The most amazing thing imaginable... - The Orange Mane

Taco John · 09-03-2006, 04:24 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...

quiettiger · 09-03-2006, 04:53 AM

God bless you on your new journey. Everything is changed from this point forward. Slow down and enjoy this moment in time. I am happy for your new found success as children often prove to be. Family becomes a new word for your again and again as the days roll by.

May you find peace on your journey.

Ray Finkle · 09-03-2006, 05:45 AM

Congrats again TJ.....my wife's contractions just started to become more frequent, so if I am gone for a couple days, you all know why

ZachKC · 09-03-2006, 06:06 AM

Good to hear everything went well! Great post...congrats.

Also good to hear my posts have made a lasting impression.

Prepare him, because he will be growing up into a world where he thinks his name is being called just about everytime says the word "exactley" in public.

elsid13 · 09-03-2006, 06:08 AM

Congrads TJ and to your wife

gunns · 09-03-2006, 06:11 AM

What a wonderful narrative! Thank you TJ! I have thought about you ever since 5 am yesterday. I had feeling about the meconioum which often happens when a baby goes overdue. I am so happy for you and your wife that things are going well and that you both have had the chance to experience the most amazing thing a human can. And it only gets better.....till they're 13..

Get some rest TJ. You are going to need it and you will enjoy everything so much more if you get some rest, if you can. God Bless you and your family!

10 lbs

Offensive tackle? Defensive tackle?

Arkansas Bronco · 09-03-2006, 06:12 AM

Congratz TJ get ready for the fun because it seems like everyday you notice growth or something they learn to do.

gunns · 09-03-2006, 06:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ray Finkle

Congrats again TJ.....my wife's contractions just started to become more frequent, so if I am gone for a couple days, you all know why

Will be sending prayers and thoughts your way Ray. Let us know.

Spider · 09-03-2006, 06:17 AM

Congrats TJ ......you will get alot of headaches from dealing with Kids , times you wonder why you are even sober , but in the long run it is all worth it and you would do it all over again

AlienBronco · 09-03-2006, 06:24 AM

Congratulations !!! TJ and a speedy recovery for your wife

Northman · 09-03-2006, 06:26 AM

Congrats on the kid TJ,

gunns · 09-03-2006, 06:26 AM

The person who invented the epidural should be put in for sainthood. I had two naturally and the difference is night and day as far as enjoying the whole experience.

Ray Finkle · 09-03-2006, 06:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gunns

Will be sending prayers and thoughts your way Ray. Let us know.

Thanks, sorry to semi-hijack your thread TJ...

Dagmar · 09-03-2006, 06:40 AM

Congrats Taco!!!!!

(Jae) · 09-03-2006, 06:42 AM

Congrats TJ..........congratulations to you and your wife.
And to further prove the point to me, if I was born female, I would die a virgin.

watermock · 09-03-2006, 07:36 AM

Congratulations to you both. Your boy was just too comfy in the Sonora and it was the right choice to do a C-section. Mini-Taco was in danger. (altho he is more like a Supersized mini-taco)

B-Love · 09-03-2006, 08:04 AM

TJ, the epidural is definitely a godsend but I still can't believe your wife slept 2 hours that late in the process. Wow, she must be a calm person.

My Son was born exactly 1 week before "The Day the Orange Died".

When they were first starting my wife's epidural, my wife was making fun of me for holding her hand while watching the 1996 Bills Jaguars Wild Card game, in her room. Once the drug kicked in, she was just chillin and watching the game with me.

Anyway, congrats and may there be more in your future, including at least one beautiful little girl.

Saddletramp · 09-03-2006, 08:10 AM

congradulations TJ.

May your new life be filled with more joy than you can imagine. I copied your original post and posted it on another board. Hope you dont mind. God Bless you and yours TJ.

Momof2littlebroncos · 09-03-2006, 08:11 AM

i love your description of the birth process that you and your wife went through...it is hard to describe the joy that children will bring you until you experience it yourself....god bless you, your wife, and your new little one....you are all in my prayers as i know how it is to recover from a csection!

ksBRONCOfan · 09-03-2006, 08:13 AM

Great job putting that into words. Ten pounds three ounces is a lot of baby! My daughter is six weeks old today and still not that big.

