May 29 - A Day of agony, elation

I was sleeping soundly at the local Super 8 when the call came at 5:30 a.m.

Since my wife, Kimberly, isn’t insane, I knew she wasn’t calling to talk about General Motors’ bankruptcy restructuring, or missile testing in North Korea.

“Are you having the baby,” I asked, as I had done 34,937 times in the previous 12 days after the due date.

“Yeah, I think so,” Kim stammered.

So began the most frenzied, emotion-filled, and happiest day of my life.

More than three hours away, I started driving too fast. And when an hour later Kim called with the news they were heading to the hospital, I started driving even faster.

Apparently, her contractions had quickly progressed, and were only a few minutes apart.

When she arrived at the hospital, she was already dilated to an eight, two centimeters away from full-term.

Thanks largely to the Grace of God, and the kindness of a couple Iowa State Patrolmen who graciously declined to ticket a soon-to-be daddy, I made it to the hospital by about 8:45, just in time for the real fun.

After I ran into her room, I saw Kim sitting on a labor ball. She apparently was “stuck” at nine, and hadn’t progressed much at all in the previous 90 minutes.

Her status remained unchanged for what seemed like several hours, but in reality, was probably about two.

Contractions were regular, and try as she may, she just couldn’t reach full term.

I felt equally helpless, and horribly frustrated.

The person who means everything to me, whom I would do anything for, was in a state of total pain, anguish and agony, and there wasn’t a thing I could do.

I tried to breath with her, and felt like an idiot.

I tried to encourage her and tell her what a good job she was doing, and felt like an idiot, because truly, I had no freakin clue.

I mimicked what the doctor and nurse was telling her about breathing in through her nose, and focusing her pushing into the lower part of her body while relaxing the upper portion.

I felt like a parrot.

But when Kim reached full term, I watched her enter a whole new level of suffering.

And there I was, just standing there, holding her hand.

While I know my wife would say the next 90 minutes were the worst in her life, I can’t imagine a more terrible time for me either.

But then at 12:26 p.m., after more heartache than I ever want to experience again, it ended.

And in our arms, was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen.

Jackson Wayne measured 21.5 inches, weighing in at just a smidgen over 10 pounds.

I never understood the motivation of parents who religiously take their children to baby shows. Now I do, as I truly do believe my son is the most beautiful boy ever, and I’m so very proud of him I too want to show him off to the world.

The Boy is doing fine, although he’s a little fussy at times and keeps mom awake and tests her patience. I’d like to think he misses his daddy, because I sure miss him.

But he and my wife will be moving to Red Oak this weekend, just in time for Father’s Day.

And I feel like the luckiest man in the world.

Gregory Orear is the General Manager/Editor of the Red Oak Express. He can be emailed at publisher@redoakexpress.com.