - the call came...baby boy, healthy 7#14oz, 21 inches ... "a beautiful baby boy" Tucker James has joined our family. What a blessing! What a miracle! George is exhausted, yet thrilled and proud...very proud of Laurel for how well she did for the entire day, evening and night....and a very proud daddy!

CONGRATULATIONS GEORGE AND LAUREL!!

TUCKER JAMES

no greater joy nor blessing!

grace and peace...a very proud and happy grammie!