How long was he?

bro1ncos · 09-03-2006, 08:24 AM

Congrats TJ.

It only gets to be more fun now.

Archie · 09-03-2006, 08:38 AM

great news... I'm sitting here with my 8 week old daughter sitting on my lap as a type and she says, well if she could, congrats too and welcome Zach.

-Slap- · 09-03-2006, 08:42 AM

Congrats all around.

Enjoy raising a Virgo. We're impossibly anal retentive by nature.......

ludo21 · 09-03-2006, 08:45 AM

congrats tj, good news that all went well.

i learned from emt class that i never wanna deliver a baby

ew!

PatsWin2002 · 09-03-2006, 08:55 AM

Congratulations to you and your wife, TJ. So glad to hear everyone is healthy. I knew you'd be speechless (just like I was!).

Now you get to move on to the "help from everyone" phase where people help you with meals, laundry, dishes, whatever. Grandparents are good for that sort of thing (mostly grandmothers....grandfathers usually just sit there and look incredibly proud.

)

So, figure out how that baby seat attaches to the car and get that kid on tour in a few days and show the world what you made. Your world has officially been turned on its ear...so you might as well enjoy it.

09-03-2006, 04:24 AM	#1
Taco John 24/7 Broncos Goodbye. I love you boy. Join Date: Apr 2001 Posts: 44,773 Adopt-a-Bronco: Ryan Clady	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... Last edited by Taco John; 09-03-2006 at 04:32 AM..

09-03-2006, 06:11 AM	#6
gunns Let's Get Busy! Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Hoping Posts: 7,528 Adopt-a-Bronco: Zane Beadles	What a wonderful narrative! Thank you TJ! I have thought about you ever since 5 am yesterday. I had feeling about the meconioum which often happens when a baby goes overdue. I am so happy for you and your wife that things are going well and that you both have had the chance to experience the most amazing thing a human can. And it only gets better.....till they're 13.. Get some rest TJ. You are going to need it and you will enjoy everything so much more if you get some rest, if you can. God Bless you and your family! 10 lbs Offensive tackle? Defensive tackle? Last edited by gunns; 09-03-2006 at 06:14 AM..

09-03-2006, 08:10 AM	#18
Saddletramp >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 1,586	congradulations TJ. May your new life be filled with more joy than you can imagine. I copied your original post and posted it on another board. Hope you dont mind. God Bless you and yours TJ. Last edited by Saddletramp; 09-03-2006 at 08:22 AM..

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09-03-2006, 04:53 AM	#2
quiettiger Fan of the home team Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: BFI Posts: 10,479 Adopt-a-Bronco: Shannon Sharpe	God bless you on your new journey. Everything is changed from this point forward. Slow down and enjoy this moment in time. I am happy for your new found success as children often prove to be. Family becomes a new word for your again and again as the days roll by. May you find peace on your journey.

09-03-2006, 05:45 AM	#3
Ray Finkle Ring of Famer Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Alexandria, VA Posts: 5,227	Congrats again TJ.....my wife's contractions just started to become more frequent, so if I am gone for a couple days, you all know why

09-03-2006, 06:06 AM	#4
ZachKC Ring of Famer Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Kansas City Posts: 8,592 Adopt-a-Bronco: Eddie Kennison	Good to hear everything went well! Great post...congrats. Also good to hear my posts have made a lasting impression. Prepare him, because he will be growing up into a world where he thinks his name is being called just about everytime says the word "exactley" in public.

09-03-2006, 06:08 AM	#5
elsid13 The Anti PEZ Bóg, Honor, Ojczyzna Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: DC Posts: 16,178 Adopt-a-Bronco: Dortoh's Ego	Congrads TJ and to your wife

09-03-2006, 06:12 AM	#7
Arkansas Bronco Ring of Famer Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: South Mississippi Posts: 5,215 Adopt-a-Bronco: Ryan Clady	Congratz TJ get ready for the fun because it seems like everyday you notice growth or something they learn to do.

09-03-2006, 06:17 AM	#9
Spider Mr Diplomacy Drama Llama is ing nuts Join Date: May 2001 Location: my pick = barryr n texican boob elope Posts: 77,259 Adopt-a-Bronco: Orton	Congrats TJ ......you will get alot of headaches from dealing with Kids , times you wonder why you are even sober , but in the long run it is all worth it and you would do it all over again

09-03-2006, 06:24 AM	#10
AlienBronco Seasoned Veteran Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Not far enough from the Hurricane Belt! Posts: 393	Congratulations !!! TJ and a speedy recovery for your wife

09-03-2006, 06:26 AM	#11
Northman The Enigma Prognosis Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Maryland Posts: 17,914 Adopt-a-Bronco: Jessica Biel	Congrats on the kid TJ,

09-03-2006, 06:40 AM	#14
Dagmar ...there ain't no devil ..there's just God when he's drunk. Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Denver Posts: 13,508 Adopt-a-Bronco: Tim Tebow	Congrats Taco!!!!!

09-03-2006, 06:42 AM	#15
(Jae) Pro Bowler New to the Forum Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 625 Adopt-a-Bronco: None	Congrats TJ..........congratulations to you and your wife. And to further prove the point to me, if I was born female, I would die a virgin.

09-03-2006, 07:36 AM	#16
watermock "Hoodie Jr" "Hug me!" Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Hot Springs, Ouachitah Posts: 77,091	Congratulations to you both. Your boy was just too comfy in the Sonora and it was the right choice to do a C-section. Mini-Taco was in danger. (altho he is more like a Supersized mini-taco)

09-03-2006, 08:04 AM	#17
B-Love Ring of Famer They're killin me Whitey, they're killin me!! Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 4,116	TJ, the epidural is definitely a godsend but I still can't believe your wife slept 2 hours that late in the process. Wow, she must be a calm person. My Son was born exactly 1 week before "The Day the Orange Died". When they were first starting my wife's epidural, my wife was making fun of me for holding her hand while watching the 1996 Bills Jaguars Wild Card game, in her room. Once the drug kicked in, she was just chillin and watching the game with me. Anyway, congrats and may there be more in your future, including at least one beautiful little girl.

09-03-2006, 08:11 AM	#19
Momof2littlebroncos Rookie Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 93	i love your description of the birth process that you and your wife went through...it is hard to describe the joy that children will bring you until you experience it yourself....god bless you, your wife, and your new little one....you are all in my prayers as i know how it is to recover from a csection!

09-03-2006, 08:13 AM	#20
ksBRONCOfan I love beer and Broncos! YUM-O! Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: McPherson, KS Posts: 1,005 Adopt-a-Bronco: Pat Bowlen	Great job putting that into words. Ten pounds three ounces is a lot of baby! My daughter is six weeks old today and still not that big. How long was he?

09-03-2006, 08:24 AM	#21
bro1ncos Seasoned Veteran Bronco Fan 4 Life Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 332	Congrats TJ. It only gets to be more fun now.

09-03-2006, 08:38 AM	#22
Archie R Gang Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Longmont, CO Posts: 1,083 Adopt-a-Bronco: Keith Bishop	great news... I'm sitting here with my 8 week old daughter sitting on my lap as a type and she says, well if she could, congrats too and welcome Zach.

09-03-2006, 08:42 AM	#23
-Slap- Ring of Famer Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 31,895	Congrats all around. Enjoy raising a Virgo. We're impossibly anal retentive by nature.......

09-03-2006, 08:45 AM	#24
ludo21 RIP Darrent Williams Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Glendale, AZ Posts: 16,661 Adopt-a-Bronco: Paul Ernster	congrats tj, good news that all went well. i learned from emt class that i never wanna deliver a baby ew!

09-03-2006, 08:55 AM	#25
PatsWin2002 Giggity Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: South of Boston Posts: 6,272	Congratulations to you and your wife, TJ. So glad to hear everyone is healthy. I knew you'd be speechless (just like I was!). Now you get to move on to the "help from everyone" phase where people help you with meals, laundry, dishes, whatever. Grandparents are good for that sort of thing (mostly grandmothers....grandfathers usually just sit there and look incredibly proud. ) So, figure out how that baby seat attaches to the car and get that kid on tour in a few days and show the world what you made. Your world has officially been turned on its ear...so you might as well enjoy it.